How much time do you spend saving money?

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Disclosure: This article is not intended to be financial advice and information should be taken as educational only. Read the disclaimer.

Have you ever been grocery shopping and seen those bags of vegetables already chopped up?

Like the beans, soup vege or coleslaw cabbage ready for cooking or pouring onto a plate. 

Oh, and these packs are more expensive than picking the un cut ones on the shelf right next to them. 

I used to scoff at this, thinking who'd pay 40% more for something just because its chopped?

But after finding myself buying a couple of these packs over time I realised that there is value in a product like this. The value isn't the cost, but the convenience.

To some people, the simple fact that a product can be more convenient is worth the cost. Could be vegetables, could be a taxi or someone to do your gardening.

We all have ways to focus our spending dnd convenience is just one of them (as is cost). 

While some of us may look at grocery shopping as a way to cut costs and get a good price for food, there is also a group of people who hate prepping their meals. There are also others who want the best tasting honey or most activated almond milk.

The point here is that at a certain point you shouldn't be paying attention to every last dollar you spend. There is more to value than saving money. 

Just because I did everything to save money in my early adult years doesn't mean I need to be a pedantic saver forever.

If you have the money then you can afford to pay for convenience, luxury or experimenting. You can skip the things you don't like and move to something your love.

Maybe you'd rather watch the news on the couch than chop veggies for dinner, or take a taxi instead of waiting 25 minutes for the next train. 

Money gives you options. 

There are so many ways you can trade your money for options. Options that give you ability to do more of what you love.

So, how about having a think about something you could easily pay for now that would help you avoid something you don't want to do.

Something that would allow you to do more of what you really want to do.

Someone to iron your clothes? A babysitter? That art class you know you'll like but not sure about? 

Try it. 

And if this kind of change works once, then keep doing it and move on to other decisions in your life.

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Tim Ellis, creator of DadInvestor.com.au, helps people confidently invest and manage their money. Inspired by his own experiences, Tim is passionate about creating a financially secure future for his family and sharing his personal finance knowledge with others.