Читать книгу Sort Your Money Out - Glen James - Страница 25

You have decided no more debt.

You have put a spending plan in place.

You have built your emergency fund of $2000.

You have got your debt snowball plan set up and ready to go.

Happy days!

I am not a morning person by any means. In fact, when I was growing up the hard-core kids who attended swimming practice at 5 am each day before school blew my mind. These are the types of kids who would end up joining the Australian swim squad. Swimming was their reason for living during that season of their life — sometimes a very long season. They worked hard, were intentional and achieved results. You need to have the same focus and intensity regarding your consumer debts.

Once you have your emergency fund at $2000, your financial reason for living is to clear debt. This is why the mindset part is so important. You need to be strategic and only focus on paying down debt.

This could take many months, so it is important to be ready for this long journey. The harder you work and the more you sacrifice, the sooner you will be out of debt.

Want to go on a holiday with friends? No — your reason for living is to pay down debt.

Keen for that new lounge? No — your reason for living is to pay down debt.

‘Let's continue to eat out four times a week?’ No — your reason for living is to pay down debt.

‘I am saving for a house!’ No — your reason for living is to pay down debt.

‘I invest into ETFs monthly!’ No — your reason for living is to pay down debt.

Need I go on?

You know exactly what your sacrifice will be — and there will need to be some sacrifice. Not only do you first need to be living on less than you earn, you also need to have a surplus to pay down debt. It isn't going to be easy and you know it.

The person in the mirror is the only one who can change your situation.

It's easy to walk into debt, but so much harder to get out of it. You are about to enter a period of cleaning up your mess. In fact, you can tell people your job is now a ‘debt cleaner’. You see, you must own this and know that your financial reason for living is to pay down debt. Apathy and debt reduction don't go hand in hand.