When we think of personal finance we don’t usually think of someone who is poverty stricken. But everyone on the planet has personal finances. What do you have (usually in the form of money) to get what you need and want? That is the essence of personal finance and whether you are in a tenement slum, a mansion on the hill or somewhere in between you deal with that every day.The cost of being poor isn’t just in the amount of money it takes (and it does take some money to be poor) but in the emotional, psychological and relational aspects of life as well. For example, statistics seem to show that most marriage stress and divorce occur with money being the root cause.
How do we get out of that situation? It starts with recognition that you can only control you. That includes whatever money you receive, from whatever source. The pain and stress of not having enough money is a terrible thing, but it can be turned around if you start with small steps in a different direction.
That new direction might be being more responsible with utilities, food, driving, miscellaneous purchases. Maybe the new direction is just writing all the money inflow and outgo down.
Whatever small step you can take, take it. It might not lead to a grand solution it’s true. But not changing direction guarantees there will be no solution at all.
Drawing, quote and commentary © 2021 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com