For the upcoming weeks/months I am hoping (I say this as I can get so busy), to share my top budget lessons. Lessons I feel we should have all been thought in school but it is never too late to learn.

Money Lesson 1:

Don’t Try and Keep up with The Jones, they are properly broke!

It is a well known fact that people often want others to believe they can afford more than their income allows. If my neighbor gets a brand new BMW, well good for them. The likelihood is they have it on finance, which in my eyes means they can’t afford it. I wish them well, focus back on my own family and environment, knowing I can sleep well in the knowledge that I own my old BMW fully. If I lose my income sources in the morning, there will be no knocks on my door looking to drive my car away for missed payments.

Yes you can recognize that perhaps your neighbor has a more expensive comfortable lifestyle than you. However this is all it is, a lifestyle. Your neighbor may perhaps hate their job, work really long hours, miss time with their families to pay for these luxury’s or be experiencing stress and burnout to earn the money to qualify for large finance!

Your goal in budgeting is to find your balance. Figure out what lifestyle you wish to achieve, how much time you want with your family and the level of finical protection your family needs. Budgeting starts with your home, your family and your own set of values. Do not be concerned where others are financially compared to you. Your only competition is you, you need to find what works for you and your family and that is your only concern.