The tiny thought that will keep you financially trapped forever is… “I get paid on Friday.” It goes like this. Today is Wednesday and you get paid on Friday. Your BFF is having a birthday bash tonight, but you are flat out of cash until payday. You decide to go out tonight, put the bill on the credit card, and pay it off pronto!
Even if you only do it once a month, it will crush your freedom! Actually, if this thought resonates with you, I would bet you ten dollars that you have credit card debt. If this thought really resonates with you, I would bet a hundred bucks that you have thousands of dollars of credit card debt for as long as you can remember. Yes, you might have gotten out of it once or twice, but my guess is it has always bounced back.
Why do I feel so confident when I haven’t even seen your financial situation? Because it’s an inevitable truth. If you consistently pre-spend your income, even once a month, eventually it will create debt because life is unpredictable. An unexpected expense is guaranteed to happen! When this expense pops up, you will be unable to pay off the credit card debt.
When this happens, it’s common to try to correct the situation by vowing to pay it off by the end of next month. But, do you see what’s happening? You’re focusing on paying off the bill. That is never going to solve your problem. Of course you have to pay the bill, but it really doesn’t matter if it takes one month or one year because, if you don’t solve the root of the problem, the card won’t stay paid off for too long!
The root of this problem is your thinking That’s what needs to be changed. That’s all, and the debt will almost magically disappear. So, the next time this thought pops up, imagine that this thought is what it really is. A seductive siren calling you to the shore lined with freedom-crushing rocks. If you give in and steer your ship in that direction, it will pull you down. You might not even feel it. Remember all you need to sink a great ship is to make a small hole!