Living Within Your Means

Sa tagal ko ng pagtuturo po ng financial management, one of the secrets for financial freedom is living within your means.

Kapag nagsimula tayong mamuhay beyond our means, magsisimula na rin tayong ma-stress, mamoblema at ma-depress.

Bakit?

Kasi usually, yung mga taong namumuhay beyond their means, ay mga taong lubog at baon sa utang.

Para hindi tayo mag-suffer later, we need to live within our means.
And how can we do that?

Here are my tips:

KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES
Identify your needs from wants. May mga bagay na akala natin kailangan pero hindi naman talaga. We need to set our priorities straight. Mas mahalaga ba sayo ang branded na shoes o bags kaysa sa tuition fee ng anak mo? Alamin mo kung ano ang mahalaga sa’yo then list it down.

MAKE A BUDGET PLAN
After listing your priorities, create a budget plan. Hindi naman masamang bumili ng branded bags and shoes as long as pasok ito sa budget mo at hindi magsu-suffer ang iba mo pang needs. Pwede ka din mag-shopping at magkaroon ng recreation but again dapat pasok ito sa budget mo. After making a budget plan, stick to it. Make sure na realistic ito para masunod mo.

BE CONTENT
I believe contentment is a major factor here. We should learn to be content sa kung anong meron tayo. We should stop comparing ourselves sa iba. Hindi porke’t meron sya nun or narating nya yun, dapat ikaw din. I’m not saying that we should deprive ourselves. My point is that we should be thankful for the things that we already have rather than complain about the things that we don’t. Gratefulness is the key.

Ang napagkakatiwalaan sa maliit ay mapagkakatiwalaan sa malaki. I’m sure that as we become a good steward of what we have by living within our means, God will surely elevate, promote and even increase our means.

THINK. REFLECT. APPLY

Are you living within or beyond your means?
What are your struggles when it comes to living within your means?
Are you contented with what you have?