The thing is, it is practically impossible to spend money and have it back, once spent, it is gone, but now it all depends on what it was spent on, and what your source of income is, in order for it to be replenished. There are people that are quite wealthy, and even if they spend as much as they want everyday all through their life, without even working, they'd never run out of money, most of the individuals under this category were born into inherited wealth, these people may not have to worry about being frugal.
Having said that, if you have to work so hard to make ends meet, and you cannot afford some certain luxury, then there is no need to go for them, well it takes wisdom to handle finances pretty well. Frugality is very much essential, it is much better to spend far lower than what you are earning, but the moment you start spending far higher than your earnings, you're bound to run into financial problems sooner rather than later.
Topic: How to spend money determines whether you can avoid unnecessary problems - page 10. (Read 1417 times)
February 23, 2023, 07:14:38 AM
February 23, 2023, 07:09:18 AM
I spend my salary by buying first all my personal necessities such as groceries, personal care, monthly and house appliances(if ever I needed some replacement for my broken appliance). The remaining of my salary will go to my different savings such as life savings, personal savings(money that I save if I plan to purchase something) and insurance. I don’t spend unnecessary things that I just think outside my plan budget and I always plan so that I can allocate money when I’m buying things that is not on my list.
This is how I manage my monthly salary. The only thing I spend that is not planned is for food like when I crave for a specific food but I don’t count this as unnecessary expenses because food is my favorite part of my life.
This is how I manage my monthly salary. The only thing I spend that is not planned is for food like when I crave for a specific food but I don’t count this as unnecessary expenses because food is my favorite part of my life.
February 23, 2023, 07:01:42 AM
Thankfully, I don't find financial management difficult. I have been in financially unstable situations, but I tend to get out of them without trouble because I keep a rough track of earnings and spendings, ensuring that if the money is tight, I don't spend it on unnecessary things. I do agree with the op that some don't keep a good track of their money and may spend it on unnecessary things while later not having enough for essentials. I don't support a harsh approach of self-limitations because if you have extra money, you should spend it on what makes your life happier, even if it's the little things like buying a latte, a game or going out to eat at a nice place.
February 23, 2023, 06:38:27 AM
Please let me clarify first: anyone who is extremely poor or wealthy is not included in this discussion. Only those who are employed with steady income, some savings and spare time will find this topic useful. I guess most of us are doing fine now but financially we have to face one common problem: how to spend money. This issue leads to many consequences if not handled properly. Here I would not start any broad and subjective agruement. To deliver my message clearly, I am using some specific examples to elaborate. For example, a lot of peole complain that their income is not enough to cover their daily expenses so they can't save much money while...they spend seven bucks on a cup of coffee almost every morning, throw a hundred dollars on some gym membership cards but never show up training, have dinner with some random girl in an expensive restaurant, buy drinks in bars and waste hundreds of dollars... The list goes on and on. If you live this kind of lifestyle and at the end of months, you are running out of money or can't pay the mortgages, whose fault is this ? I can not provide any statisitics but I am sure that many people have fallen in the trap and can not get out. I hope you are not one of them.
The situation differs from each of us, there goes those type of people that have been living just the way you've defined. But, there are also people that have barely enough for living even how hard they try, thanks to inflation and unstable economy of the country where they're living.Those that have been living that lavish lifestyle and yet they complain later on that they have got nothing enough, they should learn how to manage their budget and stop being spendthrift.
Anyway, either of the two situations, we really need to do something like adding another source of income.
February 23, 2023, 06:26:39 AM
Please let me clarify first: anyone who is extremely poor or wealthy is not included in this discussion. Only those who are employed with steady income, some savings and spare time will find this topic useful. I guess most of us are doing fine now but financially we have to face one common problem: how to spend money. This issue leads to many consequences if not handled properly. Here I would not start any broad and subjective agruement. To deliver my message clearly, I am using some specific examples to elaborate.
Though financial mismanagement can lead to unnecessary problems, not everyone's problems are caused by the activities that you mentioned in your post. Not all of us pay hundreds of dollars for club or gym memberships, nor do we go on dates with random girls in costly restaurants. Some of us just don't earn enough to be able to manage everything that we need to within the budget we have every month, without the unnecessary stuff.For these kinds of people, the only problem-solving solution can be either having multiple income streams or having pay rises to cover the expenses against the increasing inflation and economic crisis that we are facing.
February 23, 2023, 05:36:55 AM
If you live this kind of lifestyle and at the end of months, you are running out of money or can't pay the mortgages, whose fault is this ?
There's no one to blame but yourself. You're the one managing your money on where to spend it and what to prioritize. It's fine to do what can makes you happy because you deserve to reward yourself for being a hard worker. However there should be a limit and not come to a point that you're short to pay your monthly responsibilities just because you overspend.Because why spend 10 years being insanely unhappy by living a frugal life and save to get richer, when governments could ruin it in a single day? So it is better to have a better each day, and then let the problems handle itself when it happens, instead of being unhappy majority of their life.
February 23, 2023, 02:48:48 AM
Please don't mistake the people who are financially irresponsible with the "working poor" members of the working class. There's a definition of "working poor" in Wikipedia. You can check it out. There are people, who aren't making any irresponsible financial decisions(like buying expensive coffee, smoking, drinking alcohol, having gym memberships), but they still don't make enough money from their job to make ends meet. Who is to be blamed in that situation? The people, who are working in such low paying jobs(because they lack education and skills to get a better job) or the labor market/employers/the government? I think that everyone can be blamed for the harsh conditions of the "working poor". The workers have to educate themselves and develop better skills, the employers have to pay higher salaries and the government has to create a better environment for the businesses to grow and make more money.
Oh, I definitely did not make the mistake you were talking about. In my clarification, I already stated people with "savings and spare time" which distinguished my topic from the working poor you just mentioned. To be honest, it does not really matter how much you earn if you lack the ability to manage your finances. I thank you for bringing up this working poor topic but it has nothing to do with my thread here.
February 23, 2023, 01:50:22 AM
OP, you are talking about the people in the middle income range and many of those people are living a "wannebe" lifestyle, where they stay in houses that are beyond their income and they are driving cars that are also above their living income.
Yes, it is the small jackals that are causing most of the trouble, but it is the big elephants like expensive cars and houses that are killing most of the people's budgets. (My advice : Stop competing with the Joneses and live according to your income)
Yes, it is the small jackals that are causing most of the trouble, but it is the big elephants like expensive cars and houses that are killing most of the people's budgets. (My advice : Stop competing with the Joneses and live according to your income)
February 23, 2023, 12:35:38 AM
As a long time licensed financial advisor I can attest that you are correct, people in that "middle" area do complain a lot about their finances and not having enough money for this or that but as you perfectly stated,
Or is the OP story identical to someone who is unable to control himself as if he has a luxurious life just to show it off on social media even though they're actually at an average economic level? If I'm not mistaken this is a new type of syndrome in the context of psychology, "flexing". In the end it will become a habit that is no longer measurable and only certain people, such as those closest to them, know the real situation that they're complaining about.
February 22, 2023, 10:57:54 PM
I guess most of us are doing fine now but financially we have to face one common problem: how to spend money.
It's not hard if you know how to manage your finances well. People who value their hard-earned money are aware of their priorities to avoid unnecessary spending.If you live this kind of lifestyle and at the end of months, you are running out of money or can't pay the mortgages, whose fault is this ?
There's no one to blame but yourself. You're the one managing your money on where to spend it and what to prioritize. It's fine to do what can makes you happy because you deserve to reward yourself for being a hard worker. However there should be a limit and not come to a point that you're short to pay your monthly responsibilities just because you overspend. 
February 22, 2023, 10:25:43 PM
they spend seven bucks on a cup of coffee almost every morning, throw a hundred dollars on some gym membership cards but never show up training, have dinner with some random girl in an expensive restaurant, buy drinks in bars and waste hundreds of dollars... The list goes on and on.
February 22, 2023, 03:14:41 PM
This is how I lived most of my life so far and gave up about 5 years ago or so. It has been quite terrible because at the end of the day I didn't know what I was doing and finance was not something I knew about, it was something quite terrible for me. Which is why I believe that we shouldn't be really buying liabilities or spending money on things that doesn't improve our quality of life. I am still doing it a bit and trying to fix it, and it doesn't work all the time. But even if you make it as little as possible, still doing just "a bit" is fine, that's fun of our life, but aside from that, spend as little as possible and use the savings to grow your income.
February 22, 2023, 02:07:58 PM
Can totally relate to your post. OP, this is a problem for every body including the poor and the wealthy. There is a complete lack of common sense and this is why I never get to emphasize with people who always cry out loud about not having money. They go clubbing. They pay for cinemas every other week. They go to pubs about every day and drink lots of stuff.
If I added just the daily pub goings, I probably get a total sum of over a hundred Dollars per month spent on pretty much comfort and convenience. Then they say they can barely afford food and normal living. I think going out every single day is a luxury. Not cooking any more and going to the restaurant or purchasing pre made food is a luxury. Not normal living. I get that some people truly can not live even a decent life due to so many expenses. But these are very few cases. Most of them are just people who poorly manage their finances.
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Regards,
PrivacyG
If I added just the daily pub goings, I probably get a total sum of over a hundred Dollars per month spent on pretty much comfort and convenience. Then they say they can barely afford food and normal living. I think going out every single day is a luxury. Not cooking any more and going to the restaurant or purchasing pre made food is a luxury. Not normal living. I get that some people truly can not live even a decent life due to so many expenses. But these are very few cases. Most of them are just people who poorly manage their finances.
-
Regards,
PrivacyG
February 22, 2023, 12:36:43 PM
As a long time licensed financial advisor I can attest that you are correct, people in that "middle" area do complain a lot about their finances and not having enough money for this or that but as you perfectly stated, will come in to my office holding a Starbucks drink that just cost them eight dollars. This is a very typical issue with Americans, as I'm sure it is with all people across the globe.
When it comes to me and my job, I have to at least try and teach them, but to be honest so few every take good sound advice and just continue on living in a poor economical fashion.
When it comes to me and my job, I have to at least try and teach them, but to be honest so few every take good sound advice and just continue on living in a poor economical fashion.
February 22, 2023, 12:33:07 PM
Luckily I'm not the type of person the OP mentioned, and I'm not a coffee drinker outside, and I don't eat in restaurants either, because I find doing both at home which I find much tastier and more enjoyable and also more economical.
And according to people like the OP mentioned and beyond their capacity who shouldn't be doing it. And if you want, it's best to schedule it only a few times a month and in a location that is more accessible and less expensive.
and the people mentioned by the OP should really change their habits and do financial management in order to properly manage incoming and outgoing money, drink coffee at home which I think can be made according to taste, eat at home and bring lunch to work or eat out, and you can also walk or bike to work if it's affordable or half way and it will keep you healthy without having to go to the gym.
And according to people like the OP mentioned and beyond their capacity who shouldn't be doing it. And if you want, it's best to schedule it only a few times a month and in a location that is more accessible and less expensive.
and the people mentioned by the OP should really change their habits and do financial management in order to properly manage incoming and outgoing money, drink coffee at home which I think can be made according to taste, eat at home and bring lunch to work or eat out, and you can also walk or bike to work if it's affordable or half way and it will keep you healthy without having to go to the gym.
February 22, 2023, 12:03:08 PM
Life is about choice,when we are making some decisions, because our choices can make us a better person or destroy us. Why must people invovle themselves in an expensive lifestyle, by spending money unnecessary activities and get broke. If we can differentiate our needs from our wants,we will be able to control our spending and cut down excess expenses. Some persons love to find themselves in conducive environment,which can lead to excess spending because you are to pay for everything you do there. This is the major problem that makes people to spend carelessly forgetting it is an expensive lifestyle.
February 22, 2023, 11:45:43 AM
I think that the problem is related to the personality of the individual, as he gets used to a certain lifestyle, and therefore reducing this pattern or trying to change it makes him depressed, which prompts him again to either buy something expensive or try to hang out with friends and others.
The only solution to this problem is to be aware of the financial culture and then identify the important things in your life, and from them you will have a reason why you want to stop the rest of the things.
After you save money, a big question will come to you, what will you do with it, if you are not very financially aware, you will end up giving it to a broker or an uncalculated investment and then losing it.
So financial culture is the solution.
The only solution to this problem is to be aware of the financial culture and then identify the important things in your life, and from them you will have a reason why you want to stop the rest of the things.
After you save money, a big question will come to you, what will you do with it, if you are not very financially aware, you will end up giving it to a broker or an uncalculated investment and then losing it.
So financial culture is the solution.
February 22, 2023, 11:24:34 AM
Self-discipline and self-control are necessary for us to handle and manage our finances appropriately. There will be times when we will be tempted by the people around us or even by the current trend but we should be smart enough to deal with those temptations and mind saving and proper budgeting first. Prioritize your needs over your wants and always aim to save and invest to secure your future. Our desire to spend should focus on what we want to achieve and what we want to become in the coming years.
February 22, 2023, 10:46:01 AM
Please let me clarify first: anyone who is extremely poor or wealthy is not included in this discussion. Only those who are employed with steady income, some savings and spare time will find this topic useful. I guess most of us are doing fine now but financially we have to face one common problem: how to spend money. This issue leads to many consequences if not handled properly. Here I would not start any broad and subjective agruement. To deliver my message clearly, I am using some specific examples to elaborate. For example, a lot of peole complain that their income is not enough to cover their daily expenses so they can't save much money while...they spend seven bucks on a cup of coffee almost every morning, throw a hundred dollars on some gym membership cards but never show up training, have dinner with some random girl in an expensive restaurant, buy drinks in bars and waste hundreds of dollars... The list goes on and on. If you live this kind of lifestyle and at the end of months, you are running out of money or can't pay the mortgages, whose fault is this ? I can not provide any statisitics but I am sure that many people have fallen in the trap and can not get out. I hope you are not one of them.
February 22, 2023, 09:54:18 AM
Live within your means. I mean, managing financial management is very important. Have you ever felt regret when you mismanaged your finances?
Spend money where it is needed, not where you want it, the goal is to be able to leave some money to pay the installments at the end of the month. Savings are also very necessary, at least when you urgently need money quickly, there are already savings that you can rely on without having to borrow from other people.
This shows that you must prioritize needs over wants.
Spend money where it is needed, not where you want it, the goal is to be able to leave some money to pay the installments at the end of the month. Savings are also very necessary, at least when you urgently need money quickly, there are already savings that you can rely on without having to borrow from other people.
This shows that you must prioritize needs over wants.
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