Tightening the Belt: Living on Less and Liking It
Table of Contents to Read the Whole Series in Order
Introduction ♦ 1 - Money and Mindset ♦ 2 - Wants and Needs ♦ 3 - Choosing Our Own Choices ♦ 4 - Questioning Needs ♦ 5 - Reducing the Outgo ♦ 6 - Five Core Principles to Cut Spending
Tightening the Belt Introduction
This is a series of posts that look back to the early days of my Tightening the Belt seminars, and explore how those principles have stood the test of time over the four decades since I first started teaching those workshops.
TtB-6. Five Core Principles to Lower Spending
Extravagant living is the norm for our society if you believe the advertising. Let’s not believe it. The race to extravagant consumption is not the path to contentment or good money management. These five core principles can make a big difference to your overall financial and personal wellbeing when you need to tightening the belt.
TtB-5. Reducing the Outgo
Conserver principles are well worth learning and practicing. They will serve you well over and over again. As you become a skilled conserver, fear decreases. A sense of personal power increases. When you don’t have enough money, getting a grip on your outgo helps you feel less panicky and more in control. It’s surprisingly effective and satisfying. Today, we’re going to talk about using other resources to solve your needs.
TtB-4. Questioning Needs
When we are faced with tightening the belt, finding ways to reduce outgo is of huge importance. Instead of reacting to any perceived need by throwing money at it, first take a step back and examine the situation. These six questions can dramatically help to choke off the freeflowing outgo of your hard earned income.
TtB-3. Choosing Our Own Choices
Once you’ve separated wants from needs, you’ll begin to notice choices you didn’t realize you had. With your eyes opened, you’ll examine each decision with intention. When you start deliberately choosing your own choices, your money will stretch farther and you won’t feel the pinch so much, even though the belt is tighter.
TtB-2. Wants and Needs
We live in a consumer society. We are bombarded with artificial standards created by those trying to sell us their products. Consumerism survives by advertising. Advertising strives to make us, the consumers, equate material goods with quality of life. If all the stuff money will buy equals happiness, then we’re not happy yet because we don’t have all the stuff.
TtB-1. Money and Mindset
The conserver lifestyle can be fun. It can be exciting. It is definitely creative. I know that’s hard to believe when you’re chronically short on cash or facing a financial crisis. The best time to learn and practice the principles of Tightening the Belt is before you hit a hard place. But even if you’re in the midst of one, conserver practices will help you navigate the tough times.
Tighten the Belt
definition: to spend less money than you did before because you have less money
Tightening the Belt Workshop Ad circa 1985
