You may think that this is a bold statement to make, but if you’re ready for a challenge that’ll change your life – then keep reading…

 

We live in a time that is becoming increasingly ‘connected’.  Through our phones we are able to email, text and track our Facebook feeds.  We can see what the weather will be like when planning an outfit for the day – or a special hair appointment!  We can book movies and change restaurant bookings without actually speaking to anyone.  Our connectedness has made us disconnected from the tangible reality around us.How often to you see couples, sitting having dinner, and instead of engaging with the reality in front of them, they are consumed by the virtual reality on their smartphones?  Not so smart…

The result of this disconnectedness has bled into our financial habits too.  With our debit and credit cards, we can spend without feeling the immediate impact of those choices.  Sure, we’ll find out at the end of the month, but this is often too late to change our habits.  What happens is we over-spend without knowing.  We buy on impulse instead of on budget.  That temptation isle with all the magazines, choccies, mints and lip-balms that we are channeled through before hitting the tills adds relatively little onto our daily purchases, but in the long run – we spend way more than we’d budgeted for.

Here’s my solution: The Cash Diet.  When you have cash in your purse, you are far more aware of how quickly it’s gone, but also of how much is left.  May I challenge you to try this?  Set yourself a budget for your grocery shopping – let’s say it’s R2000.00 for the month.  Draw this amount in cash and only pay for your grocery items out of this cash amount.  You’ll find that you will begin to choose your groceries far more carefully, and only buy what you actually need.  And temptation isle?  Not only will you save money on not spending here, but you’ll also save on calories!