Think back to when you were a little kid and wanted something from the store. Did your parents ever tell you something like “No, we don’t have the money”, but then later buy something else?
If you’re like me, you probably reacted by saying “Hey, I thought we didn’t have the money!”
Little kids are especially prone to taking statements like “we don’t have the money” literally. If they’re worriers, they may stress out about things, thinking that their parents are out of money.
But as we get older, we realize that “I don’t have the money” often actually equals “I have different priorities” — especially when it’s someone else asking us to do something that we haven’t planned on doing.
Sometimes though, we can fool ourselves. We may look at our bank account and wonder where all the money went. “I’d love to do _____,” we think, “but I just don’t have the money”.
In those cases, it still means that you just have different priorities. If you really want to do something, but don’t have the money for it right now, begin making that thing a priority in your life.
If it’s more important than cable, cancel cable. If it’s more important than getting a new car every few years, hang on to your existing car a little longer. There are many ways to get the things you want, if you look at your situation clearly.
The things you spend your money on are your current priorities — whether you realize it or not.
If the things you’re spending your money on don’t line up with your values or desires, put your money where your mouth is and you’ll get to where you want to be.
Posted in Financial health on 02.09.10 with 4 comments.










Great post! It is so important to articulate your priorities and orient financial spending towards achieving those priorities. My parent would always say that we don’t have money and I thought we were dirt poor until I wanted to fill out a FAFSA only to find out that we didn’t qualify for any aid.
Jane, I bet that was a shock.
Another great subjective post. Its why I love this blog so much.
It goes beyond the ABC advice and tells you more about how to “think” about your money.
Which is the key to financial freedom anyways, as anyone who has gotten there will tell you.
Thanks David!