Many people are paying much more attention to where their money is going lately, but it doesn't mean they end up with more money in their pockets. Some behaviors are so taken for granted that people don't include them when they take an inventory of their financial situation. Identifying these areas could save you hundreds of dollars each month.
I know the situation across America is grim, but it's not nearly as grim as the media would have us believe. The headlines continue to suggest that we might be flirting with a depression, but I'm not buying it. Here's why: I still see people spending plenty of money on stuff they don't need.
When things are really bad, you don't spend on frivolous things. I see people spending frivolously all the time. I went out for dinner with my wife the other night. The restaurant was jam packed; there was a 40 minute wait for a table. I went to Las Vegas a few weeks ago. People were gambling up a storm. I still see people smoking, and I still see many, many, many overweight people.
People aren't giving up the extra food and nights eating out. People aren't giving up their cigarettes. People aren't giving up their gambling. Attendance at movie theatres has actually gone up since the recession has worsened, as have alcohol sales. People are spending compulsively on all kinds of things that they don't really need.
Do you operate on a budget? Or do you sort of just estimate it all out in your head? If you do, you're probably missing a lot of expenses that could be reduced. Let's take a look at some of the most common areas people spend money on that are not necessities:
- Smoking. If you smoke, you're literally burning money. A pack a day habit is costing you around $1,600 each year, and that's before adding in health care costs and higher insurance premiums.
- Overeating. Eating out is more expensive than cooking at home, and most families have more food in the cupboard than they need. Streamlining your pantry and de-cluttering the freezer could save you thousands of dollars a year in food costs. Reduce your food consumption, and you not only spend less money, but you lose weight and get healthier.
- Shopping. It's not just women. Guys do it, too. Clothes, tools, music, DVDs, and on and on. We're a materialistic culture, and most folks don't question this area of their lifestyle. Thousands and thousands of dollars a year are spent on stuff we don't even need.
- Entertainment. Don't you find it interesting that in these tough economic times one of the ways states are looking to increase revenue is through building gambling sites? As people look for escapes from their daily realities, they turn to movies, vacations, and other expenses that provide only temporary relief.
What do all of these things do? They provide stimulation, firing off the chemicals that make you feel good. But at what price? There's a cost for every one of these activities. You don't just pay for them with money, but also with opportunities lost. When you spend on cigarettes, you have less money to do something else. When you gamble away your paycheck, you lose not only the money, but your freedom to steer life in the direction you want it to go.
These decisions don't get made rationally; they're made emotionally. That's why hypnosis can help. It gets you access to the level of the mind where these things work every day, and it helps you make the changes that will have a lasting positive impact for you. Isn't it time to take charge of your life? Do it now!
