Chapter 1: Acknowledging Your Financial Situation

First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to read this. Your support means more than you can imagine, and I've received great encouragement from friends and family regarding my previous posts. It’s been a pleasure sharing my experiences, and I hope you find value in these reflections as much as I have in crafting them.

In my last entry, I discussed the importance of reviewing your bank statements and identifying areas where you can cut unnecessary expenses. I detailed my own journey of canceling subscriptions such as freelancer.com and law depot, which ultimately helped me reclaim a significant amount of money after many hours spent negotiating with customer service.

The total amount I was able to recover was $1,178.28. For me, this was a substantial sum, and the effort I invested in obtaining those refunds was undoubtedly worthwhile. I encourage you to take similar steps, though be prepared for the time and patience it will require.

Repairing past financial missteps is just the beginning; we need to establish lasting financial habits. Consistency is key here. No, you don't need to clock in 10,000 hours to master this; if I hear one more person mention that rule, I might just exit stage left.

Of course, while retroactively addressing issues helps, we also need to rethink how we spend our money moving forward. I use "we" intentionally, as it fosters a sense of camaraderie and keeps me motivated—even if I'm primarily having a conversation with myself. Let's keep pushing ahead.

In 2022, social media and advertisements bombard us with messages urging us to indulge. Just say "pillow" aloud a few times, and you’ll be inundated with pillow ads from the likes of Amazon.

My second piece of advice in this Unofficial Guide to Responsible Spending is to practice self-restraint now so that you can truly treat yourself later.

Step one: Analyze your expenditures and find ways to cut back.

Here are the areas where I’ve made reductions:

1. Book Purchases – No more buying books.

   I love reading and have amassed quite a collection over the years, but books can be pricey. In fact, I found that I spent $572.09 on books between 2020 and 2021. So, I've prohibited myself from buying any more. Instead, I opted for a Kindle for about $60 and now read free e-books or borrow from the library.

2. Uber and Uber Eats – Restricted, except for emergencies (like hunger).

I believe I speak for many when I say that a large portion of my earnings has gone to Uber. After crunching the numbers, I realized I've spent $3,444.21 on Uber Eats since 2020. It’s a bit embarrassing, so I've decided to ban myself from using it. I should delete the app entirely, but I'm not quite ready for that step.

Whether it’s coffee runs, online shopping, or other indulgences, I’m not suggesting you stop treating yourself altogether; just do so with your finances in mind.

While I’ve framed my advice negatively thus far, choosing to save rather than spend is a proactive stance we all face regularly. With temptations from various online platforms whispering promises of improved life quality with every purchase, it’s crucial to practice self-control.

When you successfully resist temptation, take a moment to acknowledge your self-discipline. It’s not always easy, and recognizing those positive behaviors is important.

Blogging has been a revelation for me. It compels me to scrutinize my spending habits. Now, whenever I make a purchase, I share it publicly, confessing my financial indiscretions to an audience that can be quite judgmental.

Even if blogging isn’t your thing, consider keeping a financial journal or using budgeting apps, like Mint, which my brother swears by, to help you stay on top of your finances.

What extravagant purchases have you made in your lifetime (besides the essentials like food and gas)?

I’ll wrap up this entry here—thank you once again for reading. I hope you found it helpful.

With gratitude,

DY

Chapter 2: Learning to Treat Yourself Wisely

The first video titled "Dead Presidents Freestyle (These Presidents don't represent me!!!)" explores the complexities of financial responsibility and the pressures of consumer culture. It offers insights into understanding the impact of societal expectations on our spending habits.

The second video, "JAY-Z - Dead Presidents (Explicit) (Official Video) HD Remastered," serves as a cultural commentary on wealth, ambition, and the struggles faced on the road to financial success.