Michaela’s Muses: Living within your means

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say, “I don’t get paid enough to do this job,” or “I don’t have enough money.”

Frankly, I am tired of hearing it.

You may be asking why, since it is true so many people are underpaid for the work that they do. Teachers, nurses, first responders and waste pick-up workers are all worth more than what they get. But I am not talking about these people.

No, I am talking about the people who make more than $60,000-$70,000 a year and say they don’t have enough money, then have the audacity to walk into work with freshly done nails, a Starbucks drink in their hand and a purse made out of real alligator skin.

If you don’t understand my point here, let me spell it out for you.

If I made $30K, $60K or even $100K a year, it wouldn’t matter because if I don’t live within my means, all of that money goes away and I am just as broke as the next guy.

If you can afford the freshly done nails, the Starbucks coffee and the alligator skin purse, then great. But don’t complain about how much you get paid just because you didn’t budget and now there is no money in your bank account.

Take it from me: Save money. All the material things like fast food, nails and fashion products are not going to be there forever. There is nothing wrong with paying yourself first. It doesn’t have to be a lot, just 50 bucks here and there. It builds up over time.

“Save your pennies,” my dad says.

I also have a rule. Don’t touch savings unless it is an emergency. That’s what it’s there for — emergencies. It’s also smart to save up for things you want like trips, cars, a house or even that PlayStation that I know you have been eyeballing.

The reason I hate the complaining, though, is not because you bought things. It’s really because there is always someone worse off than you. So be grateful for what you have, and if opportunity arises, don’t squander it by complaining about it.

Lastly, complaining about your pay when you are getting a pretty decent pay just makes the people who actually don’t have enough feel terrible.