I drink coffee every morning. To that coffee I add a liberal but not overwhelming amount of cream and 2 sugars. It is decadent and I love it. I have at least 2 mugs of it every day. However, I have become more and more aware that my body would be happier if I wasn’t ADDING 4 teaspoons of sugar to my morning routine every day.
So one morning last week, on a whim, I decided I was going to use just a little less. I noticed the difference in taste but I was still plenty happy with my coffee. It isn’t a big deal or a drastic change but it’s a step in the right direction. I’ve kept it up all week. Good for my grocery budget. Good for my health. It got me thinking – cutting back just a little bit seems to be a theme for me.
I mentioned recently that I had done Weight Watchers in the past (the online version). I did it three years ago to drop my 20+ pounds of “I just had a baby” weight. I lost it in three months and have never gained it back. The big secret? Just a little less. A little less butter, a little less peanut butter, a little less dessert … little changes that made a big difference. I didn’t do anything huge or begin eating anything bizarre. I just stopped gorging on all the food I love practiced a little restraint. I’ve kept up with most of those good habits and it has paid off.
Let’s relate this to living frugally now. Washing a shower curtain liner doesn’t seem like any big deal, or putting less sugar in my coffee, or trying to use fewer sandwich bags – but it IS a big deal. The combined effort of just a little less many times over makes a BIG difference. I’ve only done a few drastic changes to cut the out-go of our money. Most of the money that has been freed up has come from a little bit here and there. By doing a little bit I’ve been able to trim EVERY area of our budget that has wiggle room (no matter how many cookies I bake them, the bank will not lower my car payment). We spend less on utilities, less on food, less on entertainment and eating out, less on clothing, less on waste … because I cut a little bit, a little at a time, until one day I looked back and said WOW.
Whether you’re trying to lose weight, eat healthier, be greener, spend less, save more – whatever your goal, if you commit to being consistent with the little changes you’ll be able to achieve it. There’s momentum to be gained by slow and steady progress that can’t be beat.
Why I do what I do ~ Funny, out of the blue comment from Chloe today – “Mom, did you know that dogs sniff before they go pee?”
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I needed this encouragement today!
Thank you!
Hugs to you & your family!
Netta´s last blog ..Lotsa Cars in Detroit!
OK, I know this wasn’t really the gist of your post, but you should try using Palm sugar in your coffee. It has only 15 calories per teaspoon versus the 35 in regular sugar. It tastes a little different but not much…just a little more like brown sugar. It’s also healthier because it’s not refined. It’s lower on the Glycemic Index. You can usually find them at Asian food markets and it’s fairly inexpensive. I paid about $3.50 for a big jar of it.
Just wanted to pass that along
Kelli M´s last blog ..Haiti Disaster Relief
This is a great post.
You know, I think about this when I’m rolling our recycling bins out to the curb every two weeks. No, my little bit of recycling isn’t going to save the earth, but it’s just a little less trash that would otherwise wind up in the landfill.
Courtney´s last blog ..Happy, happy birthday
Fantastic post, Nicki. I love how you applied the concept in so many different areas.
Amy @ Amy Loves It!´s last blog ..Giveaway and Review: Skin MD Naturals
I definitely agree with you. There have been a few times when I’ve gone “cold turkey” with some changes I needed to make. But most of the growth in my life has been the result of “one small step after the other”. Small changes do add up in big ways.
Well said. I find this is true in so many areas of life.
Elisa | blissfulE´s last blog ..at Catherine’s birthday party