Welcome to the 1st episode of eCom 101. In this episode we discuss seller successes, eBay open for 1st timers, Coffee and Finance for eCom sellers. Class is in session.
By now we have all seen or at least heard of Marie Kondo and her KonMari method of decluttering your house. The concept is basically to keep items that spark joy for you and to dispose of those that do not.
This is not unlike finances. Debt adds an extra layer of stress that you need to declutter from. What sparks joy for me is the ability to live how I want to live, and give how I want to give. I can create my experiences and my own joy. Paying someone else for my joy sucked. The joy fades really fast. The spark went out just as quickly as it had arrived. My joy lasts longer and longer now that I have decluttered from debt. You cherish the items and experiences more when you paid cash for them, rather then have the debt follow you around for months sucking 15-25% interest from you.
So say ‘thank you’ to the credit cards when you cut them up, take out your wallet, hold your cash, and feel the joy!
In the hit Netflix movie BirdBox starring Sandra Bullock people are forced to wear blindfolds while out in the world in order to not see an evil that causes deadly consequences. Navigating the world blindly trying to survive without looking. -Warning- Slight spoilers below-
The newest craze from this is the Birdbox challenge where people put on blindfold and try to accomplish tasks. When it comes to your budget and knowing where your money is going you need to take off the blindfold and stare that entity in the face to conquer your fear. Think of your money as the birds from the movie, you want to hear them, they help lead you in the right direction and warn when evil is near. If you don’t know where your money is going and its gone too fast you can’t protect yourself when negative things happen around you.
Too often we don’t look at our budget or address our money concerns until its too late, often with poor result and consequences. Taking action and facing it head on allows you to get in front of the problem and steer yourself in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to look!
Budget tip/hack of the month
“Enjoying yourself while on a budget and getting out of debt”
I hope you are all recovered from the post Halloween sugar rush. The good news for those sitting down this weekend to finalize their budget is you get an extra hour to do so. 🙂
We all know a budget is telling our money where to go. One of the areas people have a hard time with is cutting entertainment expenses. It is a good idea to cut back while getting out of debt and using the motivation of wanting to go out but not being able, to drive your focused intensity towards your goals. There are ways however to add a little ‘break’ and not ‘break’ the budget. Here are two:
Be creative, have fun, be mindful and remember Things Change When Things Change
Things change when things change. A simple phrase but a difficult one for most people to understand and actively participate in. Change as an action is one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish. We all want change. We all dream about change but we don’t want to the work necessary for change to occur. We are creatures of habit by nature. Even if those habits do not work.
How many times have you stood in front of a mirror and imagined a toned, fit you only to think about the work needed to accomplish it, go back to your usual routine and then get depressed about not having the body you think you can? If you want to change things then you need to change things. It really is that simple. Change the way you eat and exercise to change your body. Change the way you spend and handle money to change your lifestyle. Jimmy Buffett has a song entitled ‘Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes’. Changing where you are changes your perception and emotion. There are no excuses except for the ones you let get in your way.
