The Covid-19 lock down is unprecedented in our lives. No one including my grandpa, who is 93, could remember a time when all in the country, nay the entire world, were forced to be at home for such a long period; 21 days.
There have been times during the famine in early 1970s when people were asked to skip a meal, festivities were restricted to minimum number of people, etc. But now there are no such financial restrictions. Food or money are not the restriction.
FINANCIAL WELLNESS AND EXPENSES
One of the key aspects of Financial Wellness is managing Expenses.
I classify expenses into 3 categories: Needs, Wants and Unwanted. In Tamil they fall in nicely as Athyavasiyam, Avasiyam and Anavasiyam. This is the 3As formula that I discuss in detail during my Workshops. More on this in another article.
I challenge that just by paying attention to the Anavasiyam category items alone significant savings can be achieved.
COVID-19 LIFESTYLE AND LEARNING
The Covid-19 lock down has come as a time for introspection to understand and recognize the Anavasiyam expenses. During this period this category would have come down next to zero. There are no casual eating outs, no casual outings that lead to casual purchases, no time pass purchases on Amazon or Flipkart, no festivals which again lead to unwanted purchases.
This lock down has brought a lot of focus on needs and wants. We are spending more time with family, taking up courses that we postponed as we did not have ‘time’, everyone is discovering the chef inside us (most of us are loving it too), entertainment is happening inside the house itself without expenses and exercises also in-house (many have started exercising for the first time).
The most important thing, I hope many would have realized by now, is that true happiness is not actually in spending money.
FINANCIAL WELLNESS AHEAD
Just make this life style a habit, to a greater extent. I agree one could not maintain the same lock down life style forever. Who would want to miss the first day first show of your favourite actor, or the latest eatery in your favourite mall?
But I am sure the benefits of understanding that we can live happily by spending less, exercising, learning new things and by connecting with family members are enormous learning.
The benefits are not only Financial Wellness but also Spiritual, Mental, Physical, Social and Career Wellness.
These bring the Abundance of the Universe closer to us. I am feeling Spiritual writing this article. Thanks COVID-19 for helping us know ourselves better.
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