What do we mean by that? We mean that people in general have difficulty saying “no” to events. And not only that, they feel compelled to give a reason when they do.
“No, sorry, I can’t because I have to take the dog to the vet.”
“No, sorry, I can’t make it that night, I have a 50th on.”
“No, sorry, I’d really love to but I am so busy that day.”
Sound familiar? Don’t worry, us too. People are conditioned to say yes. And often, the event they’re saying yes to might not even be something they want to attend.
Although that cousin’s friend’s mum’s 70th birthday in Tuscany might not exactly be the number one priority, many would go simply to avoid saying no or to avoid conflict.
But here’s the thing – “No” can be a complete sentence. You don’t need an excuse. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Do you really want to go to that expensive wedding in Fiji? Maybe it would be nice, but perhaps you’d rather spend your time and money elsewhere.
And that is completely your choice.
If you are trying hard to save for your retirement and need to make some trade offs, saying “no” is going to have to become more of a regular thing. Within reason, of course – you might find yourself in hot water if you say no to your own son’s wedding!
You might even find that saying no to an event might be well-received on the other end due to finances – especially if that event is a wedding.
If you’re like Dallas, it’s easy to say “no” to any situation. But for those of you who struggle with it – learn to say “no” and stick to it! There’s no need to make excuses or feel guilty. And if you’re really stuck, you can blame it on being forced to put extra money into your super – or you can simply say “Dallas and Michael made me do it!”
Click here to listen to the related podcast.