3 Really "stupid" ways I have wasted money this year

From time to time everybody makes mistakes that cost them money. All of my "stupid" ways that I have wasted money this year have been caused by either being distracted or not paying full attention to what I was doing. I share them with you so that you can learn from my mistakes, and so that you don't feel that badly when you make mistakes with managing your money.

1. At the self check out in the grocery store I requested 20 dollars cash back with my purchase. After I left the store it took me 10 minutes to realize that I forgot to take the cash from the dispenser.

2. Again at the grocery store, I left a candy bar that I had purchased with the clerk. The clerk had left it out for me, and I forgot about it.

3. At a sandwich shop I got charged for two large sandwiches when I had ordered two small ones. I did not realize this till after I got back home with the sandwiches.

It does absolutely no good for me to dwell on the errors I have made. The only thing I can do is learn from the mistakes I have made. While I need to be on the lookout to avoid these specific errors again, the main thing that these errors had in common is that I made all of these mistakes when I was both tired and hungry. I need to take steps to limit purchases when I am more prone to make spending mistakes.

Comments

[lulugal11]

Ouch on leaving the cash in the dispenser. I am so afraid of this happening to me that I never get cash back from shopping. Luckily Walmart has a bank that I use so I just go there to get cash instead.

[Michael E. Douroux]

Subject: Financial Conservation - Relying on the Integrity of Individual Common Sense

John Muir's long walks through the Sierra Nevada mountain range was an individual, seminal event that began a grassroots groundswell that evolved into the American conservation movement.

Similarly, the long term solution to the current financial crisis that has enveloped the world will not come from the top down, but rather must begin with a change in perspective at the individual level.

Fortunately, the individual has a big head start. The basic principles and benefits of conserving our natural resources for current and future generations have, for the most part, entered the collective consciousness. Financial Conservation is a slight broadening in the application of these very same insights to our individual financial resources. Relying on the integrity of individual common sense and bringing awareness to the necessity of "Core Asset Preservation" for the individual to stay in step with the normal life cycles, I believe, is the way forward.

Additionally, many of the frontline casualties in the massive triage and cost-cutting we see the government and business world applying to this situation are the conservation and humanitarian organizations whose survival depends on financial responsibility. The perspective of Financial Conservation will help to ensure the ongoing funding sources for these vitally important human endeavors.

Best regards,

Michael E. Douroux
Hollywood, Florida
medouroux@yahoo.com