Is there a difference in saving money and saving the money? When we generally spend $200 a week on groceries and are able to cut that down to $150 a week, one would think that we’d be saving $50 a week, about $200 a month, $2,400 a year. How can that be wrong?
It is wrong when we don’t have the right attitude, mindset, focus and determination. When we consider the savings as “extra money” we quickly find that we don’t have it any more. Because extra money has a way of slipping through our fingers like so much beach sand, the best way to actually save it is to get it out of our hands.
Think of that handful of bills and coins growing. Think of it becoming enough to open a savings account. Think of the savings account growing to more than a thousand dollars. When we reach that point, we can think of it growing to $10,000. That is the attitude. That is the focus which will turn a few dollars here and a few dollars there into real savings, real money.
When we want our money to grow, more than we want the things it can buy, we have adjusted our mindset. Crossing that first $100 mark, the first $500 mark, can be as inspiring as the latest electronic gizmo, the finest pitching wedge, the smartest new dress.
Start with a jar or a piggy bank. Count the contents often. Include family members if they are on-board with the savings plan. Rejoice with each new addition. Even after the savings account is opened, continue to save in the piggy bank and make account deposits only monthly. See how often you can deposit more this month than last month. Before you know it, you will find yourself taking a deep breath and feeling free. It’s a very nice feeling.
This is awesome. It reminds me of a close knit family years ago, recently fatherless, counting out mother's tips in the living room floor each night. The children would proudly add every penny they found on the road or the dollar they made babysitting for a few hours. Then the collective effort was kept secretly in a sour cream container deep in the back of the refrigerator until it amounted to the necessary rent, or electric bill. Those were tough times, but they were GOOD TIMES!
ReplyDeleteSaving money requires commitment of both partners involved in the process. If one is saving & the other is spending the "saved money", this defeats the purpose. The only way I have found this to work for me personally, is too secretly have a spot to deposit change or bills, until the time comes that it is necessary to use it.
ReplyDeleteDonna