How to Have More Time and Money

Ever wish you had more time or money? Probably.

According to one study, 80% of working adults wish they had more time to spend with their friends and family. In a similar study, 60% of working parents “always” feel rushed.

And the New York Times, back in 2015, called the current American generation “stressed, tired, and rushed.” No doubt, many of us know that to be true.

What if there was a solution?

What if there was a way to have more time available in your life? AND more money as well?

There is a solution. And it is available right now, without spending a penny (literally).

The solution to this problem is: Shop less.

In fact, cccording to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spent 22 minutes/day shopping in 2019.

That is the equivalent of 133 hours each year (or 10,400 hours over a lifetime) spent shopping.

And it should be noted that this survey is far more conservative than most. Some studies show the average number in many scenarios might actually be closer to 400 hours each year! That’s almost 8 hours per week.

Almost everybody I know would take more time or money if it was offered to them.

Here’s the good news: You can have more of both.

Shop less.

Some might argue, “Yeah, but I have to shop. My family needs food and toiletries and my house needs cleaning. Some of these shopping errands are non-negotiable.”

And you would be right.

To live is to consume and there is a certain level of “shopping” that will always need to be maintained. But according to the studies listed above, only 25% of our shopping is spent on necessities (groceries, toiletries, etc.). The rest is spent on nonessentials amounting to $18,000 per year for the average American.

Wouldn’t we all like an extra 25 hours and $1,500 every month?

A second argument might go as follows, “Yeah, but what am I going to do with extra money and extra time if I can’t spend it shopping?”

And the answer is, “Anything else in the world. Surely there are more important things in life than what is on sale at your local department store. All those things you want to do with your life? You should go do them.”

We are a generation struggling to find both time and money. Given that reality, it’s surprising how many of us choose to use the little free time and money we have to spend it shopping—whether going to the mall, browsing websites, or simply looking at the lives of others wishing we had the physical possessions they own.

Shopping depletes two of our most finite resources: time and money.

Now, I’m not naïve enough to assume everyone who reads this post is going to stop shopping entirely.

However, for those of us who’ve ever wished we had more time and money in our lives, take some time to seriously consider this week how shopping and buying less would provide both—now, and for the rest of your life.