MONEY WORRIES

Money definitely does not guarantee happiness. Our attitude towards money or our money management aptitude could have significant implications for our emotional state and happiness. Researchers have observed that money has surprisingly little relation to personal happiness above the poverty line. With the current global financial crisis, personal financial management and stability have become a major concern. However, money woes are quite common in times of abundance. Again it comes down to attitude and discipline.

While some people are constantly in a state of anxiety over their finances, others live free of anxiety and worry whatever the situation. This state of peace occurs when you have freed yourself from being enslaved by money. Go through the checklist below to see if you have totally mastered you finances.

Do you avoid discussing finances because of the anxiety it causes?
Is money often a subject of family squabbles?
Do you spend compulsively?
Do you constantly worry about your bills and debts?
Do you know your exact total income?
Do you know exactly how much you spend on personal needs?
Do you know how much you owe (or are owed) on the whole?
Do you pay bills and debs with money earmarked for other things
Do you pay your bills late e.g school fees, utility charges, e.t.c?
Do constantly reschedule your debt payment?
Do you take out new loans to pay off old ones?
Do you have any savings?
Do you find it difficult to finance monthly running expenses.

Check how you score on this list. Like I said last week, you may need to adjust your lifestyle. Change in the way you handle your finances may bring you more peace of mind and a happier life. “Money is the root of all evil.” This is quite a popular saying. But I beg to disagree. Money is an essential and critical resource. When well managed, it gives you the freedom to pursue more important things. It need not be a source of constant worry or sorrow.

Since it has been established that both the rich and poor may be enslaved by money. Moreover the richest men in the world have often expressed a desire to be without money in exchange for some other things. “I am not to be envied. How can my wealth help me? I am sixty years old and I cannot digest my food.” This statement was credited to Andrew Carnegie. He was then one of the richest men in the world. But his wealth could not buy him what he desired most then – good health.

The struggle to get and keep wealth will leave little time or energy for any other thing if not kept in perspective. It is therefore clear that both the ‘poor’, ‘the rich’ and ‘the on the way there’ need to keep a right attitude in other to leave free of worries.