7) You Must Enjoy Your Life -- Concerts, Movies, Trips, Hobbies, Fun
OVERVIEW -- No matter how good a job you do at keeping up with your bills, paying down your debts or managing a savings plan, none of it will be fulfilling if you don't enjoy your life. There is no treasure at the end of the rainbow, my friend, the treasure is all around you in the way you live your life on a day to day basis. In the midst of fighting for financial solvency, you must not surrender your life to the fight. No matter how tough things are, you must enjoy your life.
HOW TO -- Each month, some part of your budget should be allocated in advance to having fun. If things are really tight, that might mean simple things like going fishing, bike riding through a park or walking around a fairgrounds and watching the festivities. More expensive indulgences like concerts or pro sporting events might have to be only occasional treats while you are working through debts, but the point is to engage in some form of enjoyment of your life. If you don't, you make awaken years from now to discover that you are finally out of debt, your finances are in order and you are miserable. The point of bringing your money situation under control is to have the freedom to enjoy life. The enjoyment starts today, not when the battle for solvency has finally been won.
THE BALANCE -- Everyone knows that junk food is a sometimes food. The same can be said of having fun. Doing something for pure enjoyment should be an important part of your life, but not an all consuming part. One afternoon or evening per week of something that is just for fun is a good minimum to keep yourself always smiling over the fun you just had while also looking forward to the next event. Too little fun can lead to depression, too much fun creates the lack of discipline that often causes financial problems, which we are here to avoid and abolish. The one event per week idea is only a general guideline; find a comfortable amount that works for your situation. And as is the case with all financial matters, you will make good decisions when you make them in advance and on purpose.
HOW TO -- Each month, some part of your budget should be allocated in advance to having fun. If things are really tight, that might mean simple things like going fishing, bike riding through a park or walking around a fairgrounds and watching the festivities. More expensive indulgences like concerts or pro sporting events might have to be only occasional treats while you are working through debts, but the point is to engage in some form of enjoyment of your life. If you don't, you make awaken years from now to discover that you are finally out of debt, your finances are in order and you are miserable. The point of bringing your money situation under control is to have the freedom to enjoy life. The enjoyment starts today, not when the battle for solvency has finally been won.
THE BALANCE -- Everyone knows that junk food is a sometimes food. The same can be said of having fun. Doing something for pure enjoyment should be an important part of your life, but not an all consuming part. One afternoon or evening per week of something that is just for fun is a good minimum to keep yourself always smiling over the fun you just had while also looking forward to the next event. Too little fun can lead to depression, too much fun creates the lack of discipline that often causes financial problems, which we are here to avoid and abolish. The one event per week idea is only a general guideline; find a comfortable amount that works for your situation. And as is the case with all financial matters, you will make good decisions when you make them in advance and on purpose.