There is nothing harder than trying to keep a positive outlook on life when you are trying to live on a very tight budget. No matter where you turn, there is an overdue bill to be paid, a repair that needs to be made, and clothes for your youngest child who has long since outgrown the ones which should have fit them through the coming season. So what do you do to stay positive in all this?
No One Ever Said Life Would Be Easy
The first thing you should do to find encouragement in your everyday life is to recognize the fact that life just isn’t going to be easy all the time. This doesn’t mean that you should let yourself fall into a state of apathy and despair. What it means is that everyone experiences those bumps in the road from time to time. Although yours may be a bit higher, don’t make mountains out of molehills. Find words of encouragement and inspiration on examinedexistence.com and keep them close to you to help you stay positive and focused in a world gone awry.
When You Can’t Have What You Want
There will be times when you simply can’t afford what you want and maybe even those things which you really need. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have them at some point. In fact, if you look around, there are plenty of ways to get most of your needs met. The Internet is a wonderful resource for finding:
- Discounted items
- Coupons and voucher codes
- Slightly used and extremely cheap goods
- Bulk products that are so much less expensive
- Freebies without a catch
When you can’t have what you want at first glance, this is the time to stay positive. Look for low-cost alternatives, and if even those are beyond your reach, stay motivated. Find ways of spending less on other things or making additional money freelancing or getting odd jobs.
You’ll never have what you can’t afford if you tell yourself you can’t. Tell yourself you will find a way to do it and you will! It’s the art of positive thinking.
Be Realistic
Yes, there are some things we dream of that will probably always be a dream. For instance, not all of us can be Johnny Depp or Mel Gibson with their very own island paradise to call home. Nor can we have a home on every continent to move around on a whim. However, we can turn our home into an island paradise by creating an atmosphere of peace and serenity. We can isolate ourselves from that crazy, hectic world out there with just a few minor changes.
Be realistic in your ambitions and there is little you can’t accomplish. The key is in staying positive so that you have the drive and motivation to work towards each goal as you set them. Few people aren’t living on a budget, but most people find a way to work towards getting the things they want and need. It’s all about how you look at it, and at the moment, a pair of rose-colored glasses is sounding better all the time! At least they keep you positive.