Maybe you have some debt.  Maybe you have a lot of debt.  Maybe you’re living a life that you can’t afford.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t change your situation. Every single one of you has the ability to be frugal.  You all have the ability to say “No” to an expenditure now and again.

But often there are ways we hold ourselves back from reaching our true frugal potential.   Here are a few of the excuses we use:

Time. It takes too much time to be frugal.  Who has the time to clip coupons? Make homemade cleaners? Bake Bread?  Plant a garden?

Money. I’ll put this on the credit card and pay it off next month.  This shirt is such a good deal, it would be stupid not to buy it.   You only live once, so you may as well spend it now.  I’m so in debt now, what difference does it make?

Friends. My friends invited me to this great restaurant.  It’s really hard to get a reservation and it’s expensive.  I can’t let them down by not going.   My friend bought this really great pair of shoes and now they’re on sale.  I should get a pair.  She says they’re great.

Family.  My brother just totaled his car and needs to get to work and is asking for money again.   My family says it’s a waste of time to try to get out of debt.

These excuses (and I’m sure you can think of a few of your own) start to fester in our hearts and ultimately keep us from attaining our goals.

What I’ve found is that the minute I stop saying “I can’t do that because….”  and start saying, “What if I did….”  I found that a lot of the woulda-coulda-shouldas get done  a lot sooner.

For example:

Time.  Frugality, just like any sport or hobby takes practice.  The more you practice, the better you get at it, and you start to come up with ways to streamline the process.  Coupon clipping doesn’t have to take a lot of time.   Making home cooked dinners doesn’t have to a major ordeal.   Start telling yourself that a few minutes of your time now can add up to a few bucks later.

Money. So you’re broke. Wallowing in your pity is a waste of time.  Being broke can be good because it forces you to be creative. When we have more money in our wallets, we tend to spend more.  If our wallets are nearly empty, we’re motivated to put some money in them and keep the money that’s already there.   Stop worrying about what you don’t have and focus on what you do.

Friends. Suggest activities you could do together that cost little or no money.  Check your community for free entertainment, host a game night, or throw a potluck dinner instead of a expensive meal at a restaurant.

Family. Ignore them when they say living debt-free can’t be done.  Learn to say no to family members who ask for money. Instead teach them to live frugally, and it will make your family stronger.

When it comes to your finances, you have to stop the “If only” statements right at the door.  Start looking at all of the positive things you have and it will be easier to let go of what you don’t.