Money don't grow on trees!

Shay Thomas
Jul 15, 2017
3 min read

It seems like it was never enough money for me to do what I had to do, but if I'm not good with it, having more was not going to help me. Over the years I learned and practiced healthy habits to help me stretch a dollar. I have came a long way from check cashing spots and rush cards to investment accounts and American Express cards. I have two golden rules that I follow when it comes time to making purchases. Think before I spend, is this purchase a need or a want? Is it worth 10 hours of work, how much use will I get out of this purchase? Priority, should I make this purchase before I hit my target savings goal or pay bills? But if the deal is too good to pass up, I can get it now and adjust later, but too much of this can become a bad habit. I have been in situations where I was just meeting my monthly expenses, so trying to save was out of the question. I will know the right thing to do, pay my bills and follow my budget blah blah blah, but for some reason it was just easier to swipe my card on whatever I wanted. I would find reasons on why I deserved to buy this and that, but was not using those same reasons to do better with my money. Being disciplined was one of my struggles, but now I have put myself in check and remain focused on my goals.I have created a list of some tips that have helped me become better with money for my needs, so I can enjoy more wants.

Track your spending: This allows you to totally see where all your money is going and you can accurately set spending limits.
Create a budget: This takes the most discipline but if you're serious about meeting your goals then there can be no excuses.
Get organized: Pay all your bills on time to avoid late fees and penalties. Organize your bills and see what is due and when, then choose which pay day is perfect for bill pay and continue the process.
Stop using credit cards and loans: We all know how hard it is to work and pay for something we have already used and is long gone. Keep them at home, out of sight out of mind, emergencies are an exception!
Save with a purpose: Create short term goals like an emergency fund, vacation, or down payment and long term goals like college and retirement funds. Choose an amount to save every paycheck and transfer it to a savings account before making any other purchases.
Create shopping lists: Stick to your list when shopping, so that you can get all things you need and not get sidetracked.
Cancel unused memberships: The random memberships to save money is all fun until you're not really benefiting.
Avoid the mall; Unless its for a need and you have your list but I'm talking about that bad day at work, stressed out about life, or when boredom strikes moment mall trip. We say to window shop, but we always find something that makes us feel much better. Don't believe the hype stick to your goals, read a book or go for a walk at the park.
Live within your means: Sometimes it's just not our time for chapter 10 lifestyle when we are currently making enough money for chapter 1 lifestyle. Search for the right now home and car, so that you wont stress over bills and can focus on your goals. Make managing your money a priority and live life to your fullest potential. There is always a way to obtain the things you want in life if you remain focused, be patience, and always search for opportunities.