Living on credit is fashionable. Indulging oneself is fashionable. Saving money isn't.
This is a pity, as it has much to recommend it. You have more peace in your life. The end on the month is simply a date on the calendar, rather than a countdown to the next pay-cheque. Purchases born of necessity can be made comfortably. Employment becomes a career, rather than a means of survival. You can look your boss in the eye, rather than dreading his gaze.
Why? Because you've saved up some money.
Take the cringe-factor out of your life. Erase the dread of the small hours. Put some money in the bank! You may not be able to increase your earnings, but you can decrease your outgoings. This has the same effect as getting a pay-rise; more money for you.
How to save money?
Simple!
Examine what you spend it on.
Then, erase fripperies.
Vices: drinking and smoking are habits that kill you slowly. Save up for your hospital care by giving them up. Your lungs, liver and family will bless you.
Gambling. Gambling is folly. There are only three games the player can use skill to alter the odds even slightly; horse racing, poker and blackjack. These take years of dedicated and expensive research to get good at. And you don't get rich. All the others will beggar you quickly if you play them. The odds are stacked against you, deliberately, by those who own the game.
Luck favours the bold, special need, or those under the protection of the saints. Betting is not brave, it's a compulsion, and no god watches out for gamblers. Examine the feelings that surround your impulse to gamble; you will find they eat away at the energy of your life.
Food. There is food that nourishes, and food that enervates. The former is cheaper: fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, clean water. The latter is more expensive, more garishly packaged, and more poisonous: potato crisps, sweets, fizzy drinks, burgers. Consider that you don't fancy junk food if you are sick; your body knows it takes too much energy to digest, and does not nourish.
Clothes. Do you need to buy fashionable clothes, so you can look like everyone else? If you need to blend in, fine. You can be sure the leaders of fashion don't. They head to charity shops and buy Harris tweed and old lace for pennies. They get suits made to measure by sweated labour in Thailand. That's how they get that 'unique' look. What's that, you don't like the idea of sweat-shops? Guess what, that's where a lot of fashionable clothes get made anyway. It's called 'outsourcing' and 'offshoreing'.
Automobiles. Running a car in the UK costs about ?5000 ($9000 USD) a year, all-in. Save, by buying a second-hand auto. Save, by buying a less powerful, more fuel efficient model. Save further by thereby getting lower insurance and road-tax.
Personal foibles: I used to buy a lot of internet magazines. These cost up to ?5 each, or about $10 in USD. I found a lot of information about the internet, was already on the internet, so I stopped buying the magazines. There are very few papers or magazines worth reading. Find the few that inform, rather than titillate, waffle or distract. Visit the local library, it's free. Drop in to a 'Borders' bookshop, and have a free read.
Debt. Don't buy what you can't afford with someone else's money. Credit cards are an expensive way of getting a loan. Try your friends or relatives first. Your local credit union is a good option; better rates, better terms, friendlier faces. Better yet, don't borrow. Live free. Keep away from the loan-sharks. You can manage without that holiday.
Put your saved money in a high interest, 180-day notice account. Put it in a bank different to your current one, in case the latter goes bust. Make a mental note that it's for emergencies only, then contrive to live 'safely'.
Save up enough to last you a year and a day off work, and notice how much calmer and confident you feel!
About the author: T. O' Donnell (http://www.tigertom.com) is an ecommerce consultant in London, UK. His latest project is a loan and mortgage calculator, available at http://www.tigertom.com
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare"Any fool can rich, the wise get wealthy." Chris WidenerGetting... Read More
For most of us, the idea of retiring simply on... Read More
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes -- Envision your life 10... Read More
Most people work hard all their lives only to "retire"... Read More
We will start the Financial Fitness System with the assumption... Read More
Have you seen a picture of the Parthenon in Athens,... Read More
It all begins with a simple calculation.You are home on... Read More
When Building Wealth by Russ Whitney was released a few... Read More
Many people assume that the offshore world is accessible only... Read More
Uncle Sam and his band of merry-men, better known as... Read More
There are many wealth creation strategies and investment techniques available... Read More
Author: James Walsh ISBN: 1563431696: Publisher: Silver Lake PublishingIn... Read More
In light of the dominant mindset overshadowing the market these... Read More
At any time in history, no matter what the current... Read More
Have you any idea how many people search Google every... Read More
As a work at home Mother, I know the value... Read More
Do you have financial problems? Then a budget is the... Read More
As you know, we're now well and truly in theInformation... Read More
As someone who loves to shop, enjoys holidays and owns... Read More
SCENE 1: Pharaoh has just woken up from a very... Read More
Now is a great time to make it a habit... Read More
"The quickest way to wealthThat I've found to be true;Is... Read More
Every day you work is one day closer to your... Read More
Is accumulating wealth as easy as following a 3-step plan?... Read More
The four main steps in building a wealth cycle foundation... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Have you seen a picture of the Parthenon in Athens,... Read More
Six out of six people who were asked to list... Read More
In my last article on Creating Residual Income I mentioned... Read More
Let's quickly review the principles discussed in the first part... Read More
One of the things most of us have old ideas... Read More
Do you ever get this in your email box: Find... Read More
To budget, to have a budget and to be on... Read More
Uncle Sam and his band of merry-men, better known as... Read More
The vast majority of working people are in debt. The... Read More
I have given many prosperity lectures over the years and,... Read More
This is a true story about a homeless man from... Read More
For most of us, the idea of retiring simply on... Read More
"If you know how to spend less than you get,... Read More
Bottom line. No exaggeration. No hype. If you want to... Read More
Okay. So money doesn't really grow on trees. Unless you... Read More
When you purchased your home, you most likely got a... Read More
Do you have financial problems? Then a budget is the... Read More
When Ben Franklin said "a penny saved is a penny... Read More
A mole travels one road, according to the way nature... Read More
My First Million took me exactly 27 months to achieve.... Read More
Everyone dreams of early retirement. The idea of no longer... Read More
Is it hard to get rich? If you're young, not... Read More
Look at Forbes' top 10 United States wealthiest people. Notice... Read More
You may think you have to be an entrepreneur to... Read More
Many people assume that the offshore world is accessible only... Read More
Wealth Building |