Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do

Financial discouragement plagues all of us from time to time. If you’re discouraged about your situation today, there are some things you can do to counter those feeling and attitudes. The most important is to know this will not last forever.

Let’s say your neighbor just came home with a brand new sport utility vehicle. You are overwhelmed by feelings of desire and envy. There was a time that you would begin immediately to find a way to get a new car, too. But things are different now. You have a new set of values. You no longer make financial decisions impulsively.

The car you have already is paid for and meets your family’s current needs. But still those feelings are bubbling up. Just as soon as you recognize them, start erasing! Replace those destructive attitudes with thoughts of your Freedom Account and the way you are committed to the cash-purchase of your next vehicle; think about not making huge monthly payments, not paying triple insurance premiums, not paying $400 for the annual registration fee, not forking over $600 for that 50,000 mile tune-up.

You can choose to counter negative attitudes by replacing them quickly with positive ones. Here are some examples:

I never have enough money. I am so thankful for a regular paycheck.

It’s not my fault. Even though I wasn’t 100 percent to blame, I take full responsibility—I will find a way through!

This is too difficult. This is challenging!

I work hard so I’m entitled to have what I want. I work too hard to let money leak out of my life.

I want it now! Waiting builds my character.

Maybe I’ll win the lottery. I’d rather save $5 a week than throwing it away on the lottery.

It won’t matter just this once. Even the little things add up.

If only I had more money, then everything would be okay. More money is not the answer, managing well what I have is!

If I didn’t have to worry about money I’d be happy. I choose to be happy regardless my present circumstances.

What’s the use, I’ll never get out of this mess anyway. I am stronger that anyone knows.

They wouldn’t give me the credit if they didn’t know I can handle it. I have the confidence I need to make my own financial decisions.