Good habits improve our physical, emotional, and/or financial health. Select one of your good habits and
write an essay persuading readers to make that habit a part of their lives.
When I was fifteen, I wanted to get a job so I could buy a car when I turned sixteen. My father sat me
down at the kitchen table and said, "Excellent. But only on one condition: 10% of every paycheck must go
into a savings account. And you cannot touch that money except in an emergency."
"But Dad," I argued, "If I have to put 10% away, how will I ever save enough money to buy a car?"
"You'll have enough," he replied. "And you'll soon see how important it is to set money aside for savings."
I didn't believe him at the time, and in fact I often resented having to put that 10% in a separate account.
But two years later when the transmission on my car blew, I didn't have to fret about coming up with the
money for repairs. I was able to cover the cost easily and was back on the road in no time. It was then
that I began to see the wisdom of my father's rule, which I adopted as my own. This habit has helped to
give me a secure financial life, and I urge you to make this practice part of your life.
Ten percent of each paycheck may sound like a lot, and if you're on a tight budget to begin with, you might
be thinking, "I just can't afford to do it." In truth, you can't afford not to do it. You never know when you are
going to need an extra $100 or $1,000; life is full of surprises, and lots of them are expensive. You can
afford to do this. In fact, you can't afford not to do this.
As tight as your budget may be, it's important to get started right away. If you are absolutely scraping by
with every last penny going to bills, then start with just 5%, but move up to 10% as soon as you can. If you
earn $500 a week, for example, put $25¨C$50 in your savings account each week. At first, this may mean
clipping coupons, renting a movie instead of going to the theater, or pressing your own shirts instead of
taking them to the cleaner. Think carefully about ways you can save just a few dollars،ھbecause just a few
dollars from each paycheck is all it takes to build up a solid savings account.
The money you save will add up quickly. For example, if your annual salary is $40,000, each year, you
would put $4,000 into your savings account. That still leaves you with $36,000 to cover all of your
expenses. After ten years, you will have saved $40,000, plus interest. And the more money in your
account, the more interest you earn, the larger your emergency fund, the more you can afford to relax later
in your life.
Once you get in the habit of putting 10% of your money into savings, it won't feel like a sacrifice. The 90%
that's left will be your working budget, and you won't even miss that 10% because you won't be used to
spending it. Yet you will know that it is there, ready for an emergency, helping to keep you financially
secure. So take my father's advice, and mine: Put a piece of each paycheck into your savings. It's a habit
that's worth every penny.
المفضلات