Journal 1: Self-Reflection, Spending, Saving, and Life Habits – One Paycheck? Two, Three . . . Ten?

 No matter how much you earn, getting by is still a struggle for most people these days. Seventy-eight percent of full-time workers indicated that they live paycheck to paycheck, which is up from 75 percent for the previous year, according to a report from CareerBuilder (Aug 24, 2017). Most of us make New Year’s resolutions and budgeting or staying on budget is frequently in the top three. According to Statistia.com, after reviewing more than 22,500 sources, the top three New Year’s resolution for 2018 tied at 37% each – Eat Healthier, Get More Exercise and Save More Money but at the same time 32% of those polled did not intend to make a New Year’s Resolution. When thinking about the mind-set of Americans, their New Year’s resolutions, and the state of our health, as Advanced Practice Nurses, we need to understand that we are dealing with more than the “Health” or “Disease” of our patients, but also cultural morae’s and financial constraints. The studies may recommend a certain course of treatment, but when most of us are “one pay-check away” from disaster, the study recommendations do not take into account who’s going to keep the lights on or food on the table. Reflect upon the learning material for this week, other people you may know and your own personal situation in relationship to money. Consider how an individual’s financial well-being directly affects their ability to receive preventative services, evidenced based care, and their overall health. You may journal in first person and this assignment does not require references as it is your thoughts; however, if you choose to use quotes or citable material, you are expected to follow APA formatting. READ; https://www.marketwatch.com/story/most-americans-are-one-medical-emergency-away-from-financial-disaster-2017-01-12 https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/24/most-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck.html