Adapted from an article by S. Friend
While we're waiting for an economic miracle, can we make the
earnings of one day last for eight?
Staying within a budget means having a budget to begin with
or at least some sort of scale that weighs our earnings
against our spendings and a prayer than they balance at the
end of the month. Most of us tip the scales by at least mid-
month. This could be the result of a combination of the
temptation to spend, especially around holiday season (and
when isn't it yomtov season in Eretz Yisroel?) and the
facility to rack up charges on credit. Also, most of us
simply don't earn enough. But we definitely spend too much.
And we're not even aware how we do this.
Take for example expenditures that often overlap two
categories of expenses. If you're taking your cellphone to
confer with your spouse about what to buy at the supermarket,
does the phone bill go under groceries or phone charges? Why
does it go at all? Leave the phone at home! If you buy
groceries or produce somewhere cheap but then pay 20 shekels
to have the food delivered, does that go under groceries or
transportation? And how much have you saved if you do that,
time taken into account? Au contraire, instead of having food
sent to you, take food with you, wherever possible, so that
you don't have to buy it. You save more money on an outing by
taking food and drink with you than you'd spend on it at
kiosks or fast food places.
Then there's the issue of buying in bulk. By all means, do,
especially if they deliver for free. Drinks are the most non-
perishable food items to buy in bulk. The bigger your family,
the more that makes sense. Even a smaller family can store
cleaning products, beverages and canned goods
indefinitely.
You've heard of never going shopping when you're hungry. Try
going shopping when you're starving. All you can think about
is your next meal and you won't be tempted to start
investigating all the new items on the shelves or
contemplating what you're going to eat a week from Tuesday.
Our ancestors didn't stock up. They killed a sheep, ate it
and didn't think about what they would serve for melave
malke in three days time. I remember seeing a sheep tied
to a post a couple of days before Pesach. I knew what awaited
that sheep but while this guy was still feeding his Seder
dinner [Ed. note: I hope he knew enough to cook it, not roast
it, at least for the Seder!], housewives everywhere had
already stocked the fridge for the entire festival.
Think like the Chofetz Chaim who closed his shop as soon as
he had made enough for the day. Buy what you need now. That's
especially true for things that spoil quickly. It doesn't
make sense to buy family-size packages of cornflakes if the
only one in your family who eats them can only eat 200 grams
at a time. Buy a smaller box and don't be taken in by
packaging that says, "Economy pack." Compare weights/prices.
Stay away from places that don't have prices marked on the
merchandise! Take along a calculator and do some math while
standing in the aisle of your favorite grocery. You'll find
that taking the time has saved you money.
To be continued...
