8 must-have money rules for everyone!
A sensible person is unlikely to argue with the statement that money is a serious thing, which does not tolerate frivolous and disrespectful attitude. One only has to think of one's monthly payments - taxes, apartment bills, mortgage or consumer credit.
A closer look at money reveals that financial problems occur when they are no longer taken seriously. Each of us probably knows at least one case when apparently successful people with a good income were up to their ears in debt, and lucky people who received a large inheritance or won the lottery, lost every last penny with astonishing speed. Once you begin to haphazardly put your hand into a seemingly endless financial pile, money problems will not be long in coming.
So, money does not forgive a frivolous attitude, and every independent person must comply with a few mandatory, though somewhere tough, but necessary money rules.
Rule #1. Money does not fall from the sky. You have to get it yourself
Undoubtedly, each of us appreciates the talents of our beloved self. It is not uncommon to think that management undervalues our talent, experience, knowledge, and skills (underline that). Nevertheless, we are not paid as much as we deserve, but as much as we figuratively agree.
So the first rule is don't hide your interest.
- Need a job? Do not be lazy to make a good (of course, true) resume, describing all your strengths.
- Need a discount? Then ask for it.
- Do you want to take part in a project? Don't hesitate to say so.
Many people have a rather unsophisticated tactic. It consists of the following: get a new job by agreeing to the salary offered. After that, you need to demonstrate your exceptional competence to the management and ask for further promotion.
It seems to be a working man - it is logical, after all, first to prove yourself on the best side, and then to apply for a raise and a raise in salary. However, there is a serious flaw here: starting with a small salary, the raise will be exactly to this, as a rule, quite small amount. Therefore, it is always necessary, as they say, to "beat out" the conditions for themselves at the highest bar (not forgetting, of course, about adequacy).
It often happens that an employee does not have the opportunity to "bargain" for better terms. This is absolutely normal. But you should always think ahead. For example, if you are starting out in a new field, it is only appropriate to talk about a raise after gaining experience, skills, ability, and a demonstration of sustained success.
If management is not going to increase the pay (yes, there are still such leaders :)), do not dwell on it - you already have the knowledge and experience, so you can find a place where they pay more.
Rule #2. You alone are the master of your financial happiness
Let us turn to the skeptics at once. Yes, history is simply littered with examples of how to many, let's face it, not the most worthy people, wealth simply came "on a silver platter" in the form of rich parents and other things. We will not talk about the "golden youth" who did not lift a finger to earn a single cent or about the oligarchs, whose wealth began to form in the turbulent nineties and bordering on criminality.
But there is another story that is full of examples of people who came from the very bottom and whose wealth was earned personally by them. There are indeed plenty of examples - we will not cite them, but send the most inquisitive to previous articles of our magazine and to the Google and Yandex search engines.
The example of these people who achieved everything on their own should serve as a constant reminder that wealth does not fall on you from the sky. Whether you want to be the humble owner of a small island in the Pacific Ocean or simply not have to think about where to get the money to buy food and clothes, financial discipline is the cornerstone that underlies all wealth.
So don't be lazy to read books by prominent people and training materials of business coaches.
Rule #3. The credit card is not your money
It would seem that what could be easier: spend the money from the credit card, then put it in - and everything is in the bag. It's not that simple! A credit card is not a source of money, but a tool for spending it.
The principle here is simple - when you spend money with a credit card, you are borrowing money for a short period from the bank that issued the card. Moreover, the credit card not only allows you to easily spend money that does not belong to you, but also encourages you to expand the boundaries of this spending.
Skeptics will again point out that almost the entire civilized world lives on credit, and there's nothing wrong with that. But when you use a credit card, you spend other people's money, and you pay back your own. And, as a rule, you always give back more than you took.
Abuse of credit can lead to the habit of living beyond your means. This is the worst thing that can happen. Needless to say, how does it all end? Bad credit history, debt collectors/bailiffs, a life of stress... A horror and a nightmare.
Rule #4. Don't rely on the state, take care of your pension yourself
The Soviet Union has long fallen into oblivion, and with it the expectation of a normal pension at the end of working age. Yes, the state has a certain pension program and a corresponding fund. But you are aware of the size of the pension, right? Yes, and who will guarantee that in the future everything will be fine? As Viktor Chernomyrdin said: "Forecasting is a difficult thing, especially when it comes to the future.
Plan your budget so that each month you put it aside into your personal "retirement fund. Do not spend this money in any way, no matter what good reasons you have for doing so. In the end, when you finish your working life, you will be a well-to-do person, independent of the state pension program.
Rule #5. Invest. Money should work, not lie as a useless burden
The media are overflowing with advertisements for various investment projects promising impressive profits in a short period of time. The conventional wisdom is that investing is necessarily playing the stock market. Shares, bonds, currencies, metals, etc.
In fact, investing - it's completely different, the opposite of intrusive advertising. It's a boring business. Imagine planting a lawn with grass and sitting down to watch it grow. Can you imagine it? A fun thing to do? It's the same with investing.
The most surprising thing is that according to public statistics, the most successful investors are those who make the fewest trades.
Switch from saving to investing. And the sooner you do this, the better - the less of your hard-earned money will be eaten up by ruthless inflation.
Rule #6. Don't be jealous of those who are richer than you
You have to be a dollar billionaire to be in the Forbes top 100, at least. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be rich. But if the fact that one of your colleagues or friends is richer than you causes a surge of envy, that's a serious problem.
At best, envy deprives you of mood and healthy sleep at night. At worst, it leads to the fact that you begin to show everyone a high level of consumption, which, in fact, you can not afford.
Believe me, a Vacheron Constantin watch bought on credit for five years will make absolutely no impression. Most people don't care what kind of car you drive or what brands you wear.
Rule #7. Having money is not happiness
Happiness is a subjective, philosophical concept, and having money is not always a prerequisite. Yes, yes, it's not about money, we all understand that. But, as knowledgeable people rightly point out, it is incomplete without it.
Nevertheless, even if you start earning less money, you can be happier. It is enough that the amount you earn allows you to comfortably do what you love. That's what happiness is all about, right?
Rule #8. Your money is only your concern
Today's financial world is teeming with all kinds of consultants, managers, coaches, advisors, and gurus. To tell the truth, none of them will be as worried about the state of your finances as you are. All financial decisions should be made by you and only you. It's your money; it's up to you to decide.
Along with a sense of responsibility for the decisions you make, comes the understanding that you are in control of your life.
Some will find these rules a little pathetic, some will find them naïve or silly, and some will laugh heartily. Indeed, when wealth is mentioned, many people imagine chests of gold, suitcases of dollars, or Scrooge McDuck from the cartoon, bathed in gold coins.
But to be the master of your life, to do what you love, and to have no financial difficulties (even if you don't have enough money for an island in the Pacific Ocean yet :)) - Isn't that real wealth? And it, without the observance of these rules, will be quite impossible.