People who say money doesn’t matter, obviously have never had the experience of living without money. “OR” Going to the grocery store to buy your weekly food supply only to find there is barely enough money in your account to buy three days of food. Or filling up gas in your vehicle and going to the gas attendant to pay, to find out your credit card is declined and there is not enough money in your bank account to cover the bill as you forgot it was time for your car insurance to be deducted from your account. These are just a few of the financial challenges I have had to face over the past 20 years and I know lots of others who have had the same experience.
The next thing you hear others telling you is “Your health is more important than a few extra bucks – look after yourself and don’t work so many hours.” Yes, I agree with this to a point – if you are financially secure and in good health then it is not wise to continuously chase the buck to get more out of it, especially if your sole focus is money. If you take this path eventually your health will suffer – you need to be careful and seek a balance.
What about those of you who are in good health but financially struggling, how long will it take to create a negative toll on your health?
It is important to understand that money has an effect on every aspect of your life not just your health. It affects your relationships, your piece of mind, your self respect and self worth. But keep this in your thoughts – even though money affects all areas of your life, if it is a negative affect it still comes back to having an impact on your overall health.
- Poor relationships = poor mental state which has a negative affect on your physical being.
- Financial pressures can cause depression which in turn can have negative affects on your health.
- Financial pressures cause stress which again is hard on your physical being.
Why do we put so much emphasis on money?
As much as it is nice to have a boat load of money, we are not necessarily looking for the actual cash as much as we want the feelings and experiences that it can bring. Some of you would give to those in need, if you in fact had enough for yourself and some left over. This would give you the feeling of generosity, knowing that you are making someone else life better. It also gives you a sense of security and for some, happiness. Money doesn’t solve all challenges in life but it allows you to concentrate on other areas in your life where the challenges are not finance related. As an example having financial security rids the challenges of covering bills therefore you can concentrate on paying more attention to your significant other and/or children. Maybe you have a family member who needs your attention and devotion.
For years, how you have perceived money has shaped every decision you have made from the time you were a little child. Your parents,family,friends,acquaintances and marketing gimmicks have taught you about the use of money, the good and bad, what you need to do to get it (legal or illegal – depends on the environment you were brought up in), the significance money has on our lives and so much more. Your financial challenges are a direct result of what you believe finances are to you and how you should manage them. We have heard alot about finances throughout the years, basically the good, the bad and the ugly but how many times has someone sat down with you to help you to manage your financial situation. Keep an eye on our site for more information on managing your finances as there is more to come in the days ahead.
