Trading Money For Time

Or how to buy more time

Have you ever thought that that money can’t buy time? Well actually it can. This article presents a small list of simple, non-obvious ways that many people can give up relatively small amounts of money to gain more time. If you don’t need to be convinced, and just want see the list, scroll down to the bullet points below, and only read the highlighted portions.

If you have done research or read books about becoming financially independent, you have probably run into this idea in the form needing to delegate by hiring a personal assistant. They might handle either personal matters for you, or business ones, freeing up your time to focus on more important things. I like breaking down concepts and finding their purest form. On that note, the real goal behind hiring a personal assistant is to trade or give up some of your money, to free up or gain more time. There are many reasons one may want to trade money for time, as it is quite common to feel you want more time and are having a hard time finding an appropriate trade off to get it. So, if after giving up all the unnecessary activities you are willing to part with, you still yearn for more time, the only thing left to do is optimize. Trading money for time is one way to do that.

Hiring your own employees or competent professionals to do things for you may not seem practical or appealing or simple enough to you at this moment in your life, for many reasons. In fact, most tips about being smart with your money and time are quite complicated, and thus seem impractical for most people. Often the complicated and time consuming nature of these tips seem to do the reverse of what they are intended to do. They may be intended to eventually help you have more time for what is important to you, but at the cost of giving it all up for many years, or making the saving or making of money too much of your focus. This list is intended to be the opposite of that. These things can not only save you time, but also simplify your life, and they are often quite easy to do, even easier than their more common alternative that you would otherwise be doing.

Most people think in the opposite way of what I am proposing here. They think of all the little ways they can save money. But if it is only saving a little money, and is costing you any time, you have found a great candidate for trading that monetary savings for the time it takes to save it. In comparison to the cost of a personal assistant, or paying highly competent professionals to do things for you, these are quite cost effective. If you really must see this purely in financial terms, you could even use the saved time to work more, or get better at your line of work, thus making more money with that time than you are spending to get it. But of course, you are free to spend this saved time on whatever you wish.

In this article, I go past concepts, because there are plenty of good books out there that already teach you to think in kind of a similar way. The hard part is often coming up with specific, simple, practical ways to trade money for time, that fit your circumstance, and simplify your life rather than complicate it. These are designed to apply to a broad spectrum of people, but of course they won’t apply to everybody. I’m not saying you should do all or any of these, it’s just a list of interesting ideas you might enjoy considering, tweaking, or using as fuel for thought to come up with entirely different ideas of your own. Most of these probably won’t save you that much time, but if you can keep coming up with more and more, little time saving efficiency hacks, they will add up. This might sound like the time saving version of penny pinching, but that is okay, because as I keep mentioning, most of these are also designed to be simple things that don’t complicate your life, and in fact can actually simplify your life. Please let me know your specific, simple, and practical tips for trading money for time in the comments section!

Throw out your toothpaste as soon as it stops being ridiculously fast and easy to squeeze more out. Most of us (but not all of us) know it doesn’t make sense to keep squeezing as much as you possibly can out of the tube indefinitely, that at some point at it makes more sense to throw it out. But I’m talking about an approach more extreme than that. As soon as you have to start putting forth additional time and effort to squeeze some out, throw it away. This sounds wasteful, and in terms of all forms of waste, it somewhat is, but at least in terms of how much money it costs you, it is actually a very cheap way to trade money for time, in comparison to other options. You may want to start making sure that you always have an extra tube of toothpaste, so you are not tempted to keep using the only tube you have. Making sure you always have extra toothpaste may sound too difficult or energy draining or unrealistic to consistently keep up with, but if that is how you feel, (I used to feel this way) this is a symptom of a deeper issue in your life. You need to find organized and efficient ways to keep track of and acquire the things you need, and to keep track of and organize all the things you need to do. It actually doesn’t take any extra time to add toothpaste to your shopping list at the point where you first find out you only have one left than it does at the point you have none left. You are still just adding one “toothpaste” to the list. The key is to train yourself to immediately add this to the list the moment you realize you need it. If you don’t do that, you will find yourself out of and missing things you need, right when it is really inconvenient and frustrating and time consuming not to have them, which could even lead to being angry and stressed out all the time. One of the keys is to use the same system every time. Keep a paper or digital list handy and ready to add to. If it is faster to create a “note to self” to add it to the official list later, that is fine, as long as you train yourself to regularly and consistently process all of these notes, converting them into the appropriate list item, or calendar item, or project, etc. This is one of the essential keys to being a dependable person. The alternative is for yourself and others to not be able to rely on you. The alternative is to constantly be on the verge of a mental breakdown from always having a chaotic morning that “caused you” to be late and not able to eat any breakfast, etc, followed by the “afternoon of doom” where the universe was out to get you, followed by an evening where you are not even going to try, and everyone else should just understand because of the kind of day you just had. If you don’t want every day to feel like there is a fundamental flaw with the nature of existence itself, you have to be proactive about taking control of at least being organized and dependable, if nothing else. You can find similar and additional personal organizational techniques in the book, “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity”, by David Allen. If you find reading books difficult, there are many options that may be available to you. You may find the deadline of a return by date helps you if you check it out from your local library. If both the cost of buying the book and the trip to the library are a deterrent, you may even be able to checkout the digital version of this book from the website of your local library. Even easier, you can often checkout the audiobook version from your local library website, and listen to it in the car, while exercising, etc. Even easier to get through is the teen version of this book: “Getting Things Done for Teens: Take Control of Your Life in a Distracting World”.

Most of us (but not all of us) know it doesn’t make sense to keep squeezing as much as you possibly can out of the tube indefinitely, that at some point at it makes more sense to throw it out. But I’m talking about an approach more extreme than that. As soon as you have to start putting forth additional time and effort to squeeze some out, throw it away. This sounds wasteful, and in terms of all forms of waste, it somewhat is, but at least in terms of how much money it costs you, it is actually a very cheap way to trade money for time, in comparison to other options. You may want to start making sure that you always have an extra tube of toothpaste, so you are not tempted to keep using the only tube you have. Making sure you always have extra toothpaste may sound too difficult or energy draining or unrealistic to consistently keep up with, but if that is how you feel, (I used to feel this way) this is a symptom of a deeper issue in your life. You need to find organized and efficient ways to keep track of and acquire the things you need, and to keep track of and organize all the things you need to do. It actually doesn’t take any extra time to add toothpaste to your shopping list at the point where you first find out you only have one left than it does at the point you have none left. You are still just adding one “toothpaste” to the list. The key is to train yourself to immediately add this to the list the moment you realize you need it. If you don’t do that, you will find yourself out of and missing things you need, right when it is really inconvenient and frustrating and time consuming not to have them, which could even lead to being angry and stressed out all the time. One of the keys is to use the same system every time. Keep a paper or digital list handy and ready to add to. If it is faster to create a “note to self” to add it to the official list later, that is fine, as long as you train yourself to regularly and consistently process all of these notes, converting them into the appropriate list item, or calendar item, or project, etc. This is one of the essential keys to being a dependable person. The alternative is for yourself and others to not be able to rely on you. The alternative is to constantly be on the verge of a mental breakdown from always having a chaotic morning that “caused you” to be late and not able to eat any breakfast, etc, followed by the “afternoon of doom” where the universe was out to get you, followed by an evening where you are not even going to try, and everyone else should just understand because of the kind of day you just had. If you don’t want every day to feel like there is a fundamental flaw with the nature of existence itself, you have to be proactive about taking control of at least being organized and dependable, if nothing else. You can find similar and additional personal organizational techniques in the book, “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity”, by David Allen. If you find reading books difficult, there are many options that may be available to you. You may find the deadline of a return by date helps you if you check it out from your local library. If both the cost of buying the book and the trip to the library are a deterrent, you may even be able to checkout the digital version of this book from the website of your local library. Even easier, you can often checkout the audiobook version from your local library website, and listen to it in the car, while exercising, etc. Even easier to get through is the teen version of this book: “Getting Things Done for Teens: Take Control of Your Life in a Distracting World”. Immediately throw away coupons without evaluating them. In this way you can trade the monetary value/savings of the coupons for the time it takes to consider and use them. There some pretty compelling arguments for the idea that coupons cost you more than they save, and that your life is better off without them. After all, companies are not giving them out just to be nice, or to help you out, they are doing it to make more money. Often when you try to use coupons, you end up either buying things you don’t need, and are not really making your life better. Coupons play mind games with you. They often offer you extra value that sounds appealing, but only if you are willing to buy other things you normally would not, or buy more of something than you normally would. If a coupon seems like a really good deal, you often end up finding out there was some fine print you didn’t see, or you simply misunderstood the deal, and now it is not such a great deal after all. Then there is the idea that by perusing and thinking about the coupons, you are letting these advertisements get into your head, and convince you to want and think about things you are better off ignoring. Like most advertising, they rob you of a little bit of your free will and objectivity via unwanted influence from people with agendas that don’t match yours. The people that make these ads are experts at getting into your head, and they get paid lots of money to design and distribute these coupons, money the company expects to make back, and then some, from you. But it is very tempting, almost impossible, not to at least toy with the idea that all of that doesn’t apply to you personally, that you do have what it takes to browse coupons, and actually end up saving money on necessary or important things, without being seduced by ads, or tricked by fine print. But even if that really is true for you, all that would mean is coupons do have monetary value for you. But how much? Probably not a lot. You should really consider giving up that monetary value for the time it takes to use the coupons. Think about all the things involved in coupons that will take up your time. First you will spend time looking through and thinking about the coupons. You will have to decide which ones you might want to use, and which ones to get rid of. Then you need to take time to carefully consider where best to store the coupons, somewhere where they will be available to consider in a situation where you might use them. Later, when an opportunity to use one arrives, you will spend more time deciding for sure which ones you will actually use right then. Then you often feel the need to spend more time explaining to the person you are buying from, what the coupon is for. It will take them more time than usual to process this transaction, since they will need to incorporate the coupon. They may spend time determining if you actually qualify to use the coupon, and to enter it into the register properly. You will probably spend more time than usual validating the final price they tell you, being careful that they are really giving you the exact deal you qualify for. Then after the transaction is complete, you may even verify this one more time, examining the receipt for the coupon deal, nodding in happy amusement at yourself for getting a special coupon deal, or more likely, feeling a little confused about if it really made it on there correctly or not. If you really need or just enjoy using coupons, that is fine, but it is good to think about the money for time, or time for money trade off you are making either way.

In this way you can trade the monetary value/savings of the coupons for the time it takes to consider and use them. There some pretty compelling arguments for the idea that coupons cost you more than they save, and that your life is better off without them. After all, companies are not giving them out just to be nice, or to help you out, they are doing it to make more money. Often when you try to use coupons, you end up either buying things you don’t need, and are not really making your life better. Coupons play mind games with you. They often offer you extra value that sounds appealing, but only if you are willing to buy other things you normally would not, or buy more of something than you normally would. If a coupon seems like a really good deal, you often end up finding out there was some fine print you didn’t see, or you simply misunderstood the deal, and now it is not such a great deal after all. Then there is the idea that by perusing and thinking about the coupons, you are letting these advertisements get into your head, and convince you to want and think about things you are better off ignoring. Like most advertising, they rob you of a little bit of your free will and objectivity via unwanted influence from people with agendas that don’t match yours. The people that make these ads are experts at getting into your head, and they get paid lots of money to design and distribute these coupons, money the company expects to make back, and then some, from you. But it is very tempting, almost impossible, not to at least toy with the idea that all of that doesn’t apply to you personally, that you do have what it takes to browse coupons, and actually end up saving money on necessary or important things, without being seduced by ads, or tricked by fine print. But even if that really is true for you, all that would mean is coupons do have monetary value for you. But how much? Probably not a lot. You should really consider giving up that monetary value for the time it takes to use the coupons. Think about all the things involved in coupons that will take up your time. First you will spend time looking through and thinking about the coupons. You will have to decide which ones you might want to use, and which ones to get rid of. Then you need to take time to carefully consider where best to store the coupons, somewhere where they will be available to consider in a situation where you might use them. Later, when an opportunity to use one arrives, you will spend more time deciding for sure which ones you will actually use right then. Then you often feel the need to spend more time explaining to the person you are buying from, what the coupon is for. It will take them more time than usual to process this transaction, since they will need to incorporate the coupon. They may spend time determining if you actually qualify to use the coupon, and to enter it into the register properly. You will probably spend more time than usual validating the final price they tell you, being careful that they are really giving you the exact deal you qualify for. Then after the transaction is complete, you may even verify this one more time, examining the receipt for the coupon deal, nodding in happy amusement at yourself for getting a special coupon deal, or more likely, feeling a little confused about if it really made it on there correctly or not. If you really need or just enjoy using coupons, that is fine, but it is good to think about the money for time, or time for money trade off you are making either way. Pay to get rid of ads. Do you pay for Hulu? Pay a little more for the ad free version of this streaming service. Is there some other app, service, or computer program you keep using that you could spend a little money on to get rid of the ads? Do it. The ads are just there to brainwash you into spending more money. So what would you rather be spending money on, consumer products and services you were advertised into purchasing, or your time and soul that you would have spent watching those commercials? I’m not saying commercials completely make you lose all self control and ability to think for yourself, but they are designed to influence you, using every legal to use psychological trick they can find to affect your spending habits in their favor. To think they don’t work on you is to think you are completely different from everyone else, or that advertising doesn’t work at all. But there is a reason companies spend the kind of money on advertising that they do, it works. It is better to get rid of as much advertising that you reasonably can from your life. For some people getting rid of most ads from their life gives them FOMO (fear of missing out). They are afraid they will not be in the know about new, cool, or potentially useful products or innovations. But wouldn’t it be better to research new products and services as needs for them arrive? I think with that approach you are more likely to end up with more of the things that actually make your life better, and less of the things that clutter it with triviality and consumer addiction. I actually wish there was a way to pay for Google. Why can’t I pay money to not see ads in my search results? The only reason they show them to me is so advertisers will pay them that money, so why not let the consumers pay them that money instead? Why doesn’t Facebook offer paid accounts where they will have no need to show you ads or desire your personal information in order to target you with ads that are tailored to be personally effective at getting into your head in particular?

Do you pay for Hulu? Pay a little more for the ad free version of this streaming service. Is there some other app, service, or computer program you keep using that you could spend a little money on to get rid of the ads? Do it. The ads are just there to brainwash you into spending more money. So what would you rather be spending money on, consumer products and services you were advertised into purchasing, or your time and soul that you would have spent watching those commercials? I’m not saying commercials completely make you lose all self control and ability to think for yourself, but they are designed to influence you, using every legal to use psychological trick they can find to affect your spending habits in their favor. To think they don’t work on you is to think you are completely different from everyone else, or that advertising doesn’t work at all. But there is a reason companies spend the kind of money on advertising that they do, it works. It is better to get rid of as much advertising that you reasonably can from your life. For some people getting rid of most ads from their life gives them FOMO (fear of missing out). They are afraid they will not be in the know about new, cool, or potentially useful products or innovations. But wouldn’t it be better to research new products and services as needs for them arrive? I think with that approach you are more likely to end up with more of the things that actually make your life better, and less of the things that clutter it with triviality and consumer addiction. I actually wish there was a way to pay for Google. Why can’t I pay money to not see ads in my search results? The only reason they show them to me is so advertisers will pay them that money, so why not let the consumers pay them that money instead? Why doesn’t Facebook offer paid accounts where they will have no need to show you ads or desire your personal information in order to target you with ads that are tailored to be personally effective at getting into your head in particular? Purchase phones and tablets with larger storage capacity, possibly the largest available. Most of us use our phones and tablets as personal media devices as well as our digital cameras, in addition to mini computers that store many apps and an entire, complex operating system. Considering all that, it is no wonder we tend to run out of space. Now I’m all for being mindful about how many videos, songs, and apps we acquire, and how many photos we take, but spending time fighting your device, finding clever ways to free up storage space, only to run out of space soon again, is not exactly the kind of thing I expect to look back on and remember as the golden times that I’m glad I prioritized. The storage capacity these devices come in are ridiculously small compared to how much storage modern technology can accommodate. They want you to be thrown off by the price of the ones with the large capacity, and then to get annoyed with your device and desire a new one as often as possible. But one way to make your device last longer is to get one with a very large storage capacity, so you may actually be saving money in the long run this way. I’m not saying you necessarily even need these devices, but if you are going to buy them, wait and save up for the one with the largest capacity, assuming that one is not ridiculously large, which they usually are not.

Most of us use our phones and tablets as personal media devices as well as our digital cameras, in addition to mini computers that store many apps and an entire, complex operating system. Considering all that, it is no wonder we tend to run out of space. Now I’m all for being mindful about how many videos, songs, and apps we acquire, and how many photos we take, but spending time fighting your device, finding clever ways to free up storage space, only to run out of space soon again, is not exactly the kind of thing I expect to look back on and remember as the golden times that I’m glad I prioritized. The storage capacity these devices come in are ridiculously small compared to how much storage modern technology can accommodate. They want you to be thrown off by the price of the ones with the large capacity, and then to get annoyed with your device and desire a new one as often as possible. But one way to make your device last longer is to get one with a very large storage capacity, so you may actually be saving money in the long run this way. I’m not saying you necessarily even need these devices, but if you are going to buy them, wait and save up for the one with the largest capacity, assuming that one is not ridiculously large, which they usually are not. Take your car through a car wash, instead of washing it yourself. If you enjoy washing your car by hand, really giving it that extra shine, that is fine. Personally, I wish my car would just learn to wash itself already. The next best thing is a car wash, either automated, or where someone else washes it for you. If you can wash it yourself even faster, good for you. I’m more like the tortoise than the hair, so I prefer the car wash. You may need to try several car washes in your area before you find one that does a good enough job. I eventually found one near me where it is a combination of two people doing some hand washing followed by an automated wash, and the cheapest option does more than a good enough job for me.

If you enjoy washing your car by hand, really giving it that extra shine, that is fine. Personally, I wish my car would just learn to wash itself already. The next best thing is a car wash, either automated, or where someone else washes it for you. If you can wash it yourself even faster, good for you. I’m more like the tortoise than the hair, so I prefer the car wash. You may need to try several car washes in your area before you find one that does a good enough job. I eventually found one near me where it is a combination of two people doing some hand washing followed by an automated wash, and the cheapest option does more than a good enough job for me. Attach a poop bag holder/dispenser to your dog’s leash, and keep using and replacing the roll of bags inside, even when other courtesy, free poop bags are nearby. This will save you the time from walking over to the free dog poop bag dispenser whenever your dog decides to go. Of course this assumes you have such a thing as a courtesy dog poop bag dispenser, and that you have a dog that you regularly take out to that area to go potty. But if that does describe you, you are already doing this daily, multiple times per day, and so these time savings will add up quickly, and make your little journeys a little more bearable. Plus the bags don’t cost that much. Assuming your courtesy dispenser is attached to a waste disposal bin, this also prevents you from getting too lazy to pick up the poop, as you will not need to walk to the bin, back to the poop, and back to the bin again. You will only need to walk to the bin once to dispose of the waste. It will also come in quite handy when taking them on walks, and prevent you from having to remember to bring bags every time you go out, since they are already attached to the leash.

Please let us know of your specific, practical, simple tips for trading money for time in the comments below!