A sixteen-year-old espresso machine, an Amazon shopping habit, and a dream of starting a business taught me that buying less can make room for a richer life.
How to Stop Buying Things You Don't Need Without Feeling Deprived
The other day, my wife and I were talking about replacing a part in our food processor.
Exciting stuff, I know.
We've owned the thing for about fifteen years. We bought it around the time I was serving in Afghanistan, and it's still going strong. It just needs a replacement part.
That conversation got us talking about purchases that have lasted.
I told her that one of the best things we've ever bought was our Breville espresso machine.
We purchased it in 2010.
Sixteen years later, it still works.
We've had one minor issue, which Breville's customer service helped us resolve. Otherwise, the thing has been an absolute workhorse.
Every morning, we walk into the kitchen and make coffee.
Every morning. For sixteen years.
I started thinking about the thousands of cups we've made and how much money we've saved by not buying coffee somewhere else.
And then I started thinking about the purchases we haven't made.
Those might be even more valuable.
Sometimes Buying Something Expensive Is the Frugal Decision
I don't remember exactly what we paid for that espresso machine.
I remember it being a significant purchase.
But even if we'd spent $1,000, which I'm not saying we did, the original cost would work out to less than twenty cents per day over sixteen years.
Of course, we still buy beans, milk, and other supplies.
But the cost is likely far less than purchasing espresso drinks every morning.
More importantly, we love our coffee.
We didn't buy the machine to punish ourselves financially. We bought it because we enjoy something good, and we wanted to make it at home.
That's an important distinction.
Being frugal doesn't necessarily mean buying cheap things. Sometimes it means buying good things and keeping them for a very long time.
The Conversation About Giving Jeff Bezos More Money
Years ago, I noticed how easy it had become to buy things on Amazon.
Need something? Click.
Want something? Click.
See something interesting that you didn't know existed five minutes ago? Click.
It's a remarkably efficient system for separating people from their money.
And I'm certainly not immune to it.
But my wife had been talking about wanting to start her own beauty business.
So I suggested something.
We could keep giving Jeff Bezos money for things we didn't really need.
Or we could start putting that money aside and work toward something she actually wanted.
A business of her own.
We created a separate savings account and started directing money there instead of spending it on unnecessary purchases.
At first, there wasn't much to see.
But over time, the account grew.
And suddenly, all those things we hadn't bought amounted to something meaningful.
Money that could help turn an ambition into a reality.
That was much more exciting than another package arriving at our front door.
Everything You Buy Eventually Leaves Your House
Here's something I think about whenever I'm considering buying something.
I picture where it's going to end up.
Not where I'll put it when it arrives.
Where it'll end up when I'm finished with it.
Maybe the garbage can.
Maybe a donation box.
Maybe I'll give it to someone who can use it.
But eventually, most of the stuff we bring into our homes leaves them.
And when I imagine that final destination, a lot of purchases become considerably less appealing.
I'm not suggesting we shouldn't own things.
Our espresso machine and food processor have provided years of value. We use them regularly, maintain them, and repair them when necessary.
But there's a difference between something that becomes part of your daily life and something that sits in a closet until you eventually throw it away.
I've become much more interested in the former.
And considerably less interested in the latter.
How to Stop Buying Things You Don't Need
If you want to stop buying things you don't need without feeling like you're missing out, here are five habits worth trying.
1. Picture the End of the Purchase
Before buying something, imagine owning it a year from now.
Will you still use it? Will you even remember buying it?
Or will it be sitting in a closet waiting for its eventual trip to the donation center?
2. Give the Money a Better Purpose
Open a separate savings account for something meaningful.
Maybe it's starting a business, taking a family vacation, or building an emergency fund.
When you decide against an unnecessary purchase, transfer some of that money into the account.
Now you're not simply spending less.
You're working toward something.
3. Buy Quality When It Matters
For things you use frequently, consider reliability, repairability, and long-term value.
A more expensive product that lasts fifteen years may be a better purchase than a cheaper one you replace every two years.
4. Spend on Experiences You Value
I'd rather spend money taking a vacation with my children than filling our house with more stuff.
The same goes for their education, travel sports, and lessons.
Those things aren't free, and they aren't always inexpensive.
But they're experiences that help our children learn, grow, and create memories.
That's money I feel good about spending.
5. Wait Before Buying Something
Not every purchase needs to happen immediately.
Give yourself a few days.
If you still want it and have money set aside, buy it.
If you've forgotten about it, you've probably answered your own question.
Why We Value Experiences Over Things
My wife and I have been fortunate to earn good incomes, and I recognize that not everyone has the same flexibility.
But we've also been deliberate about how we use our money.
We travel. Our kids play sports and take lessons. We enjoy restaurants, cooking, music, and hobbies.
We don't feel deprived.
We've simply become more selective.
A vacation might last a week, but the memories can last decades.
A season of travel baseball gives our kids opportunities to compete, make friends, learn discipline, and spend time together as a family.
An education can open doors for the rest of their lives.
Meanwhile, that interesting gadget I almost bought on Amazon might end up in the garbage before the year is over.
That's not a difficult choice for me.
The Real Value of Buying Less
I still think about that espresso machine every morning.
Sixteen years of reliable service.
Thousands of cups of coffee.
One purchase that continues to make our lives a little better.
And I think about the savings account we created instead of continually buying things we didn't need.
One helped us enjoy something we love every day.
The other helped us work toward something my wife dreamed of doing.
Neither required us to stop enjoying life.
We just had to decide which purchases were worth making.
Because ultimately, I don't want a house filled with things that will eventually end up in the garbage.
I want a life filled with experiences, opportunities, and memories that stay with us.
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