Angela Ardis



The catchy phrase, “I don’t have two cents to rub together” is notorious in many households. However, as cliché as it sounds, we all have two cents to rub together. We’re just not being accountable, to ourselves, for where they’re being rubbed.

In looking at your finances and household responsibilities, it may seem as if there will never be what most call extra money. Extra money is excess money used to do little things that the kids want to do; it’s that money that can determine if you’re able to get your hair and nails done; it’s that money that may enable you to purchase items that you’ve been longing for or items you’ve been looking at.

Extra money, can also determine if you can purchase another CD or invest in your IRA or put something more into your savings accounts or even pay down a bill. As much as people would like to think they don’t have two cents to rub together, the reality is that EVERYONE has two cents to rub together.

Cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, fast food, compulsive shopping, vending machine purchases, and lunches bought everyday, are just a few of the many indulgences that equal two cents being rubbed together.

On a personal note, I enjoy Starbucks Frappuccino.

However, it costs $4.61 every time I indulge. Normally, I have one four or five times a week. That means I’m spending $18.44-$23.05 weekly at Starbucks. In a month, I would have spent $73.76-$92.20. In a year, the totals come to $885.12-$1,106.40. It looks crazy on paper but the reality is that per month I’m spending as much, if not more, than I do on my electric bill on coffee. Moderation and budget would make these numbers look a bit less absurd.

I challenge everyone reading to cut down on indulgences for one week. Instead, set aside the money that you would normally spend if you were indulging fully and combine that money with any spare change you have at the end of the day. For example, if you have an impulse to buy a pair of shoes for $100 resist buying the shoes and place the $100 in a jar with your spare change. By the end of the week you are likely to have saved more of YOUR money than you would have thought possible over such a short period of time.

It’s so easy to NOT see the big picture because we get blinded by the need for Starbucks, or cigarettes, or shoes. But the reality is, not only do we have two cents to rub, but we have $5.00 to rub, $20 to rub. Our finances are all about the choices and excuses we make on a daily basis. Having the shoes that you’ve budgeted for and having them on impulse are two different choices.

Try the challenge for one week and see what your jar looks like. If you cheat, I want to know that you did. If you bought something else besides your impulse, I want to know. It’s as simple as going to the grocery store to buy toilet paper and you buy a pack of cookies ($3.50) and some ice cream ($5.00) too. In this example, you spent an extra $8.50 that could have gone into your jar. If you did not budget for cookies and ice cream, those items should not wind up in your basket! It’s that simple to save.
Let me say I have my issues also and I am not pointing fingers at anyone, but just try it, I challenge you.

Angela Ardis is the author of “Inside a Thug’s Heart,” “My Mind’s Poetry” and the upcoming “The Block.” To contact Angela Ardis visit www.AngelaArdis.com or send emails to: info@AngelaArdis.com