In a world where so many of us are driven by consumerism and have become numb to debt, we may actually be “broke” but not even know it. The importance of looking at your circumstances thoughtfully and making wise choices cannot be understated.
Consider the points below. Are you broke? The good news is there is no time like the PRESENT to fix it.
1. You’re living paycheck to paycheck. If you’re spending every dollar you take home, you are, by definition, broke. More than 75% of North Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, with little to no savings, which means that, right off the bat, at least three-quarters of us are technically “poor”. But even if you’re not living paycheck to paycheck, you might be broke if…
2. You have credit-card debt. There’s no such thing as “good” debt. The debtor is always slave to the lender.
3. You have student-loan debt. just in case you were wondering, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS “GOOD” DEBT.
4. You have a monthly car payment. Enough said.
5. Your income dictates your lifestyle. It should be the other way around: we should work to earn enough money to live, not live to earn enough money to buy stuff we don’t need. Until he breaks free from consumerism, the hoarder is slave to his hoard.
6. You aren’t saving for the future. We know, we know: you’ll start saving “tomorrow.” But of course tomorrow never comes, because tomorrow will be today tomorrow, and tomorrow’s tomorrow will never be today. Ergo, begin today. Your life literally depends on it.
7. You’re not healthy. When you are unhealthy, you are broke in another way. You are broken and you can’t enjoy life no matter how much money you have.Unhealthy equals depression according to the statistics. Not having a mind and body that is healthy is the ultimate form of being broke so take care of yourself.
8. Your relationships are suffering. Too often we forget about the most important people in our lives in search of money or other pleasures. We believe that our loved ones will always be around or that “they’ll understand.” But when you’re careless with something for long enough, it breaks down eventually.
9. You argue over money. Troubled relationships tend to end for one of two reasons: arguments over money or arguments over sex (or both). Even if the relationship doesn’t end, it is difficult to grow if y’all’re constantly bickering about finances.
10. You’re not growing. It doesn’t matter how much cash you earn; if you’re not growing, you’re dying. We feel most alive when we cultivate a passion, drudge through the drudgery, and live our lives with purpose, autonomy, and mastery. Find yours and do it.
11. You don’t contribute as much as you’d like. Your worth isn’t determined by your net worth. Real worth comes from contributing beyond yourself in a meaningful way. It’s been said that “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” Giving is living, and it’s much easier to give when you’re no longer worried about money.
Bottom Line is that being broke is OK. It is when we are broke without a plan that it becomes not OK. Money does NOT define happiness. Living deliberately within your means is happiness however.
Real wealth, security, and contentment come not from the stuff that we spend on in this life, but from how we spend the one life we’ve been given.
SOURCE: theminimalists
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