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Financial Fast in February
It’s the Shortest Month, So I Won’t Be Spending
There are lots of resolutions and changes that begin in January, and that’s perfectly fine. But sometimes, starting off new in the New Year is tough, especially when focusing on financial goals. Post-holiday sales are hard to resist, and shopping for those things that were on your list but didn’t show up under the tree is so satisfying.
So along comes February. The second month in the calendar is a great time to buckle down on financial health and get the house in order. With the buzz of the holidays behind us, and summer long months away, it’s a great time to take stock and think of applying a “financial fast.”
The idea of a financial fast comes from a popular book by Michelle Singletary, The 21-day Financial Fast, Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom. The notion is, basically, to begin a “reset” in three weeks where you spend only cash, only on essentials, and avoid dining out, purchasing any new clothing items, any unnecessary items, and focus on eliminating debt. Now, of course eradicating all debt in three weeks is unlikely, but the real focus of the method is to create a debt-reduction mindset by proving to yourself that living in a “less is more” fashion can lead to financial health.
I should point out just for clarity’s sake that my finances are already in great…
