In today’s economy, with so many people losing their jobs and others being forced to accept pay cuts so as not to lose their jobs, having a high income is far-fetched. Most people have to make ends meet on a low income, and that is not easy, for many reasons.
How a low income can be stressful
You have to rethink about entertainment
When having to deal with a low income, entertainment has to take a back seat. Under these difficult circumstances, it is a considered a luxury to spend money on the theater, the movies, or on expensive restaurants, a luxury that you cannot afford. Therefore, you are forced to decline invitations from friends on a regular basis, running the risk of keeping a distance from them, or even losing them for good, as they may take this personally (which is understandable, considering that it is not easy to talk about financial problems). Even if you accept some of those invitations, you will not really enjoy yourself, as you will be struggling to find ways to pay less,and you will be worrying about making a fool out of yourself, if you are ultimately asked to pay more than you can afford.
You worry about bills
When having a low income, it is only natural to worry about whether you will be able to pay your bills on time. If every month you struggle to pay at least the minimum payment, then it is understandable to feel stressed out over this. If that continues for long, you may find yourself unable to sleep well at night, or enjoy any other activity during the day, as this concern will be with you no matter where you go, no matter what you do.
You are unable to proceed with big purchases
If you struggle to make ends meet with a low income, then you will be unable to proceed with big purchases that are either necessary, or simply important to you. If for example you enjoy travelling abroad, you will not be able to do that, at least not as often or for as long as you would like. Even if you do manage to find a travel deal suited to your needs, you will still have to settle for the least you can get, sacrificing your quality standards in the process. If you need to buy a new laptop, you will either have to postpone it, or settle for an old, used one.
Having a low income can be stressful, sometimes more stressful than you can handle. It is up to you to make the best of a bad situation, and adjust successfully to the new rules that have been set.