Money and Survival
Money is not everything. You certainly can live a fulfilled life without millions of dollars falling out of your pocket.
In my opinion, personal connections with those we care for seem to be the most important factor in life.
However, the practical reality is that the element of money is the basis of survival in today’s society.
Love, health, and relationships are important but are greatly challenged and fail when not coupled with adequate money.
If you consider that about a third of adults with partners report that money is a big source of conflict in their relationships, it’s no wonder that financial problems are a leading cause of divorce.
Further Reading: How Financial Infidelity Plagues Households
What if you are single?
I remember moving out of my college apartment after graduation. I was headed in the right direction with a new degree and a fantastic job. A fantastic job that paid okay, but not enough money to where I could afford to live on my own.
Without finding a roommate or going back home, my options were limited. The list goes on for basic needs: food, shelter, and clothes. Then there’s everything else: insurance, car payments, grooming, hobbies and interests, travel, and dates!
Having a positive mindset about each day sets the tone for a confident week. Though, the availability of money is what decides whether the day-to-day survival will be easy or tough. In all aspects of life, money seems to solely determine the quality of life today.
Only two categories of people have easy (happy or unhappy) survival:
1.   The luckiest are those who always have an excess of money. Their earnings are far better than their expenses and this allows them to spend whenever and wherever they want. Even with extreme debt, these people are generally alright. They might be facing other issues in life but it can never relate to money.
2.   The second category is of people with a limited stable income but a simple lifestyle. This lifestyle involves a focus only on the basic amenities that require minimal funds. They may also have little to no debt. They are content and satisfied with what they have.
This isn’t a “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” introduction I promise. However, the category which struggles the most seems to be the middle class. The income flow is limited but expenses are always high.
They live with all the basic amenities but constantly strive for an upgrade. This never-ending quest for getting more and more makes each day appear as a never-ending battle.
The urge to live a lavish life leaves them dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction leads to distress and a life overloaded with financial issues.
Here are a few ways to handle these financial issues of life:
1. Learn to monitor control – Most of our expenses are an inability to monitor self-control. Avoid impulse buying and validate the need for expense before stepping ahead. A thing which appears very important at the moment can appear as a wasteful expense a few hours later. Sit and think with a relaxed mind before you spend.
2. Stop impressing others –Â Live for yourself and not for others. Most of us buy things so as to appear superior among our relatives and friends. Show what you are and stop pretending. Try to rise above this and this will help you to focus on much-needed aspects of your life.
3. Spend only if you have it – This is one factor which if adopted would help to solve many problems. There is no materialistic thing which can affect the living. The standard of living might be compromised for some time but there will be no great harm. Make it a practice to spend only when you have enough. This will leave you with enough money for fulfilling your basic needs.
4. Savings are important – Save the fixed portion of your earnings every day. This will help you to gain peace of mind because you know you have enough money for an emergency. The saying that “a penny saved is a penny earned “always holds true. Look into a high-yield interest savings account that will pay you interest.
5. Plan your budget – A properly planned approach for handling finances is much better than an unplanned one. Focus on all the bills and necessary expenses and then think of spending on any other expense you will like to make for yourself.
6. Count your blessings – Money helps the overall quality of life, but it isn’t everything. Find value and happiness in those around you. Humans often forget to value all that they have and get attracted to what others have. Think about all the good things you have in life. This will help you to develop a positive attitude and you will value your possessions.
Take-Home
Plan your money well and this will help you to regulate the levels of finance associated stress.
Money is an irreplaceable entity and mandatory for survival. It cannot bring happiness but it is important for a better quality of life. So, wise planning and trying to make the best of what we have will always bring better results.
Thanks for reading. I hope the words in this article were helpful or helped spark conversation.
