Are you in debt? Are you always struggling to save money for the things you really want? Well, you’re not alone, many people all over the world are facing the same issues right now. No matter how hard they try, it’s never enough.
What’s curious is that even when they get a promotion (and earn more) and come across a big sum of money, they quickly return to the same situation. Why is that? The problem is not how much money you have, it’s your spending habits. It’s easy to think you’ll fix your problems by earning more money, but the truth is that you just have to spend wisely.
It’s easier said than done, I know, but if you’re reading this you’re willing to change and that’s the first step. I wish I could give you a quick, simple and easy solution, but there’s no such thing. It’s hard work, but it’s not impossible.
1. Ask Yourself Why
To be fair, you always should be assessing your purchases, but it’s even more important to do it when you’re about to buy something. You see, impulse can make us do things we’ll regret as we only think about the consequences afterwards.
When you ask yourself why you’re buying something, you’re immediately reflecting about it. “Why am I buying a new (insert item/experience)?” The majority of the times you won’t find a decent reason for this question.
Why are you buying a new smartphone? Is there something wrong with the one you have right now? Why are you buying a new pair of jeans? Are the old ones broken? Or are you worried about what others might think if you repeat an outfit? Why are you going out (again)? Are you really going to have a nice time or are you afraid of being lonely? And not finding Mr/Miss right?
The point is: once you understand the underlying reason for your spending habits you’ll see that nothing will change by buying something. There are other ways to “solve” your problems without breaking the bank.
2. Have a Budget
Whether you have a daily or weekly budget, it doesn’t matter, as long as you have one. Ideally, you should never go over budget, but if you do, it’s not a problem, as it’s hardly the reason for having one in the first place. When you have a budget you’re forced to think about every purchase you make. So all of a sudden it’s not a matter of choosing, picking, paying and leaving – it’s a decision that’s going to affect something else.
It’s even better to tie this budget to something that’s meaningful to you. It could be a long due trip to an exotic place, a replacement of the malfunctioning car or to reduce your ever increasing debt. When you start looking at the broad picture, you’ll stop your meaningless purchases in order to keep within budget and achieve whatever your goal is.
3. Don’t Spend Money That’s Not Yours
How many people do you know with massive credit card debts? Or people who ask for a bank loan as soon as they finish paying the last one off? It’s hard to say “no” to money that’s readily available, but it’s a mistake to believe that money is yours.
Credit is great if it’s used with a purpose and a well-defined plan – like starting a business for instance. It’s also a cushion to fall back on in case of an expected emergency. However, if you’re not in dire need, you should never use credit cards and overdrafts frivolously, or you end up paying the (hefty) consequences.
So if you’re getting to the end of the week or month and you feel you might not have enough money for rent, is it wise to buy a new top/t-shirt on your credit card? Shouldn’t you wait until you have the money to pay for it? The concept is simple: if you don’t have the money, don’t spend it. The more you get yourself in debt, the harder it is to get out. And when you add up all the money you’re paying in interest throughout the year, you’ll quickly see the problem you have.
4. Be Willing to Change
One of the main reasons why people carry on with their financial problems is because they don’t want to change their lifestyle. You know that one of the definitions of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
How many times do you eat out a month? How many times do you order a takeaway? Do you know how much money you could save by cooking at home? And before you say you cannot cook, remember that with practice you can achieve (nearly) everything. Do you drive to work? Do you need to? Have you considered selling your car and cycling to work? With services like Uber, Blablacar or Co-wheels/Turo, you’ll always have a car available to you.
People always dread a change of lifestyle; it seems like it’s not only a matter of comfort, but it’s also related to pride. A person might choose to get in debt and go to the gym with their friends, instead of exercising at home and looking like they don’t have money.
At the end of the day, you and you only know the problems you have. If you think your spending habits are not really affecting your life, I suppose there’s not much to worry. However, if it’s getting to a point where if you don’t take action things might start to fall apart, then you have to take it seriously.
Do you have problems managing your money? Have you found a solution? Share in the comments below.
Featured photo credit: Alejandro Escamilla via hd.unsplash.com
