You Don’t Need More Money Advice, You Just Need Advice That You Can Relate To
If you’re reading this, you’re probably at least a little interested in getting your finances in order. Maybe you even tried it! You may have read a bunch of tips , but nothing seems to be working for you. If this sounds familiar, it might be a solution not to seek additional advice. Instead, focus on finding the advice that’s right for you.
Personal finance, you know, personal . It’s right in the name, but people seem to forget how much money management has to do with your own unique situation, habits, and behavior. Some money writers focus on their personal stories of debt. Others, like me, tend to focus on practical advice. Some financial experts have drawn attention to the way we think about money in our society. However, at their core, all of these personal finance tips are more or less the same. This is a different approach. So the best money advice is advice you can really relate to.
Find a story that motivates you
When I first started reading and writing about money, so many people recommended Ramit Sethi that I teach you to be rich , saying that it completely changed their lives. Sethi offers the same advice that has worked for centuries, but he packs it up to appeal to many people. For example, he doesn’t like to cut latte. He argues that instead of saving and saving $ 3 at a time, you should focus on saving money where it matters – housing, food and other big expenses.
For many, this attitude is refreshing. The idea that they can still enjoy small treats like a daily latte makes them totally want to be busy with money. The advice seems to contradict traditional personal finance advice, which makes it attractive, but when you really dig into it, the advice is standard: cut down on what you don’t like so you have more money to spend on what you care about. O. However, what sets Sethi’s advice apart is its relationship to money. And that’s all.
In other words, he has an interesting story: the guy gives up frugality in order to take control and do what works for him. People love it, and as a result, I can only imagine how many readers Sethi has motivated to discover 401 (k).
However, you may find another story that motivates you.
When I was in debt on a student loan, I loved reading Donna Friedman’s advice on money on MSN . She was a writer and was humble. Her story completely found me, and she also gave practical, serious money-saving advice, which is what I was looking for at the time. Reading her posts daily prompted me to take action and take care of my own finances.
If you’re ready for action and you haven’t gotten it right yet, consider focusing on the story rather than the advice. If you are in debt, it could mean that you are following a blogger going through the same thing (or someone who was there and did it ). Basically, you want to look for stories, perspectives, and values that align with your own. ( Rockstar Finance is a great platform for viewing various types of finance blogs).
Find your ideal environment
It also helps you find a usable media. For example, I bought a good friend a book ” I’ll Teach You” to help him with his own finances, but he never took it because he just doesn’t read the books. However, when I started sending him messages on Sethi’s blog , he took notice. Before I knew about it, he increased his monthly student debt payment and kept the emergency fund. A more accessible medium helped him to internalize the advice and, more importantly, to take action on it.
If you spend a lot of time on the road, a podcast might be your ideal vehicle ( here are some of my favorite readers ). It’s easy enough to put on a money-related show on your way to work or home.
No matter how appropriate the advice is, if it’s not the environment you’re used to, it will only make it harder to tidy up your finances because your job becomes twofold: get your finances in order and make more money. time for books. Tidying up your finances is tricky, so just pick a medium you’re comfortable with and then focus on becoming a more avid reader separately.
Make it a habit
Once you find a story that you enjoy and an environment that makes the advice easy to grasp, you will want to keep using it. This should happen quite naturally. When you really enjoy what you read (or listen to), you really look forward to new blog posts, chapters, or episodes.
However, if you find it difficult to develop a habit, make it part of your routine. Wake up and read a chapter or new blog post every morning with a cup of coffee. Listen to your favorite podcast about money every day on your way home from work. Even if you devote just fifteen minutes a day to financial literacy , it can make a difference. Habits aren’t always easy , but when it comes to learning about money, half the battle is finding helpful advice that actually makes sense to you.