Cut Costs (and Buy a Plasma TV)
I was passing through the living room yesterday when I caught a bit on the Today Show about saving money. The advice was pretty standard stuff, but it came with a twist… First up, they suggested taking your lunch to work everyday instead of eating out. At an average savings of $7.50/day, this will total up to close to roughly $1900 over the course of a year. They also suggested that you skip your manicures, mow your own lawn, and wash your own car… After tallying up how much you could save in these areas, they went on to suggest that you might want to spend your newfound cash on a plasma TV. Huh? What a total non-sequitir — and not exactly sound financial advice. Then again…
It’s funny that they should mention buying an expensive new TV in the context of lawn mowing. After all, we recently wrangled with the issue of whether we should mow our lawn or hire a lawn service. As it turns out, we ultimately decided to do it ourselves, and we ended up buying a John Deere lawn tractor. What’s more, we also bought a new flat panel TV for our great room.
I know whaat you’re thinking… That FiveCentNickel dude is an absolute genius! He had the foresight to buy a lawn tractor and a huge TV even before the Today Show said it was a good idea… But really, it’s just common sense. After all, we’re going to save so much money on our lawncare that the TV is practically free. Or at least that’s what the Today Show would have you believe.
Then again, our new TV isn’t plasma… It’s a large screen LCD rear projection TV (details to follow in a future post). Hrrrmmm… I’ll have to give the Today Show a quick call and find out if this was still a good use of our newfound savings. 
Oh, and I still haven’t given up my manicures.
Published on June 15th, 2006 - 9 Comments
Filed under: Miscellany
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About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!
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Here’s some better advice:
1. Cut your grass with a cheaper (push) mower. Most people can use the exercise.
2. Forget the new TV — the old one works fine.
3. And while you’re at it, cut the cable. Use an antenna.
Invest what you save and you’re a billionaire in something like four years.
Comment by FMF — Jun 15th 2006 @ 9:14 amWow! You should be on the Today Show! You’re even smarter than they are!
(Just out of curiosity, how big is your yard?)
I do all that money saving stuff, but I still don’t have enough money for a plasma screen…or a John Deere. What Would Matt Lauer Do?
Comment by Daytonscott — Jun 15th 2006 @ 10:37 am42 acres!
Ha!
I’m terrible with this sort of thing but I’d guess the mowable part (I have woods too, but you’re not interested in that I’m sure) is 1/4 to 1/2 an acre.
Comment by FMF — Jun 15th 2006 @ 12:37 pmAnd, yes, I am smarter than those folks on Today.
Comment by FMF — Jun 15th 2006 @ 12:37 pmI’m smarter than all of you… we have a push mower and my husband mows the yard
Comment by savvy saver — Jun 15th 2006 @ 12:43 pmI’m with Savvy Saver. Get someone else to do it! I’m sure when your 4 boys are old enough, you have your own landscaping crew for the neighborhood! That’s one way to pay for college. LOL!
Comment by mapgirl — Jun 15th 2006 @ 2:07 pm