Alright y'all. Listen up. There's about to be some major truth-bombing real talk happening up in here! As you already know if you have read any of my previous posts, I am a big fan of making sacrifices to achieve my financial goals. It is how I became debt free after all!
I have heard countless people (true story) talk about how they are tired of being broke and wanna get outta debt. I've heard people say this through their iPhones while they are wearing Abercrombie and Fitch and watching cable TV. Oh and the day before they went shopping and are now sporting a new $300 watch and a $100 Halloween costume (and the list goes on and on). The frivolity and irresponsibility honestly blows my mind!
When put like that, the problem and solution seem painfully obvious, yet it doesn't seem to dawn on many of these people that they need to change their habits. The "answer" is always, "I just need more money." Yeah...no you don't. With those habits and that mindset, you'll just end up with the same problem on a larger scale! The answer is less, not more.
In our culture, we have collectively indoctrinated ourselves into believing that we are entitled to these things because we work hard. We indulge ourselves by living off of credit and then shake in our boots when we can't make the minimum payments as we scratch our heads wondering where our money went! "But I need, I want, I deserve this $30,000 car!" So let me get this straight. You need, want and deserve to add $30,000 to your debt and then feel depressed about it later?
Ahem. Ok.
So check this out.
There are people I know who make significantly more money than I do but are way worse off financially. I don't think that sunk in. Let me say it again. There. are. people. I. know. who. make. significantly. more. money. than. I. do. but. are. way. worse. off. financially! Why? Because...
Get over yourself. Stop living off of credit. Sacrifice. Live below your means. You don't need one in every color. You don't need 19 pairs of shoes and 25 purses. Like Dave Ramsey says, if you need money, sell your stuff (everything that isn't breathing), delay gratification, and if you can't pay cash for it, you can't afford it!
But Michele, doesn't that sound a little extreme?
No. You wanna know what's extreme? Your financial situation and our cultural mindset about money! If you're broke and you have a mountain of debt, desperate times call for desperate measures!
And by the way, it's only extreme if stuff is what you value. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, but take care of your obligations first. Plan. Save. Sacrifice. Delay gratification. Get over yourself! Then, at the right time, pick one thing to enjoy that is important to you. For me, it's traveling (I am the wanderlusting penny pincher after all) and/or experiences with friends and family. I was able to take five vacations this year with friends and family and not one cent of that went on a credit card. Being debt free not only allowed me that luxury, but I was also able to bless someone else. I paid for my mom to join me on two of those vacations. I truly don't say that to brag, but my point is that you can enjoy your life and also be a blessing to others. That is what makes life worth living! For five years I sacrificed and delayed gratification to get there. It was so worth it! You can do it too! Make yours a future of financial freedom!
Click here to enjoy more truth-bombing real talk awesomeness from my idol, the one and only Dave Ramsey!
I have heard countless people (true story) talk about how they are tired of being broke and wanna get outta debt. I've heard people say this through their iPhones while they are wearing Abercrombie and Fitch and watching cable TV. Oh and the day before they went shopping and are now sporting a new $300 watch and a $100 Halloween costume (and the list goes on and on). The frivolity and irresponsibility honestly blows my mind!
When put like that, the problem and solution seem painfully obvious, yet it doesn't seem to dawn on many of these people that they need to change their habits. The "answer" is always, "I just need more money." Yeah...no you don't. With those habits and that mindset, you'll just end up with the same problem on a larger scale! The answer is less, not more.
In our culture, we have collectively indoctrinated ourselves into believing that we are entitled to these things because we work hard. We indulge ourselves by living off of credit and then shake in our boots when we can't make the minimum payments as we scratch our heads wondering where our money went! "But I need, I want, I deserve this $30,000 car!" So let me get this straight. You need, want and deserve to add $30,000 to your debt and then feel depressed about it later?
Ahem. Ok.
So check this out.
There are people I know who make significantly more money than I do but are way worse off financially. I don't think that sunk in. Let me say it again. There. are. people. I. know. who. make. significantly. more. money. than. I. do. but. are. way. worse. off. financially! Why? Because...
Get over yourself. Stop living off of credit. Sacrifice. Live below your means. You don't need one in every color. You don't need 19 pairs of shoes and 25 purses. Like Dave Ramsey says, if you need money, sell your stuff (everything that isn't breathing), delay gratification, and if you can't pay cash for it, you can't afford it!
But Michele, doesn't that sound a little extreme?
No. You wanna know what's extreme? Your financial situation and our cultural mindset about money! If you're broke and you have a mountain of debt, desperate times call for desperate measures!
And by the way, it's only extreme if stuff is what you value. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, but take care of your obligations first. Plan. Save. Sacrifice. Delay gratification. Get over yourself! Then, at the right time, pick one thing to enjoy that is important to you. For me, it's traveling (I am the wanderlusting penny pincher after all) and/or experiences with friends and family. I was able to take five vacations this year with friends and family and not one cent of that went on a credit card. Being debt free not only allowed me that luxury, but I was also able to bless someone else. I paid for my mom to join me on two of those vacations. I truly don't say that to brag, but my point is that you can enjoy your life and also be a blessing to others. That is what makes life worth living! For five years I sacrificed and delayed gratification to get there. It was so worth it! You can do it too! Make yours a future of financial freedom!
Click here to enjoy more truth-bombing real talk awesomeness from my idol, the one and only Dave Ramsey!
Act your wage, Dave Ramsey says. So simple but yet so hard. It's takes a strong person to say no to wants.
ReplyDeleteTrue indeed my friend!!
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