Consuming less

[H78]

So recently, I was reading through my bank account statement and I realized that I spent $450 eating out in the month of June. Then, when I read through more, I realized I spent over $300 on completely obscure things (new shoes I didn't need, new shorts I didn't need, concerts, etc).

I came to the realization that I suffer from the same problem that almost every other American suffers from - I consume way too much. Whether it's fancy food, clothes, or whatever, I buy, buy, buy. There's no end to it.

Well, I've decided I want to drastically cut back on it. Not necessarily because I want to save money or because I'm trying to make a statement, but because I feel I'm losing track of what's truly beautiful about life and focusing too much on trying to buy happiness. Unfortunately, when you buy happiness, it's always temporary.

My question to all of you is simple: What one thing could you do to stop consuming more than what you need? What is it that makes you happy in life that you don't have to pay a single cent for?

Somewhere in the last few years, I lost a sense of enlightenment that I'd found in my final two years of college. I was in a frame of mind that I now envy and would like to find once again. Anyone else experience something like this? How do you maintain a true sense of self, discipline and happiness?

[FrighT MasteR]

So recently, I was reading through my bank account statement and I realized that I spent $450 eating out in the month of June.

:misfit:

[Lemmywinks]

Playing my drums but the heads break and cymbals crack though overtime so it's not costing me. I tend to over spend on movies and video games but that has gone way down lately. Practicing my drums more helps that.

[choptop2]

Fuck toilet paper.

[XArsenicx]

I too, spend way too much money eating out and buying things I don't need. :straightface2:

[SkullBat308]

Balzac merchandise and assorted LPs and records, but it's not gonna happen:nono:

[3/6]

i own over 50 pairs of shoes
24 of em have never even been tried on
:coolblank:

[BooBerry]

Food food food is my expense of choice. And alcohol.


Anyways, what about this: People over consuming these days is something we need. More consumers buying fast food, shoes, electronics, ect means steady business and jobs for those people who don't have the luxury of spending on things besides rent and food. I say everyone keep spending.

[ZION]

Now that I have a 14 month old, I could careless if I spend a single penny on myself, as long as my son has everything he needs and more. Just remember theres a difference between WANT and NEED, so ask yourself when your in that situation of buying something. Do you want it or need it?? Also remember there's nothing wrong with treating yourself every so often.

[DMHead777]

I am a health nut. I figure if I take care of myself at the age of 21, I won't have the same horrible problems every other American does when I get to, say, 40. But, when I treat myself and eat like shit, I go all out.

There is this heavy metal restaurant called "Kuma's Korner". You may have seen it on the travel channel. But it's like 20 minutes away and if I want to eat bad I go there. I get "The Slayer" which is a mound of cheese waffle fries plus a burger. It's enormous and I can never finish it. But my meal comes to an average of around 15-20 bucks. And when I was eating bad every weekend I was putting in a good 100 bucks of eating like shit.

I don't eat horrible on the weekends anymore just so I can save money and have a better life style. (But I'll be taking a trip to Kuma's very soon, I mean one day won't hurt right :)).

Other then that I do have hobbies. I spend waay too much money on cd's and horror dvd's. I don't download music because I support the bands I listen to, but I do download movies before buying them because they are more expensive then albums.

So, yeah I should cut back, but I'm trying to enjoy my life as much as I can before I start school in august again and trying to have a normal adult life.