Living Big on
a Slim Budget
By Manendra George-Roberts
Traditional wisdom proclaims that
money can’t buy happiness, but
anyone who has experienced a
“penniless moment” can contest
otherwise. It’s obvious that the
delight of contentment emanates
rather effortlessly when you live
a life free from limitations on
wants or needs. Working with
a constricted or meager budget
should by no means equate to
sacrifice; however, it takes a
speck of discipline and a dash
of creativity to live your best
life on a limited income. So,
whether you’re saving up to
buy a car, embarking on your
dream vacation, maintaining
your custom of exploring fine
cuisines or simply wishing to live
comfortably on a tight budget,
below is a list of “spending
reducing” suggestions which will
help you save up some extra cash
to buy that speckle of happiness
that you’ve always desired.
1. Set Your Priorities Wisely
Regardless of your geographic
location, the culture around you
can influence your spending
habits. While some cultures
are advocates for embracing
extravagant consumerism, others
emphasize on the necessity of
extreme penny-pinching and
a sense of innovative survival
techniques. Noteworthily,
within this duo of extremities
lies a spectrum of beliefs and
perceptions on the use of
money. It is no doubt that your
immediate culture may influence
how you define “comfortable
living”. If everyone around
you owns the latest, sleekest
sophisticated mobile phone while
20 SL-YOU | Business, People & Lifestyle
you tug along with an archaic
cellphone from the dinosaur
age, you certainly will notice
the difference. However, does
your desire for comfort demand
that you own these current
technological marvels? Does
your ability to obtain current
technological gadgets dictate
your personal happiness? If you
answered yes to these questions,
then you must ensure that your
current earning power permits
you to afford these luxuries
without forfeiting critical aspects
of your finances, particularly
life-changing investments such as
a house or education or savings.
It is important to balance the
cost of comfort with mandatory
expenditure in a sustainable
manner.
www.slyoumag.com | July-August 2019