Read First!

Hello,

Each day, I post several different ways to save both green (the money) and green (the planet).  For you to understand my methods and madness, there must be full disclosure.  I am not a saint.  I do not follow all my rules all the time.  I do not listen to my advice all the time.  This is the reason that I amend many of my rules.  Please understand that I make exceptions, fail, and do not always make the right decision.  I am quite human, make many mistakes, and learn many lessons.  This is a way for me to simply share my experiences and what has worked for me.  I hope that my posts help you think of new ideas and help you save money and the environment at the same time.  If you have any suggestions, see any mistakes, or find a contradiction in my logic, please point it out.  I’d love to get the feedback.  Thanks.

Also, please note that I’m not saying you shouldn’t have fun or live your life.  My point is the opposite.  I suggest that you simply adjust the way in which you spend your money.  I waste tons of money on things some people would never think of doing.  But I save enough in other places to make this possible.

That being said, please read this and think about it before you read anything else I write.  These things MUST be in place for anything I say to make any sense or for them to be effective.  I work like a wholesale club (more on this later).  I have a thin margin to account for.  You can’t make this work if you ignore the fact that this thin margin exists.  I will be making a post for each of these rules and will hopefully explain them in more detail.  In mostly a sequential order of importance the rules are:

1. Make a budget.  Make it by month, week, year, whatever, but if you don’t know, you’re done.

2. Identify things that can NOT be eliminated.  This is your first budget item.  There are very few things on this list.  VERY FEW!

3. Decide what is most important. I know it seems obvious, but this is vital.

4. Decide what is not important.  Everything not in #2 & #3 is in #4.

5. Eliminate debt before moving forward.  There are several personal exceptions to this rule.

6. If you can’t pay cash or check, you can’t afford it.  A few exceptions to this as well.

7. Figure out what you need to save for: retirement, college, house.  This is your second budget item.

8. Stop giving a damn about what other people think.  Many would argue that this should be higher on the list.

9. Come to the understanding that almost everything is a want, not a need.  I’m still working on this.

10. Learn how to do more things.  The more you know, the more you save.  I have a long list of things to learn.

I’m sure I’ll add more, but for now, that’s all I’ve got.  I’ll expand on rules and exceptions as I go.  Suggestions are always welcome.

Tom