Being Broke Is Expensive

If you’re ballin’ on a budget, you’ll understand exactly what I’m about to talk about. Being broke – the magical state where your wallet is a wasteland and your bank account declared bankruptcy. We’ve all been there, the triumphant attempts at juggling your bills only to find that there is nothing left over. Sure, being broke is a finely crafted art form, but have you realized just how expensive it is? Yes, I said it. Being broke is expensive.

Broke is the New ‘Budget’

When you’re broke, suddenly everything in your life becomes an opportunity to save a buck. Who needs a lamp when you can use the flashlight on your cellphone? Cutting hair isn’t hard, right? And don’t get me started on the culinary creativity – everyone has a “gourmet” instant noodles recipe. What does it really end up costing you though? Sometimes it’s the cost of getting your hair fixed after it looked like someone hacked into it with a weedwacker – guilty! Perhaps it’s the cost of your health due to all the garbage you’ve been eating. Now, the repair guy has to charge you double due to the damage you caused with your DIY hacks.

The “Friendship Tax”

Ah, the ‘friendship tax’. Your friends invite you out and then they eat a portion of your food. At some point, being broke turns you into a connoisseur of excuses, and an aficionado of avoiding any social situation that might involve ‘splitting the bill’. With the rise of inflation, the dollar menu isn’t even a dollar anymore, its a ‘value’ menu, and that $20 you spent on your ‘value meal’ ended up costing you $50 because you decided to throw it on the credit card.

The Domino Effect

“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”

Murphy’s Law

Picture this: You’re broke, so you can’t fix your car. Now you have to take the bus. However, the bus is late, causing you to be late for work. Next thing you know, you’re at HR returning your badge, and now you’re even broker because you don’t have a job. You can barely afford the value menu, you’re back to DIY haircuts, and indulging in culinary-inspired top ramen. You can barely keep the roof over your head, and the bills start falling behind. Finally, you land a new job. Congratulations! You think you’ll check out one of those debt consolidation loans and get your life back together. Psych! Your credit score is garbage, and either no one is willing to lend to you or they’re asking for a ridiculous interest rate. As you can see, the cycle is relentless.

The Lesson Money Teaches

So let’s pause for a moment and acknowledge the real lesson here – money matters. There are moments where the struggle is real, and the costs, both financial and emotional, can pile up faster than your laundry basket. It’s not just about buying the latest tech, dining at trendy restaurants, or and staying in overwater bungalows. Money gives you security, opportunities, and the freedom to pursue your passions without constantly checking your bank balance. So, while we can laugh about the absurdity of being broke, we also recognize the importance of taking control of our finances. Money isn’t everything, but it’s definitely something. So, let’s raise our ramen bowls and repeat this affirmation:

“I am the master of my wealth!”