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How Treating Money Like Manure Can Change Your Life

/9 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt

Why save money at all? For most of us, the answer goes deeper than pinching pennies or hunting for bargains. Saving isn’t just about security. It’s about freedom, peace of mind, and the chance to make a difference. Today, I’ll share why saving money is important in my own life, what it means in practical terms, and how even the smallest savings can ripple out to create something bigger.

why saving money is important plant coins in soil manure

As you may know, the mission of this blog is simple: to discover practical ways to save time and money every single day. You pitch in by sending me your tips, hacks, and clever ideas. I do the legwork of testing, filtering, and sharing them here. That pretty much answers the “what.” But have you ever stopped to ask yourself about the “why”?

Why should anyone care about saving money in the first place? Is it just about pinching pennies or snagging the occasional bargain? Or is it something deeper, like building freedom, peace of mind, or the ability to live life on your own terms?

I’ll be honest: those are questions I’ve asked myself more than once. And the answers shift depending on the season of life you’re in. For some, saving means breathing room between paychecks. For others, it’s about preparing for the future or simply proving to yourself that you’re in control. For me, it’s all of the above. But at its heart, saving money is about something bigger: the power to choose, to adapt, and to create opportunities not just for yourself, but for others, too.

What Does “Saving Money” Really Mean?

“Saving money” gets tossed around a lot, but it actually has two very different meanings:

  • Spending less than you would have because something’s on sale or marked down. Example: “Wow, I saved $37 on these cute boots that were regularly $225 but rang up for $188!”
  • Actually setting money aside in a safe place, like transferring $200 a month into your savings account or stashing it in an envelope you don’t touch.

Here’s the kicker: unless you take that $37 from the boots and actually park it somewhere safe, you didn’t save it. You just spent less. It’s a small but important distinction.

For some, this distinction feels like common sense. For others, it’s a lightbulb moment that changes the way they look at every purchase. Either way, the truth is the same: spending less isn’t saving unless that money ends up in your pocket, not the store’s cash register.

Why Saving Money Is Important for Everyday Life

I see saving as a tiered plan. First, the goal is simple: spend less than I earn so there’s something left to put aside. Then, I funnel those savings into three main purposes:

  • Covering the unexpected. Life has a way of throwing curveballs: car repairs, medical bills, or the furnace giving out on the coldest day of the year. A cushion keeps those moments from turning into financial crises.
  • Preparing for the future. One day, we all face a season when active income slows down or stops altogether. Having reserves built now means peace of mind later.
  • Giving generously. To me, the ultimate reason to save isn’t just for myself. It’s so I can share: helping family, supporting causes I care about, or simply saying “yes” when someone needs a hand.

That’s it in a nutshell. Saving money isn’t just about being frugal for frugality’s sake. It’s about buying freedom, security, and the ability to live with purpose. Which is why I’m always on the lookout for ways to save… so I can really save.

How Small Savings Add Up to Big Impact

I’ve lost count of how many readers have told me they’ve switched to making their own laundry detergent (and yes, it works better than anything I’ve ever pulled off a store shelf). The savings? About twenty cents a load. Just two thin dimes.

At first glance, that sounds like pocket change. But let’s run the numbers: in my house, five loads a week means saving $1.00. Over a year, that’s $52. Not earth-shattering… until you multiply it.

Now imagine 10,000 people making that same switch. Suddenly, those “two dimes” snowball into $520,000. Half a million dollars that stays in pockets instead of vanishing into store receipts.

And laundry detergent isn’t the only example. Think about coffee. Brewing at home instead of swinging by the drive-thru might save you $2–$3 a cup. That’s $15 a week or nearly $800 a year. For some people, that’s a plane ticket, a starter emergency fund, or the breathing room to finally pay off a nagging bill.

That’s the quiet power of small savings: they don’t just help balance the budget today. They build habits, create options, and (when multiplied across a community) turn into something that can change lives.

Using Money as a Tool to Help Others

Author Bruce Larson once said:

“Money is another pair of hands to heal and feed and bless the desperate families of the earth. In other words, money is my other self. Money can go where I do not have time to go, where I do not have a passport to go. My money can go in my place and heal and bless and feed and help. A man’s money is an extension of himself.”

I love that picture. It reminds us that money isn’t just for bills, savings accounts, or the occasional splurge. It can actually do work on our behalf. But here’s the catch: that only happens if we’re willing to let it go.

Thornton Wilder said it another way:

“Money is like manure. If you let it pile up, it just smells. But if you spread it around, you can encourage things to grow.”

In other words, money is most powerful when it moves, when it’s put to use helping others, building community, or funding something meaningful. Whether that looks like donating to a food pantry, helping a neighbor cover a surprise expense, or supporting a cause that lines up with your values, every dollar you release is like planting a seed. And those seeds grow into something bigger than you could have managed on your own.

Spreading Your Savings to Do Good

Here’s the takeaway: saving isn’t just about cutting back or building a cushion for yourself. It’s about creating margin. That margin gives you choices. It’s what lets you help a friend in need, fund a cause you care about, or invest in experiences that matter more than more “stuff.” Whether it’s dropping a little extra into your emergency fund, supporting a local nonprofit, or saving for a future adventure, your savings can reach farther than you can imagine.

Small, steady habits today grow into opportunities to make an impact tomorrow for yourself, your family, and the world around you.

 

Question: What’s the smallest money-saving habit you’ve started that made the biggest difference over time? Share with other readers in the comments below.

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9 replies
  1. Mary Brooks says:

    We tithed our whole marriage, almost 47 years. We chose not to drink or smoke and we still had an amazing life. We probably saved ourselves a lot more than money.
    We can see the savings in not having car payments, our daughters not having school loans, being able to take a few nice vacations. And, the biggest surprise we never imagined is owning 2 homes. One is paid off and the other will be paid off in a couple of years.

    Reply
  2. Anita Esser says:

    I saved 1$ bills, but only the ones that had our initials on it, like a or e or d or r.
    I was saving them for when we would go on vacation, then we would use this money for going out to eat. But now my husband has dementia, and we don’t go any place anymore. but the dollar bills are still waiting.

    Reply
  4. Dana says:

    Years ago, actually decades ago, we decided not to get cable TV. Infrequently my husband will want to watch a playoff game that isn’t on regular TV stations. We’ll go watch it at a Sports Bar & Grill while we have dinner. Not buying cable more than makes up for eating 1 or 2 meals out a year.

    Reply
  5. Dorothea says:

    We don’t waste food. Many things can be frozen that people don’t generally think of freezing, such as milk or cream cheese. Also, leftover veggies go in the freezer to use the next time I make soup. If I don’t use a whole jar or can of something while preparing a meal, into a freezer-safe container it goes. Just label everything so you don’t end up with mystery containers!

    Reply
  6. Anita D. says:

    Good point. I’m blessed that these were lessons I learned from my father who has lived all of this out. As a dairy farmer, he has spread a lot manure in his lifetime, both the literal and metaphorical stuff.

    Reply
  7. Bonnie Taylor says:

    Since you just mentioned making your own soap…..I think I remember you telling us sometime back….but could you tell us AGAIN how to do it….Thanks Bonnie

    Reply
  8. Susan Gumerlock says:

    One tip for saving money is to cut toothpaste tubes (lotion tubes, etc.) in half when you can’t squeeze out any more product. It’s amazing how much more product is in there!

    Reply

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