All right, 2017, let’s get down to business. If you followed my advice in December and set your goals for the year, it’s time to take the next step and talk about becoming more mindful with your finances. There are a plethora of helpful how-to books and blogs on personal finance, but far more important to your financial well-being is improving your relationship with money. The behavioral side of money is much harder to understand and control.
Thankfulness & Perspective
Friends & Money
In New York it’s impossible to ignore the huge spectrum of wealth and lifestyle choices. You can see this just about anywhere, but it’s amplified in a city: more people, more extremes. The urge to compare, covet, and judge can be quite strong. I think we should all strive to be content with what we have and where we’re at in life, and a good starting point is realizing that when it comes to money, what’s right for you will differ from what’s right for those around you.
Mindful Spending
Location, location, location
This month I’m sharing two articles on the financial struggles of the middle-class. What I appreciate most about these articles is each author’s honesty about their own money struggles and successes with money. These are healthy conversations we should be having collectively about money. I hope they lead you to thoughtfully consider where and how you’re using and stewarding your money.
How much is enough?
Just because you can afford to buy something, should you? This is a great question and I’ve found that the answer often changes and it’s closely tied to our values. Goals and priorities shift so determining “how much is enough” is an ongoing conversation with yourself. I’m going to spend more time thinking about how we determine “how much is enough” across all categories of spending. I’d love to hear your thoughts!