Yes, it's true.
I am of the 8 out of 10 Americans who are in debt (https://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/29/eight-in-10-americans-are-in-debt.html).
I finally got sick of this and decided to get my s$#* together with the help of Whitney Hansen's 3-month #moneycoaching program. Through her program, I learned my triggers, targetted my budget busters, and developed a plan to get out of debt. Once I finished her program, I was so hungry for more information, not because I didn't learn anything but because she lit a fire within in to live a debt free life and continue to learn about the financial world. I began binging her podcast (themoneynerds.com) and reading blogs and books she recommended--like the one from this post. One of my favorites so far is the Recovering Spender by Lauren Greutman. She's so brutally honest and we think the exact. Same. Way. I loved reading this book because let's be real: I have #literallynoidea about money.
If you haven't read my incredibly vulnerable and embarrassing #moneyjourney post, you can read all my lessons, mistakes and tricks here.
I connected to this book on so many levels. The basis of Lauren's #moneyjourney is that she loves to spend money. At her lowest, she was in a direct sales business and spent $12,000 in one night to earn herself a "free" company car--only to get the lease cancelled when her sales team didn't meet the quota and she was slapped with a $900 a month payment on her "free" car. She also mentioned going shopping and hiding the bags from her husband. I'm a #singlepringle but I have totally hid bags from my mom while I was living at home. When she would ask if I was wearing something new, I would say, "I bought it a while ago on sale," which wasn't a lie... but a while ago could be a couple months, weeks, days or hours. #recoveringspender
I have two favorite parts about this book. 1. Lauren talks about the differences between Spenders and Savers and also how to talk to each other. 2. She also provides a plan to help the spender get back on their feet--much like a 12-step program.
To be honest, that was a huge turnoff to me when I first realized it; this author is treating me the same way as an addict? What is this? Spending Money Anonymous? Did I sign up for an SMA meeting when I checked out this book? Addiction is a disease that needs treatment; but it's for those with addiction to alcohol and narcotics and sex, right? Wrong.
Lauren's writing style is persuasive but encouraging and as someone who is clearly defensive about having a spending problem, it's comforting to know there is someone out there who #getsit. Her steps are easy to follow and come with a checklist at the end of each chapter. These are the steps (and my short, honest confessional about each):
1. Admit You Have A Problem: Uh, yeah. I spend way too much and need help. #hailMary
2. Get Help From the One Above: Wait, now #hailMary. This chapter was a little off for me but even if you aren't religious, it's nice to find comfort in something bigger than you.
3. Admit Your Spending to One Human Being: By. Far. The hardest part of the process for me. I had mentioned to friends how many credit cards I had but I had never mentioned how much debt I was in or how much money I would spend. The first person I mentioned it to was my #moneycoach, Whitney Hansen (at www.whitneyhansen.com). I was so prepared for her to be totally disgusted; but when she told me she had seen worse and can see me getting better, I felt great about my decision to admit my faults.
4. Make a List of All of the whom the People You Are in Debt: Check. Whitney and I did that when we made my budget.
5. Take an Inventory of Your Spending: ... Whitney made me go line by line through my statements and tell her what the charges were and why I spent it. #talkaboutguilt
6. Set Up Your New Budget: #didit Lauren had some great tips about how to set up budgets too.
7. Create Your Boundaries: This chapter might have been my favorite. Lauren talked about your budget being like your yard... and the fence is your boundary. You can climb the fence and escape your yard but that means you won't have the safety of your yard. For Lauren, it was shopping with her friends; if she did this, she would end up breaking budget and #overspending. My boundaries are coffee houses, the mall and carrying credit cards.
8. Declutter Your Life to Regain Your Joy: Lauren advises you to get the clutter out of your life. #noshitnoproblems I sold a bunch of my stuff to help pay down my debt and declutter. #twobirdsonestone
9. Declutter Your Finances: Check and see what parts of your finances you can cut to make your life easier. Mine was that gym membership I never used... #icecreamforbreakfastisagreatlifeplan
10. Do an Expense Audit: Double check that you aren't overpaying for anything in your budget. Remember that dollars here and there save up quickly.
11. Get Out of Debt Now: Make a plan. Friggin' do it. At this exact moment, I've paid off three credit cards and let me tell you: it feels WAY better than rackin' up those bills. #amiright
12. Curb Your Spending and Define Your Values: Find other ways to spend your time and define what is important to you. For me, I found spending time with family and reading more is a great way to spend my time and avoid spending money. Also, writing this blog takes up a good portion of my time. #boom #yourewelcom As for my values, they're simple: Family. Self. Travel. In that order.
So, to conclude this long blog article that basically is an awful book report, I'd like to say thank you for letting me know I'm not alone, Lauren. I appreciate it.
Oh, and read the damn book. I had #literallynoidea how much it would help me.
Comentarios