Think you’ll stress less about money when you have more? Think again! The very rich have money woes too, even if they look very different than yours.
Not to mention, making more money isn’t always an option. Does that mean you’re doomed to feel stressed about money until you can beef up your paycheck?
Of course not!
You really can stress less about money, no matter how much you have, and it doesn’t have to be as hard as it sounds.
Celebrate Every Time You Save, No Matter How Small the Amount
No matter how much money you have, you will always feel better about saving it instead of spending it. The same high that comes with getting a good deal at the department store can be felt every time you save a little, no matter how small.
For example, switching to a money transfer service with smaller fees when sending your cash to a loved one overseas can make you feel good. The trick is to pay attention every time you use a coupon, avoid an ATM fee, or save on interest to feel a little bit better about your money choices.
Set Small Goals Instead of Big Ones
You likely have a lot of big financial goals. They might include paying off student loans, buying a house, or taking a dream vacation. Those a great goals to strive for, but they won’t leave you feeling very accomplished in the short term.
Small goals are the secret to feeling better about your money situation. That’s because they can:
- Be achieved quickly
- Motivate you to reach a bigger goal
- Help you stay focused
- Provide you with a sense of purpose
Every time you complete a small goal, you can celebrate, which will make you feel much better about your money!
Try Not to Compare Yourself to Others
There will always be someone smarter than you, prettier than you, and yes, richer than you. If you compare yourself to others, you’re setting yourself up for failure, unless you literally end up as the wealthiest person in the world.
Instead, compare yourself to yourself. Think about how far you’ve come. That might mean fully appreciating how you’ve worked your way up in your career, how much you’ve already paid on your student loans, and how much you’ve saved. Even if you aren’t where you’d like to be, chances are, you’ve come a long way!
Change Your Mindset About the Future
Do you dread the possibilities that come with tomorrow? It’s true that you could lose your job and find yourself homeless, but the opposite could also be true. You could get a new job that pays better!
Think about the glass as half full instead of half empty when you start thinking about your financial future. Positive thinking in this way will help you stress less about money.
More money may fix your problems in the short-term, but if you want to stress less about money in the long-term, you can start, no matter how much money you have, by following these tips.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Natalie says
I am always stressed about money!! It helps to not compare myself to others.
Rust says
One of my best strategies for keeping my spending under control is to sleep on it whenever I am considering a purchase (often one of those spur of the moment things). Often I will decide I would rather have the money in my bank account than whatever it is I was willing to exchange it for.
Margaret S Porter says
I stress about money all the time. I am going to try some of your ideas and see if I can lighten my mind
Tracie Cooper says
I love all of these tips and my favorite is to set small goals as I tend to get overwhelm with the big picture of things.