Budget and save, or spend as if you’re rich already?
I feel like out in the world I see a lot of finance advice that's about taking a flask instead of going to Starbucks and buying dented cans to save money for the future. This camp associates virtue with abstention.
In instagram we are met with mood-boards, reports of a universe that is receptive to actual specific material requests and the idea that as far as spending money goes you should 'act as if' you are rich already, a notion that is titivating but terrifying for many.
For me the biggest breakthrough when it comes to my relationship with money was realising that my history enacting the frugal model was connected to a lie. I told myself; that I was not a reliable adult and that if I loosened the purse strings I would waste money and leave myself vulnerable to financial insecurity. When I examined the evidence I concluded that this theory was baseless so I made a decision to actively trust myself and that is how I live today.
I give myself full permission to buy anything I want, at any time, without needing a set of compelling reasons on why that is the best use of my money (yes you heard me...MY). And do you know what the result was? It felt like a newsflash but it really shouldn't be. What I found is that in common with almost ALL THE WOMEN I KNOW, I'm naturally really good with money and neither pinch the pennies or spaff cash up the wall like Brewster's millions (if you get that reference you are as old as me).
So when it comes to enquiries from REALWORKers or clients about whether to budget hard or live large my advice is always the same 'Trust yourself, let go, you don't need someone else's system to live by, make your own system, you are free'
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