Originally Posted by attercoppe
Ouch! Next time you're at the store, look at prices of laundry detergent and figure cost per load. Even the fancy expensive stuff is usually quite a bit cheaper (per load) than the one load boxes they sell at the laundromat. (For instance, I recently figured my current bottle of detergent runs about 15 cents a load - the boxes at my laundromat are 75 cents, some places they're even more.) This is a good example of something that can nickel and dime one to death - it might seem fairly cheap to buy the little boxes there, but when you figure up how much you're actually paying over, say, a year - you can really save a lot. As with many things, the bigger bottles/boxes are cheaper (per load) than the smaller ones. I buy the huge jugs of whatever kind of detergent, and to avoid having to carry the whole thing with me when I walk or ride to the laundromat, I decant one or two loads' worth into a smaller bottle.
Yes but as I pointed out a few times... I do not live simply so that I can save as much money as possible. To me simple living is a luxury, actually. I know and accept that I pay more for the luxury of not having to worry about, own, repair, replace, etc stuff. This is the country of services and I love using them.
Here's an example... I had to pick up some packages yesterday at UPS. I rode my bike there, locked it up next to the building, got the packages. Then took a cab with the packages home. I could have walked (about half an hour) but I didn't. I hate walking, especially with awkward boxes in my hand. Then
I took a cab back to my bike.
I biked to a restaurant where I ate (that box business sure made me hungry!!), then biked home. This is something very typical for me to do, and from where I'm standing, it makes perfect sense. I hate driving, walking or the bus, and only occasionally enjoy to cook. I love biking, eating out, and taking care of chores quickly. I realize that I could have saved money by walking both ways and cooking something at home. But honestly, I am not hurting for money that much. What can I say, I'm a 29 year old IT guy in San Francisco with no car, no wife, no nothing -- you get the idea.
On the whole I am saving money, since having no car just reduces my expenses a ton. But this is more of an added bonus to my main objective. Don't get me wrong: I don't throw around with money for sure... but if I have to spend even 20% more money in order to reduce my STUFF and WORRIES by a great deal, then I'll do it. My philosophy!