MoneyMindedMoms: Vices - The Leaks that Drain You

They’re habits we know we ought to kick. They’re like parasites that consume time, zap energy and waste money. Getting back to last week’s “leaky bucket” analogy, until you plug the holes, you’ll be working twice as hard and only getting half the results.

Leak #2
Things like excessive drinking, smoking or doing drugs are obvious vices that need to go. But consider things like: chronic disorganization, habitually zoning on TV, playing the lotto, using credit cards, paying fees for rapid refunds or even poor eating and exercising habits? Whether you realize it or not, they’re draining you - both financially and emotionally.

Plugging the Leaks
I suggest you start by conquering something relatively easy. Rome was not built in a day. For example, I stressed every week about getting to church on time, making sure we had cash for the tolls, and hoping we’d get a parking spot that wouldn’t require crossing a busy street - with six kids. Like clockwork, by the time we were ready to leave the house, my stress and anxiety level were already through the roof. Eventually I made a short list called “Easy Things that Will Make My Life Better.” With a little forethought, here’s what I realized:

1. Getting over my concerns about “Big Brother Watching” & just getting an EZ Pass would immediately make my commute faster and cheaper. (Faster + Cheaper = Better)
2. Getting a handicapped hangtag (lupus) would ensure I’d have a closer and safer spot from which to load and unload all my children.

With a little bit of thought (and very little effort) these two simple things radically transformed my Sundays.

The Challenge:
Make your own “ Easy Things that Will Make My Life Better” list right now, and post it on our forum.

Sabrina O’Malone works full-time while raising and homeschooling her 6 children ages 13 and under. (That’s no typo - six kids + a full-time job + homeschooling!) Thanks to the Great Recession, she is rediscovering the lost art of frugality - and writing about the secrets to maintaining a great lifestyle while saving money. To keep up to date on Sabrina’s comings and goings and other hot-button topics, check out the following:

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