Currency Conversion, Wills and Deals – Nov 15, 2009
US ETFs vs. Canadian ETFs holding US ETFs – currency conversion @ Canadian Money Forum
Is my hand-drafted will valid? @ Thicken My Wallet
How to Find a Good Deal @ Five Cent Nickel
Portfolio Rebalancing Experiment @ Michael James
10 Steps to Declutter and Simplify Your Finances @ Cash Money Life
Carnival of Personal Finance #230 – New Site Edition @ Canadian Finance Blog
Corporate Security Or Freelance Freedom? @ Frugal Dad
Book Review: Understanding Wall Street @ Canadian Capitalist
Bought a Few Stocks Today @ Sun’s Financial Diary
Consumer Protection @ Four Pillars
how to manage money @ Brip Blap
Hitting 6 Figures Income at 28! @ Financial Blogger
Reverse Mortgages for Seniors @ Money Smart Life
Rules of Thumb That Will Kill Your Retirement Dreams @ Canadian Dream
What is a Dividend Reinvestment Plan? @ My Dollar Plan
Not All Cheap Houses Are True Bargain Homes @ The Digerati Life
Why the Google Admob Acquisition is Important to Me @ Lazy Man and Money
Avoid a Financial Holiday Hangover This Year @ Generation X Finance
Limiting Beliefs about Money
I’ve read more personal finance books than I care to admit. One of the themes I’ve noticed recently is in the idea of limiting beliefs. These are thoughts or beliefs about money that hinder or inhibit our financial success. We may suspect what we believe isn’t really true but the thought that it might be holds us back in life.
I asked myself recently, “What do I really believe about money that may be keeping me from living my life to the fullest?”
Things I know for sure:
- Time plus growth equals wealth. The miracle of compound interest makes mathematical sense. Saving 10-15% of your income invested for long term growth slowing and incrementally over your working years may be the boring path to financial success but it works.
- Spend less than you make. Live below your means.
- Paying yourself first and automatically makes saving nearly effortless.
- Debt hinders cash flow. Save up for what you want. Pay cash when possible.
My limiting beliefs about money:
1. Money equals security and security brings happiness and contentment.
Studies have been done to show that as long as needs are met and people have a little bit more to do with as they wish, happiness does not exponentially increase with wealth. In fact studies of lottery winners seems to suggest the opposite might actually be true. The key to being secure is having enough money and a little bit more for financial margin.
2. Thinking and talking about money is wrong. It should remain personal and private.
I’m a fairly frugal person but most people in my life wouldn’t know. They might be surprised to learn how frugal I really am. Most of our frugal choices affect only us. We live in a small house, drive one car, rarely eat out, make food from scratch and buy and sell on Kijiji. Yet I almost never tell people about our financial choices except to say we choose to live simply because it gives us the freedom to a live a more balanced life.
I still find it difficult to talk about money without fearing that others will think I’m cheap, shallow and without class. Yet, as I open up more with more people about financial issues, people are beginning to open up to me. Just recently I was at a conference and began a conversation with someone about the some of the struggles of living on a variable income. At the end of the conversation, she said, “I’m so relieved you talked so openly about this. Money is such a taboo subject for so many people. I really needed to talk about this but I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up.” I know that talking about money isn’t wrong but every time I still feel a bit vulnerable and exposed.
3. There are a limited amount of resources in the world. The more I have, the less someone else has.
I’m stuck on this one. I know somehow it isn’t true but I can’t seem to talk myself out of it. I can tell myself that if I had more I could give more and do more, but I confess it’s this limiting belief that holds me back the most.
Money is more than coin and paper currency. It carries with it themes of power, prestige, security, value, net worth and self worth. There are things about money you may believe that aren’t true and could hinder your financial success.
Have you asked yourself the same question: What do you believe about money that may not be true and could be holding you back in life?
Kathryn works in public relations and training for a non profit. In her off hours, she volunteers as a financial coach helping ordinary Canadians with the basics of money management. Her passions include personal finance and adult education. Kathryn, along with her husband and two children live in Ontario.
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