Are You a Slave to Money?

Do you understand how your personal feelings about money affect your sense of freedom or lack of it? There will never be a better time to think about it than right now. It could remarkably change your life for the better.

Take a blank sheet of paper and write down your reflections about your current situation. Do you feel like you are a slave to money issues or do you feel free to do the things you enjoy in life?

Write at least one paragraph about each of the following questions.

1. What are my financial priorities right now (how important is it to me to save money, to get rid of debt)?
2. Am I exercising self-discipline in my financial decisions (do I avoid impulse spending)?
3. Is my life unpleasantly restricted because of debt (do I carry a balance on any credit cards)?
4. Am I effectively managing my money or are many of my daily activities being limited by financial obligations?
5. Do I feel my money is enabling me to do a lot of the things I like?
6. Do I feel my lack of money is causing me to feel more like a slave to my obligations?

Don't become depressed if you don't like some of your answers! If your life is a mess, financially speaking, it may take a while to make the changes you need to make to achieve the life you want.

But success is easily within your grasp no matter what condition you find yourself in today. The rewards of getting in control of your money are well worth the effort.

You will note that the focus of this exercise is on feelings. Spending money we cannot afford to spend brings fleeting pleasure. Real pleasure, peace of mind, and a sense of freedom in life come from avoiding the confines created by debt and overspending.

By thinking about these issues we give ourselves the option to choose our future. Each person is free to make their own choice but the happiest people are those who learn to value freedom and peace over material things. The truth is, when you do you will have more of both. It is a win-win.

Even a small amount of savings frees a person from a lot of stress. Only a few months of watching those debts shrink for a change gives a person a lot of confidence about their future financial prowess.

Peace and freedom are worth more than having a lot of things. Check out my articles on getting in control of your money and getting out of debt to get started on your way to both.