Let’s get this out of the way - Money isn’t
everything. However, like water, its mismanagement can hurt us quite severely.
Here are five tiny little changes you can make in your daily life that can lead
to better management of your finances and hopefully a slightly comfier life -
1. How you look at deals
How we all love a good deal! When you spot a
lovely dress which you suddenly feel you can’t live without AND which, thanks
to your guarding angel, is selling at a 20% discount – Take a moment.
Breathe.
And then - don’t look at it as a 20% saving but
as an 80% spending (because you still have to pay that 80%). This shift might save
you from spending on things you don’t really need anyway.
PS – And deep down we all know that discounts are just a lie to trick us into feeling better
about our guilty purchases.
2. Beware of credit
cards
Cash, debit card,
chequing account and savings account – This is money.
Credit card – This makes
you think you have money.
Remember this small but
massive difference which can change how much you swipe and spend.
3. The idea of fun
Having fun and/or meeting friends doesn’t always
have to be in some restaurant or bar where you end up spending more than you
should. Going on a walk, meeting in a park/museum, playing an inexpensive sport
is not only lighter on the wallet but also more likely to be a more enjoyable
experience.
4. Embrace a little bit
of minimalism
How about moving a little away from consumption
and a bit towards minimalism? If you donate what you haven’t worn or even
touched in the last 100 days, you’ll realize you probably don’t need some of those
clothes and shoes anymore.
And that's a double thumbs up from
YourSustainableAccountant.
5. Try the FIRE (Financially Independent and
Retiring Early) lifestyle
This is a long-term plan that requires small short-term
changes in thinking. It is a way of daily living where you spend less because
you want less (without sacrificing happiness) and hence you have to work less.
Not bad, eh?
References -
1. Image credit for Financial Freedom Next Exit - 5 steps to becoming financially independent before age 25. (2017, April 01). Retrieved from https://www.ways4money.com/5-steps-becoming-financially-independent-age-25/
2. R/financialindependence. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/financialindependence/
Nice!
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