More for the Money
10 Steps to Living More Abundantly
In my effort to enhance my relationship with money, I
discovered relying on the wisdom of others could be a mistake or a blessing. I
learned the hard way to rely on the experts: those who could show me the benefit
of following their own advice.
Some of the best experts were in my place of employment and in the neighborhood
where I lived. These experts survived the depression and had learned the art of
living well and surviving in the worst of times. Other experts were unknown to
me, but wrote books that made sense. Their advice was easily understood by those
of us who didn't work in the financial world.
One benefit of listening to the experts was the feeling of living abundantly
without increasing my take home pay. The most important principles I learned
were:
1. Make a plan. Know what you want to accomplish financially. List your goals.
Then begin at the beginning. If your goal is to be out of debt in 5 years, begin
by paying off your smallest debt and progressing to the next, adding the
previous payment amount you've been making to the next bill. This principle was
found in_War on Debt_ by Don Avinzini.
2. If you are living beyond your means and you are spending more than you bring
home, stop spending! For some reason, this simple principle is the hardest to
grasp. There are always areas in which you may cut back. If you have truly cut
your spending back to the bare bone, then you need to create more income. Take
on a second or third job and chip away at your debt until you can comfortably
work one job and live off the income it generates. You will never feel abundant
if you are perpetually overdrawn.
3. Remind yourself of your true abundance. Everyday list 5 things for which you
are grateful. You'll be surprised how hard it is to stop at only 5. From thrifty
finds to more priceless things like your health, a hug from your child, or a
phone call from a friend just when you needed it most, you will find true
abundance isn't related to your potential to earn or spend money. I learned this
principle in the enlightening book: _Simple Abundance_ by Sarah ban Breathnach.
4. Learn to rephrase your self-talk, mentally and verbally. Everyday we speak
negatively about ourselves and our ability to manage our lives. Substitute
positives for negatives and rephrase. Instead of saying, "I can't afford to
buy..." rephrase the statement to "I choose to not buy ____. The money I save
will help me to pay off my credit card." "I never get anything new!" becomes "I
have all I need at this moment."
5. Practice, practice, practice. If you slip and make a mistake don't scrap your
plan. Mistakes happen. The important thing is to learn why the mistake occurred
and then work at not making the same mistake again.
6. Give yourself little gifts. Visit the library and check out the bestseller
you'd love to read. A half hour to enjoy your favorite author at the end of the
day is bliss. When the kids are in bed, soak in a hot tub. Light candles at the
dinner table and use the good dishes. Take the time to sip (not gulp) a cup of
coffee or tea before you leave in the morning, or before preparing dinner. Ten
minutes to one half hour of time every day for little indulgences will make you
feel relaxed and happy.
7. Look at what you own in a new way. Don't limit the usefulness of an item to
one function. Split up matched suits of clothing to wear with other pieces. Use
books as lifts for decorative items, or as bookends for other books. A teapot is
charming as a vase for cut flowers or as a decorative item in the bedroom or
bath. Use a dresser as a buffet in your dining area or as a table in the entry.
8. Plan for emergencies. Have a first aid kit, a basic set of over the counter
medications, a tool kit, an emergency $20 tucked away in a safe spot, a sick
cupboard (tissues, ginger ale, soda crackers and clear soups, and basic cold
medications). Planning ahead is one of the best ways to save money, and knowing
you are prepared automatically calms you when emergencies occur.
9. Learn how to. There are a zillion books on every subject known to man. From
how to repair your small appliances to how to meditate, if you want to learn how
to do anything, someone has written the book. Visit your local library and
borrow books on your chosen subject. Purchase a good basic recipe book and a
good basic repair book. My personal favorites: _Better Homes and Gardens
Cookbook_ ,and _Yankee Magazine's Make it Last_by Earl Proulx.
10. Always, always keep a little chocolate on hand. Two chocolate kisses will
give you a moment of comfort and will curb any craving for chocolate. I
personally keep mine in the freezer. They melt more slowly and I know the kids
will never dig through the bags of frozen foods to look for them!
Try a few of these principles and practice the joy of living more
abundantly today!
(C)2001
(C)2004 PennyAnnPoundwise is soley created,owned and written
by Terri Cheney. No portion of the newsletter may be reproduced without
permission of the author.
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