Using Resources Wisely – Part 13 Getting Off the Hamster Wheel of Spending

Current inflation has devalued our dollar greatly. Budgeting and money management are more important than ever.  Simply making our dollars stretch further just isn’t working anymore.  Our only choice is to make significant lifestyle changes in order to meet our financial obligations. This means eliminating unnecessary spending of all kinds including “necessary conveniences”. What are necessities you ask?  Well this is very subjective and varies widely.  I will say no matter what we perceive our needs to be, we can always do very well with a lot less.

Even when we take on major life changes willingly they cause intense stress.  Recently many of us have been obliged to make changes by forces outside of our control escalating our emotional, mental and financial stress even further.  In an attempt to feel a sense of control while the tectonic plates of our lives shift, many of us commonly resort to spending (of all types) in order to appease our anxiety.   Constant and compulsive spending drains resources and puts off dealing with what causes the stress in the first place.   These are monumental times testing our ability to adapt to the challenges facing us.

If we give in and spend more to feel better, we are just staying on the hamster wheel.  Over spending our income leads to more credit card spending which leads to more debt which leads to more stress which leads to more self indulgence. HELP!  Let me get off, I don’t like this ride anymore.

So how do we make radical shifts in our lifestyle and still feel in control, successful, important, connected, prosperous and stress free. Here are 6 suggestion for reducing stress with out spending money.

1. Find ways to satisfy the urge to spend and satisfy the initial need by refreshing, renewing & recycling what you already have. Divert focus from appeasing the stress to relieving the stress. Here are 10 free ways to reduce stress.

2. Revise personal/family a holiday & birthday gift giving policies.

3. Take one day at a time.  Don’t freak out and start shopping! There are plenty of tools and resources available to help you get out of debt, stay out of debt and live prosperously.

4. Ask for help from family and friends even for little things.  This keeps us from being isolated, reinforces our need to connect and feel supported.  It also reminds us we are not meant to do everything all by ourselves.

5. Remember most of the average population are having the same stresses you are.  People are losing their jobs, retirement accounts, savings and businesses. We are all in the same boat.  Lets paddle together

6. Be kind to yourself. Take more time for personal care during stressful times.  The body requires more when under high adaptation situations (whether good or bad). It takes time to digest changes. Journal your feelings, use a professional counselor and call on support from your spiritual community.

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