DEBT SENTENCE - USING MONEY TO IMPRESS OTHERS

You know that feeling when you get invited out or persuaded to purchase something but you're just really way too broke to go along with it? If you've never been in this situation, you should probably stop reading - I mean just go be rich then I guess, damn. 

Honestly, it's a really shitty feeling and I'm no stranger to it myself. You can either deal with this situation in a smart way or just be really reckless about it. There are certain things that's best learning from a young age so the wisdom and healthy habits revolving it can stick with you, and money matters is definitely one of these things- so the sooner you read this, the better.

Lately it seems that so much emphasis has been placed on what you have and the ugly truth is that it gets directly linked to your social status. Flexing your possessions, especially on social media, has become the norm. This is an issue which has an undeniable impact on millennials and how they go about their expenditures. Even if you are not a social media user, capitalist strategies and BS of that nature are basically inescapable in everyday settings. This creates an unhealthy cycle of constantly desiring things which are oftentimes far beyond our means. 

Some of us may have a financial safety net in the form of parents or guardians, which may result in us having all the wrong attitudes about spending money. Part of growing up, however, is becoming financially independent, no matter how difficult that may be.

To manage money well does not mean you need a lot of it, it means working with what you have in order to make it cover your expenses as best as you possibly can. I've witnessed people do the most with the little money they have and have also seen people who are well-off blow their money and have to deal with the consequences of being broke. You essentially build wealth as a young person by keeping your expenses low, and in doing so you have to prioritize where your money goes.

Sometimes the desire to constantly want newer, better things is self-inflicted, and that's human nature but oftentimes we feel the pressure to uphold a certain lifestyle based on those around us. Feeling pressured to uphold a certain identity when it is beyond your means can take a toll on your self-esteem, so if there's one thing I encourage, it's that you swallow your pride. Pride is often the determining factor when it comes to spending because it keeps you from saying a simple, "No."

If you surround yourself with friends that pressure you to keep up with a certain lifestyle then perhaps it's time you find some new ones. A good way to do this would be to slowly distance yourself from them until the only time they see you is through your Instagram stories, having an affordably good time.

Some good tips on saving money around friends:

If you're coerced to buy something, like a new sneaker, pretend to absolutely hate it and be adamant that it is the worst thing you've ever seen in your life. If someone invites you out for say, pizza-pretend to be allergic to tomato and if they suggest getting tomato-less ones, pretend to be allergic to the next prominent ingredient. Alternatively, you could just work on becoming comfortable with saying "No." Feel so comfortable saying that you cannot afford something or you're too broke to join in on plans that it just rolls off the tongue. It really doesn't make you any less of a person. Don't let FOMO (ew) get to you, if anything, missing out every now and then just means that your presence will be appreciated more next time (well I hope).

The same concept applies when it comes to purchasing new things. It can be frustrating when you know that there are so many things out there that you want for yourself and feel you might appreciate it a whole lot more than someone who could purchase it without hesitation, but don't put yourself in debt or be wasteful with your money to satisfy a temporary desire. In short: live within your means! Don't constantly try to imitate the lives of others who are more well-off than you. If you're always buying new things as a way to get a quick self-esteem boost then perhaps it's time to do a little introspection. You'll literally go out of your way to impress people and they won't even notice and if they do, they'll most probably forget about it by the end of the day. As soon as you have the mindset that you constantly need to be the best or have the best things, you're losing. There's nothing impressive about someone who lives to keep up appearances. Someone who builds financial stability even when they don't have much to work with-now, that's hot. 

It takes a great deal of wisdom and maturity to make the conscious decision to unlearn past habits, learn new ones and grow therefrom. Remember that your spending behaviours can turn into lifelong habits such as being in major debt if you don't constantly check yourself.  Eventually you'll learn how to find your financial sweet spot where you can afford to do and buy the things you want and not to your detriment. 

*Aunt voice* hang in there and make good choices.