big deep breath
This page is just a little pick-me-up for those of you who are struggling a little bit right now.
Everything will be okay.
It’s now almost normal to experience money problems. As frustrating as it is, take comfort knowing that you’re not on your own and there are people and institutions that can help. If others have figured out ways to make their situations better, then so can you.
There’s nothing normal about the increasing costs of fuel, or the ridiculous prices of fresh veggies. And it’s not cool that some people have to choose between eating a good meal or paying the bills. And it’s certainly not cool that some people can’t go out and enjoy time with friends and family because they’ve got to work overtime, or save for the rent. But, unfortunately, this is where we are at this point in time.
you're not alone
At some point in everyone’s life, no matter how rich, there are going to be financial problems. It’s easy to look at someone more well-off and think that they’ve had it easy but even being born wealthy comes with its own set of problems. Imagine, just for a second, that you didn’t know whether your friends liked you for you, or they just wanted to sponge off your money. Sounds pretty crap, right?
You might think “I’d rather feel that than feel like I don’t have enough money”, but you’re only saying that because you don’t know what it’s like.
Everyone’s got problems. You’re not unique.
And that should make you feel better! Because you can turn to people to ask for help and advice. Don’t be proud and think you have to go through it all on your own. There are people around, even strangers, who care and want you to feel secure and happy. You’d be surprised.
Just remember, we’re all part of the same community and sometimes talking about things is helpful because it opens new avenues of thinking. And that can lead to new ways of doing things, which could improve your mood and your outlook on how you go about tackling your money problems.
start planning
Don’t take the financial situation personally; try and step back and look at it from another person’s point of view. If a friend came up to you and asked you to help them budget and organize their expenses, you would probably start by saying they don’t need a Netflix, NEON and Amazon Prime subscription, they’d only need one.
Try and take that approach when looking at ways of cutting costs in your own life. Don’t get emotionally attached to subscriptions and other services that you’re paying for because you enjoyed them last year and think you might enjoy them next year. Cancel some of them (or put them on hold) and you can always start up again when you’re in a better situation.
Don’t quit the gym because it’s expensive, but maybe find another gym. Even if it’s a little bit further, that’s okay. You probably don’t need a Les Mills membership either, you just need to get the motivation to do the same intense workout as the amazing classes on your own. And guess what?
Motivation is free!
A few neat tips to help planning and budgeting would be to meal prep in advance so that you buy exactly what you need when you do your weekly shop. Cut down on the drinking and the smoking at home and use that money to be able to go out with your mates. Also, don’t think catching the train or the bus is lame – it’s cheaper than rinsing your gas tank each week sitting in traffic. It’ll probably take you less time to get to and from work as well.
Do what you’ve got to do, and you know exactly what it is you’ve got to do.
set realistic goals
It’s all well and good to say “I’m going to be a millionaire next year” but it doesn’t really make sense when all you do is sit on the couch playing Call of Duty.
Nothing wrong with being ambitious but it will serve you well to be realistic. Start out by thinking of a side hustle you could do to earn a couple of hundred bucks each week, and take it from there. Doesn’t matter if you’re mowing lawns, polishing shoes or busking on the streets – every dollar counts towards your financial goal. If you set low expectations, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If your expectations are too high, you’re going to be disappointed.
Statistically, you’re not going to win the Lotto so don’t spend as though you’ve already hit the jackpot. Try your best at what you do, and use the money you make to make you more money.
Invest in yourself, it’ll pay more dividends than any other investment you make.
mind matters
Your mindset can impact your financial decisions, and your financial decisions can impact your mental health.
It’s a two-way street. And the good news is that it’s a lot easier to quickly change your mindset because solving money issues usually takes a little longer and a little more effort. But doing one will affect the other.
Stop thinking about what you see others having on TikTok and Instagram. You don’t know what their lives are like when they’re not in front of the camera so take what you see with a grain of salt. Look around you and be thankful for what you have because somewhere in the world, people are doing a lot worse.
Be grateful, not comfortable because being comfortable might make you lazy and that will stop you taking action to make your money situation better.
Look after yourself and your mind, it’s the only thing that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
look around your house
We’re all a part of this consumerism rat race and we all want the newest and shiniest toy that’s on the market. But stop for a second and look around your house. How much stuff do you have that you haven’t used in the past six months?
Here’s a good rule-of-thumb: if you’re not using it, you probably don’t need it.
Don’t throw it away though! List it on TradeMe or Facebook and sell it. You don’t need to get top dollar for it but something is better than nothing. Or rent out some of your cool outdoor sports gear to your mates and tell them it’s better than them spending the money buying it. You’d be surprised at how lucrative something like that could be.
There’s always money to be made in what some people consider useless stuff.
