This book provides a roadmap to financial freedom by educating the reader on ways to understand why they spend what they do and how to modify their spending habits. The reader will learn to improve their personal finances and gain financial freedom by building a balance between what they need and what they have.
While most people think more money is the path to financial freedom, research shows that is not the case. Instead, human nature, marketers, and readily-available credit work to make us quickly adapt to every increase in income, then ratchet up our lifestyle and spending. Short-term gratification overpowers long-term goals. As a result, only about 46% of Americans are thriving financially.
Research also shows that financial stress can negatively affect our decision-making capacity, leaving us susceptible to poor financial decisions and even more financial stress. Reducing this stress can improve many areas of our lives, our physical and mental health, as well as our relationships with others.
The Balancing Act shows us the way to financial freedom, reducing the stress of not having enough and finding contentment, rather than being caught up in the rat race of continually striving for more.
Readers will learn how the science of behavioral economics is important to understanding their spending behaviors, and methods to overcome their tendency towards irrational decisions. The book includes a number of techniques and tools to help the reader manage their spending, eliminate debt, and stay on track to reach their goals.
Through the prioritize and compromise process, readers can create a budget that builds a margin between what they have and what they spend. This margin then becomes a positive feedback loop, building wealth that can be used to achieve their goals, further reduce stress and--with the continued discipline of living below their means--sustainably increase their lifestyle. Ultimately, readers will be empowered to manage their spending in ways that are most meaningful to them, achieve their long-term goals, reduce stress and create financial freedom.
