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Money Saving Tip
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The Squirrel Doesn't Have a Cushion... Do You?
© 2005 Darlene Arechederra
Have you ever watched a squirrel balancing up on the highwires?
He'll travel a few feet, then pause. A few feet more, another pause.
He actually makes the balancing act look easy, doesn't he? But, I
always wonder what will happen to the squirrel if he mis-steps,
losing his balance. The highwires are not part of his natural
habitat. They are manmade.
You see, if he loses his balance, he has no safety net waiting for
him below. He has no cushion on the street below to protect him.
As humans, we love cushions! They make our lives easier. We've got
sofa cushions. We buy cushioned shoes to absorb the impact on our
bodies from walking, jumping, jogging.
There's the *cushion* we build in with our time. We leave a few
minutes early for work, especially in bad weather. How about that
*cushion* of space in front of us should the driver up ahead run
into trouble?
And believe me, if it's 100 degrees and you're out in the country on
a dry-as-a-bone dirt road, you'll want to leave lots of cushion when
following the pickup in front of you. Unless you enjoy eating dust,
mile after mile (smile).
Yes, the cushion is our friend. And without it, life indeed is less
pleasant.
But, there's another type of cushion -- and it's a real necessity
for us. I'm talking about the cushion in our checkbooks. Our own
balancing act can become difficult at times. And we need to build in
a cushion to protect ourselves.
So, why's it so important to have your own cushion?
1) A mistake in your checkbook is less likely to create a crisis.
2) If the bank deducts an amount larger than the actual check
amount, your cushion can save you from bounced check fees.
(Not to mention the hassle -- and your reputation.) How many checks
could bounce as a result of one simple error on the bank's part?
So, let's build you a small cushion in your checkbook. We'll start
small. And as you watch it grow, you'll reduce some stress in your
life. (And don't we all want our lives to be easier?)
Here's how you can get started, today. Let's build in an extra five
dollars incrementally. Each time you get paid, you'll pay your
bills. So each payday, you'll want to leave five dollars *more* in
your checkbook at all times, after paying your bills and adding in
other spending you'll be doing.
If you normally keep a balance of $23 to fall back on between
paychecks, week one would end with a cushion of $28. Following the
next payday, week two would now find you with a $33 cushion
remaining in your checkbook.
Go ahead and pencil your new cushion amounts to the right on your
check register. It'll remind you of your new strategy and keep you
motivated. You'll be amazed how quickly your cushion will grow for
you!
Now, think of this as your new safety net -- not *extra* money. You
could even call it your Mini Emergency Account. It's there for you
if something goes awry in your checkbook.
Today, create a new, simple habit that takes only 30 seconds each
payday! No need to walk that tightrope ever again. No more
thinking, "I've-only-got-two-bucks-in-my-checkbook" (smile).
Darlene Arechederra is the creator of the Stay-at-Home Bootcamp --
for women of two-income households who'd love
to return home to their children. Women interested in finding their
way back home are invited to take the FREE Quiz today at
http://AffordToStayHome.com/quiz.html Or, join her free, money-
saving ezine at http://RatRaceRemedies.com
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