"Be happy with what you have."

The title contains the wise words from my older sister. She told me this when I was having a moment in my life where I was lost on how to properly manage my money. Fresh out of college, I had to start thinking about paying back the students loans I had used and adding in all of life's expenses, thought "how was it possibly to do it with such limited income and time?" As someone who spent her last 18 years in school just learning about life I had no idea what having a job meant. I was a wreck but my sister was the one that helped break it down for me and see the reality of money. She calmed me down and told me the way budgeting and time worked. The one thing that eased my mind was:

"Be happy with what you have."

I promise I take it to heart... and I think about it everyday.
However, currently my mind is still tainted with the tantalizing thoughts of shopping and new things.

I am in no means in the red when it comes to money... but I need to start learning how to save up for emergencies. Alas, I am very materialistic, which is the one flaw that goes against my logic, however a peculiar trait that I oddly take pride in.

I am slowly getting the hang of it, I would like to say. It's dangerous to say that you're not making any progress or else you'll continue to become stuck in your hole. Studies show that if you learn to give the spotlight to all the advances you make, you're more likely to continue your journey to improvement. Otherwise, more people are more inclined to quit whatever they're trying to achieve. So what if you ate those donuts? You cut off that soda nicely! Didn't make all your reps? Well you ran your ass to the gym and that's quite a feat! I cut buying collectibles to start adding to my savings and it's working out fine!

This year I only have 2 big purchases I hope to make soon, with the right budgeting I'll be able to make them and live comfortably until I have to be shipped out.

Be happy with what you have. I love you big sister!