Getting your (financial) priorities straight

I see it every day - friends and acquaintances posting every day on various social media sites how "broke" they are. Yet, I see those same people posting about how much fun they have at the bar every weekend, or how they bought the latest iPhone. 

Maybe they're thinking they deserve it because they've worked so hard. I'm not denying that. Unfortunately, we can't always get what we feel we deserve. Having a little bit of will power to put off getting the latest gadget could have huge rewards later on. For example, if you take the money you were going to use for the new phone and put it towards your debt with the highest interest rate, you may be able to pay it off, rather than continue to pay interest. That $600 could make thousand of dollars difference.

Think about other ways you can create a free or cheap alternative for the activities that are most costly. If your bar bill is $50, you could think about spending $20 on a mixer or a case of beer and invite friends over for a game night. You still get to hang out and enjoy a beverage, but at less than half the price.

It's not always easy making the tough choices to live more financially responsibly, but it is necessary if you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck. You can still have fun and get some of the things you want - you just have to be creative and patient to get there. For more free and cheap entertainment ideas, check out my book Living Within Your Means: A practical guide to financial freedom.  I'd love to personally help you live a more organized and stress-free life - contact me for a free estimate.

​Cheers!