到底为什么？ What is happening?

载自新洲日报投资致富2019年8月19日第24页

看到这标题体，你有什么感想？你是否也面对同样的窘境，甚至有过之而无不及？

就一般而言，我们必须拥有至少三个月的生活费的值作为紧急基金。重点来了。何谓生活费？这必须包括衣食住行的基本需求但不包含不必要的花费。如果能累计到六个月的生活费的值那会更好。但以此文章而言，看来半个月的需要都拿不出来。为什么呢？这只有从你的日常消费来找出个所以然。除非你有记帐的习惯，要不是不可能完成的。

从日常帐目中，寻找那些没必要的消费。小心研究是否可以避免或减少。我的建议是那些适当有意义的消费（如旅游，親子，家庭聚餐等等）可以加以控制。若因为省钱而完全没适当的娱乐，人生也没什么意义了。

再来就是债务重整。在债务方面，你必须务实。尤其必须避免无意义的债务（如信用卡）。在来就是如何尽快解决大债务如房贷。唯一能做的就是能够存多少，尽可能将房贷尽早缴清。我个人就是用这方法将房贷在五年内缴清。在这五年里，我的确过得很清寒。但对我而言，辛苦也不过这五年。而且当时我还年轻，也没家庭负担（还没成家立室）。所以，我建议那些还没结婚成家的年轻人，就让你的年轻吃点苦，以后的日子也会好过些。我就因为在31岁时已将房贷供清，下来我便可以专注在财务累计上，才能成就我今日的财务自由，才能做回我自己。也就是说，时间绝对是你财务成功的朋友。越早开始，成功地几率就越大。

我身边有许多朋友到了我这年龄，都羡慕我能这么早得到自由。我反问他们当我在年轻时为房贷缩衣简食时，他们在干什么？他们说在享受花费带来的快乐。这就是因。现快乐，辛苦就随之而来。中国人有一句话说得好：先苦后甜。我对这句话深信不疑。

现在就别再没方向了，快点设定你的财务目标，划定你的财务路线图，脚踏实地去执行吧！

This Chinese article is talking about an average American can't even take out RM1,680 (US$400) immediately if required. What do you think about this? Are you facing the same dilemma, or even worse?

In general, we must have a minimum of three months of living expenses as an emergency fund. What is the cost of living? This must include the basic needs of food, clothing, housing and transportation but exclude unnecessary expenses. It would be better if you could accumulate the value of living expenses for six months. But in this article, it seems like average American can't even take out half a month's needs. Why? This is only can be found out from your daily consumption. You could only complete this by having the habit of tracking your expenses.

From the daily expenses records, look for those are not necessary items. Carefully study whether they can be avoided or reduced or not. My advice is that appropriate and meaningful consumption (such as travel, family gathering etc.) can be controlled. If there is no proper entertainment for the sack of savings, life will become  meaningless.

Then there is debt restructuring. In terms of debt, you must be pragmatic. In particular, it is necessary to avoid meaningless debts (such as credit cards). It is important to reduce huge debts such as mortgages as soon as possible. The only thing that can be done is fully utilize how much you saved and pay as much as possible for the mortgage as soon as possible. I personally use this method to payoff my mortgage within five years. During this five years period, I lived frugally. But for me, I only suffered in that five years. Further, I was young and I didn't have a family burden (I was yet to get married). Therefore, I suggest young people who have not yet married to work hard for your better future. I have already cleared my mortgage at the age of 31. Therefore, I can focus on the financial accumulation. This is how I achieve my financial freedom today and be my own. In other words, time is definitely a friend of your financial success. The sooner you start, the greater your chances of success.

Many of my friends with similar age are envying me able to be free so early. I asked them what they were doing when I was a young and focusing on clearing my mortgage. They say that they enjoyed the joy of spending. So, this is the cause. There is a Chinese proverb that says work hard now and enjoy later. I am fully convinced on this.

So set your financial goals, draw your financial roadmap, and implement it at no time!