Abundance is about being rich, with or without money.
Suze Orman
Yesterday, while pulling laundry out of the dryer a couple shirts were stuck together from static. I’d forgotten to put in a fresh dryer sheet. Reaching for a new dryer sheet, I contemplated cutting it in half. Not too long ago I started using Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard Dryer Sheets (my part cattle dog Murphy is a super shedder… if you know, you know!). These sheets are huge, so much bigger than anything I’d used in the past.
Back when I was struggling financially, I used to cut my dryer sheets in half and use them multiple times. I did this because, feeling broke, it was one more way I could pinch my pennies. I’m sure I thought I was being frugal and conserving my cash. In reality, I was probably over-spending in other areas where I should have been cutting back instead (ie whatever hobby was participating in at the time).
Now, while standing at my washer and dryer I looked at the shelf above at my detergent, dryer sheets and other laundry supplies. I have one full unopened box and another mostly full box of dryer sheets. I have an abundance of dryer sheets. I literally said this out loud to myself “I have an abundance of dryer sheets!”.
And I chose to use a new, full size dryer sheet to tumble that load a few minutes longer to remove the static. As it tumbled, I thought about this choice to use a full sheet just because I can. I could have chosen to use a half sheet. Not from a place of scarcity but from a place abundance, with a focus on frugality as a less wasteful lifestyle for the well being of the planet. Either choice is fine, as long as I know WHY I’m choosing that and its coming from a space of abundance.
And if I were to have a conversation with past-me who was feeling a cash crunch… I would say a couple things. Firstly “Girl! Learn how to budget, know your numbers, get a clue” and then we would talk about being poor vs feeling broke. About how I could have little money and still feel abundant. About possibly choosing to cut those dryer sheets in half and be thankful for having them. I could even be happy that buying the store brand would save a few pennies that could be put to paying off debt.
It’s taken practice to get to this point. And if my experiences can be useful to others on their path to abundance and wealth- the next time you find yourself contemplating a frugal choice, take a moment to ask yourself why you’re making that choice. Is it from a place of abundance or scarcity? Remember, both choices are fine as long as it’s a conscious decision that aligns with your values.
And now, I have a very serious question…
Do you cut your dryer sheets in half?