Measuring a lifestyle against everyone else's tends to create an endless want for more — more clothes, more cars, a bigger house — which fuels spending that has nothing to do with actual needs. Letting go of that comparison makes it much easier to stay out of debt and live simply.
Three Mindset Shifts for Smarter, Simpler Spending
A lot of overspending comes down to mindset more than money itself. A few honest shifts in perspective make it a lot easier to stay on budget.
Stop Comparing Your Lifestyle to Others
Think of Coupons as Cash
A $10 coupon for something already needed is the same as someone handing over $10 in cash toward the purchase, which makes the value of clipping coupons much easier to appreciate.
Don't Let a Coupon Talk You Into a Purchase
A discount is only real savings if the purchase was already planned. A coupon that tempts an unplanned buy isn't saving money at all — it's spending money that wouldn't have been spent otherwise, so it's worth skipping the purchase along with the coupon.
Got a handy tip of your own?
Reply and let us know, we love hearing your tips.
This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive: 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →