One thing I’ve noticed as someone who creates things is that I will often return to things I created and experience them more as an objective audience member and less as the person who created them. For instance, this often happens when I listen to my compositions for the first time in awhile. I hear them fresh, and I react as if I am listening to someone else’s music.
That sort of thing happened today but while re-reading one of my posts from a few months ago, “Friendly Financial Lessons.” Apparently I needed to read it today. In fact, it almost felt like it was intended for me right at this moment!
I was particulary moved by this part:
You don’t have to be perfect. Being good with your money is not about perfection. It’s about paying attention. You don’t even have to be great at all aspects of it. There are many facets to managing money, including earning, controlling spending, financial planning, debt management, savings/investing, allocating cash flow. Most people aren’t experts at all these. I’m not. Lean on the one/s you are best at, and aim to be decent at the rest.
Friendly Financial Lessons, from June 8, 2024
I love the positive message of this, and I love how it breaks down different aspects of managing money, to whit:
- Earning. Bringing in income.
- Controlling spending. Budgeting or spending intentionally.
- Financial planning. Planning for the future, which includes long-term savings, retirement, future purchases, estate planning.
- Debt management. Minimizing and paying off consumer debt.
- Savings/investing. Just like it sounds, especially to meet future financial goals.
- Allocating cash flow. Another way of saying “money management,” or allocating money that comes in for various purposes, including expenses, savings/investing, taxes, giving, and fun.
Just for fun, I would like to check in with myself about how these areas are feeling right now using the Abraham-Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale:
- Financial planning. “This area is going well, all in all. My wife and I discuss money and plan our finances. Sure, more money will only help, yet we are pretty good at making the best of what comes in.” This feels like: #5 optimism, #4 positive expectation, #6 hopefulness
- Debt management. “We do well with this. Yeah, I have to stay on top of getting the credit card paid off each month, but have always managed to do that! Overall we’ve been debt-free since 2020, when I get my student loan paid off.” This feels like: #4 positive expectation, #3 enthusiasm
- Savings/investing. “What’s not to love? I love investing and saving! I do it as much as I can!” Feels like: #2 passion!
- Allocating cash flow. “I always enjoy allocation cash flow. To me, it brings order and purpose to money flow. I am very appreciative.” Feels like: #3 enthusiasm, #1 Joy/knowledge/appreciation
- Controlling spending. “I do my best with this. I am quite spending averse, to be honest, so this can be a challenging area, but on the other hand, being spending averse can really suck, too. All in all, I recognize the many benefits of spending, which helps everything from paying bills to taking trips (like my recent Yosemite trip).” Feels like: #9 pessimism, #10 frustration, #11 overwhelment*
- Earning. “I am so appreciative of the ways in which I earn. Piano teaching has long been a mainstay, but recently I have started performing and again, and that has been a blessing. A few days ago some money unexpectedly came through and I was struck with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation.” Feels like: #6 hopefulness, #5 optimism, #4 belief
*Damn! I was hoping to come off looking better than that!