Why You Need To Get A Grip Of Your Money Habits.

Financial Intelligence and Lifestyle FreedomIn the previous post The Obstacle That Will Kill Your Ideal Lifestyle we looked at how we are getting in our own way of having our ideal business, family life and real lifestyle freedom on our own terms.

It raises a really important question:

Why are so many people chasing having “stuff & things” at the cost of having real freedom in their work life, family and lifestyle?

Well, the reasons can be many and complex. But here is one of the huge fundamental reasons:

Lack of Financial Intelligence

Now, I am not for one second suggesting people are a bunch of dunces in relation to money. What I am saying is that most of us have never been educated to give us the financial intelligence we need to make good choices and decisions that lead to real financial freedom.

And here’s the shame of it – if we were educated and armed with enough financial intelligence to create real and lasting financial freedom we would probably make very different choices and decisions throughout our life to the ones we make.

I say this, not just from professional experience, but also from personal experience. My husband and I used to be “stuff and things” chasers. It had us chained the Corporate hamster wheel for many years with no chance of escape.

Once we realised that to be really free, in our work life and personal life, we needed to be a bit more intelligent with choices and decisions around money, we started to look at how we could increase our financial intelligence.

If you are really serious about creating your ideal business, family life and lifestyle, I highly recommend you make a commitment to yourself right now to transform your level of financial intelligence and get a plan in place to start making this a priority.

Questions on your Money Mindset to consider:

  • Are you on a clearly defined path to financial freedom that will allow you to operate your business and family life on your own terms?
  • If you were at a point of financial security and freedom, what difference would that make to the choices you make in your business, family life and lifestyle? Is that worth shooting for?
  • What can you start to do improve your financial intelligence and mindset around money?

I know from personal experience, it can feel really overwhelming when you decide to get on a path to financial freedom but don’t know how to start. But here are some simple things you can start straight away while you are building up your financial intelligence:

  • Make sure your business and personal life has budgets and review them monthly.
  • Make sure you know where every cent of your money goes in your business and personal life.
  • Start living well within your means.
  • Read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. A good start point for thinking about your financial mindset.

Whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Just get started. Think baby steps and get stuck in.

Related post: The Obstacle That Will Kill Your Ideal Lifestyle


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  • http://www.peopleskillsdecoded.com Eduard @ People Skills Decoded

    I think most people aren't in the habit of thinking about and planing their finances. Implementing this habit is the most important think they can do.

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Eduard, I think you are right. It is about creating a habit and actions around money and financial intelligence that supports business, family and lifestyle goals. As with all these things the first step is awareness. Hopefully by raising awareness around topics such as this more people will start looking at their habits and how they are often getting in their own way.

  • http://www.heavenandel.com El Edwards

    Hi Ali,
    Reading this, I was thinking how fortunate am I to have a husband who's pretty good with money. He has me well trained ;-) But then I got to reflecting and actually, despite living within our means, in his head he's a stuff chaser. He looks at what his colleagues in work with him have and do and wishes we had more money. Before we had children and were both working full time, we didn't have any more 'stuff' than we do now so I have a feeling it's just a security thing. He likes to know that we have enough, just in case. Got a magic pill to cure him? ;-)

  • http://alidavies.com/ Ali Davies

    Hi El, sorry, no magic pills! The “keeping up with Jones” syndrome is a real obstacle to financial freedom. A powerful question you can keep asking yourself is this – which do we want more, to get stuff because other people have it OR to work toward real financial freedom and our ideal life.
    I think it is always best to not focus on what others have and focus on what your ideal lfie looks like and work towards that.
    Can take a while to break the habit but so worth perserving. Also, if you are really clear on your core values and orientating your life around those, makes it easier to follow your own path.