Life is about mastering money and not the other way around. Too often we get jammed up in our lives to worry about finances. The problem is that finances are in many cases why our lives are so frantic. This spectacle is all too public. I say “we” for the reason that I face the actual same.
The truth is, I am like most individuals would like to live a life where someone else did the things around the house and at the office that I don’t want to do, I would want to be able to spend more time at an emotionally meaningful and challenging career. I want to spend time with my love ones. And I would like some down time to do whatever I choose to do.
Life Is About Mastering Money
Given these financial goals, I often wonder what I am doing to work on the road to those goals. I spend a lot of time around the house and office doing things I don’t want to do. I should know that life is about mastering money by using it as a tool to give me more freedom.
Instead of focusing my energies at work on things that are emotionally meaningful and challenging, I tend to spend my days pushing documents to be signed by people in my line of work.
Yet, I have spent very little time thinking about how to repair this situation. When I start thinking about these concerns, I often make excuses such as “if I want it done right, I have to do it myself.
It is not happening
But in doing so, the life is about mastering money is not happening. Instead, my work is consuming a large chunk of my time. But to be honest, I can’t quit my job yet. And I still need this because it is still the one that is bringing me large income.
I spend a lot of hours in work and even when I am at home, I end up doing tasks that are away from my love ones. Yes, I can delegate someone to do this type of work. But somehow, I always end up just doing it myself. Because of accountability.
I have a lot of interests, such as traveling and setting up my on brick and mortar business. But I never seem to find time to do these things that I enjoy. Yes, you make time for what is really important. But somehow, excuses keep on coming and I keep on entertaining it.
At this point you might be thinking, “so what does that have to do with life is about mastering money and finances?” The answer is that it has everything to do with finances.
Each decision is based on either making a budget, earning more money or spending less money. That is the rub. The dirty secret that is all too unthinkable in our society. Money, if used properly, can in fact make your life better. That is how I picture the statement life is about mastering money.
One message remains the same
In all of the financial advice, one message remains the same. Your money is your happiness. Secure your money and you will secure your life. Of course, this advice means different things to different people.
The “do-it-yourselfer” may read this to mean that they should be frugal and save every money, to have a brighter tomorrow.
The “fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants” kind of person might read it to mean that they should spend everything to have a brighter today.
Luckily, they are both right. Each person can and should scrutinize what is important to them. They should set out (I mean by actually writing it down) a plan in light of what is important to them. They should take steps over time to fully implement that plan.
Review your goals
And they should review the plan periodically to guarantee that they are still pursuing goals that are important to them. This is what I teach here in this blog and this is what I try to implement in my own life.
I want to spend more time at home with my love ones. After exploring my goals, that was what was important to me. Having made a lot of progress towards these financial goals, I can tell you that my life is a thousand times better today than when I started. I fully expect it to be a thousand times greater in the future.
This is what true financial planning is all about. Life is about mastering money. If you have not explored your goals, I urge you to do so now. If you haven’t met with a financial professional to discuss your goals, I urge you to do so. Once you start making progress towards your goals, you will wonder why you did not do so sooner.