The Best Things in Life are Free

Ever been in a bad money situation? Life might have been cushy before, but all of a sudden you find yourself having to carefully watch your spending. You start worrying about how to make ends meet. You’re unable to afford the luxuries you’ve grown accustomed to—the ones you used to take for granted, like a Starbucks coffee or a meal at a restaurant.

I've found myself in such a situation recently.

I used to have a well-paid corporate job that allowed me to spend my time shopping, partying, and going on weekend trips with friends. It was a comfortable life, yet I couldn’t shake the lack of fulfillment I felt.

Having had to completely change my way of life hasn't been easy but has also taught me lots of valuable lessons. I am learning to look past the difficulties of having little money to the positive aspects of it (and there are plenty, I promise). This is what I learned.

1. You connect with people.

When you lack money, you become more dependent on others. Some see this as a painful experience, but it can actually help you strengthen your connections.

Allowing others to be there in moments of difficulty isn’t always easy (hello, pride), but by sharing your vulnerability, you give others permission to do the same. When you allow others to be there for you, you open up to deeper connections.

Also, believe it or not, allowing someone else do us a favor actually leads them to like us more as a result - this is called the Benjamin Franklin Effect. Basically, we justify the favor we did for someone by telling ourselves that we did it because we like the person.

2. You realize your fears were overblown.

Not having enough money can be a great fear for many people. Our minds tend to imagine everything that can go wrong, and build up our negative expectations.

My mind went crazy when I realized what I was dealing with financially. It told me that I wouldn’t be able to pay the rent, so I’d end up on the street. That I’d lose all my friends now that I couldn’t afford to go out, and that I was at risk of starvation and potential death.

None of my fears came true. The point is that reality is rarely as bad as we imagine it will be. Most of the scenarios we make up exist in one place only: our imagination.

3. You tap into your inner strength.

When things around you are uncertain and unstable, you can’t hang on to anything or anyone else but yourself. Others can help, but when life isn’t easy, you simply have to tap into your inner strength.

Needing external things and people to be a certain way in order for you to feel strong is a recipe for disappointment. They are out of your control. You are the only thing you can control in this world; it’s the only place from which you can draw true and lasting strength.

4. You become more grateful.

When you can no longer afford the small things you used to take for granted, you become more grateful for the moments when you can afford them.

For me it was magazines, I had a sort of addiction to buying them and they're not cheap! Reading a magazine you take for granted and reading one you sincerely appreciate are two very different experiences. In the end, happiness isn’t derived from what we are able to buy, but from the gratitude and appreciation we are able to cultivate from our experiences.

5. You realize you already live in abundance.

Sometimes we need to experience what we think is lack in order for the abundance to appear. The abundance is there—we just need to tune into it.

Just think about it. The sun rises every morning; birds keep on singing and food keeps on growing on our planet. We have roads to drive on, parks to spend time in and people around us to have interesting conversations with.

Having little money can make you appreciate what you still have in life, even the little things you never used to think much about.

6. You spend less time doubting.

As modern human beings we spend a considerable amount of time every day comparing and second-guessing all the options available to us. What to eat for lunch, where to go on a night out, what clothes to buy, and so on.

Don’t get me wrong, having options is good—but too many can be overwhelming. Less money means fewer options. This leaves little room for doubt or dwelling on the alternatives. You simply have to accept the options available to you, and as you get on with your life, you realize they’re just fine.

7. You become more creative.

Constraints make you creative. When you are faced with limitations you’re required to find new ways of making things work. You start looking outside the box for alternative solutions.

For me, that meant becoming creative with my accommodation. Paying a big amount of rent was simply not an option for me anymore (unless I wanted to spend all of my money on that and come back home broke). So instead of living in a property that I didn't need I downsized to something more suitable for one and have found myself doing several little part time jobs which keeps life interesting.

8. You make the most of your time.

When a situation is unsustainable, a sense of urgency arises. Something needs to happen for the current condition to improve. Suddenly, every hour counts.

My recent experiences have made me realize that I need to make the most of my time and stop wasting it on things that don’t bring real value. That means no more days in which all I’m doing is waiting for those days to pass.

9. You realize the importance of choice.

Money makes us comfortable. When we are comfortable, it’s easier to not make proactive choices. Choosing means excluding something; therefore, choosing not to choose becomes the easy way out.

When you’re not numbed by the comfort of money, life gets very real. Every choice you make (or don’t make) either moves you in the direction of what you want or not. The importance of choice becomes more evident.

10. Keep Looking on the Bright Side

Let’s be honest. Staying upbeat when you have little money isn’t easy. Reminders of your financial situation are constantly there, in the magazine you buy, the unexpected bill you receive, or the craving you have for that unaffordable vacation.

Seeing the bright side of a difficult situation isn’t a quality you either have or don’t have—it’s a choice you make and a skill you can develop. You can learn to make the choice to not let your happiness depend on external things, such as money.

You deserve to feel good no matter the status of your bank account. To help you stay cheerful, keep reminding yourself of these ten points. Make a choice right now to proactively focus on what is good in your life.

While you work on improving your financial situation, I encourage you to take advantage of the positive aspects of having little money—connect with people, tap into your most creative self, and make the best of the time you have by not over-thinking your options.

And always remember this - the best things in life are free and there is great beauty in simplicity.

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