By Linda W
This is a simple question that I ask myself that helps me stay debt free. It may sound infantile or even stupid to some, but if you take the question seriously each time you ask it as I have, it has saved me from making a lot of poor purchases over the year. I know because when I was younger, I did live paycheck to paycheck. The question is:
Is anything that I own that’s worth living paycheck to paycheck to pay for?
Is the new car that I want worth living paycheck to paycheck to pay for? Is a closet full of clothes worth living paycheck to paycheck to pay for? Is keeping up with the Joneses worth living paycheck to paycheck to pay for? Is there really anything that I own which is worth living paycheck to paycheck to pay for?
I don’t know what the answer is for you, but what I learned by asking this question is that what really makes me happy is not being a slave to the things that I want to buy. Yes, I may be disappointed when I can’t get everything I want the instant I want it, but I also know I’m a lot happier that when the (not brand new) car unexpectedly breaks down, it isn’t a financial disaster.
When I lived paycheck to paycheck, I was a slave to all the things I wanted at that moment. I had to face the fact that my debt and paycheck to paycheck lifestyle was going to mean that I could never retire or ever feel at financial ease. That’s when I started asking the question.
Is anything that I own that’s worth living paycheck to paycheck to pay for?
If you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, you may want to ask yourself this question too.
Do you have a story about saving money or earning money that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear about it.
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