I think that in order for me to improve my financial situation, I need an honest assessment of what my relationship with money is and a larger assessment of what my goals in life are.
What are my goals? I realize more and more that what I want in life doesn’t involve owning stuff. Health, family, and experiences are really where it’s at for me. Money can help me spend time on those goals. Buying non-essential stuff takes me away from those goals. Specifically, I’d like to finish my degree, travel, and sport a six-pack (hey, at least I’m specific and honest!).
What do I do with money now? Do I buy things to comfort me when I’m down or out of sorts? It feels like someone who eats a tub of ice cream when they get dumped, and I’m sure that they are related emotional comforts. With me, a lot of it feeds into competition, to be the first with the best new thing on the block like the fastest computer or the newest game system.
The key, as always, is to figure out your goals and find out where you’re starting from. Now that I’ve done this, I can start planning my steps to achieve those goals.
Tags: money