Tag: success

Spending Habits: Almost Everyone Spends Carelessly

No matter how hard you try, managing your spending habits as a young person will always be difficult.

But it should not be as challenging as it sounds.

Because managing how you spend your money can (and likely will) be a major contribution to your long-term wealth – if you are paying attention.

Today, I’m introducing four simple tips to managing your spending habits.

Let’s dive in.

Spending Habits

Spending Habits

Your Spending Habits Can Always be Improved

Many young people don’t have a clear understanding of where their money is going due to a lack of tracking and awareness.

It’s possible that you have never received formal education or guidance on personal finance management. Or budgeting. And the importance of tracking expenses.

Or it could be impulse spending. With easy access to digital payments and a world of online temptations, it’s easy to spend without thinking twice.

What about peer pressure? The desire to keep with your friends, school mates and colleagues’ spending habits can also lead to overspending.

All these habits are natural to young people, but it should not be left to chance in your case. Your goal is to create and grow wealth both in the short and long term.

So how can you improve your spending habits?

Here are four practical ways, with some real-world scenarios.

Tip #1: Analyze and Track your Current Expenses

First things first – before you start spending your next money, analyze your previous expenses including small purchases. Allow yourself to look at your bank account to understand what is going on. Because you won’t learn anything if you make more money, and not pay attention to how you currently spend it.

Example – let’s say you got a credit alert and now you cannot account for the money. Don’t just shrug it off and move on.

Instead, open your bank app and take some time to look at your debit alerts, receiving account numbers and transaction charges. What did you spend money on that was not necessary?

At first glance, it might be difficult to fish out the ‘why’ behind your spending habits. But analyze your spending patterns to identify areas where you can cut back or adjust. Look for recurring expenses that may be unnecessary.

You’ll be better equipped in your financial journey if you can learn to analyze and track your expenses. “What could I have done better here?” is a powerful question to consider when tracking your expenses.

Tip #2: Categorize your Spending.

When you have an idea about what you spend your money on and what should be left, your next step is to categorize your spending, based on your findings.

Divide your expenses into categories like rent, groceries, entertainment, etc. This helps you identify areas where you might be overspending.

Sometimes, we are used to some expenses that we can’t see that they might be unnecessary or repeated too often. So, sort your debit alerts. Use apps or spreadsheets to categorize spending for better visibility. You’ll be impressed by the valuable information these tools will give you – if you’re not lazy and willing to look at them.

Tip #3: Create a Budget

Now that you have analyzed your current expenses and labelled your spending, it’s time to do something with this valuable information.

Based on your income and expenses, create a budget that allocates funds for essential needs, savings, and discretionary spending. Even with limited income, a budget helps prioritize needs and identify areas to cut back.

Stick to this budget as much as possible.

Because this is where most young people, including the financially literate ones give up.

Sticking to your budget might be the most challenging thing ever. But if you can manage it, there are a whole lot of benefits on the other side.

Tip #4: Find a Tracking Method that Works for You

There are many options! Try a budgeting app, a physical notebook, or even a spreadsheet. The key is to find something you’ll use consistently.

Utilize budgeting apps, spreadsheets, or online tools to easily record and categorize your expenses. Many of these tools can provide visual representations of your spending patterns.

I recently had a tracking problem with my budgeting tool, and I discussed it with my colleague, who was kind enough to help. He shared how he combines his tracking with a spreadsheet for budgeting and his Notes app for instant expenses and I had this major “a-ha” moment.

And on this tip – it’s worth mentioning – Make sure you review regularly. Regularly review your budget, expenses, and progress towards financial goals.

Adjust as needed to stay on track.

Your Money, Your Rules

Managing money and building wealth legally as a young person is a unique experience, no doubt.

But remember this. When you hit a bad spending ditch, whether unexpected expenses, or financial debt – it’s not the end of the world.

These spending habits are just small signals telling you there are other directions to explore. That you haven’t arrived at your destination quite yet.

I hope these little tips will help you navigate your financial journey. And maybe they’re just the push you need to get back on track and keep going.

If you buy what you don’t need, you steal from yourself.

FOCUS: How to Successfully Complete Your Projects

Do you have a goal that keeps hovering in your mind? Are you overwhelmed with so many activities that you don’t know which to start with? Or maybe you are too paralyzed (or bored) to achieve a certain task. Do you think you may lack focus in the projects you undertake?

You are not alone. It’s a problem many people face in this modern world. It’s lack of focus on your tasks. Focus is an important state you must master to excel at your tasks and completing your to-do lists. It allows you completely concentrate your entire being on a specific activity to achieve it.

How can you achieve this state?

Don’t worry, this article got you covered. After reading this, you will know how to stay focused, avoid distractions and keep moving forward till you accomplish your tasks.

To always accomplish your tasks and activities successfully, the ability to be composed, clear-headed and cool even under pressure is what will separate you from the non-doers. You must practice being able to focus.

Firstly, there are techniques you must learn before achieving a state of focus.

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FOCUS: How to Keep Accomplishing Tasks Until You are Successful

STOP MULTITASKING TO MAXIMIZE FOCUS

Multitasking means trying to do more than one thing at a time. When multitasking, you are just switching between tasks, and don’t do them as well. It’s like playing two games at once. You can’t focus on both.

You can either do one thing or the other excellently, not at the same time.

Multitasking also defeats the purpose of focus. It’s just like progressing in life. It’s only when you take advantage of one opportunity, you will be presented with more. When you move confidently in one direction, more options appear in front of you. Less becomes more because of focus.

BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT

To constantly accomplish tasks successfully at your peak level, you need to work for extended periods with full concentration. One task at a time. Free from distraction. There is a secret of achieving this.

Everything you do must be important, and that’s the secret. The more you practice doing things with all your heart and attention, the easier it gets. It will become like breathing – you just do it without thinking! The better you focus when you do the little things, the better you’ll do in big stages.

Virtually all situations can be handled as long as the presence of mind is maintained – Josh Waitzkin (International chess master and Jiu-jitsu champion)

There’s one more technique you must learn before I share the steps on focusing on your tasks and getting things done.

VISUALIZE AND USE MENTAL CONTRASTING

A powerful approach to maintain focus is mental contrasting. In this technique, you think about where you are now and contrast it with what you want to achieve.

For instance, let’s say you have a work project due next week. To use mental contrasting, first think about where you are now: maybe you haven’t started yet or just have some ideas. Then, imagine the finished project, how good it will look and how proud you’ll feel.

Now, see the difference between now (not much done) and your goal (a great finished project). This helps you understand what you need to do. So, you plan: “I’ll work on it for an hour every day before starting my daily work routine.”

Seeing where you are and where you want to be motivates you to work on your project a little each day, helping you finish it on time!

Now, we have listed the techniques to maximize your focus. Here are the steps on how to focus to accomplish your goal and tasks.

THE HOW-TO-FOCUS PROCESS

THE HOW-TO-FOCUS PROCESS

THE HOW TO FOCUS PROCESS

Focusing on your tasks to accomplish them successfully simply involve five steps:

  1. Breathe and develop a calm, clear mind: When negative feelings or boredom comes up, notice it, then think about your work again. Breathe and stay calm.
  2. Do something that has been causing you stress: Do a prior task that worries you. It will make you feel better.
  3. Schedule time for distractions: Be This should be done at least 10-30 minutes before your specific task. aware Doing this allows you avoid constant temptation.
  4. Be aware of what environment you work best in and test them: Find where you work best. Try different places to see what’s good for you.
  5. Begin your task: Starting is the first step to getting things done. Just start, momentum will help you stay focused.

Performing these steps will enhance your ability to focus and successfully complete your tasks.

AND REMEMBER THIS…

Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love – is the sum of what you focus on. This means your world is the outcome of what you pay attention to. Recognize where you are and start small. This is how you keep accomplishing tasks until you are successful.

“I will live the focused life, because It’s the best kind there is” – Winifred Gallagher (accomplished author, and writer.)

TO RECAP

To maximize your focus, you must:

  • Stop multitasking and do a task one at a time.
  • Be present in the moment and treat everything you do as important.
  • Visualize and mentally contrast where you are now and what you want to achieve.

Then to maintain focus on your tasks, you must:

  • Breathe and stay calm. When you feel bad, notice it, then think about your work again.
  • Do a prior task that worries you. It will make you feel better.
  • Plan time for fun or breaks. This helps you not get too distracted.
  • Find where you work best. Try different places to see what’s good for you.
  • Begin your specific tasks. Starting is the first step to getting things done.

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