Listen below for the entire episode on The Systemize Your Life Podcast

Break Free from the Convenience Trap

My number one pet peeve is spending money on useless things. When we’re extra busy, we often resort to convenience, and can get trapped in this cycle. However, there comes a time when you have to draw a line in the sand and strike a good, proportionate balance. We often end up spending most of our money on things that either make us feel good, make something more convenient, or are a necessity. 

If you can cut back on the things that make you feel good and the things that are convenient you’re going to save a bunch of money. The number one way to do this is by implementing systems. Without fail, if you put systems into place, you won’t need as much convenience because you’ll have more time. You’ll also experience an intrinsic motivation. This triggers the release of feel-good hormones in your body. In turn this reduces the need to spend money on things just to make yourself feel better.

“If you put systems into place, you won’t need as much convenience because you’ll have more time.”

Finding Balance in Convenience: A Journey to Reduce Waste and Save Money

For a couple of years, I found myself in a situation where we had to rely heavily on Trader Joe’s meals. Although we still occasionally do, I’ve significantly reduced it despite the amazing convenience it offers, which saves me a lot of time. At some point, I realized I could no longer control all the nourishment, micronutrients, and even some of the macronutrients I was providing my family due to the convenience. That’s when I decided we needed to find a balance that I felt comfortable with. 

Our fast-paced need for convenience is actually producing a lot of waste of money and food. I’m the first person to recommend buying a bag of pre-cut broccoli. My mom, on the other hand, would advise purchasing the whole broccoli and cutting it yourself. She’s the type of person who can teach you how to save a dime, or even 45 of them.

My mother is the most frugal person I’ve ever met on the entire planet. She’s incredibly creative in finding ways to save money. I grew up with a deep understanding of how to magically transform three items from the refrigerator into a complete meal. Everything seemed to last forever because she consistently reused and made things work. I witnessed this approach applied to absolutely everything. I’m aware that doing this not only reduces waste but also saves you money.

Reducing Waste and Preserving Nature’s Bounty

By definition, I consider myself to be crunchy. I make a genuine effort to preserve the real foundation  and roots of creation. This is especially true for those that are grown and intended to be consumed in their natural state. I’m mindful of the impact our choices have on the amount of trash we generate as a family. I’m constantly evaluating and refining my systems to reduce waste and consumption. Through these efforts, we’ve managed to significantly cut our expenses and save money. That’s why I wanted to share this post with you.

Save Money and Reduce Waste: The Disposable Dilemma

I’m always surprised when I see certain items sold in bulk at stores like Target, Walmart, and Costco. I recently walked through one of those aisles with my husband, Blaine, and we couldn’t believe people actually purchased these things. It got me thinking about what people buy in bulk to save money, and surprisingly, some mentioned items like paper plates, utensils, plastic cups, and napkins, which I never considered buying in bulk. 

And then I had a moment and thought, ‘I can’t purchase disposable items like this. The thing is that I get it. I completely understand that dishes pile up, and it’s exhausting. It’s the last thing you want to deal with.

The Convenience of Disposable Items

When we moved, we were going through the grocery store, and the house was filled with boxes. I still hadn’t packed up my dishes because I kept wondering what we were going to use to eat on. As an exception I reasoned it would be okay to buy paper plates this time. I felt like I was indulging excessively. I did a bit of research at Costco. If a simple family of four buys these and uses them three times a day, seven days a week, it adds up to $350. You might not actually do that because you’re probably eating out a lot.

Either way, you could be saving hundreds of dollars in your monthly budget, funds that could be directed toward paying off your car, reducing debt, or investing in an online program you really want. These are the things we often think we can’t afford, but it’s crucial to examine where your money is going. The number one item you can stop buying immediately—never place it in your cart again.

Let me help you ensure that your dishes are cleaned twice a day, every single day, and you never have dirty dishes piling up in your sink. You’ll always have cups, plates, forks, knives, and spoons ready. Now, I understand you may not want to go completely paperless like I have. We’ll discuss various options for reusing items around your house. If you prefer using paper towels or napkins, that’s okay too. But consider starting with the other three options I’m going to share with you.

Mastering Money Management: A Budgeting Breakthrough

I first learned this concept from Dave Ramsey, an excellent starting point with tons of information and resources. We began with his approach a long time ago and then developed our own system within our family, which I teach as a bonus for all our VIP Systemize Your Life students. If you’re a VIP student, you have access to our complete budgeting system, which is a game changer.

Even if you’re not part of the program and don’t plan to join soon, Dave Ramsey offers numerous valuable options. He has a program called Financial Peace University that delves deep into budgeting. My system is an offshoot of that. I created a hybrid by combining that knowledge with what I learned from Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First, resulting in a zero-based budgeting model with a percentage approach for our family.

In the first month of using this system, we identified areas where we were overspending and saved $800. Just by looking at the little things like this, we immediately had an extra $800 in our pocket. It’s time for me to share the other things that we stopped buying in order to be able to save money and some systems that we put in place to be able to reduce the consumption and reduce consumerism in order to save some money.

Tip #1 – Reduce Waste by Ditching Store-Bought Cleaners for Homemade Solutions

One category I’ve transitioned away from is cleaning products. I gradually stopped buying disposable surface wipes and started making my own reusable ones. These are washable and can be remade as needed. When I felt the need to have ready-to-use wipes, I continued making them. Additionally, I began making my all-purpose surface spray, which is incredibly effective. I use a concentrate which I only need to buy it every three months. This means I no longer purchase cleaners from Walmart, Target, or anywhere else. I make all of them at home, including toilet cleaner. I purchase a concentrate, which lasts a long time.

Effective and Eco-Friendly Cleaning Alternatives to Reduce Waste

I also use a pumice stone for DIY cleaning and an all-purpose scrub that I make. I bought a bulk bag of baking soda from Costco, which has lasted me over a year, and a large jug of vinegar, which has lasted forever. You can find links to these chemical-free cleaning products here. All of this is taught inside of Systemize Your Life including the recipes and how to make them. 

Green Laundry Practices and Ditching Toxic Dryer Sheets

I also switched to using a concentrate for laundry soap, which is more cost-effective. I store it in a big glass jar, making it convenient when I run out of something.

I’ve also stopped buying dryer sheets, as they’re toxic. Instead, I use wool dryer balls, which are a one-time investment and last indefinitely.

There are many other items in this category, but these are a few simple and cost-effective changes. Keep in mind that while some initial investments may seem higher, you’ll no longer need to repeatedly purchase these items every time you go to the store.

Tip #2 – Reduce Waste and Maximize Savings With Meal Planning and Leftover Management

Making the most of the food in your fridge is crucial to reduce waste. If you don’t plan your meals before going to the store and just buy whatever, you’re likely to either over-purchase ingredients for complicated recipes that you never make, resulting in food waste. Either way, you’re probably tossing out food every week.

I recently had to throw out expensive lamb meat because I’m cautious about food safety, having experienced food poisoning three times in my life. I have a highly sensitive sense of smell, and I can detect odors from quite a distance. I’m particular about cooking and consuming food soon after purchase. I prefer cooked food that sits in the fridge for two to three days and then goes into the freezer, rather than having uncooked food. Occasionally, we dine out more than planned, and that meal I was supposed to cook goes to waste, along with the money spent on eating out. This is where having a meal planning system can be incredibly helpful.