One thing about money is that you can have plans for it before it even enters your account.
You already know what you want to do with it. You have things to buy, bills to pay and maybe one or two things you want to do for yourself. Then the money comes in, you start sorting everything out, and somehow, it is almost finished.
And you're there wondering what happened. 馃槀
I think a lot of people can relate to this, especially when you have more than one responsibility to handle.
Sometimes, I just think about how much things cost now compared to what people used to pay for them. You go out to buy a few things, and the amount you spend makes you wonder if you actually bought enough to justify the money.
And food alone is a different conversation.
The funny part is that we still have to live. You can't stop eating because you want to save money. You can't ignore every bill either. There are things you need, whether you like it or not.
But then, there are also times when we spend money on things we could have managed without. I know how easy it is to see something you like and start convincing yourself that you need it. Sometimes you buy it, feel happy for a while, and later wonder why you spent the money in the first place.
I guess that's one thing about managing money. It's not always about how much you earn. Sometimes, it's also about the little decisions you make every day.
Still, I don't think we should pretend that everybody has the same chance to save. If someone earns just enough to cover food, transport and other basic needs, telling them to save more isn't going to magically solve their problem.
You need money left over before you can save it.
I've also noticed that people don't always talk honestly about money. Some people are comfortable talking about what they buy and where they go, but they won't tell you how difficult things are for them financially. So you might think everyone around you is doing well when you really don't know what's happening.
Anyway, I think it's important to know what you can afford and not put yourself under pressure because of what other people are doing.
There is nothing wrong with starting small or taking your time to get your finances in order. Everybody's situation is different.
I'm curious about something, though.
When money enters your account, are you the type who keeps some aside immediately, or do you pay for everything first and see what's left?
Because, honestly, I think the answer would be interesting to hear from different people here on Hive. 馃槄