Stop Complaining About Inflation Because You’re Lazy. Make a Change by Following These 6 Steps.
Laziness is why most Americans will remain broke and miserable for the rest of their lives.
A Brief History
Inflation is something that comes around in cycles. As we know from basic economics, our economy expands and contracts creating peaks and troughs. Prior to 2021, inflation was consistently between 0–3% year over year (YoY) making it super affordable to borrow and spend.
When we go through long economic periods of low inflation, it creates an environment for spending and accumulating debt.
Our economy runs on debt.
Since the 1950s, our economic environment has been mostly “consumer-centric”. Today through marketing campaigns in grocery and department stores or tv and radio commercials, Americans are constantly bombarded with reasons why they need the next best products to keep up with the Jones or to look like Chloe Kardashian.
There’s no need to wear a face full of makeup and overpriced perfume to the pool. Stop purchasing crap you think you need.
And today it’s even easier to get into debt because of “buy now, pay later” programs that seem to be everywhere! I bought some diapers from Amazon and it gave me a purchase option to use Affirm so I can pay $10.62/month for 6 months just for diapers!
It’s become too easy to get into debt.
So What Can You Do About It?
High inflation won’t be here forever but while it’s here, we should be able to pivot and make the necessary changes to adapt. This is where people get lazy because it’s too hard to pivot for most. Then the scarcity mindset kicks in and creates a lack of focus on what’s important.
We should focus on what we can control, not what we cannot.
1. Change Your Mindset
You can control your mindset by changing your attitude towards inflation. Inflation could be a lot worse, right? Inflation is hitting you hard because gas prices and groceries are so expensive. You may think about it every day, just waiting for your paycheck to come around because you’re living paycheck to paycheck and still need to pay the electric bill that’s late.
But what about if you were to change your mindset to be in an abundance state and be grateful for what you have?
An abundance mindset is the belief that there are enough resources in the world for everyone — and of being grateful for whatever the universe provides.
~ Tony Robbins
Changing your mindset to think in abundance means you believe there is plenty of money out there for you and everyone else. Also, there are opportunities for growth and prosperity for everyone, including yourself! And when you are in an abundant state of mind, you tend to be more grateful for what you have.
Practicing gratitude isn’t something that should be done during Thanksgiving only. Gratitude should be practiced daily! You can practice in the morning first thing, throughout the day, or before you go to bed.
Practicing gratitude helps to eliminate negative feelings and overall makes you a happier and healthier person.
There have been times when I’ve gone to bed laying there thinking about negative stuff, and I immediately remind myself what I am grateful for:
I’m grateful for the roof over my head that I own.
I’m grateful for the food and water we get delivered to our house.
I’m grateful for my son (who is now 3 months old) and my husband who is helping full-time at home to care for our son while I work.
If I ever feel unaccomplished or negatively distracted when I go to bed, I say at least these three things I am grateful for and I genuinely go to bed in a happier and less stressed state of mind.
Key Takeaways → You have the power to control your thoughts by thinking in a more positive and abundant mindset. And by doing so leads you to be grateful for what you have thus making you a happier person who is open to any and all opportunities presented to you.
2. Evaluate Your Spending
My grocery bill is thrice as much as it used to be for food necessities but I’m finding cheaper alternatives and ways to spend less. I’m not doing all my shopping at Sprouts anymore even though it’s more convenient to do so.
I’ve asked myself numerous times, “Is this something we need or is this a nice to have and we are spoiling ourselves”? It sucks to do this sometimes, but it helps cut down on erroneous spending.
We can control our spending. It’s a matter of if we have the balls to do so.
I’m not a huge fan of budgets but when the necessity arises to spend less, using a budget will reveal where you are spending your money. I’ve used budgets before and will always recommend starting with a budget when working with clients.
To utilize a budget, you want to categorize all your income and expenses and review all your costs to determine what is needed and what is not. This gives you the opportunity to cut the fat. Cut out the expenses that you do not need, even if it’s temporary.
There may also be items that snuck in and were forgotten about, so it’s good practice to make a habit out of reviewing your budget and your expenses on a monthly basis.
Key Takeaways → During times when your money is being stretched thin, put yourself on a budget if you are not on one, eliminate unnecessary spending, and look for alternatives when shopping for necessities.
3. Earn Additional Income
Along with cutting useless spending, can you think of any way you can earn additional income? There are many ways you can generate income streams if you are willing to put in the work. This could be a second job or creating a side business.
Can you turn a hobby that you love into a side hustle? I’m working on it for fun. A hobby of mine is writing about money. I can write about money, talk about money, listen about money, and research topics on money all day!
Time flies when you are having fun doing something you love, so why not try to monetize your work?
If you have a W2 job, are you due for a raise? Asking for a raise is probably the quickest way to boost your income. Just make sure you are prepared to answer why you deserve the raise.
Asking for a raise because of inflation or because a year has passed and you’re expecting an annual raise is not a worthy excuse in my opinion. If you think that way, you may be better off just finding another job that pays more!
And if you’re a freelancer, consider raising your rates!
Key Takeaways → Using your abundance mindset, you know there is plenty of money out there to be earned! Get creative by starting a side hustle, consider asking for a raise at work, or increase your rates if you freelance or have your own business.
4. Exercise Your Body and Mind
Get outside in the sun and be in nature if you’re lucky to be surrounded by it. And if you’re daring enough, leave your phone at home. It’s amazing all the things we miss when we take a walk with our phones.
If you’re stepping outside to take a walk or hike, indulge in the scenery you’re surrounded by and it will change your attitude for the better! Whenever I go hiking on the trails, I feel rejuvenated afterward. It’s literally a breath of fresh air and it’s something I enjoy doing for free!
Exercising your mind is something else we should be doing daily. Read books or articles on making money, side hustles, mindset, and gratitude. Once you practice these habits of exercising your body and mind, you will begin to see the world, and this inflation problem, through a new lens.
Key Takeaways → Take the time to implement exercise into your life to reap the benefits for your body and mind. When you are healthy and practicing positivity, you will notice you have a more positive attitude and will see more positivity around you and invite it into your life.
5. Stop Hanging Out With Losers
You are the friends you keep. I’m sure you’ve heard that saying before. Do yourself a favor and ask yourself some questions regarding your friends:
- Who do you spend most of your time with from your circle of friends?
- How do your friends make you feel? Energetic or inspired, or do they make you feel drained and miserable?
- Can you talk about the things you enjoy with your friends or does it seem like a dead end?
If your friends who you hang out with the most make you feel inspired and you can have a conversation on many subjects, including ones you like, then those are friends to keep.
But if your friends make you feel miserable and all you talk about is crap you don’t care about, like gossip or nothing productive, then you should consider finding new friends.
Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, and doing what you want to be doing. This is how you will learn, evolve, and become a better human. You can learn from others around you and you can help lift each other up!
Key Takeaways → Your friends could be a negative influence on your mindset thus making you a negative person. Have an honest look at your friends and others you have in your life to see if they exude a positive influence on you or a negative one. Get rid of all negative influences.
6. Stop Making Excuses
Making excuses goes hand in hand with having a negative, scarcity mindset. Instead of fixing the issue, you would rather complain about it! That won’t help you now and that won’t help you in the long run.
Making excuses usually tags along with laziness, so if you find yourself spewing excuses as to why you’re broke and how inflation is bologna, check yourself. It’s that negative mindset kicking in again…
So it’s the government’s fault…What are you going to do about it? If the answer is nothing, then stop complaining.
If you’ve read this far and found yourself making an excuse as to why you can’t exercise, like you don’t have the time, you need to MAKE the time.
If you’ve read this far and don’t understand how budgets work, you need to EDUCATE yourself on the topic.
If you’ve read this far and are still making excuses, your decision to make the excuse was the wrong CHOICE.
It’s not about money; it’s about choices. Sometimes upward mobility begins with a change of environment. If you don’t like your life, stop waiting for somebody to come change it. Change it yourself. Change. ~ Disruptive Thinking by T.D. Jakes
Key Takeaways → Be the change you want to see in yourself and in others. Making excuses as to why you can’t do something is just lazy and you know it. Stop complaining, make some tough life decisions, and make your life an abundant one that you own!
Final Thoughts
Following the above ideas will drastically change your attitude for the better and you will have more control over your life and your money. I know from experience as I’ve gone through these 6 steps myself.
It takes guts to do the hard things that most people won’t because they’re lazy and would rather complain. But you’re not that person, right?
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