Organizing Tip: THE EMOTION OF FINANCIAL CHOICES

Do you:

·        Fear missing out on a sale?

·        Hate to let a coupon expire unused?

·        Compete with others in possession comparison?

·        Experience joy upon purchasing something new?

·        Turn jealous when someone else has a new purchase?

·        Find yourself in debt and struggling with finances every day? 

For most people, money and finances are more difficult to talk about than sex.  Let the record reflect that I am neither a financial planner nor a sex therapist, but I am what you might call frugal (not to be confused with cheap).   

How do you view money?  Do you see it as something to spend?  If so, read this carefully:  Money is NOT to be spent; money is to be managed.  Of course you spend it, but before you do, you need to be sure that you are allocating it for items that will bring joy to your life…not misery. 

Financial woes are often the result of living beyond your means.  In other words, you spend more than you make.  Often, financial choices are based on the need for instant gratification, which really boils down to an impulse, not a conscious choice.  Typically, there is little or no thought given to the future consequences of instant gratification, such as huge credit card balances and unsecured debt.   

Sadly, retailers rely on this weakness.  Rarely do we have to wait to buy anything since retailers are so accommodating with instant credit at zero percent interest for three years.  The temptations are hard to resist, but you must. 

Emotions play a key role in financial choices.  Fear surfaces at the thought of missing out on a sale or letting a coupon expire.  Competition flares when you compare your possessions with those of your family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers.  Joy kicks in when you think of acquiring something new.  Jealousy sparks when you see someone with something you wish you had.  These are powerful emotions, to say the least. 

Logic must be engaged when it comes to finances.  You can’t let your emotions run away with your money.  If you do, you will soon find yourself deep in debt.   

Financial freedom can be the cornerstone of simplifying your life.  Without the burden of financial worries, you can soar!

www.ByeByeClutter.com

Organizing Tip: IS WORKING LONG HOURS WORTH IT?

 

You often hear people say that they work 50, 60, 70, 80 (and sometimes even more) hours per week.  Is this healthy and productive?

The answer is most likely no.  The time that is used to work overtime has to come from somewhere. Many times, we sacrifice family time; but often times, we give up sleep, proper eating, and fun!  How healthy is that?

In the short run, longer hours can be effective, but if you do it on a regular basis, you may be as little as 50% effective during your regular work time (due to lack of sleep and proper eating) and 50% effective in the extra hours that you stay.  Therefore, if you work 4 extra hours, you may only accomplish 2 hours of work. It would make more sense to improve your effectiveness during regular working hours by prioritizing and planning your day, eliminating timewasters, and getting organized.

So take a look at how you spend your time at work. Are you being as effective as you could be?  Do you plan your days?  Do you know where things are?  If you answered no, track your time for a few days and see where you could find some extra time to plan more effectively.

www.ByeByeClutter.com