How to win the rat race
Don’t play the game.
The rat race is voluntary. You can choose to subject yourself to meaningless, futile competition for stuff that cannot make you happy. Or you can choose to set your own goals, milestones, and paths to get there. You’ll be happier if you do.
Money is only a tool
When money is your goal, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Most people who seek money usually discover they never have enough. Entire lives have been wasted in pursuit of money.
Instead, you should focus on the most important things in life and use money as a tool to get there.
Remember that your options are constrained by your time, energy, and money. Earning the big bucks is pointless if you don’t have the energy to enjoy your time away from work. And a large nest egg is pointless if you don’t enjoy life along the way.
Goals first, then work
There are lots of strategies on how to save money, but the key is to spend less than you earn. Earning more is always a great strategy, but you must spend less than you earn to make progress.
Once you’ve resolved to get ahead, don’t delay because time will be your enemy or your ally.
Here’s three steps to stretching your paycheck further:
- Re-evaluate all of your expenses, you may find some needs are really wants
- Live by a written budget, so you can guarantee you’ll reach your goals
- Be honest with yourself, don’t pretend the numbers add up when your spending is out of line
What are some of your favorite strategies for directing your spending?
Flying Rats! photo by Chris Latham
