Save Money on Commercial Items

I just finished reading Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, and I have to admit, it is difficult to try to wrap my thoughts around the notions he explains.  If I ever want to make money, I suppose I out to, though.  Whether you hold fast to the "work hard at a good job and save your money safely" mentality or the "learn about investing and making money (with risks) and stop working so hard: notion that Kiyosaki offers, you'll probably agree that it is a good idea not to buy stuff you don't need.

Kiyosaki explains that poor people buy liabilities and that rich people buy assets.  With that said, I find it interesting how well sucked into the branding stigma we become when buying products.  Sometimes we buy products simply because we feel that they were made specifically for a certain reason, so they must be better then similar items.

I found out that I can save money buy using paper towels, water and baby oil versus using pre-packaged baby wipes.  Read more about that here:  Homemade Baby Products

Also, I have once exclaimed it before, and I will do so again.  I feel oftentimes blessed by the garbage fairies.  When I needed a small desk for my daughter, I found one, complete with perfectly find desk, beside the dumpster.  When I needed a new dresser, I found one.  It was white with seahorses, fishe, and crabs painted all over it, but it was real wood.  I repainted it and added new hardward (well, my significant other did it).  I have a spiffy dresser now. 

I once read a story about a group of young people who live off of the waste of others.  They'd live in abandonded houses or apartments.  They'd decorate them with items found in dumpsters.  They wore clothes they found in the trash, and they ate by cooking day-old foods discarded by local restaurants and retail chains.  I was surprised at how spiffy the stuff was that they got.

With that said, we've used old furniture to make other needed furniture items.  Read about the way we used an old dresser to make shelves out of the drawers here:  DIY:  Use Old Furniture for New Projects.

So, in a nutshell, I'm finding that it's fund to be resourceful.  I could probably invest the money I'm so carefuly and safely saving, but for now, I need to learn about a whole lot of other stuff.  I apologize if you were hoping to learn more about being rich, seeing as I'd mentioned Mr. Kiyosaki and all.