Health

Eat healthy, exercise, get enough rest, and don’t poison your body. You’ve heard it before and you’re hearing it again here. Why? Because it’s the best health advice there is. Since expenses from medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United Sates, it’s also some of the best financial advice there is. If you do all these things, you significantly lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, liver disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and going broke treating them!! Don’t waste money looking for the fake quick fixes of fad diets, gym memberships, fancy sleep equipment, or detoxes. Keep it simple and take it slow. Where improvement needs to be made, keep a daily journal of it. Don’t try to change anything, just keep track for a couple weeks. Then, take a look at the big picture, take note of the spots that need fixing, and act accordingly. Continue with the journal and enjoy tracking your progress!

Another important preventative measure is having at least some form of health insurance. If you’re poor, one of the best types you can have is a catastrophic plan with an attached health savings account. That way, you’re protected against unseen accidents and diagnoses, and you also can save some funds for routine care and tests. Plenty of people get away with having no insurance, but do you really want to take the chance of suddenly having a condition that costs thousands or even millions to treat? Health insurance is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

This puppy has peace of mind. Doesn’t he? Doesn’t he? Awwww, yes he does!!

Relationships–Staying Drama Free

Being poor is stressful enough without also having to deal with drama in your life. Grudges, rivalries, mistrust, fights, and all the rest that comes with having bad blood between you and others—who needs that? And while you can’t easily control what the people in your life will do, you can control what you do. Making sure that you have positive relationships with your friends and family will go a long way toward helping you be happy, whether you’re a prince or a pauper. Some suggestions:

 Be a good friend—and ditch your bad friends. Listen to your friends. Do things both of you like to do. Tell only the truth. Follow through when you say you’ll be there. Help them when they’re in trouble. Make them laugh when they’re down. Break the hard truth to them if they need it. Use no one. Encourage them to be the best they can be. And if you have “friends” who use you, or lie, or don’t follow through—well, with friends like that, you don’t need enemies. Lose ’em. Not worth it.

Neither a borrower nor a lender be–especially if you’re poor! Because it might be harder than you think to repay your family, and you can’t afford to lose the $50 you loaned to a friend. An outstanding debt between two people quickly changes the relationship, usually for the worse. Make a rule for yourself to borrow from no one but the bank and to loan money only if you’re just as willing to give it away.

Don’t have a child with someone you don’t 100% trust. Your children are important. They deserve to have nice parents who don’t hate each other. So, think carefully before you jump into the sack with someone. Think how long it took to know that your best friend was trustworthy, and use birth control—excellent birth control—with a partner until you’ve known them at least that long. Because anyone can look trustworthy if you’re horny or lonely enough. Time will tell you the truth about how this person handles stress, relationships, and responsibility. Your other friends and family will, too. Listen to them.

Know how to be an excellent housemate. Be it your significant other, friend, family, or  random guy from the apartment listing, it’s important to maintain a positive relationship with the person or people you’re living with. After all, you’re going to see them every day. Do more than your fair share of household chores. Score brownie points and buy them milk when they’re out. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink. Be the first to take out the garbage. Respect their space and their wishes regarding noise and guests. Master the art of politely requesting that they change particularly bad behavior. And never underestimate the importance of time away from each other. Too much time cooped up together guarantees arguments. (Remember siblings?) Upon moving in, make sure terms are clear, especially who pays what, rules, and length of stay. Plan ahead and pay your fair share on time, without excuses. If there’s a problem, make arrangements with the landlord/lady, not your housemate. Don’t pay someone else’s rent and expect to get your money back. If they can’t afford rent, they sure can’t afford to pay you back.