Photo by Jeff Sanders
Salad dressing is not necessary. Grocery stores carry dozens of varieties of salad dressing and probably a thousand different flavor combinations within each variety. Why do we eat salad dressing? Simple. Because eating dry green leaves off our plate is basically the same as eating it right off the plant. Salad dressing is a buffer between people and nature, and we like it. We like it because it soaks our taste buds with fats, salts, and sugars in extreme excess, far beyond what a boring dry plant can provide. But the question remains, is salad dressing necessary? I say no. Like most things we buy, salad dressing is frivolous, yet we justify paying for it all the time. Most people would never consider salad dressing excessive or unnecessary, because it’s standard, it’s tradition. However, when it comes to managing a tight budget, eating a dry plant may become your new tradition.
The Basics
It breaks down to one simple statement: live on less than you earn. It can’t be an easier than that. If you can’t afford to pay for it today, than you can’t afford it. Now, some may argue that last statement. Some may try to find loopholes, such as, “I get paid on Friday, so if I charge this TV on my credit card today, I can pay it off when the paycheck arrives.” WRONG. You don’t need the TV and you don’t have any money. It’s a double wammy. Think of the TV as a huge 10-gallon jug of salad dressing. Why would anyone ever need that much dressing? No one ever would. But let ‘s imagine how someone could justify this kind of purchase. “I love salad dressing and I use it at every meal. I have a huge refrigerator that can hold my 10-gallon jug and I plan on consuming so much salad dressing that it’s way cheaper to buy this than to buy small bottles every week. And hey, it’s organic, so it’s healthy, right?” Excuses are easy and rationalizing or justifying purchases can make us feel a lot better about poor decisions, but it doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. Most of the time, doing what’s easy is not the same as doing what’s right. Now, I’m not saying that buying salad dressing is evil or a waste of money. It’s an example of the human brain in action. So, how can you live on less than you earn and make great decisions along the way? Read on.
The Budget
It all comes down to income and expenses. Even if you live with your parents, a roommate, a bunch of roommates, or completely on your own, budgeting is as simple as keeping your income greater than your expenses every month. If you don’t already live on a budget than now is a great time to start because you will see immediately where changes can occur in your spending habits. One great tool for this is Mint.com. I highly recommend this site because they monitor ALL of your accounts automatically and let you set up a digital budget on their site that stays up-to-date based on where your money went. However, don’t rely solely on their site to keep yourself in-the-know because you can’t predict future transactions to see if you’ll have enough money for bills before your next payday. You’re going to have to set up a budget and a checkbook on your own to get the complete picture. You don’t have to use the old school checkbooks you get from your bank. I recommend using a digital checkbook system such as MoneyWell or Quicken. These software packages allow you to see all of your money, where it’s gone, where it is today, and where it will be tomorrow. This way you can actually see the exact day your account goes below zero. Or, on the flip side, when you make your first million.
Get Started Now
The process of figuring out your money begins today. You can set up an account on Mint in 5 minutes, you can start a checkbook in 30 seconds, and you can setup a budget tonight after dinner. All you’ll need to know is how much you bring in, and EXACTLY how much you let go. Living on a tight budget is hard, because it forces you to tell yourself no. You’ll most likely realize very quickly that you can’t afford to go the bars as often, or buy new clothes, or take vacations, or even buy expensive salad dressings. Your tendency may be to borrow the difference in the beginning, but I urge you not to. Don’t rely on plastic to save you. Take a good hard look at the budget and find expenses you can cut, to make room for the stuff you really want, or need. Either way, get started today and let the numbers guide you to a more successful future!
The Clueless Graduate,
Jeff Sanders
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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