Your Spending Habits: A New Way to Think About Them

When we're out, many of us think nothing about running through the fast-food drive-thru or buying something just because it catches our eye at the checkout.  Or, we may have a guilty pleasure such as an expensive cup of coffee every morning.

I'd like to challenge you to think about those expenditures in a new way.  Each time you are tempted to make a purchase on something you don't really need, ask yourself how long did I have to work to make the money I'm about to spend.

For example, suppose you make $10 an hour.  A trip to a fast food restaurant could easily cost $7.50.  That means you worked 3/4 of an hour to earn enough to buy that meal.  And, that's not even counting the taxes that are taken out of your pay.  The truth is, you probably worked an hour for that fast food meal. 

Obviously, the more money you make, the less time you work to pay for that meal, but it all adds up. You work hard for your money. Your hard work should put you in a position to some cash aside for your future or emergency situations. 

Only you can decide if that impusle purchase or expensive meal is worth the time you spent working to pay for it.  Just think before you act.