Clever Girl Finance says everything begins with a decision and I agree. It begins with the decision that you are ready for change, that you are ready to live on less. I know that making a decision for change can be a daunting feeling; I’ve been there and I’m here to honestly tell you that the decision can be a difficult one to make.
Living on Less: Making the Decision
Back in 2020, I made the decision to reduce my work hours to part-time. I had thought, for years, how unhappy I was becoming with my job. My angst and stress level seemed to increase more and more, and my life fulfillment level decreased more and more. Then something happened….what?….I realized that I couldn’t go on like I this.
I realized I needed a change, but I was AFRAID. “Of what,” you ask? I was scared of not being able to meet my daily needs. I often thought, “Well, what if this happens or what if that happens?” I mean, the worse possible scenarios were running through my mind, and all of them told a story of fear. Finally, I became totally overwhelmed at my job, and I DECIDED that no matter what, I was going to figure out a way to reduce my spending in order for me to reduce my 9 to 5 work hours.
I began to delve into my personal spending habits. I examined every nook and cranny of where I spent my money. To my dismay, I frivolously spent most of my money on dinning out and impulse purchases, and here I was, thinking I was the ultimate budgeter, HA! After a review of my expenses and the other ways I made money aside from my 9 to 5 (Uber, Lyft, Instacart), I thought to myself, “I can make it happen.”
Following the Plan
In November, 2021, I informed my employer that I would be reducing my work days to Monday through Wednesday, effective January 2022, and he graciously accepted my offer. Before I knew it, January was here and major fear set it. However, my desire for change outweighed any fear that attempted to invade my psyche. January came and went, and I met my monthly needs. February was no different. March, April, May, and the rest of 2022, took the same course….every bill was paid and I was still able to save (which is super important to me).
Making the decision to live on less freed me. Working only 3 days a week allowed me to enjoy my 9 to 5 again, it allowed me 4 days to enjoy ‘me time’, to pursue whatever I desired. It allowed me the chance to spend more time at home; something I so tirelessly toiled to pay for. It allowed me the time to spend with my aging parents…..It allowed me more time to travel (BIG SCORE), and it gave me the opportunity to discover me.
Living on less required sacrifice, but the rewards far out-weighed what I gave up. Here is a great post that will give you pointers on why and how you can live on less.
This was very encouraging!
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