More often than not I have been the ‘broke’ friend.
Growing up I didn’t feel that I came from much and witnessed a lot of poor financial decisions made by those in my family. This not only shaped my lack of understanding and patience with the process, but also the mindset that it takes to build financial stability.
Despite the innate generational hardship and mismanagement, if I had simply opened up and been honest with those around me regarding my financial struggles earlier, I could have found a way out much sooner.
Being the broke friend can come in two forms. Either you’re consistently saying ‘no’ to the point in which people get frustrated and don’t invite you out any more, or you suffer in silence – pinching pennies, pulling money from here and there in order to make it work, leading to you constantly playing catch up. I was the latter.
I like spending time with my friends, traveling, eating at amazing restaurants and so forth. However, this all adds up, and quickly, especially when living in NYC. My friends and I sometimes joke that a typical Friday night out is a minimum $100 dollars, and that it only goes up from there.
I’ve heard extreme tales of those who’ve spent their last dime to the point that they’re facing eviction and debt collectors constantly. It never got that bad for me, I always made sure the bills got paid. But I could have certainly had a real savings by now and saved myself a lot of unnecessary stress.
About five months ago I decided it was time I take a leap of faith and quit my job to pursue my own entrepreneurial ventures. I was finally making a good amount of money as a director of public relations, but of course, given my previous habits didn’t have much saved. I knew that something was pulling at me to make the jump now. I also knew that if this was to be done, some changes needed to be made in order to see it through. I needed to seriously start budgeting and I also needed to open up to those around me when it came to financial matters, to hold myself accountable.
Given that I’ve just begun my entrepreneurial journey, I am making the least amount of money I have been in my entire adult career. Yet, I feel much more confident about my spending habits and going out with friends than I ever have. When I go out now, there is a level of reassurance that I can afford it. If I’m not out, i’ll be resting peacefully knowing I didn’t overextend myself for something I’d regret later.
Get Organized
A girlfriend of mine, who I also consider a mentor, has always been on me about creating a budget to outline and manage my expenses. We both decided we were ready to quit our 9-5’s around the same time and each time we spoke she followed up about whether or not I’d started my budget. Finally, I gave in and haven’t looked back since.
Whether it’s a budgeting App or a good ‘ole excel document, outline all of your current expenses and begin by putting together a weekly or monthly budget for yourself. Though it may be cringeworthy at first, after a few weeks of seeing it laid out and mindfully tracking spending, you’ll feel more comfortable opening up to others about what you can and cannot participate in.
Speak Abundance Into Your Life
Being poor or broke can sometimes be a matter of mindset. Instead of saying, “I can’t, i’m broke” say something along the lines of “Thank you so much for inviting me, but right now it just isn’t in my budget.” Not only will this exude maturity and self-control amongst your peers, but it’s also great for your psyche. I’m all about manifesting what I want out of life, so consistently saying how poor you are isn’t going to lead to riches. Instead, using a word like budgeting and saving speaks to a higher purpose in your efforts and lessens your anxiety when discussing with those around you.
Suggest Alternatives
It’s very easy to feel isolated during the process of rebuilding your finances, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Once you’ve expressed to your friends that something they suggested is out of your budget, don’t end the conversation there. Suggest another fun alternative or reschedule for a time in which you’ll be more comfortable spending. Typically, those closest to you will understand what you are going through and may not want to pressure you, so by suggesting alternatives it takes the edge off on both sides.
If you and your friends have a trip coming up and you’re worried about whether you can afford it, offer to step up and help in the planning process. That way you’ll have control over what it is you and your crew are doing and can regulate costs ahead of time.
In Relationships, Have the Conversation Early
In full transparency, the hardest person to discuss finances with was my boyfriend. Not because we aren’t close, but because I was intimidated – he is one of the most financially sound young people I know. He has made a number of great decisions to make sure he is and will always be secure. As our relationship grew we started traveling together, moved in with one another and have begun discussing our lives together long term. So, the conversation on finances was inevitable. Opening up to him about where my struggles were in terms of finances not only took a weight off my shoulders, but also built an accountability partner. Laying it all out there with him in the earlier stages of our relationship only brought us closer.
Sometimes it’s important that we start over and go back to the basics in order to move forward. I feel this time of intentional budgeting and being much more mindful with my spending is setting me up for when my income increases again. This time, I’ll go about it the right way – with my tribe there cheering me on.
Aisha Beau Johnson is a writer and founder of AishaBeau.com, a digital destination highlighting all things self-care for women of color. She specializes in writing about beauty, mental health and wellness topics, highlighting the importance of internal and external well-being. You can contact her at aisha@aishabeau.com or follow her on social media @aishabeau.
