(New York Times) — Most of us have limited resources, like time, money, energy and skills. At the same time, we have needs, goals and dreams. All too often they exceed the limited resources we have, so balancing these two areas of our personal economy can be tricky. We also need to understand that over time both of these circles change. Sometimes the resources we have will be greater and allow us to do more of the things we want. Other times our needs and wants will seem to dwarf the limited resources we have to throw at them. But it’s not something that we decide once and then check off the list. It’s a challenge we have to revisit regularly. So here’s how to think about both of the circles. First, we need to stop focusing on things outside our control. When we do that, we miss opportunities during both good times and bad (like now) to find our financial balance. Don’t put off making important and necessary adjustments, because no one else will do it for you.
