The million dollar question is: “Should you save more, or should you make more?”

To most people, the obvious answer is make more money. For others the answer is to save more. But what happens if there are no options to make more, and the money you do make barely covers the bills… how can you save more then? Caution, brutally honest truth follows in the next paragraph. If you don’t like the truth, please move on.

Realistically, BOTH of the above answers are wrong for the majority of people.  Either through conscious choice, or sheer laziness, no money making scheme will work for you, no matter how good it is for someone else. You know who you are, the ones that are content with just getting by because it is easier . You may claim that you “want” to make more money, or you “want” to save more money, but when it comes down to it, you won’t.

So what is left? What other option could there possibly be then? The only other option I see (besides winning the lottery or doing something illegal) is Spending Discipline. Oh crap, he said the “D” word… yes, I said DISCIPLINE! Of course I don’t expect you to drastically change your habits overnight, not going to happen. But with baby steps, and some consistency, you can see some huge results and hidden money for you to blow… errr, I mean spend wisely. :p

Listen Up! My version of Spending Discipline actually caters to the most lazy people in the world… because it is easier! Ya, I’m talking to YOU, E-A-S-I-E-R.

Easier means cheaper in my book, in this case my blog. I can and will show you how to make your life more easy, enhance your laziness, save time AND save money at the same time. What you do with that new found money is your business of course, that is for another blog post.

Sounds like I am boasting so far right? Well let me ask you this, is it easier and cheaper to have 5 different household cleaners doing five tasks, or is it easier to have 1 that can do them all? Not only is it easier, but less time spent shopping for them, less room storing them, and does the job better than the original products. With 1 simple thing, you can eliminate toothpaste, dish soap, laundry soap, shampoo and body wash. Now it sounds like I’m going to try and sell you some miraculous, to good to be true product right? WRONG

The product is simple, common BAKING SODA, brand doesn’t matter. Aluminum-Free baking soda can be used for cleaning everything from your teeth, hair, body, laundry, dishes, floors, even outside things like sidewalks and pools. Many of the products that you use for these cleaning jobs are not even as effective as baking soda. It is a very alkaline substance, which kills many forms of bacteria and viruses, mildew, molds, etc.

So isn’t it easier and cheaper to go to the store and buy 1 product instead of all of those combined? Many of those are purchased every week, or every other week which could save you $50 – $100. Doesn’t sound like much? Remember, we are taking baby steps towards a bigger goal. If you cannot manage this little step, why waste your time trying bigger steps?

One last thing I would like to add before I end this is laundry. Simple changes to your laundry habits, and clothes wearing habits can make your life easier, and save you on water bills, electricity bills, and heating bills (water heater), and also soap costs. If you wear something for only an hour, I really hope that you do not consider it dirty. Unless you are a really sweaty person, or you don’t shower everyday, then there is no reason to throw it in the hamper. Jeans especially are a good example. They are the largest and heaviest items to wash, minimize on these and your laundry tasks will be so much easier, faster and cheaper. Try to only wear ONE set of clothes per day also, if you can. Now if you work in a dirty environment this might not be possible for you, but for most people it is.

Now that you have minimized your loads of laundry, use this trick to compound your effectiveness: use cold water only, use a SMALL amount of baking soda, and combine whites and darks in one load. This DOES NOT work for delicates, or first time washes for certain clothes like dark blue jeans and colored t-shirts. If you use cold water, and NO bleach, I have safely washed whites and darks together for years. Instead of having three little loads, wash them all in one bigger load. This cuts down your time, cuts back on soap (baking soda), and eliminates hot water use. E-A-S-Y

You can dry them all together as well… do you see the benefits here? $$

In conclusion, you will make your life easier, make tasks faster, and save money by following the above simple steps. Next I will go into a more pro-active way that you can learn to budget efficiently.

-bryan j bailey