Saving and managing our money now goes a long way later! This isn’t the first time you’ve ever ever heard this, especially by me, but it’s been rolling around my mind since seeing this quote by a fellow twitterer @JFuntanilla. There’s something about it that really strikes home:

“I live a few years of my life like most people won’t, so I can spend the rest of my life like most people can’t.”

Yes! I know some prefer living like a king now since you never know what’ll happen tomorrow (which I can totally understand), but obviously I’m more about preparing for the future ;) I’d love to get my hands on that Benz or splurge on some week long benders to Mexico, but it’s just not worth the trade off at this point in my life.

There’s something about saving and living a more simple life that comforts me. I like not having to stress over money or wonder what would happen if my paycheck came a few days late. I like knowing we can bring a baby into this world and not have to work 2 extra jobs to afford it. $hit, I like the fact of just being ABLE to afford half the stuff out there! It doesn’t mean I’ll actually go out and buy all of ’em, but it’s a helluva treat knowing I *could* if I ever wanted to.

By saving and living more frugally now, we open up a sea of options for the rest of our lives. We’re still free to do whatever we please, but by picking and choosing where our money goes now we gain stability and freedom to take advantage of life on better terms. It’s similar to other aspects of our lives: career, education, you name it. Rarely do you hear advice telling you to screw college, or slack off at work and just worry about it all later. You might be able to fulfill yourself temporarily that route (which also implies you’d be smart enough to take advantage of this time created and actually DO the things that truly make you happy), but in the long run it’s usually not best.

Think about what truly makes you happy now, and start on it. And if that means blowing through wads of cash like you’re the next MC Hammer, so be it! Just be sure you know what you’re doing – one day more people will count on you than yourself ;)