“A woman must have money and a room of her own.” – VIRGINIA WOOLF
Now it’s time to get creative, economically speaking. When living inside a sliding economy, one where the media delivers more bad news with every passing day, it is impossible not to feel a responsibility to tighten up on spending.
So one day in the not-so-distant past, while I was driving home from work in my gas-guzzling SUV, I was challenged by an economic strategist on the radio. He explained that we care for our bodies through exercise, so why wouldn’t we do the same for our wallets. I decided it was time to stop being a fiscal couch potato and trim the fat on my personal economics.
After careful review, I discovered there were many relevant areas where I could significantly impact my own financial future. Most things seemed to be just little changes (cutting back on cable, adjusting my telephone plan, getting a more fuel-efficient car, looking for sale items at the grocery store), but when I added it all up, my monthly savings were impressive.
Saving a few bucks was great. In effect, I gave myself a pretty nice raise this year. But, I also learned a huge lesson—there is much in life I simply do not need. I came to realize most of these items were “luxuries,” so to speak, and not necessities. And more importantly, after I relinquished them, I didn’t even miss them. In fact, this exercise was equally as good as physically losing a few pounds. All the dead weight is gone and I am feeling pretty good.
With this in mind, as business owners, sales professionals and individuals just trying to cope with the economic swings and shifts, I highly recommend putting on your sneakers and putting a little economic workout into your routine.
Nichole Stella
Editorial Director
