MASTER YOUR MONEY MINDSET

Written By: Sandi MacCalla, Founder - LifeSkills Academy ~ 7/31/2023

‘Before you create your Budget.’

Mastering financial life skills is not a one-size-fits-all proposition with the goal of “The One with the Most Toys Wins.” The first step is to look backward, consider the ‘money rules’ you believe in, and test them for your truth. Interestingly, this is a first step no matter your age. Dare to be fully honest in this process. Identify:

• Who first told you ‘what’ about money?
• Feelings associated with any given money rule (joy, fear, anger, pride, sadness, shame, etc.)
• How you’d rate your money success with each rule on a 1-5 scale, with ‘5’ as the best.

As an example:

• While prepping to teach financial life skills to U.S. Bankruptcy Court applicants, I went through this same process of understanding where I learned about money.
• Two examples popped right up:
  • My first game of Monopoly opened the world of real estate for my 9-year-old mind, and I was smitten with the promise of wealth!
  • My stepfather’s response to my early requests for what I wanted: “You don’t need it.” His comment was half the story. I later realized the difference between ‘want’ and ‘need,’ a clarifying self-query.
• To date, my priorities have evolved:
  • Using my God-given skills to make an impact
  • Living a well-paced lifestyle
  • Accomplishing financial balance

There are tools and strategies to make each of us successful.

In exploring other financial wisdom, I encountered Ken Honda’s work to learn and share a life of happiness AND money. If you’d like to hear his ideas, Evan Carmichael captured Ken’s key points on varied podcasts: (113) Ignite Your Passion & Watch Your Bank Account Soar | Ken Honda - YouTube. Here are KEN HONDA’S RULES:

1. Do what you love
2. Identify your skills
3. Help others
4. Use money well
5. Aim for happiness
6. Avoid greed-energy
7. Appreciate paying taxes
8. Share your gifts
9. Practice gratitude
10. Invest in your friends
11. Bonus:
    • Feel abundant
    • Value invisible assets
    • Create beautiful relationships
    • Focus on what you give
    • and many more!!!

LifeSkills Academy features e-learning classes including Etiquette/Social Intelligence, Financial Skills, and Personal Organization. All educators are business professionals, some with academic backgrounds, and all have proven success in the world of commerce.  Sign up for newsletters and class notices.

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