I was chatting with a friend of mine yesterday, along the lines of personal development and coaching. Just a general chat, but we ended up down a few rabbit holes.
When I revealed that I’d spent around £5-6K in the last 18 months on courses, programs, coaching etc. All manner of things, in order to
1. Improve myself, make things better in my life etc
2. To invest in what could become a brand new business venture. I was met with a ‘No way could I afford that’
So, we drilled into it. He’s on around £20K a year. No wife or kids or house to look after etc. But I’m completely green and naive into how supposedly ‘normal’ people go about their lives. I was genuinely intrigued.
OK – for me, I don’t watch TV. Ever. I have zero interest in it, nor have I for the last 8 years. I HAVE a TV, and it used to stream football sometimes, the odd DVD or movie. But its a treat not a day to day given. I also have a rule of no devices upstairs. As a result, my electric bill is £40 per month, I have my van for work but for day to day use I have ‘Peter the Panda’ a 14 year old Fiat I bought for cash, for £400, 3 years ago. I love Peter. He goes everywhere! He also revealed that due to lack of dentists where he lived, once his existing one retired, he cant find one. There is a private option ‘But its £25 a month – Im not paying THAT” – at that remark, I dug deeper. You can’t afford a dentist but you drive a nice BMW??
A few calculations later and the results shocked me. I listed down the CONTROLLABLE payments we take on. Really, like REALLY – we don’t NEED broadband or wifi. We could own a bike or use public transport and how much we consume, dictates our electricity bills. You with me?
Things out of control are – Council Tax, insurances etc. But even then, we CHOOSE to live where we do and insurance can be got cheaper if shopped around. But this is just a rough and loose example. Here goes –
My own monthly breakdown goes as follows and for house/car using just these two basic outgoings for this example.
House and Car (just these two basic outgoings for this example)
Car – (14 year old Fiat Panda 185K on clock) £0 Electricity – £40
Total – £40
Entertainment
BT broadband – £36
Mobile phone contract – £15
Amazon Prime – £9
Spotify – £12
Audible – £4.20 (12 month subscription on half price offer)
Total – £76
Personal – Health, Development, Fitness etc
Coaching – £75 (Monthly coaching and mentorship program)
Dentist (Gives 2 x Check ups and 2x hygienist appointments a year. Plus 10% off treatment costs) – £17
Total – £92
Micky’s Grand Total – £208
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My friend in comparison –
House and Car
Car payment (BMW) £250
Electric £100 (guessing)
Total – £350
Entertainment
Sky Broadband inc. Sports, Movies, Netflix – £130
Spotify – £12
Amazon Prime – £9
Mobile phone contract inc Watch £85
Total – £236
Personal – Health, Development, Fitness etc
Gym membership £20
Friend’s Grand Total – £606
A whopping £400 difference. We have a CHOICE. We can either choose to invest in our health, wellbeing and development OR we spend it all on things that are frankly, extravagant luxuries, that serve us very little purpose. Personally, not having seen a dentist for 3 years (my pal) is simply not an option. Driving a nice car? Well, great but if your people are judging you by what car you drive, then you simply aint the right kind of people for me. Peter says Hi!
