I Need More Money
Mastering your money? Or, have you heard…Money is the root of all evil and Money can’t make you happy. What about money doesn’t solve your problems and money isn’t everything. All these negative opinions about money. Opinions, not facts. No wonder people are broke, struggling, and in debt. People associate greed, evil, and other bad things with money.
But if money is so bad. Then why do you work all week for it? Why do people play the lotto, start businesses, and go to Las Vegas to win it? People scratch and claw for overtime. People work 2 to 3 jobs for money. Why? Because they need more of it. Churches need money, charities ask for donations, and schools are always begging for help. Those institutions need money.
You think you need more money to pay your bills, pay your debts, and put food on the table. The truth is more money will not solve your problem. Most people get a raise every year and still are broke. Most working people have doubled their incomes and still are at the mercy of their debt. You hear horror stories of athletes and entertainers losing all of their fortunes. Didn’t they make more money?
The Truth About Money
I opened this article with some of the most famous sayings about money and I call them opinions and not facts. I said money is the root of all evil. You hear that a lot. People say, “The Holy Bible says it.” Well, it doesn’t. Timothy 6:10 says, “For the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds evil… “ So don’t love money.
Another saying is money can’t make you happy. But studies show that spending money makes people happy. When you get a raise, work overtime, or receive that tax refund check, the first thing you do is think about spending that money.
Money Isn’t everything. Another opinion and not fact. If it isn’t everything why are people working 60-80 hours per week? What is all the overtime for? Why do we borrow it to take vacations, or buy furniture, and appliances? Why are we working so hard to pay off the debts that bought the stuff we couldn’t afford in the first place? Sounds like it’s everything to me.
Money is Amoral
Money is neither good nor evil. It’s just like a brick. A brick can be used to build a wall, house, or building. Things that can help people. It can also be used as a weapon and hurt people. Same brick but it is the user that determines if it is used for good or evil.
Money is a tool to use for the exchange of goods and services. It’s not emotional you can’t hurt it. It doesn’t cry. You never actually lose money it just ends up somewhere else. Those who learn to control it can multiply it. Those who can’t end up broke and in debt. Your money does what you want it to do.
When you detach yourself from money and don’t get emotional, you see it as a tool to better your life. Let go of those old notions. Those misconstrued myths that hold you back and actually make you a slave to money. Get control of your money and make it work for you.
Your Bank Account
I can look at your bank account and see what your priorities are. Are you a giver, saver, spender, or debtor? Your spending habits reveal your character. Do you delay gratification? Do you have a long-term view of your family’s finances? Are you planning to create wealth for the future?
Money Woes
The lack of self-discipline, self-mastery, and guidance cause most people’s money worries. The inability to delay gratification causes people to go into debt and spend all or more than they make. This creates a financial crisis and most people are one paycheck away from a financial disaster.
Mind Shift
It takes a mind shift to go from spending beyond your means to living frugally, saving, and investing your money. A change of attitude and a long-term view is the only way people can get control of their finances.
Income increases do not help. As income rises so do expenses. You have to practice the wedge principle. Drive a wedge between your raises and your expenses. Don’t spend everything you make. Leave that raise, overtime, and bonus alone. Apply it to debt or savings.
Practice the 1% Formula
To get control of your money practice the 1% formula. This is a simple step to start reeling in your finances. Beginning this month you are only going to live off 99% of your total income. You are going to put 1% of your income towards a savings account. The next month you are going to increase that to 2% and then 3% until you get to 10% of your income being saved.
That is a 10-month process. Some of you can do this now. But for those who have never saved or followed a financial plan, this is a start. There are a ton of books on the market that teach you how to control your money. I like the Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey. I paid off all my consumer debts in 10 months on his program.
Mastering your money is a NOW thing. Pick up a book, join a Financial Peace University Class, or download some audio. Making more money will not solve your problems. But getting control of your money will.
1 thought on “Mastering Your Money”