This is the question that I find myself thinking about more than anything else. We all want to follow our dreams and do what makes us happy, but there is also the need for money. Most people want to own a house, to retire on a beach, to travel the world, to focus on the one thing that they really love. However, it takes money to do most of these things.

The problem is that we spend most of our time chasing after money, and there is very little left over for our dreams. Not to mention that most of us end up spending the money we make on the things we don’t really need/want just to feel better. Most people seem to end up doing something they don’t really like for a higher pay. We stress about our careers that don’t really matter, and most importantly we lose track of our dreams. Most of us as children wanted to be something, whether a policeman, fireman, tractor driver, ninja, or star player; we all had dreams. Yet, most people give them up to pay the bills.

So what’s the answer? Well, I think it is different for every person. People who are living their dreams generally seem to be happier to me. They have less worries and always seem to be in the moment. But, that lifestyle in many cases may does not have much security. I think it is balance. Spend as much time as you can living, while also making sure to save for the future.

Most people seem to have difficulties with their finances, and there are a lot of books put out there to help. However, I really don’t think it is that difficult. I think that financial stability can be reached with just a few steps.

1. Save “at least”10% of every paycheck ( I would encourage you pay off any debt before doing this)
2. Don’t use credit. You want to make interest, not pay it.
3. Look at your expenses and see what you can remove (it will be difficult at first, but gets much easier)
4. Learn to have fun without spending money. Especially for those who shop as a hobby
5. Invest your savings to earn money. Whether it is stocks, bonds, savings, or buying and selling, it is important for your money to grow
6. Continue your education. The best investment you can make is on yourself. Learn finances, investing, take classes to move into a better position, finish that degree. The more you learn, the easier it is to make money.

It takes a little work at first to change your habits, but once you do it for a few months it becomes much easier. you will wonder how you spent so much money.

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