I apologize in advance, but this is another one of my rants. That last post got me heated. There are very few words that get on my nerves more than “need.” I won’t explain why again – I covered that a bit this morning. But here are a few more words and phrases that drive me crazy when they enter any discussion about personal finance! I need to get them off my chest. You need to get them out of your vocabulary! They’ll cost you money!
So here they are, with an example of how not to use them in a sentence:
Nice
That’s “nice,” as in “I think we should have a nice wedding.” Nice, in this context does not mean “nice.” It means expensive, wasteful (and possibly tacky)! I could do a whole blog on planning a wedding (Yes, an entire blog, not just a post. I won’t though. There would be way too many rants…). I have to tell you, my wife and I definitely had a “nice” wedding. But my greatest memories have nothing to do with the fancy food, “special lighting,” “candy bar,” “custom dessert table” or any of that. I have one distinct memory that I replay in my mind over and over again. It was our first dance. Everyone disappeared. We were the only two people in the world. Our foreheads were pressed together for what seemed like an eternity and then, at the same time, we gave each other a kiss and a smile. That was nice.
Should
That’s “should” as in “We really should go to that destination wedding for my seventh cousin thrice removed (is that possible?). We haven’t seen her in years and she only invited ninety-three people.” This is often used as a crutch by people trying to make an excuse for over spending or people who are too much of a wimp to say no. Get some guts! You can do it! The first time you say no will be the toughest. After two or three times, you’ll be fine. And “old you” will thank you for not wasting my by being a wimp. 
Deserve
That’s “deserve,” as in “I deserve to drive a BMW. I have been driving a used Geo for the last ten years.” This may sound cold, but there is very little anyone “deserves” – especially the type of car they drive. I’m sorry. I drove a used Geo for 13 years! And I don’t drive a BMW now! Financial decisions have little to nothing to do with what you may or may not “deserve.” They have to do with what you actually need or can afford.
The payments
That’s “the payments,” as in “how much are” or “can I make” the payments. If there is one phrase to remove from your vocabulary that could help you more than any others, it’s probably this one. Pay for stuff. Don’t make payments on stuff! Living by this mantra almost forces you to prioritize what you buy because once you run out of money to pay with, you’re done. No more money. No more spending. No credit cards. No “zero percent interest if paid in full within 12 months.” No “interest.” So you almost have to spend more responsibly when you “pay” instead of “make payments.” Replace “payments” with “pay” as a concept and you’ll be on your way.
I’ll stop there for now. Thanks for listening
It’s certainly not a complete list, so feel free to add yours in the comments. What did I miss? What words or phrases have cost you the most money?
I also have one that shouldn’t cost you a penny. You guessed it – put your credit card down and slowly step away from the mall!
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