Cube farms are great for overhearing little bits of random quotable goodness, like this gem from one of my (male) co-workers while he was talking on the phone with his wife (I can only assume):
I like to smell like a man, but sometimes I like to smell like a different-smelling man.
But this isn't a post about how to smell different, nor is it just for men. (Well, maybe the smelling like a man part is just for men, but hey, I won't tell.)
It's about being on the lookout for substitutions that can mix things up a bit without being more expensive.
I'm very much a stuck in a rut kind of guy on some things. If I find something I like, I'll get it again and again until they stop selling it to me. That's the way I'm wired, and my wife loves me anyway.
The neat thing about heading to the supermarket or the drugstore is that there are usually at least a few varieties of just about everything that cost pretty much the same:
- Different flavors (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, Moose Tracks)
- Different colors (50 different colors of Play-Doh®)
- Different shapes (spaghetti, bowtie, shells, macaroni)
- Different textures (creamy, chunky)
- Different scents (over two hundred brands of deodorant)
Trying something different doesn't have to mean spending more than you would anyway. So consider switching aftershaves and try changing around other products you normally buy to keep budgeting and frugality from getting to be too much of a drag.
It's gotta be better than running out for a $300 purse.
Absolutely! Trying out different products is a fun remedy when grocery-shopping is taking its toll both on our busy minds and tight pockets.
We all get that itch for variety(well most of us). For me it is usually to go to a new store and then I see XYZ that I just have to have! Thanks for reminding me that there are ways to mix things up, without busting my budget.
I personally love trying different products, so I’m constantly looking for new brands etc. Sometimes you can find real ‘jewels’ both in terms of quality and price.