There’s a fine line between a goal-oriented mindset and facing reality. If you’ve ever read F.U. Money by Dan Lok, he suggests that you start doing the things that you would do if you had your ideal income, yet also reminds us to keep in mind our actual budget.
Dan Lok gives an example of restaurants. Before he became successful, he would go eat wherever he wanted. He knew that, once he made the money that he desired, he would go to fancy restaurants. So even before making that kind of money, he started eating at those types of places. He created an environment in his life of what it would be like to be a millionaire.
However, he also knew logically that he wasn’t quite there yet. He chose certain things that would create that air of success; simultaneously, he was taking care of debts and not spending money on things that weren’t as important to him. He decided on eating out and buying a new car, but didn’t want to spend money on buying a house at that point. He was very deliberate about his spending habits in order to create the feeling of being rich without actually breaking the bank.
I agree with his take on “the feeling of being rich”: when you surround yourself by certain people and things – such as successful mentors or high-priced possessions – it helps you feel like you have already met your goal. When you do that, you are focused more on living that lifestyle and are more likely to continue doing the things needed to meet that goal.
When doing this, though, you have to be realistic. Know what you can afford and what you can’t. Don’t try and make payments on a Mercedes if it means that you’ll struggle with getting groceries. Do some serious budgeting, figure out where you can spend a little more money, and go for it! Then, make a list of what else you want to do and how much it will cost. Make that money and reach those goals. You’ll see a difference in the way that you live and discover that reaching your perfect financial situation may not be as far off as you think.
