Keeping your Life and your Finances Under Control

Debt reduction may be easier than previously thought; it is a question of “how to” and the willingness to do it.

In a society deliberately designed to push people into consuming rather than saving and living within their means, we all become victims. What better way to keep people from having a voice than to keep them broke and under permanent pressure to fight for survival, as they forget to live a full and satisfying life.

I am not talking conspiracy here, although it seems like that at times. Who wants us broke and scared? Who can manipulate our lives because of it? Well, banks for one, but not less the government who gives them Card Blanch, even though it keeps on reassuring us of the contrary.

Since some regulations have been proposed, exactly the opposite of the intended result has happened. Banks have tightened their grip on credit and are squeezing their customers more than ever; new fees, new and higher interest rates every day. Changing their rules in the middle of the game is not above them either; they hold the knife and will not hesitate to cut the pizza any way they want.

I always cut my pizza my way; it could be because I never gave banks the knife.

My personal relationship with today and tomorrow

Being the optimist I have always been, I never doubted that tomorrow will come; tomorrow may bring new adventures and challenges, but will always bring new bills. When it comes to that, tomorrow breaks the speed of light.

I prefer to sleep better tonight than to get more “stuff” that for sure payment for will come due tomorrow.

I am coming from a society where credit was almost inexistent so paying cash was a way of life. At that time I was buying only what I could afford and I was saving in order to do it.

Things changed when I came to United States. When giving the opportunity to buy today and pay tomorrow, I thought it was great, until I realized I was paying tomorrow (for whatever goods I got today) a whole lot more them what the initial price was; that I did not like and I wanted to take my life back.

I was also less than happy to notice that at the end of the year banks send me a brakedown of how and where I spent my money. It is a type of profiling a customer and I did not care for them to find out about me and my preferences. I am using credit card mostly for buying airline tickets and other things that could not be purchased with checks or cash.

I went back to my old ways and I reconsidered the instant gratification temptation. In time, with some effort and plenty of discipline I found the way of getting control over my finances and my life; I never saw it as a frustration either and I learned to enjoy my life without giving up the things I need, but keeping control and making sure I was not feeding the sharks anymore.

As a deliberate alternative, I choose to do things for myself and learned how to make them look fun and enjoyable.

I realize this is not for everyone and if it should send you into a deep “depression”, please do not do it, or at least do not blame it on me.

My way of taking control of my life

The best physical exercise I ever got was not by hiring a private trainer, but by cleaning my house; I do it as I really mean it and get everything from cardio to lifting weights. I am saving plenty by killing two birds with one bullet.

I also prefer using natural everyday products for cleaning; baking soda and white vinegar proved to be great. They clean as well as Pine-Sol does, but do not leave my house smelling like a cheap motel.

Washing by hand was also rewarding and not much of a problem; I use a washing machine for towels and bed-sheets, for jeans and T-shirts, but dry cleaning is only for my husband suits and winter coats. Ironing was the next logical step and I found it calming and a great way to put my thoughts in order.

Cooking is one of my passion and also a great way to eat well and healthy food without spending a fortune; when going to a supermarket most of the time I shop only the perimeter where fresh vegetable, fruit and meat or fish is displayed and almost never go to the alleys except to buy rice and coffee, sugar and paper goods or laundry detergent.

If you think all this takes too much time or is too hard, than I have to say it is worth it to me and is by far better and more rewarding as well as a whole lot cheaper than the alternatives.

In terms of personal appearance I gladly invest in a good hair cut and I choose my accessories well, so I can give a new look to a not so new outfit. I have my manicure and pedicure professionally done once a month and I do the keep up myself.

When it comes to clothes I only shop by fit and never by size (most people get carried away with “smaller sizes” that mean nothing at all and is in fact only a way the fashion industry is manipulating our desire to be forever slim.

I also rarely if ever buy designer clothes; think about it. Most garments are made in Taiwan, the Philippines, Guatemala, Mexico and many other parts of the world where labor is cheap.

A designer name attached on the label of an outfit that is poorly made means nothing to me. A prestigious name will not make an outfit; quality will. If the quality is there, I will gladly pay more for a classic/sporty or a casual chic outfit since it will last longer and probably will never go out of style.

Let me assure you that I am not depriving myself of anything; I learn how to enjoy it and I do not feel frustrated in the very least. Like most people I hold a full time job and I do have a family to take care of; as far as I am concern it is mostly a question of getting organized and doing the best you can. Better to live with a little dust now and then than to live with the nightmare of thousands of dollars in mounting debt.

For me, like for the rest of us, there are still only 24 hours in a day. I make the time to write once in a while and it gives me enormous joy. It is not only “cheap” therapy; it is what I like best.

The only thing I never had time for was going to a therapist and complain about my life.