Without
a definite, clearly defined plan, becoming rich will seem like an
unbelievable dream. This alone will solidify your excuses for
overspending and not saving. As the saying goes, “Those who fail to
plan, plan to fail.”
1. Overspending
If you have a ferocious appetite for spending beyond your means,
you’re not alone. According to a survey, of the 52% of people who
habitually overspend, many balance the shortfall by taking from their
savings, and 22% rely on credit cards. Blowing all your money each month
is not a realistic pathway to wealth. Start tracking where your money
goes each month, check where you can cut back, and create a ‘realistic’
budget that allows you to pay your bills and invest in a retirement
account or an emergency fund.
2. Not Saving Enough
Welcome to the club! The personal savings percentage in the US is a
measly 4.9% of disposable income. Saving should become a priority if you
want to accumulate wealth. Start with an emergency fund. Once your
emergency fund is substantial, you can redirect small amounts toward
other goals like purchasing a home or
paying for college.
3. You Have Too Much Debt
Certain debts are a precursor to financial success, like purchasing
real estate or starting a business; however, a high-interest credit card
balance is not. Pay off credit cards with the highest rates first.
4. You Don’t Have a Plan
Without a definite, clearly defined plan, becoming rich will seem
like an unbelievable dream. This alone will solidify your excuses for
overspending and not saving. As the saying goes, “Those who fail to
plan, plan to fail.” Putting together a financial plan may seem tedious,
but it doesn’t have to be, and you can get used to it.
5. You Don’t Have an Emergency Fund
Experts say you need at least six months of income saved in case of
an emergency. Life is tricky, and not having some type of safety net can
turn a comfortable situation into a disaster.
6. You Started Late
Time is slipping by. Just like starting an exercise routine, the most
difficult part about saving is getting started. Even if you have debt, a
small income, or many expenses, you can save something, even if it’s
only a small amount.
7. You Complain Rather Than Commit
“I don’t earn enough money”; “Life is too expensive”; “It’s hopeless,
I’ll never get out of debt.” Have you uttered any of these statements
before, or perhaps all of them? Old habits die hard; however, as long as
you do nothing to change, nothing will change. Stop complaining and
making excuses. Instead, take responsibility for your non-productive
habits and concentrate on how to change them – and then do it!
8. You Live for Today, and Forget About Tomorrow
It’s no fun getting serious and thinking about retirement and all
that stuff. Nonetheless, eventually it has to be done. The problem is
that impulsive and unregulated spending leads to debt… period! Do
yourself a big favor: Get rid of the ‘buy now, worry later’ attitude,
and switch to a ‘save now, get rich later’ way of thinking.
9. Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket
You might get lucky by wagering all your money on one type of
investment. Just like you might get lucky winning the lottery. But
that’s not a strategy to live by, or for getting rich. Putting all your
money in one place is not advised because it puts you at too much risk.
Your investment portfolio should include multiple investments with
varied levels of risk and ROI potential and liquidity.
10. You Just Don’t Get It!
You may be one of those people who believe that somehow something
will come along and save you, so why bother with saving or trying to get
out of debt? Maybe you will get lucky and land a fantastic job, receive
a big pay raise, inherit money, hit the lottery, or whatever! But
‘whatever’ won’t cut it if you really want to become rich. Yes, life is
uncertain. No one knows what will, or will not, actually happen;
therefore, why not focus on what you can control today? Get it together
now and save yourself, in case someone or something else won’t.
One thing you can be sure of: You are already rich. Think about it.
If someone came to you and offered you a million dollars for your arm,
would you give it up? Why not, you have two; you can surely spare one of
them! Of course the answer would be no! Being rich is more than
physical ownership; it’s a state of happiness and well-being, while
wishing the same for others. So while you are working on getting rich
materially, remember to be happy along the way!
Source: LifeSpan
