{"id":37667,"date":"2024-10-28T05:18:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T05:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/?p=37667"},"modified":"2024-10-28T05:18:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T05:18:34","slug":"dave-says-control-your-mind-and-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/?p=37667","title":{"rendered":"Dave Says: Control Your Mind and Money"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

Dear Dave,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m trying to work my way out of debt, but it seems like something always<\/strong>
\nhappens to stall things or knock me backwards. I make $55,000 a year, I\u2019m single and I have <\/strong>$15,000 in debt, along with a mortgage payment of $1,224 a month. I\u2019ve been <\/strong>trying to live on a budget, but I\u2019m still not sure where all my money goes. Can you help?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lindley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Lindley,
\nI know living on a budget can be hard at first. And honestly, it usually takes folks who are new to doing it about three or four months of practice before they start getting it right and seeing the results.<\/p>\n

For starters, your house payment is a little heavy for someone making $55,000 a year. I generally recommend keeping your mortgage or rent payment at about 25% of your take-home pay. Sometimes you can slide by paying a little more, but in those cases, you\u2019d really have to be on top of your finances. So, the biggest thing you can do right now is take control of your money, instead of letting it\u2014or a lack of it\u2014control you. And the best way to make all this happen is by consistently living on a realistic, written\u00a0monthly budget.<\/p>\n

Once you start doing this, you\u2019ve taken your first big step toward having a real gameplan for your money. At that point, the idea of\u00a0trying<\/em>\u00a0to live on a budget ends, and the fact that you are living on a budget, and telling your money what to do\u2014instead of a lack of it dictating what you can do\u2014becomes more of a reality.<\/p>\n

Remember the Star Wars movie \u201cThe Empire Strikes Back\u201d? At one point during Luke\u2019s training, Yoda tells him, \u201cDo, or do not. There is no try.\u201d In a larger sense, Yoda is urging Luke to focus and work harder, instead of continuing with half-hearted attempts and giving up easily. If you want to accomplish a difficult task, Lindley, you have to throw yourself into it completely. You must fully commit, and stop making excuses. You have to focus, and fight to make it happen.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no fun waking up broke at the end of every pay period. We both know this. So, put your head down and get your mind in gear. Make. This. Happen.<\/p>\n

You can do it!
\n\u2014 Dave<\/p>\n

Read the full article here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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