Talk Directly to Your Friends About Your Budget, Don’t Make Excuses Not to Go Out
If you’re trying to pay off a credit card or pay off student loans, it can be embarrassing to say you’re on a tight budget when your friends want to hang out. Instead of making excuses or trying to lie, confess the truth.
As with everything else, the first step to solving your debt problem is to clearly understand it – for yourself and the people who need your company. As The Simple Dollar writes:
If I can’t afford to do something, I tell the person why, even if it’s uncomfortable for me. I think getting debt is a better long-term plan than pretending it doesn’t exist, as many of us tend to do in this country. Just look at this recent Atlantic article detailing the “secret shame” of a middle-class man about paycheck-to-paycheck life to see just how often bad financial situations can be. In our culture, you are looked down upon if you are not “living the dream.”
You don’t need to go into the details of your financial structure. A simple line can work wonders. Just tell your friends, “Sorry, I have a budget to watch.” Once they know your budget, chances are they can go somewhere within your price range or chat with you at home.
The bottom line is that debt is not something to be ashamed of. Don’t pretend they don’t exist. Recognize them and find solutions.
Four Strategies To Stay Sane While Struggling For A Student Loan | Simple dollar