How to Be Cheap and Love It, Part III

I don't know how it is I got started on this whole "live cheaply" mentality. I believe it was from a friend of mine I met in college who I initially thought was a real tightwad. The guy could stretch a dollar like no other, and anytime you wasted anything, he would call you out on it, especially food.

Well, after a while, I started to see that maybe he knew what he was doing. After all, he managed to pay his way through a private college with no debt and without any help from his parents, and he recently had a very nice wedding. Once I started picking his brain (metaphorically speaking), it just made sense to me, and now I can't go back to my old ways. But in any case, here are a few more tips and tricks for living for cheap and staying out of the red.

1. Do not impulse buy. Do not impulse buy. Do not impulse buy. Have I made myself clear on that one? This is a very difficult area for many people. Why? Because there are so many opportunities to do it. The filling station, the coffee shop, the movie theater (I'm not a big fan of the movie theater as you can probably tell by now). It's simply a matter of self-control. And believe me, passing up on worthless junk, especially junk food, is quite rewarding. Try it once and you'll see.

2. Don't regularly buy drinks at a coffee shop. OK, maybe I'm being a bit harsh on this one, and there are definitely exceptions, such as when you're on a date (if you're the guy) or if you've been going and hanging out at the same coffee shop all the time, in which case you're just taking up space in a place of business. But those drinks are just downright expensive, and part of what you're paying for is the atmosphere. If you're cool with that, then don't let me stop you.

3. Do not use vending machines. I know they're convenient, and convenience after all is what you're paying for when you slip in $1.25 for a granola bar. Buy in bulk for a fraction of the cost. If you're at work, just buy a six-pack of your favorite drink and put it in the refrigerator. Heck, you can even sell drinks to your co-workers for cheaper than the vending machines and make a little extra dough.

4.Do occasionally spend on something significant. These articles are titled "How to be Cheap and Love It" not "How to be Cheap and Miserable." There is nothing wrong with occasionally spending a good amount on something you really like, whether it's a nice night out at a fancy restaurant, good quality shoes, concert tickets, etc. The point is that if you're careful with your money (and you actually work), you should be able to provide yourself with everything you want, if you're reasonable.

So no sailboats right before retirement, please.