Today’s the second email in this series on my one-sentence money tips. Let’s dive right in.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a good time.
In the middle of summer, this has never been truer.
A lot of people’s idea of a great time includes hitting the mall or hitting Amazon up for a mini-spending spree – and they rack up lots of credit card debt to do it!
There’s nothing wrong with shopping now and then, and buying what you need. The problem develops when you start borrowing against your future and spending money when you truly shouldn’t be – treating shopping like a cure-all for boredom, and other negative emotions.
Instead, seek out alternatives that won’t destroy the bank.
- Get outdoors. It’s summer – take advantage of all the summer-y activities out there, like swimming, walking, biking, and other sports. Not only will you build muscle and stay fit, but your mental health will get a boost, too.
- Read! There are so many incredible books out there on any topic that you could possibly be interested in – and you can get them for free! Hit up your local library (you can even go online now and get digital versions of their books) and check out the book of your dreams.
- Write it down. For a tiny investment, you can get a notebook and do so much with it. You can create a budget, start journaling (ever heard of bullet journaling?), take up poetry, write short stories, plan out your bucket lists. You’re only limited to your imagination!
- Start listening to podcasts. If you’re interested in anything, there’s a free one out there you’ll like. Check out Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts – whatever your favorite platform is – search for whatever you’re interested in, plug your headphones in and drift away.
Obviously, this is not even remotely close to a complete list of the possibilities, so cure your boredom by doing a quick Google search for some other ideas to fill your time.
I can help you figure out what to do with all the money you’ll save (like invest it!). In fact, I can help you come up with a complete roadmap of what you need to do to get the retirement you’ve always wanted. To get started, call 513-563-PLAN (7526) or go online to book a free 15 minute consultation with me.
Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®
