The Story Of “I am Bad With Money”

The doorbell rang, signalling that another package had just arrived. Laura rushed to answer it, excited about what she had ordered online.

She signed the delivery note and hurried inside to open it. She loved buying clothes online and couldn’t wait to try on her new outfit.

It’s just beautiful, she thought to herself as she looked in the mirror, turning to check it out in all directions. This was a good purchase, and she was happy about that, as there were a lot of times when her purchases didn’t fit or didn’t look good. Laura had a pile of ill-fitting clothes accumulating at the bottom of her cupboard that she had bought, and Laura was pleased that this dress was not going to join that pile.

Laura put on a pair of shoes to go with the outfit before walking into the kitchen to show her mum and ask what she thought of the dress.

Her mum said the dress looked nice, but right on cue, she heard her mother’s words: “You keep wasting all your money buying stuff you don’t need.” Then she added, “You are not very good with money.”

Laura had heard these words often, and as she walked back to her bedroom feeling guilty, she resigned herself to the fact she was not very good with money. Her mum was right: she always spent her money on clothes, and she had maxed out her credit cards and given herself a large debt.

With her mother’s words still ringing in her ears, the story of “I am bad with money” was once again reinforced in Laura’s mind and identity.

Unfortunately, most of us live with some form of money story, and it is not uncommon for people to believe that they are not good with their finances. One of the main reasons for this guilt is that they fear that the money should have been spent on something more important.

This week’s challenge is to let go of any past poor money decisions, bad choices, and feelings of guilt. The past is in the past and there is no point wasting any energy on it. The secret to spending money is planning where every dollar goes. Being specific about what it is going to be used for (i.e., bills, savings) with a portion set aside exclusively for spending on what you want.

It is about making a plan and sticking to it. Having a plan will cause a mental shift in your thinking and give you control over your finances. Planning can also mean working with a professional to give you support and to keep you on track with your money plan.

Being “bad with money” is not who you are. It is an excuse, a reason to justify your poor money choices and spending habits. However, having a plan lets you know what to spend your money on without feeling guilty.

It is never too late to change your story about money. You can change the way you think about money, talk about money, and behave with money.

Remember, “Money isn’t everything, but everything needs money.”

Forever creating,

Deborah Ruth