Money talks. But it is the cash that counts, not the plastic. So the more you learn to live on cash, the more power you have over your life.
But if you're willing to commit to the great system I use, saving a bundle of money is fun, really easy, and guards against living beyond your means, otherwise known as BEING IN DEBT.
A few years ago, I was walking on the treadmill at 4 am, and watching TV at the same time. I was struck by the sheer number of "buy now"! commercials at that time of the morning. Let me tell you my friends, it is really hard to find anything worth watching at that un-prime time!
There was one show though that was quite interesting. It was a reality show about people who didn't know which way to turn because of their awful financial situations.
The show featured a no-nonsense financial expert, Gail vaz Oxlade who set them straight most times, giving them a month to systematically work on their problems. It also powerfully demonstrated how financial woes directly affect family relationships.
Ever since then I have worked the Gail method, and it is an amazing visual way to save a bunch of money.
Yes, it does start out with that dreaded word, Budget, but once you've taken the time to use her wonderful on line resources you're totally into the business of fun every day as you discover more about yourself and your abilities to save money.
Oh, and by the way, that's how I am able to go traveling so often!
No guessing -no 'rounding off' your figures.
This is the tough part - coming to terms with your actual financial situation. But if you do it now, the rest becomes much easier, so don't skip it!
The polka dotted one is the food one - most used! going to a restaurant is Entertainment, which gives you pause for thought before you do it, knowing it can easily eat up a week's food budget!
3. Preparations finished. If you have enough resolve to do this, you put your credit and debit cards firmly away. You are comitting to live on cash, and that requires I bank trip per month. The amount is divvied up into the jars or pouches.
4. Now use the system, recording your spending each day. You will be amazed how much you save. As my reward, at the end of each month any extra that wasn't spent goes into a special travel fund. But it can be any reward you want!