The Drama of Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck
Everyone lives paycheck-to-paycheck, so it’s no big deal. That’s actually correct. It’s not a big deal; it’s a freakin’ MAJOR deal. Okay, here’s the reality; Seventy-eight percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Let’s think about that for a second. That means there is a possibility if 10 of your closest friends got together for dinner, the odds are almost 8 of your friends would attend knowing they really couldn’t afford to.
Five of your good girlfriends would be faking the funk and laughing it up while they secretly worried about the total of their bill. You know what friends I’m talking about. At least a couple of those girls would start mentally moving bill money around not to miss the occasion. And there would be that one friend who is trying to remember who’s next on her back-up list just in case her paycheck doesn’t cross the finish line before her bills do.
While all this madness is going on, your financially stable friends who don’t fall into the paycheck-to-paycheck category are making eye contact from across the table, sending subliminal messages to each other. “She better not ask to borrow money from me because she never paid me back for the last time we went out to eat.” “Dang, your Instagram post said you were out here living your best life, so you should be able to afford dinner, right?” Living paycheck-to-paycheck reduces your quality of life, and it causes unnecessary stress.
You should be able to go out with your girlfriends, have a nice dinner and a glass of wine without feeling anxiety when the waiter brings the bill. Just because most of America is in this predicament doesn’t mean you need to be. To be more exact, you don’t have to be.
To Manage or Not to Manage Your Money
I don’t have to manage my money. Let me ask you a few questions. Are you currently managing your money? If the answer is no, how is that going for you? Are you in debt? Do you feel the stress of not having enough money at the end of the month, although you put in a smooth 40 hours plus each week? Does your money run out before the end of the month? Are you or have you experienced a strain in your relationships, especially your marriage, because of money related issues? What does your savings account look like? If a minor inconvenience should arise, like a flat tire, can you pay for it, or will you need to find someone from whom to borrow money until Friday rolls around? Are you living the life you were destined to live?
If you are not managing your money, I am certain these questions hit you right in your gut. Ignoring your money doesn’t make your money problems disappear; it worsens them. I am here to tell you, getting out of debt, staying out, and living a life of financial freedom is directly related to managing your money!
You Are Your Rescue
There is nothing I can do about my financial situation. If you think there is nothing to be done about your financial situation, you are 100% correct. It’s inevitable; life is going to happen! You know, those common everyday things like food, school clothes, and the light bill as well as those unexpected, oh S&$%, financial occurrences that make you want to throw in the whole towel. Life can bring you to the point where you are absolutely drowning in money woes.
HOWEVER, let me offer you a bit of encouragement, there is always something you can do about your financial situation, and a good place to start is with your mindset. Shift that thing. You let your money and your mind know you will not continue to live in financial despair, nor will you be a slave to your money issues and live a subpar life as a consequence.
Now, listen to me carefully. There is no doubt about it; your money fixup will require you to be uncomfortable at moments. For some, you will need to do a little soul searching to determine just how bad you want to make a change. You will need to find your consistency and discipline within. Improving your financial status is 100% possible, and it simply starts with beginning.
Budgeting is a Necessity
Budgeting is not a requirement for managing my money. If you want to be financially free, managing your money should become a priority. To manage your money, you must budget. When there is no budget, your funds will inevitably be mismanaged. Not knowing where your money is going before spending will cause you to spend haphazardly.
Let me point out. Some people are not broke because you don’t have money; some people are broke because they don’t have a plan for what to do with the money made.
C’mon, you work hard for your money. Why would you work 40 plus hours making someone else rich, and no sooner doesn’t that check hit your account, it’s gone?
Lack doesn’t breed joy and excitement; it breeds grief, misery, and despondency. The income acquired from working is your tool for becoming debt-free and building wealth. Learning how to manage that tool is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself.
Don’t Allow Debt to Be a Norm
Having debt is a normal part of life. Please repeat after me, having debt does not have to be a normal part of life! It feels normal because most people you know have debt. There are over 189 million Americans with credit card debt. Take a look at our government; we are $22 trillion in debt. So, it may seem that having debt is the path to take to acquire what you need in life.
It’s a new car you want; you finance it. Finally ready to purchase your dream home, you take out a mortgage loan. Christmas is a few weeks away, there was no money saved, so you put your trusty credit card to work, only paying the monthly minimum, and you go bananas buying gifts.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, being in debt is a sign of not living intentionally and failing to strategically plan and manage your money. Here is what I know unequivocally, we get one life! This life will take the course you set for it. If living in debt is your path, that will be the direction in which it goes.
Owing money will never be more exciting than being the owner of the money.
There is a freedom that comes with being debt-free that is unexplainable. You walk differently. You talk differently. You matriculate on your job differently, knowing that you can’t be treated any ole way because that place of employment does not bound you. Make being debt-free what’s normal in your life.
