For the majority of millennials sacrifice isn’t a priority. We want many things and we want them as fast as possible. We dream of fast cash and fast cars. We live in a faux capitalist dream of easy money. This Covid-19 pandemic has erased the mirage of safety and security. Millions unemployed, education put on hold, thousands starving.
It’s grim of course but allow me to share what I have learnt over the years of being a millennial.
‘Wealth is built on sacrifice and taking risks.’
Sacrifice.
1. Learning to say no
Believe in you exists two selves: the experiencing self and the narrating self. The experiencing self wants to experience all the time. It’s the self that wants to party, eat fancy and buy new clothes. Your narrating self is the story writer. The self that wants to write a happy ending. Fully concerned with long term. Listen to your narrating self and plot your good ending.
There is no shame in saying no to yourself and others. Your financial situation is very different from your fellow. So, adjust your wants and needs to fit your finances. Learn to say no to expensive outings you can’t afford, learn to say no to luxuries that seem pressing at the time but honestly life would be better without. Say no to impulse buying. That soda is your second today, how about water instead?
2. Sacrifice your time
By this I mean fully dedicate time to budgeting. Put pen to paper and truly analyse and anticipate your costs and savings.
Seek help. start from what you can; can you Google it? Are there articles? Is there a book? Is there a person to help you?
3. Save your money.
However small, however large. In whatever way you can: Cash, mpesa, bank account. I’d recommend having two; one that can be accessed easily and another that is distant. Always have saving as a major priority. Yes, it’s great to be optimistic but don’t be naive.
Taking risks
The key word here is EXECUTION. All the wonderful innovative ideas on how to be the next tycoon will never fully materialise if you never execute them. Albeit even the most meticulously planned risks sometimes will fail, do not dwell on it, learn and move on. Expect challenges and inconveniences, those are what shape us.
If the end is financial independence, then the means has to be and must be financial intelligence.
