There are no solutions. Only tradeoffs.
- Thomas Sowell |
Money is a useful tool, but it will not buy the most valuable things…like happiness. Or good friends. Or security.
Sadly, money has become the way we value things. (We need a refresher course on what VALUE means.)
If, instead, we see it as just a trading tool: trading our labor for a roof over our head, or trading our services for the food a farmer labored to grow for us – we can make smart trades, purchases and investments. We can even invest in things that will eventually bring in more money; like education, buying a typewriter, or starting a business.
Learning how to be careful with our trading tool is the trick.
When we think ‘things’ are more important than relationships, or that we can gain relationships through having things, then we need to re-evaluate how we allow money to influence our sense of control over our lives.
“Balancing your money is the key to having enough.” ~ Elizabeth Warren
“Don’t think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” ~ Voltaire
Saving Money At The Grocery Store
Here are five steps anyone drowning in debt should take to get out of debt:
1. Accurately assess the status of your debts from amount owed, to interest charges to expected pay off dates.
2. Make a budget. Use it to guide and track spending.
3. Create more income. Get a second job.
4. Stop borrowing and using credit cards. Cash only.
5. Change debt-enabling habits. Drastically reduce dining out, entertainment expenses.