Smart Shopper Chronicles

‘Spending More or Spending Less?

Duh! That’s a No-Brainer!’

One woman’s passionate take on

what sets spenders and savers apart

By Mary Ellen Bilisnansky-McMorrow

 believe that people spend because they want to spend. Some like to be seen at Bloomingdale’s, or with expensive designer names written all over their clothes and pocketbooks. (It always amazes me that people are willing to pay a lot of money to advertise someone else's products.  I think they look like billboards. . . .)  Others are too lazy to shop or can’t find the time to do it, so they end up paying three to four times the amount they should, buying things in catalogues. How they get things to fit and look good amazes me.

     Unlike the world's billionaires, I do not have an unlimited bank account. But even if I did, I wouldn’t feel the need to spend everything I have foolishly, nor to have debts of any kind.  If I can't pay it off in a month, I don't charge it.  I like nice things. I like good design, and I like variety. But I’ve found ways to get what I want without spending a fortune.

      I LOOK in Bloomingdale’s, and I SHOP in the discount stores. These places are cheaper. They have knockoffs of expensive clothes and other products, and sometimes they have the same expensive items at half the price that high-end retail stores charge, or a third of the price that catalogues charge. Why? Because these items have flaws that most of us can't even see.

     If I have a choice of spending more or spending less-—DUH!—that’s a no-brainer. I’ll choose less every time. Shopping for bargains leaves me money for the things that really give me pleasure, like collecting art, for example, and for my animals, both indoors and out. It gets expensive feeding everything in the woods that moves, you know, but I take great pleasure in watching the deer and the birds dine at the many feeding stations set up along our property—much more pleasure than wearing a $900 dress would ever give me. Shopping wisely for all the other things in life allows me to have money to keep the buffet table full, pay my debts and save a little if I want. I do like to save some money every month, just in case I live long enough to need it.

     Spending money is a control thing, like dieting. You can either decide you want everything, eat it all and end up fat. (Sometimes eating, like spending money, is a way of telling the world I will have everything I want!)  Or you can realize that you can’t realistically have everything and decide to enjoy the things you love the most—only less often and in smaller amounts. Money and food are control issues and everyone handles them differently despite the consequences.  It's that simple. 

     What I'm saying is that some people choose to throw away their money when they can save if they want to. It's their personal choice.  In short, savers and spenders set their own priorities.  If you consider yourself a spender and you are concerned about your spending habits, analyze why you spend more than you need to—or can afford to. Is it that you’re too lazy to go the extra mile to the discount store?  Do you feel the need to show off?  Are you more secure in designer clothes? Do you just like them better? Are you unaware of the alternatives? Then decide whether you want to continue spending the way you are spending or whether you’d rather start cutting back somewhere.

      If you really want to change, you’ll find a way to do so. But if saving or prioritizing your spending aren’t issues with you, and credit cards and debt don't bother you, then I say, “Spend away!” Somebody has to keep the economy going!

________________________________

Mary Ellen Bilisnansky-McMorrow is a fine artist and graphic designer,

whose work can be seen at www.ground-dogs.com

E-mail this article.