Like, since being converted to communism, and even before, when I read the banksy quote about how advertising has no right to be there in the first place. It's astounding just how often money is tied into the human experience. We bring it up all the damn time, about what's a smart way to spend money, what's a not-smart way, "a fool and his money are soon parted," there's sayings about it. It's just kinda depressing. Like, before I got converted, I remember, I would dream about all the cars I would buy if I won the lottery. How I wouldn't be "dumb" like those other lottery winners and "waste it" on stupid stuff. I don't know. Just stream-of-consciousness writing at this point.

    • Whodonedidit [he/him,comrade/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      This might be cliche, so im sorry, but whats helped me is just waiting a day and thinking on it. I've made more than my fair share of impulse buys, but when I give myself time it usually doesn't seem as urgent.

      When I get my paychecks I put money towards bills, pay of my credit cards, restock my checking and all the rest is saving.

      Whatever I have to get in the next 2 weeks is limited by what's in my checking. This saved my ass when paying off student loans.

      Once you start saving more it becomes satisfying in its own right and its easier not to spend on frivolous things

        • lvysaur [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          Food is always expensive unless somehow subsidized, it’s just not always expensive the same way. You either pay for it in time, by cooking, in money

          er not nearly at the same rates though.

          It's far easier to cook a pork chop on your pan at home, than it is to pay for gasoline, drive to a restaurant, order a pork chop and wait 20 mins for it to arrive, and then pay $25 + tip for a $5 pork chop.

          The only extra work you'd do at home is washing a few dishes, which I realize is a chore but if you just rinse them right after use it's not too soul crushing

          maybe if you're making some really involved stuff with a ton of spices like Indian dishes or dumplings or something, but for 98% of western cuisine, which is basically just butter+garlic+parsley+thyme, it's just actually easier at home.

            • lvysaur [he/him]
              ·
              4 years ago

              It’s much easier to call in an order, walk the 3-15 minutes it takes to get to the restaurant

              Not everyone (hardly anyone?) is within 5 minutes walking distance of a restaurant. Longer than that and many will have to put up with the US antics of no sidewalks, walking on the road, and getting harrassed (or killed) by the police on the way there