asginvestments.com

I must confess I have an absolute passion for shoes.  Even my tagline suggest this … “Successfully making deals in heels”.  I wear heels everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.  To the grocery store, to football games to walk the dogs — you get my drift.  I was watching a TV show the other night and the topic was, “Are you spending less money than you make?”  This thought had me pondering and re-evaluating my passion for hours after the show ended.  Indeed I have over 100 pair of shoes, but would I say I spend more than I make just for this desire.  I quickly answered “no” and the wheels starting turning.  Although I have indulgence, I have to admit I have never (and I mean never) spent money that I never had.  The show showcased individuals and couples whose spending habits were out of control; consumer debt has risen astronomically over the past few decades, and it has contributed to weakened marriages, rising bankruptcies, and foreclosures.

Paying cash for a car, real estate, or even furniture is considered to be not normal. After a self-check, it started me to thinking about how others struggle with the principle of spending less money than you make.  One hundred years ago it was very hard to spend more money than you made, because credit was unbelievably hard to get, and it was considered shameful to borrow from someone else. Today, borrowing is a way of life. You are actually considered not normal if you don’t borrow money. So many people speak of it being easier to receive credit has made our lives better and given us more opportunities. I think that’s a boat load of crap. All it has done is given people the appearance that they are able to live a better lifestyle, but the added pressure paying numerous bills, living paycheck to paycheck, and fluctuating interest rates has most likely diminished the quality of life of so many people.

When it comes down to it, what makes you happy? Does having stuff make you a happier as a person? Being able to finance anything gives you the ability to have more stuff, but it does not make you happy. What makes us happy is maintaining healthy relationships with family and friends, being physically healthy, and working with a purpose in life. The size of your house, the brand of your car, and the technology of your television do not define who you are. Your personality, morals, and passions define who you are.

This may sound like I am getting overly philosophical about the topic on a TV show, but spending less than you make affects all aspects of your life. If you can sit down tonight and say to yourself, “I am going to take more personal responsibility with my finances”, you will immediately begin to see a change in the way you live, your attitude towards life, and the way you treat your loved ones. The problem is that most want to blame everyone else about why they’re struggling with money when all they have to do is look at themselves in the mirror to find the problem.

Are you ready to take responsibility of your finances? Let today be the day that you start taking control of your money and tell it how to behave.

By: Shonda Grier
ASG Investments, LLC

Tags: Add new tag, Economic News, money, new home, new home buyer, New home buyers, Real Estate