Set aside all the frugal tips, weird or otherwise, found in this blog, all the penny watching that I am doing,too. There is one thing that really made me a certified frugal/cheap person:
The Law of Focus: whatever you focus on... grows.
You want to be good at applying make up? With the determination to learn, you will get there.
You want to be good at cooking? Again, with determination to learn, you will be good at it.
You want to be good at whatever you want to be good at? Determination is the key, and determination comes hand in hand with focus.
When you are determined to learn, you would "google" or "wiki" it. You would pick up books and read about it. You would watch countless videos on You Tube about it. It's as if time has stop to give way to your urge to learn. You'll pick up anything that has something to do with the subject. You become somewhat obsess about it. You then would want to practice what you learn. In short, you have been FOCUS about it, and with focus comes learning and growth.
Want to be frugal? Want to know personal finance? Investing? Stock Market? Economics? Then FOCUS about frugality, personal finance, etc.
You know how? It's simple, but it does need a lot of effort.
- Follow personal finance bloggers and/or make a personal finance blog yourself.
Unfollow beauty blogs and any blog that deals with consumerism. Unsubsribe to all beauty channel on You Tube. Don't read about the latest gadget out there. Instead, focus your attention on personal finance and follow blogs that writes about frugality or make frugal/personal blog yourself! Look for frugal blogger that fits your style, make them your role model.
Don't worry, this is just temporary. You won't be unsubscribing to all the beauty related blogger/vlogger for the rest of your life, unless you chose to. I am just suggesting to make your frugality/personal finance foundation as strong as possible before reading and watching beauty related stuffs,that way, you won't get tempted to buy and buy. Once your frugality muscle is well-developed, you would just plainly enjoy those beauty blogs, vlogs and hauls out there and not drool over the products mentioned or used.
Personally, I stopped watching beauty related You Tube videos for about a year. Within that year, I've become obsessed with personal finance and pour my efforts on learning about it. A year or so later, I could watch You Tube videos and haul without a hint of temptation. That's when I knew that my personal finance foundation is strong. Up until now, I don't get tempted at all. I watch haul and beauty related stuffs just for entertainment and to know what's new out there. It gave me the dose of as-if-I-shopped-but-glad-I-didn't, and for that, I thank all the personal finance authors of all the books I read for this unusual superpower!
- Read books,magazine or any write-ups about personal finance.
Don't just follow personal finance blogger, read the contents they posted, internalize it,comment to their posts, email them, get involve. The more you get involve, the more you feel like you are owning it, and the more you feel like you are a part of the whole community. It also a way of telling them how you value their online presence.
- Write your personal finance goal and post it on your wall or/and maintain a "Goal/Blessings Journal"
Want to own a house and lot, a car perhaps? Cut,print out or draw an image of a house and lot or a car you want to own and post it on wall,board, refrigerator or anywhere where you can easily see them. You can also make the image as your phone's screen saver or insert it on your wallet.
I am big on "writing your goals" and the whole "visualization" thing. I post my goals on my wall. I get to read it everyday. It serves as a reminder on things I want to accomplish (see post here). And you wouldn't believe how it help me focus on my goals!
I also keep a separate journal that details how to get to my goal and what I would be after reaching that goal. When I am out and about, the journal comes to the rescue, helping me focus more on my goals. It is also where I write in detail the blessings I am enjoying. Whenever I feel down and want some extra boost, I read the "all about blessings" section of my journal and I'm instantly reminded on how blessed I am and how I've changed, from that girl who doesn't even know what ticker symbol means to that girl who already have Php 2 Million in stocks! (I know, I am bragging. I am just proud of myself! Sorry!)
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| My Beat Up Journal |
And oh, if you happen to already have a personal finance blog, please let me know and I will gladly follow you. I don't discriminate, starters are gladly welcome! :)
