HOW IS MONEY TREATING YOU THESE DAYS?

Posted by maggiebaker on Aug 12, 2010 in Money | 0 comments

Does money beat you up? Take you over? Leave you?

Depends on your attitude, time and attention to your money.

Case in point—Tony complains he has no money. Makes a decent salary, no kids, rents, has a girl friend. I ask him to first estimate what he spends day to day, then write down what he actually spends and report back.

Turns out 30% of weekly expenses goes to eating out—Starbucks on the way to work,
quick pizza for lunch, and here comes the biggie—dinner out every night with his girlfriend. She pays NOTHING! and has a good job.

“OK, what’s the deal here,” I say, “What needs to change?” He puts his head down and mutters, “Well, she ought to help out once in a while.” “Sounds like a good idea, can you ask her?”

“Won’t she think less of me, I’m the GUY!” he says. “If you’re broke is she going to think more of you?” I say back.

“Never thought of it that way. When it comes time to pay she bats those big blue eyes of hers and I’m reaching for my wallet. Now that I see what I do maybe I can do it differently.”

“What would you do differently?” I ask. “Well, I could suggest we cook in, like at her place.” “Give it a try and let me know what happens.”

Tony says his money flies away, like money has a will of its own. He learned that HIS choices control his money. Money will treat him better when he steps up for himself.