Here Today, Gone Today!

Some days, it just doesn't seem pay to get out of bed! This can be particularly true on Payday. It doesn't matter if you have direct deposit or receive a paper check, the money's often already spent. Sometimes you find yourself staring at your pay stub, hoping against hope that perhaps you've gotten a raise or fewer taxes have been taken out this time around. But, no such luck. Then, suddenly, you experience an overwhelming fear that you won’t be able to meet your bills.

There are no easy answers to this dilemma, except to take a deep breath and pray that you stay in good health, your loved ones are okay, and no extraordinary expense is awaiting you around the next bend. Indeed, there are so many people living from paycheck to paycheck today that it's a wonder we all haven't gone completely mad by now. Add to this the recent home foreclosures that sent the stock market into a tizzy and caused an economic downturn, the rising cost of food and fuel, and news reports that hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs (and hundreds of thousands more may follow suit).

But, let's step back and reflect for a moment. Perhaps it's all about your perspective. Suppose you were totally disabled and your former employer either didn't want to or could no longer continue paying. Your pension is a meager $500 a month and all you can afford to pay is the rent for your tiny apartment, which is $350. You have no medical insurance, you rely on Meals-on-Wheels for food, you need a walker to get around and you've recently been diagnosed with cancer. You spend your days being cared for by visiting nurses or caregivers.

Sound's bleak, doesn't it? Unfortunately, those circumstances do not simply paint an 'example' portrait. They describe an actual person's predicament. And there are many more in similar circumstances, or even worse. Yes, perspective is important. When you compare this person's life to your own, it's much easier to be grateful if you have your health and can still make a reasonable living.

Perhaps it's time we paused to figure out how we can become better stewards of our own lives. Surely, there must be something that we can do to alleviate the stress caused by too much debt. Maybe a second job would help, or establishing a rigid budget that would give us some leeway to begin saving money from that additional paycheck.

Consider this description of another person who chooses to live from paycheck to paycheck. She ensures that the maximum amount is paid into her retirement plan. After all living necessities are covered, there's very little money left. She has given up spending on clothing and dining out. By making a radical decision, she's actually doing herself a favor. More importantly, she has no other debts. She would rather put most of her money away for her future than owe it to others today. Maybe she has the right idea.