Growing up, I never understood why people drove old, beat-up cars. I also couldn’t fathom why anyone would settle for mid-range cars. My mindset was all about going big. I thought those with rusty, old cars were just failures who hadn’t worked hard enough to buy something nice.

I felt the same way about vacations. Why would I want to save up for a budget-friendly two-week vacation when others were flying to the Caribbean and staying in luxurious resorts?

Fast-forward ten years after college, and I had it all—a nice house, the shiny new motorbike I dreamed of, and vacations to boast about. But I also had a mountain of debt that was suffocating me. This wasn’t the life I envisioned.

One day, I reached my breaking point. I took a hard look at my life, how I got to this point, my happiness level, and what my future would look like if I continued on this path.

That’s when I realized my perspective was the problem. I believed I deserved the best of everything, but reality was different. I worked long hours in retail for minimal pay. Something had to change.

I saw two options: keep living lavishly and constantly worry about money or make better financial choices for a more secure future.

The Turning Point

Making significant changes isn’t easy, especially when I liked my life. I loved my house, got a thrill from riding my motorbike, and enjoyed traveling. But I knew it couldn’t last. The sooner I adjusted my attitude and spending habits, the sooner I’d regain control.

So, I moved out of my house and rented a room from a friend. I stopped riding my bike and walked as much as I could. I started living more frugally and used the savings to pay down my debt.

Was it tough? Absolutely. But there was a silver lining.

Living in my friend’s spare room wasn’t fun, but watching my financial situation improve was inspiring. For the first time in years, I didn’t constantly worry about money. I no longer dreaded bills arriving. In fact, I looked forward to my credit card statements just to see how much I had paid off that month!

The feeling of financial security was worth more to me than the temporary excitement of buying the latest gadget.

Even now, my focus is on financial security rather than a consumer lifestyle. I no longer live in my friend’s room, but I do drive the kind of beat-up old car I used to mock. I rarely go on vacation, and when I do, I hunt for the best deals. My perspective has shifted, and my life is much better for it.

The Piece I Overlooked

I missed a crucial part of this story. It took me several years to move from deciding I needed a change to actually making those changes.

Why? Because I didn’t change my attitude right away. I sort of wanted to get out of debt but wasn’t fully committed. Months would pass with my debts barely budging. I didn’t want to leave my nice house, so I procrastinated on prioritizing it.

I bring this up because the internet is full of stories about people who quickly turned their finances around or went from rags to riches overnight.

In my view, these transformations often take time. This part isn’t often highlighted in such stories, leading to frustration for those trying to follow in their footsteps.

The takeaway is this: if you’re trying to change your financial situation, be prepared for it to take time. Don’t get frustrated comparing yourself to others; instead, focus on consistent improvements in your own life. It might take a while, but applying this principle consistently can lead to significant changes within a year.

The Key to Financial Change

Many people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and get in shape, but we know how that usually ends.

They start off strong in January, jogging and buying low-calorie groceries. They switch to Coke Zero instead of regular Coke to lose weight, only to end up disappointed and stuck with an expensive gym membership for the rest of the year.

The same goes for financial goals. Many are burdened with heavy debt and aim to pay it off each year but give up too soon. I believe this happens because we haven’t changed our attitudes. We’re like dieters drinking Coke Zero, making half-hearted attempts to reach our goals.

Instead of making small, incremental changes like buying a cheaper coffee or eating out less, go all in. Give up take-out coffee altogether and commit to lasting change.

Make reaching financial independence your main goal and dedicate everything you have to it. It all starts with changing your perspective and realigning your priorities.