Living Past Christmas

Living past Christmas

By Ariel B. Fair

While reading an article entitled, “I’m Dreaming of A Cheapskate Christmas”, I realized I’m cheap everyday, not just Christmas.  With the fluctuation of prices and uncertainty of jobs, it is wise to save your pennies and if you are like me, you literally save all of your PENNIES.  Sure life does have a perfect way of reminding us that we don’t effectively utilize our resources.

As a constant reminder, I don’t mind looking and spending like a cheapskate if I have all I need.

First rule of thumb, list exactly what you need. The stressors of everyday living include buying things that aren’t needed. If you are shopping for food, concentrate on buying food.  For a while, I could not go to Wal-Mart without picking up something that was not on my list. I learned that it is easy to spend a hefty sum that way.  If you have a busy schedule, focus on foods that are eatable on the go. There’s no need to buy food that requires time that you do have. It’ll sit in the refrigerator for weeks, and eventually you’ll forget you have it.

Set a budget.  Learning from experience, its no fun looking at an empty bank account. Set a budget and maybe that can be avoided. I always spent everything I had with the ideas, “you only live once’, or “you cant manage what you don’t have”.  Truth is, your credit lives forever and you can manage limited funds with the idea that more contributions will allow the account to expand.

 According to the International Business Times, the average American family spends  $35,918 in providing the basics to maintain a suitable quality of life. This doesn’t include other expenses and entertainment.  Think about what you need and stick to it. Never go anywhere without a list of what you may need. Shopping without a list is a trap and leads to every one’s arc nemesis, THE BROKE MONSTER.

Family

If you are shopping for more than one person, concentrate on what they want the most. Think of this as a treat. If you are spending and you aren’t using cash, plan to pay the balance off in a reasonable amount of time. If something takes more than three months to buy, most likely you can’t afford it. Leave it where it is.  If you are paying for an item with cash, go to the ATM and take out a set amount. If your bill exceeds what you have, put something back. If you really needed it you would be able to get it. It’s that simple.  Remember, you don’t live one day out of 365. You live everyday. There is need to have money on Monday and be broke Tuesday morning.

Bills

Growing up, my mother always taught me that you pay yourself first. You go to work everyday, buy yourself something nice but don’t over indulge in the power of your debit card. Now its time to pay bills. It is a rule of thumb to never buy things you know you cant afford on your own. Let’s get something straight, your credit can be your Savior or that Devil on your shoulder.  When paying your bills, to ensure you have money to live with, try to pay bills on different dates. If you know you get paid on the 3^rd and the 17^th of April, what needs to be paid first? If your mortgage needs attention, pay that on the 3^rd. Two weeks later make sure your car and credit card get the attention needed. Set reasonable time differences between the two to make sure nothing is late (avoid those fees).  Don’t forget those little annoying doctor bills you receive after forgetting about your last trip to the doctor.  Bill collectors are like Basset Hounds. Trust they will get their money! You can duck and dodge all you want but even if they have to garnish your wages, they will collect their debt.

Student Loans

Your student loan is a bill! Forget to pay those off and your credit will suffer greatly! In my recent search for apartments and a vehicle, I learned that the person you are trying to borrow from judge you by your ability to pay off your loans. Not paying your bills means that you are untrustworthy and you are a risky borrower. With this idea, you wont be able to get anything because you are judge by your credit history.

Entertainment

We all have those moments when we hate being stuck in the house for any reason. This is especially true for little ones, but remember there is plenty to do if you get creative! My idea of fun is taking a trip to the bookstore because I like to read. My parents simply enjoy the company of one another. Instead of plotting ways to spend money that you realistically don’t have, get out and get active. Go to the park and enjoy the weather. It would be greater if you could volunteer your time doing something for someone in need (raking yards, visiting the elderly, babysit the neighbor’s kids).

Overall, focus on making a difference. Do something that truly matters to you. If you have children, go outside and play a game or teach them about nature. If you love people, volunteer to spend time with somebody (doesn’t particularly matter who). If you want to just relax outside with a book beside a local pond, do it. However, there definitely is no need to spend yourself into the land of BROKE. Nothing is wrong with being cheap just remember your priorities. You can be cheap and still enjoy things that make a difference.  Living this way, everyday is Christmas for me because I can do just about everything I wont without a price tag attached. 

Evaluating life and Student spending

The time has come to be evaluating my after college plans. As an upcoming graduate of Lander University, my classmates and I hadn’t even began to look at the monetary monster that would be crippling our lives for the next 10 years or so. All the adults around me frequently tell me how lucky I am and that I should pursue the extra challenge by going to graduate school. Truly I am blessed, but I realized most of my monetary blessings would be forcefully donated to Uncle Sam, because he was very kind in lending me my money to further my education.

After many sleepless nights and annoyed mornings, I sit and wonder what comes after college. Adults always told us growing up that we could be whatever we want in life if we applied our minds. They never told us that our dreams came with such a hefty price tag. Deep in my heart, I believed that this as well as other things was mythological and that my life was bound to me living as an average Josephine. Now I wonder, how can I instill in others the hopes of being successful, if my own dreams are dampened and sour?

Although, the last four years of my life had been difficult, I remember my grandmother embracing me tightly and saying she was proud of me because she knew that I wanted and would accomplish so much of what I wanted in life. Here I am wallowing in self pity because of a few bumps I’ve come crossed along the way. My nights were filled with agony and my cloudy days were masked by fake smiles and false hopes.

The point is my troubles began with the idea of financing college. Coming from a background that isn’t as rich as others, I felt like school wasn’t made for me. Instead it was made for the students with flashy clothes and hefty pocketbooks. Sad to say, I’m not the only student facing an economic crisis. Who knew that being all you could be came with a price tag? Even though school has been the arch nemesis of my existence (financial purposes), I am grateful for the experience that it has bought me.

School has allowed me to sample all subjects. I didn’t come to school to get a feel of life without my parents, but I was able to gain knowledge in various subjects and apply them to my passion for education. So, instead of frequently burdening others with my complaints, I give thanks for the opportunity that many people consistently struggle to afford.

During the economic crisis, everyone knows of someone in need of some financial blessings. That blessing for equals the ability to supply extra finances to finish my educational journey. Upon entering college, we (students) were given a figurative student loan credit card, with a set-spending limit. However, for students like me, that’s not enough because little aid but maximum loan borrowing has funded my entire education.

Many students will be without the opportunity to go to school. Many people have to make a life the best way they can. As I learned in life, many things occur. Many clouds arise, some predicted and others unexpected. But with cherishing the moment, managing our pockets and being thankful for the good/bad, we can discover that the good days will out number the bad. We will soon learn that success isn’t a thing of the past, for some of us it takes a stronger determination and greater frame of mind because nothing is impossible to achieve no matter what the hardships.

To the students out there in a similar financial struggle, keep your head up. Despite the 1.2 trillion dollars we owe in student loans, it is our genius minds that will some day rule the world.