Comments on: Good news! You’re standing in your own way

By: Empress Juju

Empress Juju — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:41:41 +0000

Oh, you know, and I am soooo not interested in hearing the justifications!

I’ve been attending to my own financial well-being for a couple of years, now, and I have absolutely stopped trying to get anyone else onto my bandwagon, because of all those excuses, that really do sound pathetic when viewed objectively.

I’m just doing my own thing, and once in a while, the converastion turns to finance (believe me, I wish it didn’t!), and I may say something like, “I don’t eat out often. I shop and cook at home,” and then am barraged with all the reasons my conversation partner can’t do that, and I DIDN’T EVEN ASK!

But the truth is, that used to be me, so I do my best to respond compassionately and change the subject.

By: L

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:29:38 +0000

I 100% completely utterly agree! This is my biggest pet-peeve when it comes to people asking me for financial advice. Here I am, offering advice and all people can say is “Yeah, but; I can’t”. Drives me bonkers! Great post!

By: Fabulously Broke

Fabulously Broke — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:19:37 +0000

Hear hear.

I’ve caught myself doing that a couple of times ” I can’t give that up because…. ”

but now I just mentally slap myself.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:03:22 +0000

Very true. There are very few things that we absolutely can’t do. But getting rid of your luxuries is definitely not on that list. Humans as a general rule will cope and adjust to whatever is necessary. If you really think that driving car X is part of that necessity (unless its part of your job), then you’re never going to get ahead.

If you live in a city you can get away with not owning a car, yes the alternative is not always appealing but chances are that in every office there is a person with a longer commute than you, doing it by transit because they can’t afford a car. Great post!!

By: LoveandSalt

LoveandSalt — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:20:32 +0000

Yes! Yes! The yes-but defense is THE biggest roadblock to success. Everything costs something. You can’t get your hand out of the jar if you keep making fist. What you let go of will save you. Thanks for this.

By: Leah Ingram

Leah Ingram — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:28:12 +0000

If people are ready to make a change in how they spend money, I’ve got a quick and painless way to do that: review your monthly credit card bills and see if you are being automatically charged for a service you no longer need, want or enjoy. I understand that people want to hold on to the old and the comfortable, so why not make a deal with yourself that you’ll cancel only one of these automatic charges. Once you get used to that, find another and cancel that, too. We did this recently–and I blogged about it here–and found a way to save ourselves $500 a year.

Leah

By: Aimee

Aimee — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:10:34 +0000

I would say that 99% of the time excuses are just excuses and could be overcome if they really wanted to. There are times when it really could be true, but even then I am sure there are ways to overcome the excuses with help from friends and family and other support.