Let’s Get Physical
Posted by Arianne | Filed under Arianne
I’m pretty sure this isn’t the most original comparison but the more I think this way, the easier it is for me to save. I wanted to share it with you – maybe you think the same way or maybe I’ll give you an idea or two to help you out. I tend to equate ‘saving money’ to ‘losing weight/getting in shape.’ Now, hear me out:
In certain people’s lives, there comes a time when they reach a breaking point, hit their bottom or have an ‘A-ha!’ moment. Whatever the case may be, they decide they can’t live the way they’re living anymore. They feel sluggish, they can’t button their favourite jeans anymore and use a rope for a belt (a.k.a. they’re struggling to even live pay cheque-to-pay cheque). That’s when they realize they have to make a change. So what happens next? They go online, to the bookstore/library or talk to their friends and find out what they’re doing; see how other people are living. Sometimes their friends are no better off and there are others who have this level of self control that’s simply admirable. They order a water with lemon instead of a soda pop which is like picking up that designer dress in the store and walking around with it, but then replacing it on the rack before you walk out. They don’t need the dress, even though it looks so delicious. Which means YOU can do this – you can make a plan, set a goal and stick to it. It’s time to cut the fat!
You can only take it one day at a time and assess each situation as it presents itself to you. Some days you’ll slip…that’s a guaranteed: “I ate an entire bag of ketchup chips…SO there!” I think it’s pretty equivalent to: “They were having a sale! Why buy one when you can buy 15 for the price of 13 and a half??? It’s a bargain!” NO! It’s not a bargain. You’re simply rebelling to feel like your old self again, just for a moment. In that moment of weakness, you are now held accountable for your actions. You’re stronger than that. You reset your focus, make another game plan and you go for it. Full throttle. You remove the temptation by clearing your pantry of all fatty snacks, replacing them with nutritious options a.k.a. you leave your debit and credit cards at home. You no longer need them. You create a workout regime you can really stick to a.k.a. you stop window-shopping and find another hobby to occupy your time and mind.
One day you’ll slip into your favourite jeans, button them up and realize the waist is really loose (which is basically like looking in your wallet and finding the $40 you haven’t spent). You run to your full-length mirror (a.k.a. take a gander in your bank account) to peruse your state of affairs and you realize the inches have just melted away (a.k.a. you have saved a BUTT-LOAD of cash)! The moment you see those results, you just want to have more. You’re no longer pressured into evenings out with friends or shopping trips because you know it will just be a night of frivolous spending. Instead, you have a potluck with your friends and invite them to your place to chow down on some healthy snacks, dance to the music on your record player and watch a movie from your DVD collection. This has not piled on the calories/cost you a red cent. You’ve stuck it out.
Now you’re ready to pay for that dream tropical vacation in cold. hard. cash. And you pay for it while wearing a hot-as-Hades bikini…just ‘cuz you can!
Yeah...that's a money bikini. You deserve it.
A single gal who just turned thirty and a first-time home buyer, Arianne is trying to defeat the monstrous debt she accumulated in her twenties. “That debt is the result of my biggest and most dangerous vice: Shopping” says Arianne.
February 16, 2012 at 7:44 am
Love the money bikini! Not ready for it in either physical or financial terms, but . . . maybe next summer?
February 16, 2012 at 7:46 am
Hahaha! Whenever you’re ready, I’m NOWHERE near either. But I did notice the most amount of savings I’ve ever had the other day and I don’t want to touch it. We’ll both get there soon enough.
February 16, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Interesting idea – I can definitely see how saving and losing weight are similar. For both, it’s so easy to forget and get caught up in your day-to-day life that keeps the goal difficult to maintain.
They’re both goals that take a lot of time, and so are easy to lose focus without setting yourself short and frequently attainable goals to stay motivated.
And lastly, they’re both good for you long-term, but so much more “fun” (ie. eating unhealthy foods, and spending money!) in the short-term.
Neat comparison, definitely makes a lot of sense. Agree that a lot of strategies in accomplishing one can help in accomplishing the other!
February 16, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Thank you, Tyler-Chris! You’re SO right when you say: “…they’re both good for you long-term, but so much more “fun” (ie. eating unhealthy foods, and spending money!) in the short-term.”
Sometimes when I have these thoughts I find out it only makes sense in my skewed brain, but that’s exactly what I mean. Thanks for your reading and your feedback!!!
February 16, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Not to mention they are not a ‘diet’ because you go off a diet when you’re done. They are a lifestyle change (hopefully permanent!) that will keep you healthy and allow you to live longer with much better quality of life. (No cat food for me!)
February 16, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Hahaha – no cat food for ANYONE.
I remember hearing someone say once (probably on “The Biggest Loser” because I’m OBSESSED)… “The only reason why diets never works is because no one sticks to them.” If people just did it, changed their eating habits and workout regime forever…they would succeed in their goals. But people do it for a few weeks, shed some pounds and go right back to eating the bad food (I’m one of them…NO ONE will take my trans fats away).
The point is the only way to save…is to save. It’s so simple, it’s stupid. How has this concept eluded me until my 30th year on this earth. If I want money for a rainy day, then I don’t spend it on the sunny ones when there’s absolutely no reason to.
Lifestyle changes are hard but by no means unachievable. Here’s to a better quality of life!!!
February 16, 2012 at 4:13 pm
LOVE the relationship between improving healthy finances and body. Both are key to living a full, happy life and they go hand-in-hand. Thanks for this post Arianne!
February 16, 2012 at 4:34 pm
LOVE your comment, Meg!!! I get such a high when other people can go along on my brain-waves. Sometimes there’s a good thought or two in my noggin.
February 16, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Hey Arianne
Another good post! Love the bikini! Haven’t worn one of those since my kids were born!
It is true, the two are the same. Where people are weak (including myself) is in the discipline aspect. It takes discipline to lose weight and discipline to stay on track financially. I am very strong at it where work and doing the best for my family is concerned but I must admit, I definitely have moments of weakness in weight loss and finances!
I’m happy with my weight but would like to work on the financial part!
February 16, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Hi Arianne, it’s a very interesting analogy and timing is perfect just after the holiday spending . It’s the new years resolution quandary, lose weight! Save more! It’s tough to do one let alone both, but if one can manage to keep at least one of the resolutions then it’s a win! Being middle aged and now an empty nester,I have finally decided to take responsibility and get my menopausal weight in check, so I’ve been eating healthy, brown bagging lunch and drinking more water. Guess what the side effect is?? I’m saving money!, who’d a?? I’m not going out and having fast food, I’m not buying pop and chocolate bars, I’m losing weight and spending less. Let’s hope I can keep it up. I’ll use you as my inspiration so let’s do it together.
February 18, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Arianne! You and I are totally on the same brain wave, my post last week was in the same family.
Tis a beautiful relationship between losing weight and saving money. Everyone wants to do it, everyone has an opinion on it, and the grass is always greener on the other side. Here’s to figuring it out in 2012 (or something to that effect)
February 19, 2012 at 7:51 am
Our A-ha moment was when we had our daughter. She put all our priorities back on track! The last time I wore a bikini was about three weeks before I found out I was pregnant with her. But his year we have a new little girl, we are in better financial shape then we were before and my hubby and I are training for a 10 miler. Hopefully I will be able to fit back into a bikini eventually! Of course living in Northern Canada bikini wearing does not really come up a whole lot
February 22, 2012 at 9:31 am
Maybe that’s why they call it “tightening your belt”!
February 22, 2012 at 11:16 pm
HAHAHAHAHA! That’s hilarious and you are absolutely correct.
March 2, 2012 at 10:08 am
very easy, and many opt-in for such…
work. so make sure you distinguish yourself from the competitors by showing enough professionalism and cultivating a writing style unique to you. maintain quality, relevance and freshness in your work, in order to sustain the workload. where necessary,…