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If you're anything like me, you've already forgotten about those New Year Resolutions you made in December. Yeah, those resolutions you really beat yourself up over to ensure that 2012 was going to be your year.
The one in which you kicked butt and really turned your life around. After the first week, you were probably losing some steam and now, with a week left in the month, your momentum is weakening. It's hard to keep up with something if we don't see instant results. This is why so many diets or other lifestyle changes, including finances, don't last very long. We may really want something but as humans, we are scared of change.
But, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of some things. Sure, you're probably scoffing at me and thinking, "What does this girl know? She doesn't know me or how hard I'm trying." And you're absolutely right. To a certain point. I may not know you or may have never been through what you're going through, but I've had my share of setbacks, trust me. I've gone through times when I feel like I just can't catch a break.
I bet I know what you're thinking. Duh, and I used to think that way when someone would tell me that. But, really Rome or anything big and great wasn't built in one day. If you stop and think about it, how long did it take to build Rome? Form the United States of America? Take Thomas Edison to invent the light bulb?
Nothing great and meaningful was built or happened in one day. It took months, and in some cases, years to accomplish something great. So, eventually you will have the Rome of emergency funds or have kicked that credit card debt for good.
Habits are formed overnight. A habit, whether good or bad, is something that is formed over time, due to actions that we ourselves are responsible for. So, if you often go shopping to relieve stress, it's only natural to want to go shopping when you are stressed out. But, if you are trying to save money or get out of debt, that is a habit which needs to be broken. If you are sincerely interested in making some life changes, think long and hard about what you want, and then come up with a game plan. Promise yourself that when you're stressed out you won't go shopping but instead, read a book or take a bubble bath. The result will be less stress and a frugal win!
Remind yourself that even if you made bad choices, you have the power to fix the outcome. So what if you weren't good with a credit card or financed a car you knew you couldn't afford but are now stuck with? Use this as a chance to learn a life lesson. That might sound a little harsh at first, trust me. I was so mad when I had a car payment I couldn't afford but once I realized, I was stuck with it, I decided to be pro-active instead of reactive. I switched insurance companies and saved $60 a month, learned to menu plan to cut food costs and became better with other purchases as well. I had to put a lot on hold that I wanted to do because of this car payment but I made it through. And when it came to go car shopping this past month, I knew right away a car payment was something I didn't even want to consider. I now own a newer car outright. Have credit card debt? Learn to budget, pay in cash and send as much as you can to get that pesky credit card bill out of your hair.
Great results don't happen overnight. Sometimes, it takes sacrifice and hard work. But, the end result will be so worth the wait!
Serendipity Smalls is the writer behind Serendipity’s Guide To Savings. She lives in Las Vegas with her fiancée and enjoys the finer things in life, such as Starbucks, song lyrics and bad reality television. You can find her on her blog, Twitter and Facebook.