Tip 2: Create a Pyramid of Purchase Pondering

For our next money-saving trick, throw your rational mind out the window. We're going to create a hierarchy of purchases. You obviously don't need to spend as long pondering and comparison shopping for that stale penny bubblegum at the hardware store as you do for your first $100,000 condo.

Here's how it goes:
< $1: Minor purchase. Don't cry when you hand over the money.

$1-$10: Major purchase. Most people in the world live on this much money for an entire month. Or something. There are statistics showing that if you have access to seeing this, you are rich. Therefore, you have a responsibility to spend appropriately.

$10-$20: Major major purchase. Your grandparents sold their house for this much during the Depression.

$20-$100: Majorly major major purchase. This is countless immunization shots and political regime overthrows and monthly salaries for people working much harder than you are.

>$100: Circuit frying purchase. You'll need therapy for this one. How did you end up so lucky as to be able to even consider this purchase in your lifetime? Why were you born into life with things that cost over $100 and blogs and internet access and a vote while other people eat dirt and watch their children die of preventable illnesses? Does this $100 purchase correctly reflect your values and the values of those who could be bought and sold with it? Does it protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Will it make you happy? Did the people producing the good sing songs while they made it? Will it last? Will it draw baths for you, but not in a way that hearkens back to your invisible role in social inequalities in the world?

** There may be loopholes in here, as they are sometimes necessary for survival. But following this guide as-is will be a good start to lining your bank account with big bills.