A new issue of Shoestring Mag arrived in my inbox this morning, featuring a thoughtful article, “Lessons Learned from Being Broke.”
In reflecting on the often difficult choice of learning to live below your means, the author writes,
“I don’t care much what other people think of my finances — I’ve gotten used to being the cheap one. But sometimes I get jealous of friends and family members who seem to be so much better off than I am. Meanwhile, my husband and I are comfortable, but no more. We have a well-laid financial plan. On several occasions, though,
we’ve been tempted to scrap the plan in favor of the good life right now.
No one else is suffering. Why are we?
We’ve learned to compare us with us. Whenever we start feeling sorry for ourselves and wondering why everyone else is passing us by, we look back at from where we’ve come: our newlywed days in that tiny one-room apartment and our jobs as janitors scrubbing toilets. We tune out the peer-pressure static, count our blessings and stay focused on our goals. Besides, for all we know, the success we see in others may only be a façade. The only thing we know for sure is the state of our own finances, and we’re staying the course.”*
What an important lesson - don’t compare your finances with anyone else, and instead, learn to stay focused on your own financial goals. I know it can be frustrating and even discouraging to look around and feel like everyone else is free to spend without thought or worry. But keep your eyes straight ahead, focused on your budget, and it will be easier to thrive and experience the joy of your own living large successes.
*emphasis mine - photo by jake
{ 0 comments… add one now }