會過日子的10個聰明方法

1. Stop avoiding the problem and start being honest. Open the envelopes, call—or even better—visit your bank or broker. Be realistic. So many of us are living in the illusion of total scarcity. Look at what really did happen during the last few months. Get some help. You aren’t supposed to be an expert. Most of us feel intimidated when it comes to money, but the truth is we were never given a proper education about it. You’re not alone. Everyone feels the same way to some degree. But avoiding the subject of money would be like saying, learning to walk is too difficult, so I’m not going to do it. Learn the basics. You’ll feel more grounded. And make sure to hire a banker or accountant you feel good about.
1. 停止逃避問題，誠實的面對問題。打開信封，接起電話，或者做得更好些——擺放你的銀行或者經紀人。表現得現實一些，我們之中有太多人生活在對於完全缺乏認識的幻境之中。回顧過去幾個月中那些的的確確發生了的事情，尋求一些幫助。你不能假定自己就是一個專家。大多數人在涉及到金錢時感到害怕，但事實是我們從未給予關於金錢恰當的教育。你並不是一個人，每個人呢或多或少都會有相同的感受。但逃避今天的問題就好像說，學走路太麻煩了，所以我決定不走了。學習一些基本的知識，你會感覺更踏實，並且僱傭一個你信得過的銀行投資顧問或者會計。

2. Get organized. Know where your accounts, credit-card statements, insurance documents, will, etc. are. Most of us feel overwhelmed because we just don’t know where all of this stands. Often, it’s not the lack of money but more the general level of uncertainty and messiness around this topic.
2. 使生活有條理。知道自己的存摺，信用卡對賬單，保險合約，意向書等等放在哪裏。大多數人感到很沮喪僅僅因爲他們不知道這些東西放在哪裏了。通常，圍繞着這一話題的並不是缺少金錢，而是更爲普遍的不確定性和混亂性。

3. Review your statements. Get a feel for what you are spending. Where is your money really going? You may often find some errors and double charges. Look at hidden fees from all the bills you pay. Confirm that some of your regular income is going to a savings account on a monthly basis. If you have an investment account, take a close look at what you have: stocks, funds, bonds, cash, gold. Know what you have and then ask yourself how it feels. You don’t need to have a finance background to know whether your money situation is letting you sleep at night.
3. 回顧你的對賬單。對你把錢都花哪了有個概念，你的錢真正跑哪去了？你能經常發現一些錯誤已經重複收費，尤其看看你所付的賬單中所隱藏的費用。保證你每月穩定收入的一部分會進入你的儲蓄賬戶。如果你有一個投資賬戶，仔細的審視下你所有的投資品種：股票，基金，債券，現金，黃金等。知道你都有些什麼然後問問你自己你對這種感覺怎麼樣。你並不需要有一些金融背景就能知道你的資金狀況是否能讓自己在晚上睡個踏實覺。

4. Get back to basics. This applies to every area of your life. Do you need to be spending so much on margaritas? Do you need another pair of jeans or shoes? Do you need a gym membership in a hot club you never use? Everyone knows where they are "leaking" money. For some it's on clothes, others it's food, and others it's on personal beauty treatments. Ask yourself what changes you can make that only you would notice.
不要買自己不需要的。這條適合於你生活的各個領域，你是不是真的需要再買一條褲子或或者鞋子呢？

5. Find another source of income, in addition to your regular job. Can you find a way of creating something, consulting, writing, translating, editing, babysitting, taking care of an elderly person, promoting something, or organizing something? The possibilities are endless. Here’s a clue—look for a way to take away someone’s pain, or problem. That’s what people will pay money for. What are you really good at? What is easy for you? Stretch your identity of what else you might be able to do, other than your regular job. And if you are the creative type, which deep down we all are, think about writing an ebook on a subject you know a lot about. There are plenty of sites that will put it up for free. You can then be making money while you sleep. That’s the goal.
5. 在保持現有工作的同時找一些額外的收入來源。你能找到一些工作比如，製造，諮詢，寫作，翻譯，編輯，帶小孩，老年人看管，改進些什麼或者組織些什麼嗎？這種可能性是無限的，這裏提供一條線索——試試看解決某人的痛苦或者問題。這些就是人們會爲之付錢的事情。你擅長什麼？方便做什麼？把你自己的身份從一個你一直從事的擴展到其他你所能從事的。如果你是富有創意的哪一類人，那麼考慮寫一本關於你知道很多的話題的電子書。許多網站都會把它免費的放在線上。之後你就可以一邊在家安心睡覺一邊賺大錢了，當然，這是我們的終極目標。

6. Ask for discounts and special offers on everything. Think about how you can save on cable, phone bills, clothes, restaurants, or any work-related deals. Negotiate from the heart. Come from a place of authenticity and ask sincerely. You will be amazed at what you can receive.
6. 任何東西都要討價還價。想想你能從電視，手機賬單，衣服，酒店或者任何與工作有關的東西上省下多少錢吧。真心誠意的去和商家溝通，要足夠有誠意。你會被你所收穫的嚇一跳的。

6. Ask for discounts and special offers on everything. Think about how you can save on cable, phone bills, clothes, restaurants, or any work-related deals. Negotiate from the heart. Come from a place of authenticity and ask sincerely. You will be amazed at what you can receive.
7. 看看你周圍能賣的東西。對你來說是廢品的東西對別人來說可能就有價值。在那些你並不真正想要或者不再用的東西里藏着上千美元。是的，賣這些東西的確花點時間，但你能得到現金的回報，更整潔的房間以及騰出空間爲新的東西都值得你這麼做。

8. Not that this is a must, but if you had to radically downsize your life, how would you do this? Would you move? Would you cook more or grow your own food? What would you do? Just knowing this will push you to live differently, with a higher level of consciousness.
8. 這並不是必須，不過如果你不得不全面的降低你的生活質量你將怎麼做？你會搬家麼？你會自己種菜自己燒飯麼？你會做什麼？僅僅是知道這也會迫使你以一種不同的方式去生活，帶着一種更高的自主性去生活。

9. Take a look at your beliefs and emotions around money. Most of us picked these up from our parents. One of them was probably fearful or always worried. Maybe one of them over-spent or was in debt. Think about it. You are now an adult and don’t have to be loyal to their beliefs around money. If you do feel anxious about money, take a deep breath and ask yourself: “Where have I seen this before?” Commit to making a fresh start.
9. 注意你關於金錢的信念和情緒。大多數人從他們的父母那繼承了對金錢的信念和情緒。其中一些可能一直很恐懼或者擔憂，另外一些花錢大手大腳總是陷於債務之中。想想看，你現在是一個成年人並不需要對這些信念保持忠誠。如果你對金錢感到焦慮，深呼吸然後問你自己：“我以前在哪裏看過這種狀況？”嘗試一個新的開始。

10. Be grateful for what you do have. We have so much more than 95% of the planet. Bless what you have. Find ways of giving. If it's not money, give your time and your heart. The more you give, the more life finds ways to give back.
10. 感激你所擁有的。我已經擁有很多了，大約整個星球95%的資源。對你所擁有的感到感激。尋找一些施捨的機會。如果不是錢，那麼獻出你的時間以及你的真心。你給的越多，生活就會通過各種方法回饋你越多。