We spend so much of our time working, working, and then working some more to make a good living, but do you have anything to show for it? I don’t mean showing off, but rather having a strong financial foundation with minimal debts, savings, investments, and other valuable assets. If not, then keep reading . . .
#1: Stop Justifying Every Expense
Expenses can always be justified and rationalized even when they aren’t. It’s okay to spend money, but it should be in line with your economic situation. The funny thing is that as your income increases, your spending almost always increases in tandem, and sometimes even more than the increase of income. Relax, and spend a little slower while saving more. Remember, the goal of savings is to support yourself and your family for emergencies, large expenses such as college, and when you eventually stop working and retire.
Step #2: Caring What Others Think
Guess what? No one cares about your material possessions except on a superficial level. Sometimes people will briefly talk about you because you drive an older car (even though it may be a luxury car that is fully paid for), live in an older house, have crabgrass growing on your lawn (unfortunately it dies in the winter, otherwise it is nice and thick in my opinion), take non-Disney vacations (aren’t you exhausted afterwards anyway?), and don’t wear Uggs or brand names on your shirts and jeans (I like that only those rare individuals with fine taste in men’s shoes appreciate the awfully expensive shoes I wear though). The bottom line is not to stretch yourself to seek status or to impress others, but to spend according to your state in life.
Step #3: Saving Last
This is one of those times that math doesn’t make sense. You need to save first otherwise there will be no savings left over. You would think that the order doesn’t matter, but is does matter in the real world. Also, save up on a percentage basis, so that when your income grows, your savings grow also.
Summing it Up
These bad habits are prevalent among those that earn $50k, $500k, or more. Bad habits will follow you through your life regardless of where you are economically. Once you recognize this, hopefully you will be able to change course instead of feeling like you are always running and getting nowhere.
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