by Hope
I have participated in several programs put on by The Nourish to Flourish Society this year. And while they are a women’s health program focused on what women eat, how we eat and so much more regarding self care, I learned a lot about myself. Many of the concepts can be applied to my financial life, one in particular.
What is a Bottom Line?
Angelle and Jill present this as it relates to food choices, specifically soda. Here is what they have to say about Bottom Lines.
What are bottom lines? They are the decisions you’ve already made about what you will eat or not eat or about how you will or will not exercise or about how you will or will not talk to yourself or about habits and rituals you will do or not do.
For example, what if every time you are in a situation where you could drink soda you felt torn about it? You kind of want to drink it even though you know it’s not nourishing for you. You then have to decide EVERY time if you are going to drink it or not drink it. It can be exhausting.
This was fantastic advice for me when it comes to eating and making those hard decisions when trying to stick to healthy eating. But I have come to realize that this is just as applicable to my financial decisions.
What are my Bottom Lines?
My bottom lines have evolved over the years as I have moved on this BAD journey. Probably my first was was giving up soda. Not only did I give it up personally, but I removed it completely along with most “junk/snack” food from my grocery budget. By doing that and by living by a meal plan has made a tremendous impact on my grocery budget over the years.
Some other bottom lines I have include:
- No entertainment budget. Deciding if we are going to go out at any given time and do something that costs money is a no brainer. Unless something has been planned for a while, we just don’t spend money on a whim anymore.
- Clothes. For years, we have spent money on clothes two times a year. My kids know this, I know this. Again, we don’t shop for clothes or even look at them when we are out.
- And more.
I think one of the things that really makes the “bottom line” concept work for me is that my kids are aware of my bottom lines too. This keeps the “asking” and “whining” and the “expectations” at bay and takes the pressure off me. Does this make sense to you?
So considering the aforementioned definition, what are your financial bottom lines? And having those bottom lines, how much do these “pre-made” decisions help in your day to day life.
Ladies, if you are looking for an amazingly supportive program related to self care, you should check out Nourish to Flourish’s *free* digital copy of 7 Ways to Nourish Your Life Everyday + 7 Recipes You’ll Love. You can register on their website here. (This is not an affiliate link, I have just really enjoyed their content so I thought I would share it.)
One of my bottom lines is never pay interest. I’ve had credit cards for almost 30 years and always paid the full balance every month. Loans for the first car and house in my early 20s, but none since. To me, interest is giving away money in return for nothing.
Like your decision to buy clothes only twice a year, I don’t shop for anything that’s not on my list of items I’m looking to buy. Not all of the items on the list are strictly needs, but wants are limited. If the bricks-and-mortar store or email sender doesn’t sell something on the list, I pass it by or immediately delete the email, unread. When I do buy, I make sure I get at least a dollar’s worth of enjoyment for a dollar spent. Before I make a purchase, I research the heck out of the it. It has taken years of practice, and practicing self-control, but I’m good at waiting to find the exact item that makes the spending satisfying and not rushing to buy something “good enough”.