Is It Okay To Stop And Smell The Roses?
I know the title is a little cliché, but in our everyday lives there seems to be so little time to enjoy a few rewards now and then. All too often I hear people say “I deserve it” or “I need it”. But in reality we know these are just tag lines for wasteful or spontaneous spending. I know people who insist they need at least 2-3 vacations a year … some people take even more than this! Or I’ve heard people explain how they had to buy this or that because it’s been their dream for years to own whatever the item happens to be. The list for these goodies or self indulgent treats can be endless for some. So when is it really okay to let down your hair and stop to smell the roses?
Bottom line … Don’t let your “Good Times” become your Poison!!
Here’s a quick reward checklist:
1. Are My Essentials Taken Care Of?
- Your first priority is to always have your essentials of living taken care of without going into to debt to cover them. Make sure food, home, utilities, and transportation are always taken care of first! You need these things to survive. You don’t live on a TV show called Survivor! You are a Survivor! Don’t let down your guard for a momentary pleasure.
2. Do I Have An Emergency Fund Set Up?
- You never know when a rainy day is going to come so you need to have an umbrella handy. Personally my family keeps several umbrellas near our front door and at least one in our vehicle. Why … Because we want to be prepared when the rain falls. If you don’t want to get financially soaked then have an emergency fund set up with between 3-6 months of living expenses. (Dave Ramsey’s Take Emergency Funds)
3. Can I Pay Cash For The Treat?
- Never put vacations, treats, fine dining, amusement park trips, etc… on credit! The only way you “deserve it” is if you can pay for it. I can’t emphasize this point enough. If the rose you want to smell costs a couple of hundred bucks, then you should have the bucks before you take one sniff! If not … that sweet smelling rose will stink later.
Real Man View
A Real Man with Money DOES stop to smell the roses. However, as Men we must have the self discipline to take care of the essentials first. I do believe every man should experience some of the finer things this world has to offer, but not at the expense of our common sense or our financial manhood.
Finding Fellowship and Success on Black Friday?!
Recently, I had my very first Black Friday experience … but this doesn’t mean I’ve never shopped on Black Friday. As a matter of fact, I’ve shopped on Black Friday for years. But previously I only went to the stores which DIDN’T sell electronics. As a result, I’ve never had to stand in a line or deal with the nonsensical dash to that specially discounted toy. But this year … that all changed!
Have You Built A Financial Sandcastle?
When was the last time you built a sand castle? For me … it was somewhere around 25 years ago. I remember using the little red bucket and the tiny plastic shovels. I also remember the best sand for the castle was the sand closest to the beach. Of course this was a double edge sword. Eventually, the tide would come in and the waves would start to crash closer and closer to my castle! Unfortunately, the next thing I knew, my sand castle was just a sand pile! However, last night I started thinking about sand castles in a very different way. Have you ever asked yourself … “Are my personal finances a giant sand castle???“
Are You Riding A Financial Merry-Go-Round?
I can remember as a young boy one of my favorite things about going to the mall in the city … riding a Merry-Go-Round! To me it seemed huge and the horses I sat on appeared 50 feet high. The lights were bright and dazzling. The endless reflections through the golden glass ceiling made the ride a fantasy wonderland. Around and around I would go! The ride seemed to last forever. With every great circle my view of the world became a giant blur. The only thing I focused on was the never ending ride and brilliant lights. Every distant sound was muted by the carousel music. Even the occasional voice calling to me from outside of the ride could only be heard for a split second. The ride was fantastic … while it lasted. But in the end, it was just that … a ride.
How Are You Transforming Your Financial Habits?
So how cool would it be if you could just flip a switch and transform yourself?! What would you change about yourself? What would you transform yourself into? What if you could change yourself from being an over spender into a thrifty saver in an instant?! Or perhaps you would transform yourself from a credit card charger into a savvy investor! When dealing with transformation two things are very true … First, you’re not in the movie Transformers! And second … real transformation will take time.
Doing The Bernie? … Or … Baby Stepping?!
Some of you may be thinking … Well I can do the the “Bernie”, but what are the “Baby Steps”?
It never ceases to amaze me just how many random people I meet who do The Baby Steps. For some of you who know the bestselling author and talk show host Dave Ramsey, the Baby Steps are no mystery, but rather a way of financial life.
Now as for you Baby Step nerd’s … let me explain … the Bernie isn’t a Baby Step spinoff. The Bernie is a comical and fun way of enjoying yourself on the dance floor! Though it’s fair to note, until recently I didn’t have any idea what this dance looked like. I can thank a nameless and comical friend for describing it to me. But for those financial free spirits or nerds who still have no idea what I’m talking about take a look at the video below showing the “Bernie” from the movie Weekend at Bernie’s and some dancers who aren’t afraid to let it all go like Bernie!
