The Daily Meaning
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Your Youngest You
It's so easy to look at young people and wish we were younger again. We tell ourselves that we'd give anything to go back in time.
Anti-Complicated
Simplicity always wins! Whether I'm meeting with high school kids or seasoned business professionals, simple is always best. I wasn't joking in my response; I'm going to teach these kids the exact same thing I teach all my clients. In a world that likes to make every little concept or idea overly complicated, I'm going to approach it with an anti-complicated posture.
Right or Luxury?
Buying a new vehicle is a luxury, not a right. However, since this is America and our culture is so twisted, we've conditioned the masses to believe that everyone deserves to buy a new vehicle. The truth is, we don't inherently deserve to go out and buy a new vehicle just because everyone else is doing it.
Normalizing Negligence
Today, we're paying tribute to category #4, car dealership monthly payment interviews. I first discovered this trend a few years ago, and I'm overjoyed to see it pick up momentum over the last few years. In short, this is a trend where someone working at a car dealership will walk around the premises with a microphone, asking employees what they drive and what their monthly payment is.
(Not) Overemphasizing Weaknesses
The name of the game isn't fixing our weaknesses, but rather unapologetically and aggressively leaning into our strengths while bridging our weaknesses.
My Time vs. Their Time
"It just takes you three times as long to do these tasks as it does me." Ouch! But she was right!
Meanwhile, Everyone Else Is Spinning
Meanwhile, everyone else is spinning in circles. Most of the "must be nice" people around us are so busy spending money on things that don't actually matter to them that they don't leave margin to invest in things that do. This isn't some provocative theory; it's a recurring theme I've observed in countless families. It's so easy to fall into this trap!
Just Meet Them Where They’re At
Yesterday was a big day in the Shelton household. Finn and Pax's first-ever debit cards arrived in the mail. They had been counting down the days, and they couldn't have been more excited to receive them.
Childlike Wonder
I often wonder at what age most of us lose that zest, that imagination, and that wonder. There's a moment in life where we go from having that childlike wonder to getting hit with a blast of reality. It's like our dreams, creativity, and imagination were robbed from under our noses without us even knowing it.
Our Eyes Deceive Us
"Travis, I can't believe you and Sarah spent $1,000/month on travel! That seems like a lot. An irresponsible a lot."
The Wrong Scorecard
I just had a heartbreaking conversation with an acquaintance. He's in his mid-50s, married, with two children who are about to graduate from high school. He confidentially shared this with me, but also asked me to anonymously write and podcast about it.
What’s Under the Hood?
"If the stock market is at an all-time high, shouldn't my retirement account also be at an all-time high?"
Just Until You Die
Truthfully, once budgeting becomes a steadying force in our financial lives, it's impossible to envision life without it. I can't even fathom going a single month without a planned and executed budget. That would feel weirder than wearing only a Speedo to work. It's unconscionable!