This post originally appeared onThe Simple Dollar.
I used that debt to get a nice car… which I no longer own.
I used that debt to buy a lot of electronics… which I no longer own.
I used that debt to buy a lot of restaurant meals… which I mostly dont remember at all.
I used that debt to buy a lot of books… which I mostly dont own.
I used that debt to delve into expensive hobbies… which I mostly dont participate in any more.
Why did I let that happen?
Its simple.I believed that to live a modern, comfortable life, Ihadto get into debt.
The whole idea was ludicrous, of course.
What happened once I figured this out?
Even special purchases can become completely forgettable.
The first book you buy this year might be memorable, but the 30th?
It just gets tossed on your shelf.
Thats the whole problemthey just fade away.
What purchases did you make that you cant even remember or barely remember?
Look for the places where you spent that money and recognize thatthose are pretty wasteful placesfor you to go.
You dont get anything lasting out of your money spent there.
Fast food almost always falls into this category, as do many chain restaurants.
The meals are completely forgettable, relatively expensive, unhealthy, and actually dont save much time, either.
The same thing is true for convenience stores and gas stations.
In fact, its basically always true there.
Sure, you may be really hungry or really thirsty on a road trip.
The end result is that many homeowners find themselves pushed into a corner.
Often, they solve this by going into further debt for automobiles and for things they want at home.
Its not a fun way to live.
A much better approach is to simplyrentrather thanbuy, and rent small.
Dont pay a bunch extra every single month because you might someday want to host a lavish party there.
Extra space means that youll just be filling it with stuff that you dont really need.
The solution is to go small.
Those things arewaycheaper than rent on a larger space or a mortgage payment.
Youll literally be saving hundredsor even thousandsper month by going this route.
That money can go straight into savings to actuallybuya larger place somedayor for fulfilling whatever dreams you may have.
Rely on Other Means of Transportation
This doesnt mean that you shouldnt own a car, necessarily.
Everyone has a different situation and, for some, a car is vital.
In many cities, thats more than enough.
Cars are expensive, even if theyre paid off.
You have to pay for insurance, registration, maintenance, gas, and parking.
Keep the cycle going.
Those people havent been in a library in a very long time.
Many libraries also have equipment of various kinds that you could borrow.
These things arefreeto borrow.
You dont have to pay a dime for them.
Find Outdoor Hobbies
An outdoor hobby serves several purposes at once.
For one, it gets you outside and moving around, which is good for your health.
Youll feel better, have more energy, and keep serious medical problems at bay.
For another, most outdoor hobbies (note: not all) arent very expensive.
For yet another, most outdoor activities are inherently social.
Its really easy to participate in outdoor activities in a group.
A team sport at a playground or a park is purely social.
Even something like a hike can be a social endeavor if you invite other people to go along.
For yetanother, many outdoor activities feed our natural human need tocollect.
I enjoycollectinga number of things that I find in the outdoors, many of them in photograph form.
Our front garden has a bunch of rocks weve discovered, too.
Total cost for all of it?
Invite some friends along, too.
The trick is finding those groups, andMeetupis basically perfect for that.
Its free and points out groups of all kinds that meet within a radius of where you live.
I personally have found several groups due to Meetup and have become a lasting member of two of them.
Have Some Sense About Your Wardrobe
Another challenging area for many people is clothes.
Many young professionals are expected to dress well and doing so can end up creating a pretty serious expense.
Thankfully, theres a smart solution to that, too.
If you add another shirt, your number is still only one.
If you add another shirt, this number goes up to six.
Even better, if you add another shirt, this number goes up to 30.
There are a couple of catches here.
One, this does require regular laundry duty.
Look at Used Options First
Its such a simple rule.
I cant believe everyone doesnt do this by default, but they dont.
Are you about to buy a slow cooker?
Dont go to Amazon and click buy it now.
If the answer is yes, you probably just saved $40.
Theres likely something used that will work perfectly for you available at a stiff discount in your community.
The thing is, youll never find it if you dont look.
Whenever youre about to buy something, put in a bit of effort to find it used.
Call the local secondhand storesor stop by.
You still live the life you want to live.
You choose to live for memorable experiences, not forgettable ones that just drain your wallet.
And you do it all withoutthe stress of debt.
Thats what I call a pretty great life.
Image byFalara(Shutterstock).
