Whether you have just gotten married or have a family to support, everyone is advised to set and stick to a budget. You should always take care of the necessities first, but there are those little ‘grey’ areas we sometimes skimp on because we deem them less than important. Here are five things you shouldn’t sacrifice when making a budget.
1. Healthy Meals
You can’t do much if you are undernourished and constantly coming down with something because you lack the proper nutrients in your diet. No, you don’t need to live on steak and caviar, but you do need to have plenty of fresh veggies and fruits, red meat twice weekly, and slow burn carbs. If you plan for healthy foods on your budget, you’ll do better all the way around.
2. Health Insurance and Prescription Medications
Since the Affordable Care Act, more Americans have health insurance than ever before, but at what cost? If the current president passes the legislation he proposed during his 2016 campaign, some Americans may finally be free to choose affordable healthcare because competition will be on the rise once again. Always set aside a budget for health insurance and prescription medications because your very life could depend upon it.
3. A Good Education
Many families simply don’t set aside money for a good education for their children. This is a grave mistake because your child’s future depends on learning the right skills for a career. It doesn’t mean you need to save the absurdly high cost of med school, but you can certainly put your son or daughter through vocational training, such as that found on best-hvactraining.com. No matter whether you live in a warm or cold climate, HVAC is one industry which continues to thrive, so job security is a given.
4. Personal Hygiene Products
Some families cut way back on personal hygiene products in an effort to save money or make ends meet in other areas. Perhaps it would be better to cut a little off your clothing budget, but personal hygiene is an absolute must. You need soap, deodorant, toothpaste and other items which keep you clean and ready to face each new day. Did you know that lack of good hygiene is responsible for a huge number of illnesses being spread? If you want to stay healthy, remember what they say about cleanliness.
5. A Small Budget for Entertainment
Finally, this is the one item so many people sacrifice on their budgets. You may not believe this, but you can’t go through life working with little to no entertainment. While it isn’t necessary to set back enough for a trip to NYC and a Broadway show every month, you could always save enough to order a cheap pay-per-view on TV or even set aside a budget for cable in the first place! Remember, there is an odd ring of truth in that old adage, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” There is ample clinical and scientific evidence that proves we all need a break, so keep back a small amount to ensure you have time to enjoy life.
A budget is important; that’s a given. So, it is important to save money where you can however, there are some things you just can’t sacrifice and these five top the list.
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