18
Diversity Rules Magazine
March 2020
Joey Amato is the
publisher of Frugay-
ity, a personal finance
advice website geared
towards helping the
LGBTQ community
live a more frugal life
and save for the fu-
ture. Amato has been
in LGBTQ media for
over a decade, hav-
ing published his own
lifestyle magazine
UNITE in Nashville
and Indianapolis. He
is also the publisher
of Pride Journeys,
a syndicated LGBTQ
travel column and website. For more informa on,
visit www.frugayity.com
We are almost two full months into the new year
and now is the perfect me to look back on those
resolu ons you made on New Year's Day and ask
yourself which ones are worth keeping and which
ones can be scratched off your list. Let's face it,
we all make resolu ons that just aren't realis c.
Instead of se ng yourself up for failure at the end
of the year, get rid of the burden now and focus on
the resolu ons that are truly the most important
and achievable.
Earlier this week, I was listening to two of my
neighbors' chat in the elevator and within that 30
second ride, I heard the struggle and anguish they
were both going through financially. I wanted to
say something and offer some advice, but I was
dressed in my gym a re and didn't think they
would take me seriously. It's crazy to think about
how many people in this country live paycheck to
paycheck without even a hundred dollars saved in
the bank. What happens in the event of an emer-
gency? I guess people rely on Mr. Visa and Mr.
Mastercard. This is a scary way to live, but I am not
sure exactly how to help these people.
You can say, 'get a side hustle', but most of the peo-
ple living paycheck to paycheck are working all day
and usually mentally drained by the me they get
home, especially if they have other commitments,
like a spouse or children.
The best advice I can give at the moment is to
think posi ve and try to save as much as possible,
even if it's only $5 or $10 per week. The argument
I get is, "It's only $10. It will take forever to build
anything substan al." Remember, $10 per week is
$520 per year. That's $520 more than some people
have saved right now. Every li le bit counts. And in
the event of an emergency, you have a small slush
fund to pay for unforeseen expenses.
The goal here is to s ck to your financial resolu-
ons and save..save…save! Or should I say, invest…
invest…invest!
stiCK to your rEsolutions
By Joey Amato
www.frugayity.com/post/make-2020-the-best-year-ever
