Ep 076: Save Until it Hurts

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Many people would like to be financially secure. Many people have the means to be financially secure.There are also people who by no accounts should be able to be financially secure, yet they are.

The truth is that not many people are in good financial shape. Further, these same people could be in great financial shape if they really wanted to be. Everyone says they want to have good finances and be wealthy, but their actions do not match their words.

Most of us throw tons of money away every day. The financial decisions we make determine your financial future. Some of the obvious ways we throw money evey every day:

The $1-5 cup of coffee or juice or smoothie on the way to work.
Cigarettes/cigars/tobacco
Pay for play radio: XM-Sirius

After a recent discussion with a family member, it became clear to me that people save and perceive other’s financial situations in VERY different ways.

My father was under the impression we were swimming in debt and working way too hard to pay for our home and were ready for financial ruin.

I explained to him we had the deed to our vacation home. Our primary home has a 15 yr mortgage and we pay an extra 200 every month..meaning it’s more like a 12-13 yr mortgage. Our cars are paid for.

How have we done this?

WE SAVE ‘TIL IT HURTS. PERIOD. WE LIVE ON THIN MARGINS AND SAVE/INVEST THE REST.

I remember what Dave Ramsey once said,”You have to get sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

His point is a simple one. You have to be fighting mad at debt and work like heck now to take it easy later. After working all day and blogging all night, I have to admit I’m exhausted. But nobody owes me anything and nobody cares. But me. I always had an extra job when I was single and worked my tail off. I haven’t changed a thing. Someday it’ll pay off. It already has. Yes we still have to work to keep a roof over our heads, but most people do. The point is we’re making progress.

We don’t spend like we’re rich and we’re putting our money on the right things: debt and investments. I hope you all are doing the same. Actually, that isn’t true. I hope you all are debt-free.

The greatest homesteading gift you can give yourself is financial independence. Debt is a cancer. Kill it.

Article: Save until it hurts in your 20s

Dave Ramsey