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“Value” Your Expenses
[/fusion_text][fusion_text]Paying bills has become such an automated process, I often feel a disconnect between the things I buy and what they truly cost. The time I save from this automation comes at a cost of not necessarily knowing where and how much money I spend each day. In a time with numerous monthly subscriptions and bills (cell phone, internet, Netflix, etc…), it can be difficult to truly value where your money is going.
The starting point to “valuing” your expenses begins at your personal understanding. My mom has maintained her monthly process of “balancing the checkbook” (who still uses checks?) and although it indeed takes time to accomplish, she understands where every dollar is going each month. Although I may argue there are faster and more efficient ways to accomplish knowing your financial spending and budget (Mint.com), I commend her results.
By seeing those expenses as they occur, you can decide whether your spending habits match your personal values. Noticing you spend $25/week on coffee and a similar amount on electricity for your home, one can decide which may be more important when a common denominator ($$$) is established.
By no means am I against coffee, I am simply advocating understanding these costs and making conscious money decisions. Take a moment to value what you get in return for your hard-earned dollars. No matter how automated life gets, it is important to value what truly matters to you.[/fusion_text][separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” icon=”” width=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]
Legal Disclaimer: These posts do not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any securities or instruments or to participate in any particular investment or trading strategy. They are for informational purposes only. ASA gathers its data from sources it considers reliable. However, ASA makes no express or implied warranties regarding the accuracy of this information or any opinions expressed by the author and may update or change them without prior notification.
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