Home
>
Personal Finance
>
More Money? My Cup Runneth Over...But Im Still Thirsty

More Money? My Cup Runneth Over...But Im Still Thirsty

Most of us, especially those of us who have debtor's disease (if you have it you know what it is!), have commented or at least thought, "If I could just win the lottery, or sweepstakes, everything would be better." Unfortunately, even if that big dream did come true things probably would get worse instead of better.

It's a strange phenomenon. It seems the more money you have, the more you need. It makes perfect sense. Given more money, most people would increase their standard of living. My question is, "If you haven't properly managed the money you have now, how do you expect that you'll be able to properly manage two, three, four, five or hundreds of thousands times more money?" A good question, huh? Food for thought. Maybe you need to start learning to properly manage what you have now while it's on a much smaller scale. Then you'll be prepared when that big lottery win, or sweepstakes, comes through!

Now you may think this is a crazy, nonsense theory. Surely a million is enough for anyone to be on easy street! I'm sure you have at some time heard rumor about people who fall into great wealth by some means or another, and just a short time later are back where they started or in even worse financial condition. Many of these instances end in bankruptcy.

Not convinced? Let me tell you about my own, smaller scale, experience with this strange phenomenon. Once upon a time, I was a single parent raising four children on an income of just under $20,000 per year. My children did not do without, and while I did begin my journey into debtors demise during this time, I had everything under control. Or so I thought.

By my understanding now, I certainly was not managing my money well. I was not properly preparing for variable expenses or emergency expenses that were sure to arise. Thank goodness for a great family infrastructure that gave help and support when needed! My monthly payments were well within my income, including debt payments. I monitored my debt to be sure I maintained a comfortable debt to income ratio. I felt that I had the proper perspective on my finances.

It was not until the household income increased due to marriage that I somehow lost that perspective and my real problems began. I blame a good deal of this accelerating financial ruin to "over confidence." This "over confidence" lead to an arrogant disregard of proper money management. Looking back, you know hind sight is 20/20, if I knew then what I know now, I would be way ahead of the game!

Since my new husband earned more than twice the income I had, I quit work to become a stay at home mom. I've been working since I was fourteen years old (and I'm no spring chicken now) so when he expressed the desire for me to stay at home with the kids, I jumped on it! But, this was not a contributing factor to my financial demise. It was the mindset I acquired when the household income increased.

My mindset was this, "If I took care of a family of five on my near poverty level income, surely I have no financial worries now." Life was good! At least for a while. Our standard of living changed of course. Typically, my cup runneth over??and I thirsted for more. Now we could afford to charge those things we "needed?" (I question it because, my definition of this word has greatly changed) and wanted without fear. I had that fear before. The fear of not being able to pay back the debt. I believe that's why I kept it under strict control. With that fear now gone and a new sense of false security replacing it??..debtor's demise set in quickly.

Before I knew it we were living paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes, I even found myself juggling funds around to make the budget balance. It didn't seem like so much money any more. I can laugh at myself now that I understand exactly how it happened. That delusion of grandeur mindset I had let little ol' me fall into. After all my research, I now know that I am not unlike millions of other people in this world. It's an easy mindset to get into. This is why more money will never make everything better until you learn to manage first and then spend.

Your best preparation for that big winning day is to start planning now. Even if that big money dream never comes true, you may be surprised what a little forethought and planning can accomplish. A good debt free spending plan and monthly budget that encourage frugal living will, at the very least, provide you with more financial security and independence.

Why heck, if you're young enough, you can plan your way into millionaire status. It can be done. It has been done! It's the guy next door who you may not even be aware classifies as a millionaire. He or she probably doesn't brag about it, and their lifestyle doesn't hint of it. But I bet that's one happy, stress free, millionaire who has everything he needs and wants. He's probably just about the nicest person you ever want to meet. Simply because he manages his money and refuses to let his money manage him!

So what are you waiting for? Quit wishing for more money and make a plan to manage and take control of what money you have!

Good Luck and Success

Live Debt Free to Be Free. You Deserve It!

Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping herself and others become and stay debt free. Publisher of Simple Debt Free Living at http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com - A self-help plan, ideas, and resources for debt management, household budget planning, frugal and debt free living, and http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com Money Saving tips to maximize savings everyday, reduce expenses, and encourage debt free living.

recurring maid service Wilmette ..

In The News:

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

More Money? My Cup Runneth Over...But Im Still Thirsty

Personal Finance