A Productive Rant About Parent’s Wasting Money & Moaning
If there’s only one thing in this world that really grinds my gears, it’s when parents with similar income levels ask me “how do you afford to do [insert X, Y, or Z].” The reason it annoys me is that the answer could not be simpler: priorities and sacrifice.
When people talk to our family as we have it easy, a large part of me wants to give them a quick short, sharp slap to the face. Sadly, that’s usually frowned upon in the playground. Instead, I’m going to reveal some of the simple ideas that will enable you to enjoy more of life’s little luxuries.
Your Child Doesn’t Need Extravagance
As a parent, it’s only natural that you want to treat your son or daughter. Seriously, though, their idea of the perfect day varies from yours. A failure to recognise this is one of the most common mistakes I see, and it’s infuriating.
Inviting their friends over for a birthday party is far more effective than the expensive day trips. Sometimes I wonder if parents choose those extravagant ideas just to show off rather than provide their child with a magical day. The mind boggles.
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Birthday parties aren’t the only moment where many parents go overboard. As an adult, you might love the idea of taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa or Australia. In truth, though, the kids are probably happier in a family holiday camp. If that simplicity enables you to enjoy more days out throughout the year too, you’d be an idiot to ignore it.
You Don’t Need The Latest Products
In many ways, the power of consumerism is the devil. The amount of times I see someone unnecessarily upgrade to the latest product is the stuff of nightmares. Frankly, learning to appreciate products until they actively need replacing should be top of every parent’s agenda.
Smartphones are the main culprit. With a Zaggor SIM deal, you can reduce monthly costs greatly by moving away from your traditional contract. OK, so you won’t get the latest 2017 model of your handset. In truth, though the tweaks are so minimal that this minor sacrifice is well worth the three-figure annual saving.
There are many other products where parents fall into the trap of upgrading too soon. From vehicles to winter jackets, changing your approach in a positive manner is key.
You Can Do Things For Yourself
The most frustrating thing that I tend to see, however, is the laziness of other parents. They spend vast sums of money on labourers and other services when they could do the jobs themselves for a fraction of the cost. And then they have the audacity to moan that they can’t afford a new outfit. It’s crazy.
When it comes to DIY and home upgrades, the DIY Network is packed with guides and tutorials. Preparing work lunches can stop you from wasting huge amounts on store-bought foods and restaurant lunches.
As mentioned at the very top of this post, getting your priorities in order is essential. Until you do that, any moaning in my direction will fall on deaf ears.
