Making Change
Change is tough, but think of it this way; if caterpillars didn’t go through change we would just have a ton of caterpillars crawling around. I don’t know about you but I would prefer butterflies.
Changing your mindset, and not spending money on a whim, is going to be tough. No doubt. It is going to take planning and carefully thought out purchases. Yep, even those $2.00 ones and especially the $5.00 Starbucks ones!
I am in the chrysalis, or cocoon, stage so I am in the midst of morphing but I really, really want to be a beautiful debt-free butterfly. I have a goal of having all debt (except my mortgage) paid off in two years. This might put some people into a panic. Frankly, I am thrilled to see light at the end of the tunnel. (Insert happy dance here.) I will be doing everything in my power to get there before two years but on a single mom income…. well, I think two years is realistic. For some the magic number is five, or three. Find yours.
In Part I of Single Mom’s Get Ahead Series you went through your expenses and used the attached spreadsheet or a method of your own Mint.com to organize them. In Part II, you gained understanding of debt and how you get it, just in case you weren’t sure. In Part III, the right here and right now, you are going to make a commitment to make some changes. They can be small ones or big ones. Either way they should be life-changing and tangible.
Commit to a budget. Commit to a time period. Commit to saving $25 per month (less than $1 per day!). Commit to staying out of the mall. Commit to using coupons. Make changes that are realistic, but comfortable and challenging. I mean if you have $20,000 in debt a six month goal is probably super uncomfortable and way too challenging. 
More importantly you need to commit to TAKING CONTROL of your finances. I know is sounds hokey when people say “envision it” but I have to use it here: Envision yourself free of credit debt just for a second or two. Didn’t you feel physically lighter for that second? Imagine what it will feel like to actually be free of credit debt!!! (Insert singing angels here. Laaaaaaaa)
What do you want to be? Gluttony caterpillar or beautiful debt-free butterfly?
Jill
You might also be interested in:
Part I – Budget and Realistic Goals
Jill
