FOR many years, I’ve been coaching and mentoring people and have witnessed how people spent their money in way like there is an unlimited source of supply.
But one lesson I realized in helping other people with their money issues is this, “Income is limited but expenses are unlimited.” If we allow our lifestyle to dictate what we want, I can assure you that our income will never be enough.
There are things that we thought we will always need but then realized, we don’t, hence, we should stop putting money on them.
Latest ‘fashionable’ clothes
Of course, I still buy clothes – but I no longer buy those that are only useful for a season, you know what I mean? Fashion today has been constantly changing and telling us what’s nice and what’s cool.
But I no longer use that as the standard when I buy clothes. I only consider two things when I buy clothes: comfort and reasonable price.
I need nice clothes so I can be presentable whenever I appear on television shows and seminars both actual ones and online. Plus, I don’t think I will be convincing enough if I can’t dress myself appropriately, right?
This is why I have learned to invest in basic and classic pieces that I can reuse and recycle whenever I need them. I just buy the basic color, black, white, and gray. This behavior has not only allowed me to save money but also allowed me to spend less time in choosing what I want to wear!
Unhealthy food
Having money somehow gives people the idea that they buy whatever they want, food included, well, especially food. But as I grew older and wiser, I realized that aside from wasting my money on unhealthy food choice, I am likewise putting my health at risk.
Expensive coffee
Coffee is good. It’s actually one thing that energizes me and allows me to focus whenever I need to get something done. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to discourage you from purchasing coffee from Starbucks, even I enjoy a cup with friends and family on occasion.
What I am trying to get across here is the mindset that comes with buying coffee. For instance, when I am at home doing my work, I don’t drive to a coffee shop to get my caffeine fix. I brew my own coffee at home – same effect on me but less the cost.
Alarm clocks
I still have an alarm clock at home. It still gets useful every time but I no longer spend money for it. Why? Because I have a phone that has a built-in alarm clock!
What I am saying is I want to maximize the things that I’ve spent my money on. But the deeper reason for me not spending my money on alarm clocks is that I have already developed a habit of waking up at a specific hour in the morning – this is a result of me wanting to be productive everyday! It’s a habit we can all develop.
Applications and programs
When smart phones dominated the world, online applications and programs have been constantly developing, and most of the promising ones can be a bit expensive.
I don’t spend money on online applications and programs that I can get for free. Savings, check!
Costly shoes
I like shoes. Who doesn’t?
I think it’s something that most people don’t outgrow. Even those at their 60s still get excited when they buy a new pair of shoes.
But for me, for as long as the pair is still useful and presentable, I don’t spend money on another new pair. Because shoes today can be really pricey, I make sure that I get a comfortable pair and then make my money’s worth out of it by using it and not buying unnecessary new ones until they’re actually needed.
THINK. REFLECT. APPLY
What are the things that you see in your home that don’t actually appear useful anymore? Make a list. Why is it important to adapt to change especially in our spending habits as we grow old? What can happen when we don’t change and still stick our “usual” spending behaviors?
