Saturday, August 16, 2014

THE CASE OF FRITTER vs FRITTER

I’m going to present the case of Fritter vs. Fritter.

Yes, there is “fritter” the noun and “fritter” the verb.

“Fritter” the noun is one conjuring up visions of small balls of hot, fried batter coated in white powdered sugar that one would salivate for at a carnival or the state fair.

 “Fritter” the verb is spending money bit by bit, on “stuff”… such as “fritter” the noun.

Today the focus is on the verb.

When living a frugal lifestyle, it requires members of the family involved in the budget to be on board with the program. Spendthrifts sabotage the plan.

If there is discretionary spending going on, frittering away a dollar here and a dollar there, your budget can be destroyed for the week or the month.

Suddenly, daily purchases add up to double-digit dollar spending. How does one recover?

I have two approaches.

First, if you have been able to squirrel away unused money at the end of the month, this becomes your emergency fund when dollars are frittered away. I take that money and convert it to a gift card. I still have Mother’s Little Helper’s “squirrel jar” for such emergencies. It’s not being used but that’s a post for another day. I use it to store my emergency gift cards.

Another is to hold back some of the designated weekly spending money. If you have set aside $60, spend less so you have money to recover from unexpected purchases.

Whether it is a noun or a verb, “fritter” is guilty of giving me indigestion.
Ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case.

SOUND THE BUGLE! Today’s tip! One way to save money is to stay out of stores. Dedicate a “no-spend” weekend and take that money and put it into an emergency fund in your house. Studies show the more often you go into the store, the more money you are likely to spend.
                                  THE EMERGENCY SQUIRREL JAR
 
 
 

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