The cost of living is our daily reality, affecting every aspect of our lives. For me, it is even more complicated because I live in two different regions. My family lives in the south of the country, and I live in a northern part of the country. People in the two places have different lifestyles, different sources of income, and even different prices for daily necessities. While some products are relatively cheap in the southern cities, the same products are much more expensive in the northern cities. Similarly, there is a big difference in transportation costs or house rent. But the interesting thing is that at the end of the day, my expenses in both places remain almost the same. Because I follow a specific spending schedule in both places, so that my expenses are in line with my income.
Many people think that if the expenses are high, then moving to a new place may reduce the expenses. However, the reality is that adapting to a new environment, creating new opportunities, and maintaining a standard of living are all difficult. Food and housing may be cheaper when moving from the city to the countryside, but basic amenities such as good healthcare, job opportunities, or education may not be as developed there. Again, if someone moves to a developed city, even though the income potential increases, the amount of expenses also increases rapidly. As a result, changing location alone is not a permanent solution to reduce the burden of expenses, but we need proper planning and money management skills.
We often hear, ‘Money is the key to happiness.’ But in reality, life does not become easy just by having money, but rather you need to know how to use it properly. Some people can live comfortably with a low income through financial planning, while others can live in a tight spot at the end of the month even if they earn more. In other words, the quality of life depends not only on income, but also on expense management.
In addition, there is a misconception in our society that to be happy, you have to have a huge income. But the real mantra of being happy is to plan how to make life easier within your means. I always believe that even if you earn hard, if you cannot determine the expenses properly, that income will never bring peace.
To improve in life, you should not only think about reducing expenses; Rather, it is most important to improve your skills, create new ways of earning, and be dedicated to hard work. There is no alternative to work during any crisis. Working increases your income opportunities, and increasing your income improves your quality of life. Therefore, instead of getting discouraged, we should plan to live well despite hardships and make our lives better.
