Known as the broke month, I truly believe the month of January, or Jan-u-worry as many call it, is something that can be avoided if you just work your money right.
I do not exclude myself from the unfortunate recurring habit of being broke every January and counting down the days for pay day to come.
I really want it to be different. To stop falling into the same trap of over-spending over the festive season.
Perhaps it’s shouldn’t be about buying Christmas gifts for all your friends or saying yes to every party invitation. Or jumping at those last minute unplanned and unbudgeted holiday trips.
Perhaps it’s about learning to stick to a budget and spending within our means. Not going out every single night of the holiday and keeping Christmas lunch or dinner as simple, yet hearty, as possible instead of going all out.
Sometimes less is more. It’s about cutting unnecessary spending and not trying to please everyone which will surely lead you into the red come January.
We underestimate the value of our bonus and can only think of ways to spend all the extra cash in our accounts. We spend left, right and centre without keeping track of our available balance.
For many, this is actually a monthly scenario. They spend like a baller around payday and then eat two-minute noodles for the last two weeks of the month.
I’m sure, if you look closely at where your money went, you will realise that most of it was spent unnecessarily and wasted on nonsense.
It happens to me all the time. And though I seldom make new year’s resolutions, due to the fact that I hardly stick to them, having better control over my finances is definitely one I should commit myself to for 2018 and going forward. In fact, why not start now, and see if we can avoid a bitter January?
They say money isn’t everything, but I believe it can make or break you, depending on how you handle it. We must learn to adapt our lifestyle to our earnings and stay out of unnecessary debt.
Sometimes we flash the cash to impress those in our lavish social circle, especially on a night out. Something as simple as buying drinks for a group of friends on Saturday night can have an impact on your finances.
We all work damn hard for our money, so don’t feel obligated to spend your hard earned cash on other people. Whoever expects you to do that, should have a reality check especially in our current harsh economic climate.
The wonderful thing about learning to work responsibility with your personal finances, is the discipline that grows within you during the process, which eventually has an impact on other areas of your life.
Budget well, enough to have something left for January. Spend smartly and responsibly this festive season.
Till next time, cheers!
