What is Financial Success to you?
Is it having so much money that you don’t have to have a budget and can just spend whatever you want on whatever you want?
Is it living comfortably, spending and saving some money each month and be able to go on vacation twice a year?
Is it being mindful of your money, no matter how much or little you have, have a plan and sticking to it, be able to give some, spend some and save some?
Is is having enough, paying your bills and debts every month and be able to go on vacation even though you must budget it in and save for it?
There’s no right or wrong answer here. It’s just that, I’m having a hard time getting an answer from people every time I ask this question. And if I do get one it’s: Financial Success is when you have so much money that you can even burn some and don’t think twice about it! Really?! I know a lot of people who consider themselves financially successful and believe me when I tell you, it does not look like that!
To be Financial Successful, to me, means you are very comfortable with your money situation. You have a plan, you follow it and you are not stressed about your financial situation. You don’t get cold sweats every time you think about your bank account and you don’t loose sleep over that credit card bill that’s going to arrive, with that purchase you made, you know the one! That thing you absolutely had to have only to get home and hide it under the bed because you feel a knot in your stomach every time you think about it because you don’t even know if you’ll be able to make the credit card payment. I’m not judging you, this was me not so long ago! I have friends who don’t make a lot of money but they prioritise what is important in their lives and they make it work. I also have friends who make a lot of money and they also organise their money according to their priorities and they make it work! And you know the best part? They both consider themselves financially successful! Because they are, they don’t stress about money because they know they will be able to meet their financial commitments at the end of the month.
I know what you are thinking, the ones that make less money are not really successful because they don’t make that much money so they can’t afford the things the others that make more money can! I’m sorry, but here goes some tough love, that’s your ego talking about their life! You see, they are GRATEFUL for their life and they love it. The day they decided that what other people thought of their life was none of their business they started to thrive! They stopped seeing their choices and/or circumstances as set backs and started to work with what they had. That can be very liberating, give yourself permission to live your life! If you want another life start changing it! Full disclosure, it always starts with an “I’ve had enough” moment, a change of “thought” or a “the only way is up (I’ve hit rock bottom!)” moment.
So, are you ready to start living your life as a Financially Successful person?
S – The Sparkling Budgeteer
