How to spend less and live more in 2021

If anything, Covid-19 has taught us that life is short. It is important to make the most of our time by living a fulfilling life, doing the things that bring us joy, with the people we love.

Rioma Cominelli, from First Loyalty Plus, believes that material possessions are fleeting, but the memories that come from our experience together, last forever.

“Memories come from experiences, adventures and the time we spend together. They are far more valuable than any item we will buy.

“Research shows that when we buy something new, we believe it will make us happier. And, it may for a while.

“We’ve all felt it; the excitement of saving for a big-ticket item, the elation that comes with finally buying it and the joy you feel when you use it for the first time. Over time, however, we adapt to having it in our lives, and the delight it once brought us, wears off,” Cominelli explained.

Research also reveals that while people’s satisfaction with the things they bought goes down over time, their satisfaction with experiences they spent money on, goes up.

“Things get old, they break and get thrown out, but experiences connect us and form part of who we are.”

She offers these three ways to buy less and experience more in 2021:

1. Stop unnecessary shopping

Have you ever walked into the shop for one specific item, only to come out with a full trolley? You can overcome this hurdle by leaving your card at home and only taking enough money to purchase the item/s on your list (yes, you need to also shop with a list!) If you are someone who can’t resist a good sale (whether you need the items or not), unsubscribe from all your favourite store newsletters and avoid “wandering” around malls at all costs! Get in and out as fast as possible to reduce temptation.

2. Be content with what you have

The first step to being content with what you have is to stop comparing yourself to others. And then, shift your mindset by writing all the things that you are grateful for.

“It could be as simple as having a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, or clothes in your cupboard. After writing everything down, you will be surprised at how much you actually have. Practice this exercise often and you will get into the habit of contentment soon enough. When you realise that all you have in your life is enough, the urge to have more ‘stuff’ will soon start to dissipate.”

3. Identify experiences

The key to investing in experiences is to create a list of where you’d like to go, what you’d like to do and who you want to experience them with.

“The perpetual cycle of buying stuff is unlikely to lead to long-term satisfaction. So next time you feel the need to indulge in retail therapy, plan a romantic weekend away with your spouse or shark cage diving with your mates instead and discover the job that comes with making lasting memories,” concludes Cominelli.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram