Use your cents next January

THERE are three valuable lessons I have learnt about financial freedom at a young age.

Never buy food on credit, never spend more money than you earn and always pay those you owe money before doing anything else.

The other thing I learnt very quickly is that debt never gives anyone a good night’s rest.

Armed with all these lessons I put them to use in my daily life.

Always making sure that every step I make is not only a necessity, but an affordable one.

When people often complain about being cent-less in January, I often sit back and wonder two things: Are they trying to fit in with everyone else or did they really spend all their money on the Choice Assorted biscuits during the festive season.

Either way, it still boggles the mind.

I bought property at an early age and I also learnt about investments.

People who often saw I had my life together said it was because I never had kids.

Like really? Is that the best you’ve got.

So many people blame their children for their lack of financial freedom or financial organisation.

Everything in life requires planning.

For me personally, physically writing down a budget every single month gives me clarity for the month ahead.

And I sit down and ensure that the budget is never exceeded.

Even if it means no garlic bread from Woolies.

People live such glamorous lives on credit. Often saying you only live once. I call credit a bad habit. And once you start forming bad habits, it’s very hard to break.

Not only are bad habits addictive, they are selfdestroying.

Living within your means doesn’t mean starving yourself of a movie once a month, but ensuring that you aren’t borrowing from Pravin to pay Perumal.

I hope next January we hear different stories about people and how they handle their money.