03/08/2023
Here's why👇
A lot of our financial stress is caused by what we believe we "should" be doing. Hell - a lot of GENERAL stress is caused by what we think we should be doing.
So here are a few money "rules" that may be holding you and your money back:
Pay off debt before investing: it's true that high interest credit card debt is what to target first, but if you have other debt (car loans, student loans) with interest rates lower than 7%, you want to invest while you're paying that debt down. By not investing, you're losing out on a lot of time where that money could be growing.
Keep all your money in savings: if you're keeping all of your money in a regular savings account, you're earning barely close to nothing in interest! Keep your emergency fund and short-mid-term savings goals in a high yield savings account, and invest the rest.
Don't spend on 'fun' while you're paying debt: if you haven't let go of this one already, you're overdue. You're not a robot. It's okay - and necessary - to spend on what brings you joy in this hard life.
Save at least 6 months of emergency funds before saving for anything else: this is the gold standard, but for many, it's so far out of reach and intimidating that we just ignore it. You want to consider what you'd need to live if you lost your job tomorrow, taking into consideration how quickly you could get another job, what vour complicating factors are (do you own a home or have kids) and if you have other safety buffers in place (like, could you move in with family if needed).
You should start a side hustle or get a second job to get ahead: can we all collectively agree that hustle culture is over? If you want to work more to increase your income, getting another job or side hustle may be for you. Switching jobs or negotiating a raise are also ways to increase income without working more.
Renting is throwing money away: situations differ, yes, but renting is paying for a roof over your head, in addition to the lack of responsibility when something happens, and the freedom to move around. There's a lot of renter shame out there and it's time to get that s**t go.
Which other money "rules" are you ditching?