Inspiration can come from the least likely of places. Whether it’s the Costco Connection magazine, or a thrifted 1940’s wartime scrapbook, (more on that in a later post) inspiration is everywhere!
I love magazines, but I try to stay away from costly and cluttery subscriptions. I did succumb to a Better Homes and Gardens subscription in a weak moment, as it was only $5, (plus I was able to use Amazon credit I earned through Swagbucks.) The current issue has an article where “Health Stars” dole out health advice that is mostly not up my alley whatsoever. (I could care less about being skinny. So no, Bob Harper, author of “Jumpstart to Skinny,” I will not be purchasing any turkey and swiss sandwiches, only to throw the bread away. But thanks for the wasteful tip all the same.)
However, there was a health tip from Harley Pasternak, “personal trainer to stars like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Megan Fox and Katy Perry,” where he explained how he treats himself:
“I want to eat chocolate chip cookies every single day. But I don’t buy a box and keep them at home. Instead, when I’m craving one really badly, I make it a special event. I go out and find the best, most delicious chocolate chip cookie to eat. It ends up being so satisfying that the craving doesn’t hit again for a few days.”
I kind of love this mindset. Not for weight management mind you, as chocolate chip cookies are meant to be baked at home in units of dozens, not purchased as a single unit. 🙂
I like the mindset of holding back until you can buy the best.
This technique translates well into areas beyond dieting. How many of us haven’t frittered away a dollar here and a dollar there to the point where the money and space simply doesn’t exist for the big expenditures? A process of holding off on purchases until we find exactly what we want. It means that a number of my household belongings are “place holders” that serve a functional purpose until I can find the exact, thriftiest and most beautiful items to welcome into my home.
I do not grab trendy low quality stuff from Target, instead I wait until I can find classic higher quality equivalents from Goodwill.
Impulse purchases are guilty of both A) draining our bank accounts and B) cluttering our homes. And by buying that the cheap box of dry chocolate chip cookies, we rob ourselves from having the resources for the “most delicious chocolate chip cookie.” Whether that cookie is paying the mortgage or buying the couch of our dreams.
Do you find yourself filling up on dry store brand cookies instead of holding out for the gourmet? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m the opposite…I want more bang for my buck! In the cookie situation, I could spend $2 for a single cookie that is unlikely to satiate me, and really isn’t the most satisfying thing OR I can spend a dollar more to get store bought cookies that will fill that need today and several days to come.
An interesting take. Have you ever watched the TV show “Hoarders,” where people have filled their homes with junky purchases, but are about to lose their homes? I see it like that.
And now my day is about to be all about the perfect cookie. I might have to drive all over town, eating multiple cookies to make this happen. 😉
Katy
Oh yes, LOVE hoarders! And it’s funny because I’m a minimalist when it comes to all other “stuff”. If it’s not perfect, I don’t want it in my home. Food? I just want ALL the cookies 😉
I *like* Famous Amos cookies, and I’ll gladly buy those over “gourmet” or even homemade chocolate chip cookies. Amos’ recipe is not too sweet, I can taste the chips, and I can eat a few every day. I save money buying them at the grocery store instead of the vending machine at work, so it’s frugal for me!
I agree. I never waste food calories and succumb my taste buds to crappy sweets. It’s not worth it!! People think I am a cookie snob, but I don’t care. I’m holding out for that perfect cookie!
I feel the same about stuff. We had a crap kitchen table and forever I was dreaming of having an Amish made wood table. Then, a family member had one they didn’t want anymore- free table! I also hold out for things at Good Will/ Salvation Army (mine are across the street from each other-score!) because I don’t want to support buying consumer products that are low quality and made by poorly treated workers.
Katie
I’ve noticed this with chocolate – In the past when I’ve purchased “cheapy” chocolate (M&Ms, etc), I would mindlessly eat handfuls of the stuff and not feel satisfied.
When I get some good chocolate, I savor & enjoy it, and I eat less of it.
Your body (and your house) knows when you’re trying to give it junk (and artificial colors)!
Me too! I worked at a health food store for a while and now I see no point in waxy, aerated cheap chocolate when I know what organic, fair trade, heavenly chocolate exists. And yes, I did spend MUCH of each paycheck on chocolate each week. 🙂
I actually notice little difference between the two…I can eat just as much as both haha!
Partially it’s the price tag on the fancy chocolate that slows me down! 🙂
I want the most for my buck when I comes to food. I won’t buy cheap quality, but wait u til it goes on sale cheap and then get enough to las me til it goes on sale again. In other things, I’d rather get one good thing, than a hoard of others. In my youth when I wanted good stemware, I bought one a month until I got a set of the good stuff. They have lasts us decades.
There is a great satisfaction in waiting until you find the perfect thing.
I had wanted a new set of queen sheets, and I don’t like microfiber.
I’d scoured thrift stores for a couple of months until I found a nearly new set of Martha Stewart living blue paisley sheets.SCORE
I’m happy, my husband’s just confused. His answer is well if it makes you happy!!!
We do the same thing at our house! My husband is a notorious snacker and will eat things he doesn’t even like because it’s *there* (especially at work). We’ve tried to commit to eating only what’s worth it to us, so it’d better be delicious and spectacular, not okay or eh.
It helps that we’re broke, too, so we can’t go buy the best every day.
I can make cookies at home that I know I will enjoy and they cost less and others can enjoy them. Places that claim “The perfect cookie” always charge an outrageous price and are never as good as what I can make at home. As far as chocolate, the only reason I eat less of the so called gourmet stuff is that it tastes so horribly like medicine that I have to force myself to eat it in the first place.
As a kid an art teacher once told me to buy the best quality supplies I could afford. I think that translates well to most purchases. If I can only afford a thrift store chair at least get the best quality one available.
Fantastic point!
When the craving hits, I tend to go for the Double Stuff Oreos everytime… and as I eat way too many over the next couple days, I feel guilty!
Now when I splurge on my favorite brand of dark chocolates, I dole them out carefully and consciously enjoy each one. I never realized the connection before, thanks! Hopefully my waistline will show the effects of a different mindset in the near future!
The Recovering Coupon Queen
recoveringcouponqueen.com
I am totally about waiting until I can buy the best I can afford. Food, furniture, clothes or anything else. I would rather ‘do without’ and save the money until I can buy EXACTLY what I want. My living room is currently painted plywood subfloor because I want hardwood and I’m saving so that I can buy it. With food that translates into the freshest quality ingredients that my money can buy. Maybe that’s just a trip to the farmer’s market instead of the grocery store but it makes me very happy. My money is ‘well spent’ – in my humble opinion ….. *grin*
We have a wonderful natural market co-op called PCC in my neck of the woods. They make wonderful cookies for 99 cents apiece. When we shop there (hubby and I) we will usually treat ourselves to one each. We know if we purchase a lot of them we will eat them every day…to many calories. It’s our treat and worth it to us. Btw…whole foods has the best cheesecake. They will sell it by the slice $3.99 and we share it. Just another treat we get a occasionally.
Wonderfully insightful! I have several things right here in front of me that I have just realized are merely “place holders.”