Stop Going for the Rich Things Sometimes when you buy something, you buy it for the designer label. You buy it simply because it is rich. Often, there is an alternative that is equally as appropriate. If you must have a certain brand, consider buying secondhand. Why spend extra money that you dont need to spend? Similarly, when you are cooking, you can often lower the fat in your meals easily without sacrificing any of the taste. Consider substituting yogurt for oil the next time you bake muffins or a cake: this works particularly well with packaged mixes. There are hundreds of low-fat, low-calorie, wonderful tasting meals out there. You can even choose to make a low-fat dessert. Why would you choose the unhealthy option when the healthy option tastes just as good and gives you the benefit of being able to feel good about yourself? Be Aware Knowing your spending habits will help you make wiser financial decisions. Knowing your eating habits will allow you to establish where you need to make changes in your diet. Track yourself on anything that you want to change, because it will make it easier for you to change. Sometimes the act of tracking yourself makes you change, just knowing that you will have to write it down. For instance, if you know that you are going to write down everything you eat for a week, you might find that you eat healthier foods because you dont want to write down that you eat junk food. Similarly, you might not make impulse purchases if you know that you have to write it down at the end of the day. Track yourself as you begin to make changes, as well. Writing down your budget and your diet as you progress will help you chart your improvements, and keep you motivated to continue. Avoid Temptation If you know that every time you go into this certain bakery, you have to buy a piece of cake, simply dont go to that bakery. The same thing goes for shopping: if you know that you cant go into a shoe store or book store without making a purchase, then avoid those places. Although staying on a diet and staying on a budget both require a certain amount of willpower, dont tax yourself. Youll be happier if you dont feel constant urges, so do what you can to suppress these urges by removing the temptation from your life. Avoiding temptation goes beyond avoiding places where you are tempted. It might also mean reorganizing parts of your life. For instance, you wont be able to pig out on junk food at work if you dont have any junk food in your desk drawer. Similarly, you wont be able to use your emergency credit card for an impulse purchase if your card is not in your wallet, but instead in a shoebox under your bed. Plan Ahead It is much easier to eat healthy meals when you have planned your meals ahead. This way, you have the ingredients and the groceries all available when you get home. Instead of eating potato chips while you watch TV, if you have some strawberries cut up you might eat those instead. The same thing works with budgeting. If you plan your spending ahead of time, you will know how much to spend on different areas of your life. It is easier to not spend money when you know that you are saving for a special object, as well. Be Realistic You will probably not lose all of the weight that you want in one month, just like you will probably not pay off all of your loans in one month. Making monthly goals that are attainable will help you see the big picture, and show you how your progress is going. Dont be disheartened if it seems like you are not making a difference for the first month: both monetary and dietary changes take a while to register. Your body has to get used to the change in diet. You have to wait for your statement to come back to see a change. Instead of making unrealistic goals, such as never eating a piece of cake again, you can offer yourself little rewards. Regulate these rewards, and work towards earning them. Remember: a reward doesnt have to be a big thing. It might be as small as being able to spend $5 at the dollar store, or being able to have a bowl of frozen yogurt with fruit. If you are trying to lose weight or save money, you will be working hard, and you will deserve an occasional reward. Move Beyond the Numbers Its not just the amount of money you spend or the number of calories you consume. When you diet, you also need to exercise. When you are trying to back loans, you might choose to work overtime hours. Both of these require extra effort and planning. Whether you are trying to lose weight or save money, you will need to use the same skill set. Transfer the skills from one area of your life to another. Tracking your progress and setting goals will help you reach any goal, be they financial, health-related, or otherwise. Learning these skills will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. |
