Make a Change Monday: Spend a Bit More for Reusable

photo © 2009 Ernst Vikne | more info (via: Wylio)

When I first started Family Friendly Frugality, I knew I wanted to approach frugal living from a very relaxed and welcoming mindset. I wanted to create a blog about frugal living that didn’t leave people  feeling overwhelmed or less than when they walked away.

The main complaint I hear about saving money nowadays is that it is too darn overwhelming to know where to begin. If you have $20,000 in credit card debt, is clipping a few coupons realistically going to make much of an impact to your bottom line? If you are drowning in student loans and house payments, is living within your means even possible?

The answer to all of the above is  yes. While the small things you do might not add up to financial freedom, they do make a big difference. Some of them will chip away at your debt or create more wiggle room in a tight budget. Some of them will simply give you more confidence and a self esteem boost, proving to yourself that you can save money!

So I am starting a Make a Change Monday series where I will simply give you one task to work on for the week. You might already be doing it…so you get to skip that week! If not though, try it out and see if it makes a difference! I’ll keep them small manageable changes that don’t require a lot of effort or learning the drugstore game .

This week’s Make A Change Task:

Spend a Bit More for Reusable

It can be tough for us frugal folk to spend more. Even when we know that longterm, it can sometimes be a good idea to not buy the cheapest of the cheap! The truth is, quality matters a heck of a lot. Sometimes, it is totally worth it to spend a bit more to get something that will last longer.

On the same note, disposable products can be very wasteful and the ultimate money pits. This week, buy something reusable instead of something you throw away after just a few uses. Maybe you’ll buy a good quality coffee cup so you don’t have to use a paper cup when you go to the coffee shop. Maybe instead of buying paper napkins, you’ll invest (or make!) some linen napkins. Little changes like this can make a big dent in your month to month expenses (not to mention, they can really help the environment!). Start small though, and work your way up.

Be sure to check out the previous Make A Change Monday Tasks.