Being More Mindful Before You Swipe
How mindful are you? And for that matter, what exactly is mindfulness, really? Merriam-Webster defines it as “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis”. So, how mindful are you, and how mindful would you like to be?
Related: Ready to kick your finances up a notch? Check out this budgeting advice taken from the experts!
Would you like to be more aware of your thoughts and actions? Would you like to care about more important things like spending more responsibly, enjoying things that matter most to you, and only doing things that help you reach your most important goals? Here are the top ways to be more mindful before you swipe that credit card!
Take Inventory of What You Own
One of the best ways to become more conscious is to understand exactly what you own. By taking stock of your physical possessions, you can better understand what matters to you.
By the end of your inventory analysis, you might even come to the conclusion that you own too many things that don’t really matter to you. If so, you can either keep them and stop spending money on those types of things, or you can simply donate them to people who can use them more than you.
You might even decide to trash those things. Regardless, the point is to become more conscious about what you own. From there, you can more easily adjust your spending goals and start living a more simple, deliberate life.
Use Cash
It’s almost unheard of for people to use cash as their main source of money, but that’s another reason why credit card debt is so high. According to 2016 stats, there are almost 2 billion active credit card accounts in the U.S. and the total credit debt is almost $800 billion in America. By using cash only, you minimize the temptation to use money you don’t have.
Take 24 Hours Before a Big Purchase
If you’re someone who gets a shopping high from making big purchases, you should consider waiting 24 hours before making any large purchase. By letting a full day go by before spending money on something significant, you greatly decrease chances of overspending on something you might later realize you don’t actually need or even want. It’s good practice even if you don’t have that problem.
In order to become more mindful, the key is to control your impulsive tendencies. When it comes to money, this is especially important. From taking inventory of your belongings to using cash to waiting 24 hours before making a big purchase, there are many ways to do that.
When Mindfulness Isn’t Enough
On the other hand, if you’re facing things that are taking a toll on you financially, it might be hard to become more mindful about your spending when an emergency comes up. You might just need help now. Perhaps your credit card bills have become overwhelming or your home needs an emergency repair. In times like that, you should consider getting a payday loan.
How Payday Loans Could Help
No matter where you are on the scale of mindful spending, you could always benefit from becoming more conscious with your hard-earned paycheck. While it can be incredibly fun to buy things whenever you feel like it, some things are worth the wait, especially if you’re working on becoming more conscious about your spending, and about your life in general. And if you need financial help in a big way, getting a payday loan could be just what you need.
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.