Do I REALLY need more money?

Admit it, you have had that sit down with yourself about your spending habits. Every check you get seems to be long for the first two days, and now you are stretching $53 for what seems like the next month.

I get it, we have all been there at some point. Going from top dog, to runt of the litter in a matter of 48 hours. From gated communities, to ‘please get off the property’. With my fair share of these long days (and nights) of making a dollar do gymnastics, I decided I needed more money. Or so I believed. After upgrading jobs, I increased my income, only to come to the previous conclusion. I STILL needed more money.

Where is ya money?

So like many people, I made a bunch of promises about how I would save every penny, and only make smart choices. How I would not spend money on xyz, or go wild when I got a little extra cash. Let me tell you, I PLAYED MYSELF. I realized that as much money as I now accrued, I did not know where my money was going. I mean yes, bills and expenses, but outside of that, I honestly did not account for my money running from my pockets like a 40 yard dash. I was baffled. I had gotten a better paying job, and even had more time to myself (the bonus of having money). What I did not accommodate for was that with my income increase, I had simultaneously increased my expenses.

I got a raise in pay, so that meant I could afford to treat myself with more space in my home. I could afford to eat bigger, better, and more luxurious meals. I could purchase more trinkets to fill my time, post-work day. Right? Wrong. I have to laugh at how naive I was about my financial literacy. Everyone’s situation is different, but ask yourself, how much space do you actually utilize? I mean, of all the space in your current home, how much of that space are you actively using? Not only that, have you ever added all of the money you spend over the course of the month eating out? The money you spent from going out to social gatherings? On your personal habits? Get your next debit card statement, and see how much money you spend at the bar, or even at your local restaurants. Talk about a sobering realization that I gasps, am the reason I need more money.

After being frustrated by my vastly low funds, I decided to look at my expenses. I discovered I had not been spending my money as wisely as I had once thought. I am an active twitter user, and I seen a tweet stating something similar to the following; “How are you all looking for relationships, but do not have $5000 in a bank account?” I have to say, SHOOK is an underwhelming description of feelings that transpired immediately. I had already been in progress of smarter spending, working to reduce expenses within my home, but that tweet rocked me to my core. This tweet was followed up with a more devastating point. Most Americans, whether they are considered the mythical “middle class” or not, “are one major emergency away from being in a finacial crisis.” However “I still need more money”, so I began seeking ways I could do just that.

I remember seeing a book with a cleaver title on my Twitter Timeline. It was by a Nigerian American from Houston, and the book was titled “10 Reasons You Are Living Centsless”. I purchased the book, and the day it arrived, I begin feverishly ripping through the pages. The book lays out the behaviors most people have when it comes to spending or investing their money.

I realized that I had been playing victim, when I was really the villain. This book encouraged me to have a goal behind my need for more money. To set a budget, and work towards staying within that budget. To reduce unnecessary spending on the little things, specifically because little things add up. My biggest gaps in my check, to remaining balance were books and food. I STILL have books I have purchased, and although there is intent there, that I still have not read. Furthermore, eating out is not only expensive, it takes a toll on your health.

I made a plan. I decided to reduce the amount of money I would spend, and work on investing that money. I am not in the stock market, or doing million dollar deals from my iphone (yet), but I choose to say invest in lieu of spend. Spending implies that you can not get it back. I invest my money so that I can see a return on that investment. I have made it a point to minimize my spending. I have committed to spending less than $10 a day. Accompanying this challenge, I have added, placing the change of any money spent into a savings account.I decided to buy groceries AND COOK.

Yes, you have to learn how to do more than fry an egg, and boil noodles. Buying groceries and cooking is a LIFE HACK, as you save money and create a much needed life skill for woman or man. Do not be that guy saying that he needs his woman in the kitchen. A good analysis of where your money is going to scan your bank statements and see how often you invest more than $10 on NON-EXPENSE or essential purchases. With these changes in my behaviors, I have noticed dramatic changes in not only my account, but overall in life.

So after reading this, I hope that you ask yourself Do I REALLY need more money?