Remove the Monster Mask From Your Financial Life
Do you remember the cartoon Scooby Doo? As a kid, I loved Scooby Doo. It’s funny thinking back, but most episodes were the same. They always revolved around Shaggy, Scooby and the rest of the gang getting caught up in some hair-brained whodunnit that involved monsters, ghosts, phantoms, and even shark men. Predictably at the end of every episode, the gang would unmask the culprits that were causing all the mischief around town, and to the surprise of the audience, it was usually an everyday citizen.
What does Scooby Doo have to do with money and personal finance? In a lot of ways, many people are playing a character in their financial lives. It’s easy to look like you’re doing well with money. It’s easy to go out and get a $500/month payment on a $30,000 car. It’s easy to have the latest and greatest smartphone, computer, furniture, tools, make-up, and clothes. It’s easy to fill your life full of fun and expensive activities like concerts, sporting events, and vacations. Playing the part of a financially successful person is easy. How do I know? Because I used to be a member of that club and I played the role until one day, my situation got so bad I had no choice but to remove the mask.
Being broke isn’t easy. It isn’t easy dealing with what’s hidden under the mask of the character we’re trying to play. Many people deal with the feelings of anxiety and stress as it relates to their financial situation. In fact, according to a recent survey from creditcards.com, 65% of Americans say they lose sleep over their financial concerns. Money fights and arguments are one of the leading causes of divorce. Many people take on feelings of embarrassment because they appear to be doing well on the outside, but on the inside, if you looked at their bank account, you would see that they’re actually broke.
So how do we fix this? You’ve got to stop faking rich and take off the mask. I know that will be difficult, because it was for me too! We live in a culture where we want to be accepted and appear to be doing well. Nobody loves to say, “No, we’re going to pass on dinner tonight, it’s not in our budget.” OMG, what will people think of us? Well, to be honest, they will probably think you’re weird. But you have to get over that if you want to be successful with money. Looking at the statistics, seven out 10 people live paycheck-to-paycheck, so that means that your friends, family, and neighbors are likely wearing the same types of masks that you are. Broke people don’t understand the concept of budgeting, living below their means, and making sacrifices for the good of their bank account, and their financial future. Don’t be surprised if people pick on you or laugh when you pull off that mask. It will happen!
The good news is that, by removing your mask and implementing some simple processes, you’ll start to have real success with money and personal finance. Those feelings of hopelessness, stress, and anxiety will disappear. They will be replaced with security, opportunity, freedom, confidence, contentment, happiness, and hope. Our Roots of Personal Finance members are examples of this, and proof that removing the mask and accepting help can have a dramatic change in your life.
