Not
having enough money is certainly a problem for many. But oftentimes, the real
problem lies with your own ideas about money. Financial discontent is not
uncommon among many members of the working class—even the world’s handful of
millionaires faces their own money problems.
Regardless
of how much you are making, there’s a tendency to spend more often than you should be. In that regard, the key to your
money problem is quite simple: spend less. Learn
to live within your means. The billion-dollar question is how is it
possible to be able to do that in a world where we are encouraged to want more
and to yearn for more.
If you
are serious about putting your personal money matters in order, if you are truly
determined to get out of debt… you’d have to do a major mindset and attitude
overhaul. And one way to begin is through visualization. Let’s look at an
example in one popular story often shared about Hollywood celebrity Jim Carrey.
Believe you can
Before
Jim Carrey became a household name in Hollywood, he struggled as a stand-up comedian
while taking a few odd jobs on the side to help support his family. It was a
hard life, but the Ace Ventura star
never stopped having an optimistic outlook and dreamt about having a career in
film.
When he
wasn’t working, Carrey used to sit by Mulholland Drive. Out there, he’d look
out at the entire city, throw his arms in the air and, always, he’d tell
himself affirmations, the kind that made him feel like everyone in Hollywood
was excited to work with him that he was a genuinely talented actor, he had
piles of movie offers to settle through—that really, he was great.
During
one of those trips, Carrey recounted how he once put down a line “for acting
services rendered’, and also jotted down a $10 million check. He dated the check
Thanksgiving 1995 and fixed in his wallet. And as the stories go, it was the exact
amount he was paid when he starred in The
Cable Guy. True or not, everyone knows Carrey went on to become a legend in
the field of comedy and judged by the number of films he has made, it’s no
secret that hard work played a role in building his legacy, as well.
Develop a healthy mindset
Before
you try to bring any radical changes to your spending habits, you’d need to set
your mind towards financial goals and learn to summon the determination to achieve
your goals. Stop worrying about how long it will entail and how hard it would
be: Just imagine yourself debt-free, with a healthy amount resting—and
growing—in savings, retirement, and investment accounts in your name. Imagine
how delightful all that would make you feel.
At the
same time, you must let go of greed and any fear related to having or not
having money. It will surely take some time, but once you start seeing the
bigger picture, it will become easier for you to start acting on your financial discontent. You will understand the importance
of foregoing instant gratification such as the one you probably often crave
when you impulsively spend on life’s little pleasures in lieu of getting rid of
your personal financial problems.
Start spending less
Start
spending less by cultivating a healthier relationship with money. People are often
controlled by money, whether consciously or subconsciously. It can empower you,
and it can make you feel inadequate. Stop
letting money control you and your actions and treat it as it’s nothing
more than a tool. As Victor Hugo said, “Go out in the world and work like money
doesn’t matter.”
When you
learn to spend less, it becomes possible to improve your financial status. Keeping
your desires in check and saving
your money instead of spending it mindlessly paves the way to solve other
financial problems including being deep in debt, inadequate income, or fear of
the future. Having a strong mindset—the kind that made Jim Carrey a star—and to
develop a
positive attitude about money helps you see clearer and understand what you
need to do next.
Author's box
Ian G Elbanbuena is a blogger and infopreneur who writes on various topics mainly finance,
self-improvement, business and marketing. At present, he works as a marketing
staff at CompareHero, Malaysia's leading comparison
website.
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