Guest post by Brenda from Recovered Identity
With the power of the internet comes the power of access and awareness. Everyday, we encounter pictorial ideas, free downloads, and printable coupons. We know the ins and outs of other people’s schedules, opinions, and habits.
But with this power comes extreme pressure… the pressure to implement every idea, download every free book, and print every coupon. We feel pressured to make our daily routines and habits reflect those that we read of online. All this doing and doing expends so much of our budgeted time, energy, and money that we’re left feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
Getting a grasp of who we truly are protects our budgets. It allows us to say “no” to the things that don’t jive with who we are. But more importantly, it allows us to pour ourselves and our resources into those thing that are an extension of ourselves.
Five Ways to Save By Just Being You
1. Cut down on the repinning. Pinterest is inspiration overload. Go for high quality ideas that reflect you, not high quantity. You’ll be inspired to be yourself, not someone else.
2. Be choosey in your downloads. Will you really use every cleaning schedule posted on the internet? Will you truly use every preschool pack out there?
3. Stop comparing your life to the life of big-time bloggers. They’re not you. And unlike popular opinion, they do not “do it all”.
4. Don’t be afraid to let a good deal pass you by. Save your resources for the ones that fit your lifestyle.
5. Be the superwoman you are. In all your striving, don’t forget that you’re already superwoman. Find your power and practice it daily. Leave the other powers to those who possess them.
Brenda lives in Indiana with her husband and four children, ages 8, 6, 4, and 3. She blogs at Recovered Identity about the lessons she learns as she peels off label after label to find her real self.
elizabeth says
Thank you needed this today
Tshanina @ Thrifty T's Treasures says
Crystal, thanks for encouraging us to be ourselves – the wonderful beings that God created us to be!
You’re right – it’s easy to compare ourselves to the big bloggers, especially those of us who are bloggers. Comparison is definitely the thief of joy.
“Don’t be afraid to let a good deal pass you by” is another one that hit home for me. After feeling burnt out, I decided to take a break from deal shopping at the drug stores. Almost two years later I’ve missed some great deals, but I’ve freed myself up to use that time to do things that I’m more passionate about!
Lora C says
Great post!!!!! I realized what was shared in the post and cut back in the areas mentioned. If I hadn’t I might not have enjoyed the last two weeks with my son and his family. They are visiting before my son is deployed. I took off work and have barely been on the computer or clipped a coupon in the past two weeks. Thanks for sharing this–it really encouraged me by letting me know that I am on the right path to finding the real me!!!
Brenda says
Good for you. It can be a challenge to find yourself sometimes.
Leslie says
Well put, Brenda. You hit someideas that I’ve been working to implement recently, and you gave me some new ones to think about also. Thanks!
Brenda says
You’re welcome. Glad it was applicable.
Victoria @ Creative Home Keeper says
This is such a great reminder. I have stopped cutting coupons in the past few months as we have moved to a whole foods diet, but sometimes I still find myself tempted to cut some that I think would be a great deal.
Brenda says
We kinda go back and forth here on the whole foods diet thing. Depends on how busy we are that week. Sometimes weeks we have far too much processed food. But oh well. It’s where we are in life right now. 🙂
Natural Handcrafted Soap says
My first time here I join and come back ! Great Tips , thanks
Sharla @ Slacker Saver says
I’m a fan of these ideas. Every few months I pretty much think through them, deciding what to cut back from my life, choosing what is worth the effort and what’s not. For example, I love making my own yogurt, but I realized that making my own graham crackers was not going to fit into my life.
Brenda says
Good idea to reevaluate every once in a while. Hadn’t thought of that.
Julie @Logger's Wife says
I actually stopped buying split chicken breasts for this reason. Just doesn’t fit anymore. Whenever boneless, skinless goes on sale for $1.99/lb, split goes on for $1.79. I used to get the split and cut the meat off the bones then boil the bones. Take a fair amount of time when I have to be right there doing it, no breaks. I have other things to do, like spend time with my 15mo daughter. I no longer do that deal. But I do spend more time doing coupon match-ups. Easier to take a break to play. 🙂
It’s funny how things change year to year, adding children to the mix, etc.
Brenda says
Yes, it is. Stages of life bring change. And that’s a good thing. 🙂
Carla says
I do appreciate what you have written. I also think we can learn from others and be inspired by others. I am thankful we are uniquely created and we can all learn from others. Thanks for the post.
Brenda says
Thank you for pointing this out. You’re definitely right.
Amanda says
Thank you for this great reminder! I’ve been slowly coming to this point over the last year or so as we’ve moved from super couponing to a whole foods diet. I still really struggle with not downloading all the free books available and not going nuts with pinning recipes and DIY ideas. It can really stress me out when I have all those reminders of “things I still want to do” staring me in the face. I think I’m still figuring out who I am, so it’s a process. 🙂
Brenda says
I think it only takes a few minutes to decide to stop being someone you are not, but it can take many years to learn who you truly are. It’s a long journey that’s both freeing and incredibly hard.
MaryEllen@ImperfectHomemaker says
I love this! For so long I did just what you are speaking of – trying to fit everything I ever saw other people do into my own life. Life was so much more peaceful after I stepped back and re-evaluated who I was and what I loved to do, spend money on, etc. Even though other people’s ideas and resources are great, trying to be somebody you’re not or just trying to fit too much into your life can really stress out the budget as well as household harmony.
Brenda says
You’re right. It’s exhausting to be someone you are not.
Margaret says
We talk about simplifying, and getting rid of clutter, but how much of this stuff was bought as a great deal? Coupons are often for food that are still more expensive than other choices without a coupon. Also think about the time used. We really need to pick and choose what we do wisely!
Brenda says
Very true. It’s easy to forget that we need to budget our time and energy as well.
Stacy says
Thank you for posting these inspiring reminders! They are all often so easy to forget.
Julie @Logger's Wife says
#4 can be a tough one for me. I’ve even had to let great deals on something I want go by because it wasn’t worth it to take the money from something we need. Deals on things I don’t care about, I couldn’t care less about. But when it is something I want…so, so hard.
Brenda says
That happens to me every time I get a Children’s Place email. :/ Cute clothes for my kids is one of my downfalls.
Marie says
I get almost daily emails from Children’s Place. I love the store and am fortunate to have one 2 minutes from me and an outlet no less!!! However, I typically only shop their monster clearance when items are $2.99 plus then I have a 20%off coupon and an additional 10%off all purchases.
Like today I bought my daughter a dress for $2.99 (it’s a really nice one not a cotton one), 3 Tshirts and a pair of shirts all for $8. For me this works with our budget. I ususally am getting items for under $2 after discounts and I’m not waisting a lot of time and money at garage sales only to find junk. (Now don’t get me wrong I love garage sales but as my kids have gotten older the quality has gone down so CPlace’s clearance is my solution.
Brenda says
Oh yes. Children’s place is a wonderful resource for high quality for a low price. I get a lot of clothes from there. But I find myself tempted to buy simply because its a good price. When my boys already have all the shirts they need then buying more is not wise. I guess that’s what I meant by saying TCP tempts me.
Christie says
Wow! What great deals! I love their stuff, but never seem to find such good deals. Did you get these in store (are the prices better than online)? How do you get the extra 10% off?
Marie says
I get an extra 10% because I’ve been a card holder for a long time. Now card holders get 5%. This and Kohl’s are the only store credit cards I have because we save sooo much more when I only shop the monster sales. But we use the Dave Ramsey method of envelopes so even at Kohl’s I will charge and then pay with my envelope. And it’s the same with children’s place too. Yes, outlet prices are better then online plus there’s more selection. I love that my children can have nice quality clothes that cost under $1.50. and when the shorts were $2.99 I bought basic colors in 3 sizes!!! That way I don’t have to try and hit the sale every year.
Cassie says
Great Reminder! Thank you.
Jo Lynn says
I love this guest post! A great perspective on so many levels and I live how you applied such an important truth of just being ourselves to saving money.
Jo Lynn says
Oops meant I Love.
Brenda says
Just being myself freed me from the bondage of the must-cut-every-coupon virus. lol.
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
Great points, Brenda! I agree… there’s nothing more powerful than just being who you were created to be. 🙂
Brenda says
Amen! I am learning this more and more.