-James Lendall Basford
This couldn't be any more true. Living in debt, no matter how big or small, feels crippling. Starting today, and hopefully in-stated by the end of this week, I am going to put my financial goals on paper. I won't disclose how much consumer debt I am in (it isn't jaw-dropping or anything), but it certainly doesn't allow me as much freedom during the month to spend on other non-tangible expenses like dining out, travel, etc. etc, let alone really put aside for savings. Lame!
I'll start off by sharing how I ended up in this pickle: I am material girl. Let me just say, I love fashion and admire great style (many of my favorite blogs are fashion/street-style blogs). I think it's a great way to express one's self and I really enjoy shopping. However, being material and having a lot of expensive (and really unnecessary) clothes and shoes should never be glorified. You should never go into debt just to have the latest and greatest anything - it really is not fulfilling. I need to train myself to not splurge and be impulsive, but instead, put some cash aside every month for a "shopping fund." This has gotten me into trouble financially.
It sounds silly, but I am always bookmarking a new article of clothing, and then feel guilty a day or two later and delete it from my folder. Instead of this bookmarking and deleting activity, because it is ridiculous, I need to learn that it is OK to have wants but to prioritize the needs first (such as necessary monthly expenses, savings, etc.)
So by the end of this week, I will have my financial goals in place and begin the journey of breathing a bit easier!