bluntmoney.com

Sometimes I think the world must be filled with people who haven’t heard of the concept of “free will”. I hear all kinds of people talking about how they “had to” do something, and I usually think “No, you didn’t have to, you chose to.”

Now I know this is a big pet peeve of mine, and that surely people who say things like “I have to go to the dentist tomorrow” don’t really believe there is some force beyond their control forcing them to go to the dentist. They’re just using that phrase out of habit, and they’re really going because they want to take care of their teeth.

I know this, but the phrase still bothers me. Mostly because so many people use it as an excuse to spend money or get deeper into debt, and I think we should be careful of the things we say to ourselves.

I suspect a lot of people feel as though they don’t have a choice when it comes to things like making large, unexpected repairs or to replacing a damaged item. They don’t realize that they have a choice, and so they turn to what they’ve always done in the past: borrowing money to get by.

I know I used to feel that way.

But it’s amazing what a difference just realizing that you do have a choice in how you act and the things you do. When you realize you have a choice, you don’t just do what you’ve always done. You brainstorm alternatives. You make decisions more consciously. You lose that hopeless feeling — the one that tells you you’ll never get ahead. YOU are in control of your life, and so you plan ahead more, and see the possibilities. Life’s just a whole lot better.

• Stage Hypnosis versus Hypnotherapy Here are brief explanations of the two types of the application of hypnosis I am writing about: Stage Hypnosis: Is a demonstration of the willingness...
• Roundup for week of 3 June 2007 Weekend's almost over, so I have to type fast for this week's roundup:Consumerism Commentary is upgrading his expenses as he upgrades his crib.  (He's deciding...
• How To Prepare Financially For An Emergency. I was reading September's issue of Money magazine, and they had a tiny little blurb on how to "Be Ready For Anything", and I thought...