Friday, September 30, 2005
Can You Live On Less To Get More?
Do you have a plan to get you where you want to go in life? Can you live on less today to get more tomorrow? There is an advantage to a frugal lifestyle. It conserves resources. It is also a disadvantage in that it may give you a mind-set that holds your down and you don’t look for more than a frugal lifestyle.
You should live frugally because you have a goal ahead of you that this lifestyle today will allow you to achieve tomorrow. Maybe the goal is sending children to college. Maybe you would like a 3 week vacation where you don’t have to visit relative to save money. Maybe a cruise to some exotic port.
When you have a reason for doing things that excites you, there is more incentive to continue along that path. When you have a clear destination in mind you can easily give up a little today so you can have more tomorrow.
I believe that by just small sacrifices, you can move forward. Here is an easy one. Get a big can with a lid. A coffee can is fine. Put one dollar a day in it. DO IT! Do it everyday. Give up one soda from the machine at work a day and be sure you put the money in the can. Mark each dollar on a calendar so you know it went in. At the end of the month, open a savings account and put the money in there and NEVER, NEVER touch it.
If you find some money, throw it in the can. If you get a rebate, throw it in the can. This is a small amount that almost everyone could put aside. The key is DO NOT TOUCH THE MONEY. Don’t take it our for a “rainy day”, just keep building you $1 a day fund. Make it a game to see how big that account can grow to. JUST DON’T TOUCH IT! Make this a game to see what you could do if you really wanted to.
