The beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on our lives and look for areas that need improvement. Much of the world views Americans as prone to excess, but many of us are not. Join us as we explore the conservative nature and how it can affect our lives.

In our culture, conservative has come to mean right-leaning politics. That is not what this article is about. We’re talking about being financially conservative – conserving financial resources and avoiding waste.

Avoiding waste sounds like a good thing, especially in hard times. We may be on the brink of a recession and many believe we’re already in one. In light of that, conserving money is a wise thing to do, and certainly better than maxing out your credits cards and living paycheck-to-paycheck. However, like anything in life, it can be taken to the extreme.

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A Day in the Life

What does a day in the life of a financially conservative person look like? Rushing through your morning shower to conserve hot water, putting on the same worn-out clothes because you’re saving the new ones for a special occasion. Reaching for a knife to slice a piece of fruit and coming up with an old one because you’re saving the good ones for dinner. Thinking about going out, maybe doing some shopping or just having fun, but knowing the moment you walk out the door money will start flowing like a river. Settling instead to stay home with the TV or a book.

Live a Little

At 60 years of age, I’ve reached a point in my life where family members are passing away. Conservatism runs deep in my family, and some have left a lot on the table. The clock is always ticking, not only on the time we’re allowed to roam this earth, but also on our health. You never know when a health calamity or age will restrict your activities to where your only options are watching TV or reading a book.

The start of a new year is a great time to make changes. Strike a healthy balance between saving for tomorrow and living for today. Life is short and no one knows what the future holds.

Conclusion

There is nothing wrong with being conservative and no one is saying live life like there’s no tomorrow. But if you can’t remember what you did a week ago today, maybe you need to shake things up a bit. Life is meant to be lived and we should seize every opportunity to live it to the fullest. Vow to make this your best year ever...and live a little.

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