The London Loaf: Slow Spending
Annalie shares her Top Tips for Beating the Recession: Who else is sick of hearing the phrase “Credit Crunch?” Still, most of us have been affected one way or another, so here are some ideas about how to get frugal whilst remaining creative…
1. Energy/Appliances
We all know that leaving electrical devices on standby is BAD and we should turn everything off at the wall. Another alternative is just to have fewer electrical appliances. The wind is a great natural hairdryer; it takes longer but you can enjoy a nice walk in the local park, thus killing two birds with one stone. (See #3. Exercise.) Be aware however that wind is often accompanied by rain, which is far less effective as a drying method and should be avoided at all costs.
Television uses up electricity and you have to pay the licence fee. It can also spark off addictions to certain series which can in turn lead to the purchasing of expensive box sets. Box sets are usually so mind-numbingly boring that they require the additional entertainment of comforting snacks, thus instigating more expense. (see #.2 Eating/Drinking.)
2. Eating/Drinking
Cutting down on snacks and meals out could help to economize, painful as it sounds. The whirlwind of London life can seem like a constant provocation to consume, and it’s hard to leave the house without spending a tenner. Convenience is one of the culprits – your local 7-11 is only a few minutes away and while it probably doesn’t have what you want, it has plenty of over-priced sugar-rich alternatives.
Drinking is another notorious money pit – especially if you frequent the kind of establishments that charge £7 for a glass of wine. The added bonus of eating and drinking less is that you will undoubtedly shed a few pounds, possibly even disposing of your beer/muffin belly, thus enabling you to fit into all your old clothes instead of having to shell out for a new winter wardrobe.
3. Exercise
There’s no way round it, despite what the trainer manufacturers would have you believe. Exercise is hard work. But it feels great when it stops. And it releases all these dolphins in your brain so that afterwards you are left trying to figure out how to get rid of them. This takes up time that you might otherwise have spent indulging in retail therapy. Alternatively you can keep the dolphins and they will be your friends for life, providing you with companionship whenever you feel stressed.
Gym membership is tempting because in all the adverts it looks as if you just get on a machine and the machine does all the work and suddenly you are thin and you can go and lounge around in the sauna. Don’t fall for it. Exercise can also be done without the machines. Go for a walk or a run around the park, do yoga, play tennis, cycle – all valid forms of exercise –
and free!
Whatever you do, try being contemplative about how you spend your money, instead of frittering it away in a quest for momentary satisfaction. It may provide a brief respite from the tumult of twenty-first century living, but the key to a longer lasting peace is in the mind….
Annalie Wilson
www.annalie.co.uk/
Read more of The London Loaf.
Image by kalandrakas (Flickr)
