Are you an entrepreneur building a business to change the world?
Are you a stay-home mom taking care of your family, while wondering what’s next for you?
Or are you a university student ready to launch your career?
We may have different aspirations at each stage of our lives, but it’s common to see an invisible thread that silently flows through most parts of our lives: that nagging worry about money somewhere deep in the back of our minds.
This silent money worry has no physical forms when life is cruising along. It is only when a major crisis hits that it manifests its destructiveness. The good news is that it can be tamed and alleviated.
Here are some tips to help you get proactive in stamping out those pesky little mind bugs:
Entrepreneurs
If you are an entrepreneur wanting to level-up your business and make sure that there’s plenty of surplus after paying the bills, one of the key things is to focus on profit rather than income. Many entrepreneurs struggle with the balance between the never-ending expenses and the unpredictable income.
In order to effectively manage cash flow, which is the path to profitability, lead with your desired income, as opposed to taking in whatever comes to you. Set up metrics to measure your marketing activities against the desired income. This is a fundamental mindset shift from the common practice of implementing random marketing activities and hoping that the income will follow.
Stay-At-Home Moms
If you are a stay-home mom and feel overwhelmed by the thought of: “I’ve lost my financial independence since I put my career on hold,” one of the biggest challenges here is the loss of confidence around finances because you’ve been too occupied with kids and family chores. There are many small things you can do to keep your financial mind sharp. For example:
- Let the kids do some price comparison shopping with you. The next time you are in the marché with your kids, ask them to help you pick what to buy. Have a conversation with them about how to make choices between price, product, and personal preferences.
- After you get home, have the kids tally up all the receipts. It’s a great opportunity for some “fun” math for the kids, and if you normally don’t track your household expenses, this would be a convenient way to ease into a new habit.
Stay involved in the family finances. It’s fine to have your spouse do the logistical management of the finances, but be fully engaged in all the decision making. Don’t be afraid, and take the time to ask questions.
When you maintain financial awareness through these small games and mental exercises, you will naturally regain the confidence required to rebuild your financial independence when the time is right. Additionally, you will also have helped your kids establish some healthy money habits.
Career Women
If you are young and getting ready to launch into the professional world, or are already working, I’m really happy that you are taking the time to read this article.
Make sure that the profession you choose based on your passion is also in alignment with your financial goals.
This requires that you spend a little bit of time to get clarity on your financial needs and aspirations.
Oftentimes, we see people jump into a profession they love, only to get burned out after a few years because the financial rewards just aren’t enough to make a comfortable living. If you find that your profession and the associated monetary rewards aren’t aligned to meet your financial expectations, get creative and see if there are peripheral services or products that you can offer based on your expertise.
If you are in a profession where the pay is rewarding, be sure to create a mechanism for automatic savings each month. Time is on your side, so take advantage of that.
The best way to kill the money-worry bug is to be proactive in designing your financial life, no matter which stage of life you are in. Imagine living a life in the City of Light with a sense of ease and confidence!
