Part of being adult is making mature choices. You’re abandoning a lifestyle driven by fun for one based on your responsibilities and obligations. This means money becomes central to the decision-making process and sometimes this limits your ability to do everything you’d like to do.
People like to fantasize about a world where money isn’t an issue. However, this world doesn’t really exist. Most people will factor money (or the lack thereof) into the equation when making choices. When money is a concern, you may need to make some suboptimal decisions. At the very least, the concern can detract from experiences.
In the moment, making money-motivated choices might seem boring. In the long run, there’s nothing wrong with skipping out on some opportunities to focus on other obligations. These decisions can be tough, but you should never be ashamed to make them. It’s a sign of growth that will likely have longterm benefits in the future.
Skipping the Holidays
In 2020, the average American expected to spend almost $1,000 on holiday gifts and decorations. When you’re trying to repay debt or save for a big purchase, this can be a huge burden. Spending time with family and friends can be great, but it’s hard to part with your money when gifts aren’t a high priority. Plus, traveling isn’t cheap or fun. It’s no wonder that 69% of Americans feel additional stress during the Holiday season.
If you’re not in a position to exchange candles or swap gift cards, skip out on the holiday presents. Anyone who really cares about you will understand that your priorities don’t diminish your relationships, and money shouldn’t dictate your ability to enjoy time together. This season is meant to be fun. If money and stress are ruining your experience, then take the year off. Use the time to rejuvenate and put your holiday cash toward your longterm goal.
Asking for Help
Pride can be a powerful motivator. Many people want to establish independence, and they feel financial assistance detracts from your autonomy. If you’re in a tough spot financially, it’s OK to swallow your pride and receive help for the sake of finances. Some people don’t have any resources, but using the ones you have doesn’t make you weak.
People often fear others will think less of them if they ask for help. Knowing when to ask for support is a sign of strength. This does not reduce your character, it can actually be built by returning the help you’ve received. If you do the smart thing based on your financial standing, you’re putting yourself in a position to have more stability in the future.
Not Upgrading
There’s a lot of pressure to buy nice things to blend in with everyone else. When I was in college, it seemed like every student was wearing a Patagonia jacket. I bought one, I loved it, but I didn’t need it. I already had a jacket, and it cost me over $100 for a new one. This type of pressure comes from all over the place. Whether it’s the new iPhone or a trendy pair of Crocs, it can be expensive to keep up with the Joneses.
Oddly enough, nobody cares about your jacket, phone, or Crocs. People want to upgrade items in their life out of personal insecurities, but settling for your current lifestyle is fine. You’ll save a lot of money if you only replace items out of need, not out of want, because people will always want more. Once you get the new iPhone, you’ll just find a new item to envy.
Taking a Staycation
For some reason, American’s don’t like to take vacations. On average, they only use about half of their paid time off and under a quarter of them use all of their vacation time. Don’t let this time go to waste, but that doesn’t mean you need to plan a big trip. If you want to take a week off so you can relax and catch up on your chores, then do it. This can be free and improve your ability to work effectively.
The idea that you need to travel or plan a major outine is an excuse to keep working. Some people do use their vacation time to take a big trip, but this is expensive and exhausting. If you’re going to lose vacation time at the end of the year, you’re doing yourself a disservice by working more than you need to. You don’t make any extra money, but you do add some stress into your life. Vacation time is a benefit you should use; it doesn’t matter if you’re visiting Croatia or your couch.
Staying in a Job Just for the Paycheck
In an ideal world, we’d all have a job we love and get to work for a living wage. This can encourage people to shop for a new job or take a pay-cut to pursue a passion. If you can afford to do this, then it might be a fulfulling endeavor. For others, they need to stick with their unfulfilling job, and that’s perfectly fine.
Some people choose to work to live; they don’t live to work. If they need the income, they’ll stick with a job merely for the money. This shows a level of mental strength and maturity, but it doesn’t mean you’re stuck in the job. Over half of Americans are unhappy with their jobs, so there are a lot of people who are working just to get a paycheck. Strive toward a better opportunity, but you don’t need to feel ashamed if your current job doesn’t align with your longterm vision.
Before You’re Free, You Need to Be Controlled
A lot of people feel restricted by money, but they’ll never be able to find financial freedom if they indulge in everything they desire. So, we need to make some educated decisions. If you allow money to be a motivating factor, it can feel restrictive in the moment. When you build wealth, it feels quite liberating.
There’s no shame in allowing money to control your actions. We need money to live, but we don’t need things like Playstation 5s, first-class airfare, or elaborate Christmas lights. When money is tight, it’s OK to swallow your pride.
Eventually you will break free from this control, but the path to freedom isn’t glamorous. It’s important to be kind to yourself when you make mistakes. Part of being human is learning through the process. Making the smart choice can feel boring, but eventually you will be able to see the benefits.
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