Start Saying No to Unnecessary Financial Obligations
A lot of people struggle so much with saying No, probably because they do not want to offend anyone so they just say yes to everything and everybody. This attitude is dangerous to life, and even more dangerous to our finances, you cannot build your finances or build success by saying yes to just everything and for everyone.
You must understand the need to learn how to say no when your habit of saying yes becomes a repeated pattern that begins to affect your finances negatively, the moment you feel uncomfortable or consistently pressured to send money even when it is not convenient for you.
You have a budget you have exceeded, but overstretch your budget or even need to get into debt just because you want to meet the needs of some other people. If the request of these people is not even reasonable to start with, but you still have to send them money, then at that point, you should realize you have a problem with saying no.
Although you may decide that you owe no one an explanation for not sending them money, at the end of the day, it is your money, but sometimes being polite with your dealings will help you maintain a good relationship rather than throwing them away.
I would love to share some polite methods of saying No to those financial requests that intend to strain your finances. You know sometimes, some loved ones are so dear to you that you cannot even say no to their financial request, this is where the strain comes in more.
Sharing your financial goals and aspirations with your loved ones will make them understand where you stand and where you intend to be financially. The understanding of the specific, measurable goals could make your journey about financial prudence easier.
Another tip that could work is providing them with an alternative option to getting the needed funds. If an expensive concert was introduced to you, for instance, you can settle for another fun alternative that comes at a cheaper rate. Making it a habit to plan ahead for every social activity will allow you to participate in these activities without over straining your finances. Take advantage of available discounts, and coupons which you can get when you plan early for these things.
When you understand the reason why you are finding it difficult to say no in the first place, then it will be easier to begin to work on it, and setting boundaries appropriately too. To be able to say no, you should surround yourself with people who encourage you to say so, and not those who are always trying to get from you themselves. You know what they say about your circle influencing your life greatly, you must surround yourself with people with like minds too.
After saying no to someone you would regularly say yes to, it is normal that you feel guilty. To help deal with this guilt, you can write down your financial boundaries and remind yourself of the reason why you are setting the boundary in the first place. Reminding yourself of what you are trying to achieve by saying no, will bring back your confidence.
