If you are passionate about teaching, then Hackberry offers you franchise opportunities to turn this passion into your profession. Fill out the form now!
Financial discipline comes from learning how to manage one’s money. This is how women can have power in the household, society, economy.
“I don’t have money. Well, I never have. And I dread end-of-the-months because somehow I am broke by then,” says Nithya, an IT consultant and a friend. She is 35 years old and has been earning for around 15 years. Nithya is financially independent and to some extent quite affluent too.
This is not a one off situation. A lot of my friends are financially independent and work at high-paying jobs. But by the end of the month, they are either broke or end up borrowing money from others to sail through. That is because they mostly focus on being financially independent instead of financially disciplined.
Financial discipline comes from learning how to manage one’s money. This is the only way women can have power in the household, society, economy.
It may sound a little old school and maybe it is. But there is a thing or two to learn from our older generation. Especially from the women. Our mothers were either homemakers, or were paid minimum wages as opposed to the men.
That is why, they were always very strict with money. They knew that they had a limited amount of either their husbands’ money or their own to splurge. Which was what they did less of – splurging.
Growing up, like many girls, I dreamt of becoming financially independent. Of earning so much I could do whatever I was held back from doing. My mother, an educated homemaker, had brought us up like any financially-strict parent would.
She would never give us extra. We could afford it, but she wouldn’t spoil us. It’s not like we didn’t deserve it either, we really had to prove our worth to win anything extra as a reward. No doubt we hated it.
Looking at other kids in school with five different types of pencils, when we only had one, wasn’t very encouraging. It was only natural to dream of earning one day and splurging. Because, that meant freedom.
It was only when I started earning that I realised what she did to us was not unnecessary. She taught us discipline.
Mom involved us in monthly financial budget discussions. Asked us to take turns in buying groceries or vegetables in order to share our father’s burden. And taught us to bargain.
Mom would ask us repeatedly if we were absolutely certain about buying something we said we wanted. She encouraged us to open bank accounts at the age of 16 and pestered us to buy policies and make investments at 26.
These small steps taught us life lessons. In the process, we became adults. And responsible. We realised we had to prioritise. Or it would never be enough.
This discipline has helped me survive job losses, recession, inflation, and other economic hardships.
It is all very tempting to earn money to splurge. Because, becoming financially dependent comes with a prejudiced notion that it is my money. But, we have to constantly ask ourselves if it really is freedom or is there more?
We have to constantly prioritise need from want. And we have to differentiate between spending on something worthwhile and splurging on something frivolous.
We must always remember that we women, are also the earning members of the family. While our fathers, brothers, or husbands earn and take care of most of the expenses, we can save our money for the rainy days. We should be mindful about being equally responsible as financial contributors to the country’s economy.
Imagine if we never had the freedom to be financially independent like our mothers or our grandmothers? What would we do? We need to understand that financial independence does not mean real independence. Financial discipline does. That brings sustainability.
This is for us. Absolutely for us. The discipline is in our hands as much as earning money is.
Picture credits: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
Copywriter by choice. Dreamer by birth. Observer of society. Views are personal. Volunteer at BYOB Bangalore Chapter. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, indivisual posts do not necessarily represent the platofrom's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Before expecting the daughter in law to love, respect and accept the new family, it is only fair that the family demonstrates all of these first.
If you are a married Indian woman, one of the first words you hear from your in laws is that you are now a daughter of the house. How true is that statement though? Are daughters in law really treated as daughters or is this only lip service?
A friend recently confided how hurt she felt when she wanted to visit her in-laws along with her husband but was told not to, because the in-laws wanted time alone with their son. Naturally, she was taken aback since she had always been fed this trope – that she was the daughter, not the daughter in law. Why then this sudden keeping at arm’s distance? Would a son in law ever be told not to accompany his wife on her visit to her parents because they wanted quality time with their daughter? That is unimaginable in a patriarchal society.
It is ok to want time alone with the married offspring but how does that meld into the Indian family system, where independent choices are less important than the whole family coming together?
Chhorii starring Nushrratt Bharuccha is another horror movie challenging the patriarchal standards that persist in society!
Adding to the list of horror movies that use the genre to challenge patriarchal standards, Chhorii is a scathing look at the so-called moral standards using which women are judged and turned into ‘witches’.
When does a chhorii (girl) become a chudail (witch)? Like the brilliant Bulbul from last year, Chhorii asks this question poignantly, making us search deep within ourselves for the answer. Bulbul becomes a witch in order to protect the women and girls of her village when she dies after suffering patriarchal torture at the hands of her husband and brother-in-law. Why is the witch in Chhorii a witch?
An amazing Nushrratt Bharuccha stars as Sakshi, a pregnant woman who comes to a remote village with her husband to escape loan sharks. But all is not right there, and Sakshi can sense it. The real horror is the patriarchal nature of their hosts, rather than the supernatural beings. Will Sakshi be able to escape with her and her unborn child’s lives? Watch Chhorii (now streaming on Amazon Prime Video) to find out.
Financial independence does a lot more for women than just help meet the expenses. A take on the need for women to be financially independent.
It’s been four months to my marriage. After marriage I continued my job in the same company, living in the same city and my focus on career is still the same as earlier, thanks to my husband. So unlike the majority of women, my life didn’t change much after marriage.
It feels good to be surrounded by a loving husband and rely on him for my day to day needs. But at the same time I think it is extremely important to be financially independent and have the confidence to manage my own expenses when needed.
To achieve your dreams and goals, you need to be financially fit and independent. Here are 6 tried and trusted ways to stay independent!
We all have certain dreams and goals we want to achieve. Whether it is to start your own business, take a trip to Europe or retire early, you must plan in advance to counter any obstacles that may come your way.
Wealth building largely depends on habit, the foundation of which is built on solid financial behaviour. Whether you have to plan for these yourself or have a sounding board in the form of a companion, here are some ways you can stay financially fit