As a personal finance blogger, I love a good deal. I enjoy saving money any way I can.
I’m always looking for ways to get things cheaper. After all, when you are in debt, every dollar matters.
But for the past few months, I’ve started to change my tune ever so slightly. I realized this after reading post after post of people saving money on certain things and getting it for the absolute best price.
I started to feel bothered by this, but I couldn’t really put my finger on why that was. Saving money is a good thing, right?
After a few months of thinking about it, I realized that I’m bothered by the fetishization of saving money, at all costs.
I think in our quest to save money at all costs, we forget that there are real people behind the products and services we buy.
And how many of us really think about that? So when you choose to save money, who are you really supporting?
Let’s face it, we vote with our dollars, so every dollar you spend, you are (like it or not) vouching for a company and a values ecosystem that you may or may not even agree with.
So, when you decide to save money and get cheap items of clothing, coffee, chocolate and the like, you aren’t just saving money. You are making a statement.
You could be supporting sweat labor or insane working conditions. You could be taking money out of your own community. You could be limiting the chance to support someone doing something that has incredible value.
I think what really made all of this clear for me is being my own boss and seeing just how people can undervalue you. People are looking for the best prices, the best deals, at all costs.
Too often people want me to work for free or at an insulting amount. It’s frustrating to tell someone your rates and have them go somewhere else for someone who will do it for free or at a rate that I’d never consider. I know these people are not my ideal client.
But my point is that, as consumers we so often champion the virtues of saving money, showcasing our savings like prizes on a mantle.
What we don’t consider is the other side. The small business owner trying to make ends meet. The coffee grower abroad working 16-hour days.
We don’t see the people that we choose not to support.
The means of production is so far removed from the actual products, which further encourages more mindless consumerism.
Yet many of us say we want to be more mindful consumers. But are you willing to spend more money on things that support your values? Support other people? Your local community?
In my own quest to have a deeper relationship with money and be a mindful consumer, I’m going to really think about the purchases I make. Saving money isn’t the only thing to consider.
Money is political and I want to make sure I’m spending in alignment with my values and “voting” appropriately.
If you want to change the world, you have to change the way you spend.
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42 comments
YES.
🙂
Great point Melanie! I was thinking similarly recent. I’m all for saving money, but want to make sure it lines up with my values. I value my time, I would much rather pay for laundry detergent, than save a few buck and spend the time making my own.
It’s important to look at time/cost/production and see what’s worth it to you. Even though I know going out to eat is expensive, I don’t like cooking and we always have so many dishes (don’t have a dishwasher). It’s worth it to me to get my time back occasionally and go out.
Really great points. So many people talk a big game about not supporting child labor, etc., yet purchase goods produced using the very techniques they speak against. Reminds me of the saying “you’re actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”
Exactly! Money is powerful, so let it speak your values.
I agree with you, Melanie! It’s part of the reason I buy gifts almost exclusively from the shops in my neighborhood. I love supporting local makers and artists whenever I can.
Yes, and usually they have better stuff 😉
I agree! One of the many reasons we do not use credit cards. Tallest buildings in every city, but have managed to destroy countless lives. Am I going to change anything? No. But I can exercise that choice.
But you are changing YOUR life and living by YOUR values. Which is so important.
I totally agree. I see a lot of pf bloggers who shop at Wal-Mart. I will never shop there because of the way they treat their workers. I’d rather pay a little more for my groceries and clothes than support a terrible business!
I won’t shop there either. Sometimes saving money isn’t worth the human cost.
Good point Melanie. I think about that with site like Fiverr. Sometimes I’m really excited to get something like a motion graphics open for really cheap, but then I think about how overall I’m screwing our industry and almost devaluing myself!
I hear ya. If we don’t value others, how can we expect others to do the same for us?
I love this! Every dollar is a vote. This leads to much more mindful spending. Thanks for making me think today about the best use of my votes.
You’re welcome! We all should be more mindful about our dollars.
I love the last line. It’s put-it-on-the-wall mantra good.
Aww, thanks! That’s a great compliment!
I think about this the most often when I purchase services, especially childcare. I understand that in my city the going rate for a childcare worker is just $8-$9/hr, and they are in charge of 4-6 toddlers. Toddlers are exhausting! I’m happy to pay our babysitter above market rate to watch our son.
Food is easily the toughest area for me. Theoretically, eating locally is best for the environment, but practically speaking its next to impossible to find reasonable deals on local foods without shopping at 42 different stores. Maybe one day, I will grow my own food (by that I mean the my husband will grow our food. I can’t keep anything alive).
Yeah, the day care thing is crazy. I don’t understand how someone in charge of your kids gets paid so little. Food is also hard for me. I know I should only eat organic and local based on my values, but it’s hard and expensive, so I don’t. But I do my best where I can and I think that’s all we can do.
I don’t often think about my dollars as a vote, but I love the way you put that. Because I do sometimes operate under that philosophy.
Here’s a tangentially related example. The other day BOTH of our vehicles had to be in the shop, so we ended up renting a car. We always rent from the same place if we an help it, just turns out she was incredibly unhelpful that day (and apparently was last week, when booking my rental as part of our car move). Anyway, she had no cars and I hopped over to the next counter. He had cars. He was SO nice. It was the quickest check-out I have ever done. The problem? All he had were expensive SUVs. But you know what, instead of take it for one day and make a reservation with our “usual” company for the remaining days – we are keeping it. The service and attitude were excellent.
Love that story. Sometimes it’s okay to spend a little more if you like what you are getting and the service is great.
We still probably support all sorts of horrible things because we have a lot of things we need to save for. But the one step we’ve taken is to stop shopping at Walmart.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudge anyone who does shop there. If you want the best price, that’s usually where you’ll find it. But we’re okay paying a few dollars more and not supporting that place’s employment practices.
I’m also trying to shop more mindfully based on what kinds of legislation companies support. We’re lucky to have never had Chick-Fil-A so we have no problem skipping it. But it turns out there are a few places we eat at with similar agendas. So I’m trying to cut down there.
Yeah, I think it can be tough. I don’t think anyone can do this 100 percent and it’s a luxury for sure. But even so, we can be more mindful. I also stopped shopping at Walmart and other places because of their practices. I think the key is to be mindful and do the best we can, knowing that perfection is elusive.
I completely agree, though I’m not the best at spending true to that. As I’ve aged, I’ve become much more aware of all this and tried to adapt my spending accordingly.
In a related tangent, have you seen the movie The Little Princess? The main actress is actually an heiress to the Hyatt hotel fortune. She’s a philanthropist now. In an interview I saw, she talked about how spending is a moral decision because of the impact it can have. She’s worth a Google.
It’s hard to do this 100 percent. I don’t think that everyone can. But I think we can all think about our purchases more and do our best. I haven’t seen The Little Princess. I’ll check it out via google, sounds cool.
Great post Melanie, seriously. I love it when you said “Money is political and I want to make sure I’m spending in alignment with my values and “voting” appropriately”. Go girl! 🙂
It’s true! Thanks for the love 😉
I love to save money BUT, I don’t want to support conditions or treatment of others that go against my core values. Part of the reason I ride my bike, thrift, and embrace practices that are a bit “hippy” is that I want to respect the world we live on. I also try very hard to buy American products (especially Colorado products-which can be more expensive) but support my local economy and keep people employed. Money is 100% political which is why boycotting South Africa helped create the impetuous to end apartheid. I wish that we would remember to vote with our dollars more instead of just shouting slogans.
I am so with you! Yes to all of this. I do my best to support local as well. It can be tough. Low prices are alluring. But when I can, as much as possible, I try to do my best to shop with my values.
GREAT POST! I have had this happen a few times to me too where someone says I’m overpriced (on my services), but I know I’m worth and I don’t want to accept less. On the other hand, I have to pay the bills…
Exactly! Don’t undervalue yourself!
This is a topic that bothers my conscience because at this point, when it comes to shopping, frugality is a higher priority than anything else. I’m almost afraid to learn more about the products I’m buying, in what country they were made, and under what labour laws. Part of me wants to wait for financial freedom to be mindful, but of course, I should be mindful now.
I know, it’s so hard. I’ve totally been there, where cost is the ultimate factor. But now that I’m making more, I’m willing to be more mindful to an extent. I’m not perfect, but I do want to spend on the “right thing” as much as I can.
Yes, I am so behind this.
Even though we’re on a tight budget, we’re making a point to buy our produce from the farmer’s market (all vendors from less than 50 miles away) from May until November. We buy presents from the small shops down the main drag. When we rarely go out to eat, we stay away from chain restaurants.
I buy cosmetics, clothes and detergents from companies that have ethical practices.
Bread, cheese and olives come from the small bakery down the street.
I am one of those people who rolls their eyes every time someone mentions their adoration for Target. Yup, I’m not even ashamed to admit it 🙂
We don’t spend a lot of money, but we are absolutely convinced that every sale counts. Every since cent that you spend is either put in the pocket of a corporate chain or a small business owner.
Love this! That’s awesome you are so mindful and really spend on your values, where it matters for you.
Agreed!
I also want to add that when you buy the cheapest thing – you definitely get what you pay for! Sometimes it’s worth it to spend more for a better quality item. And if that also goes to support a great local business, that’s even better!
For realz. I’ve bought stuff at the dollar store that lasts a week. Hmmmm, I wonder why, lol?
I just discussed this with PiC the other day. We were on the road and pulled over to a new build, sort of a themed mini-mall in the middle of nowhere, and we found that they’d included a dog park with dog poo bags and fake grass. It was great for Seamus to get out and stretch his legs, and take a break from the car. I sent PiC in to refill Seamus’s water bottle and an ice cream cone for us and he came out with a bit of a grimace. That, he said, was $3.50 for a single scoop. Normally I’d have vetoed that immediately but I pointed out that really, it was $3.50 for a surprisingly nice pit stop for us and the dog who is usually an afterthought so far as these shops go. If we want the nice things, or basic amenities even, we do have to pay a bit when we get them.
Granted, there was a time in my life when I couldn’t spare the dollar. And in those times, I wouldn’t have used the amenities (or been on a road trip!)
Our dollars do represent our values, for better or for worse.
THIS! “Our dollars do represent our values, for better or for worse.” Yes, so true.
I think about this a lot. It’s why I won’t shop at Wal-mart. Not only do I not trust where the clothing comes from, but I don’t like their build, abandon, build formula. I also watched them decimate my hometown. ANYWAY, I agree. I will pay more if it means supporting local business or making an effort not to exploit a worker. I’m glad you brought it up.
Wow. I’d love to hear more. It’s just something I started thinking more and more about and I realized that I want to be mindful with my dollars as much as I can.