I’ve often made reference on My Money Design that time is the only true currency. Even when we think of money as a currency, really all we’re doing with it is buying the convenience of goods and services that we would otherwise have to use our time to obtain. And while as deep or philosophical as I think I’m being, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a movie a movie with a subtle plot that made me think about how our society looks at the value of time and money. … [Read more...] about The Value of Time and Money
Philosophy & Motivation
Want Some Financial Motivation? Get Off Your Computer and Go Outside!
Stop reading this. In fact don’t read anything else. Reading these blog posts won’t give you financial motivation. You know what will? Going outside. The Simple Things Will Provide True Financial Motivation: Today is going to be a beautiful day outside. The sun will be out, the temperature will be right, and there will be a beautiful stillness just over the trees in the distance. Just for a little while forget about your problems, forget about work, and forget about making more money. Dwelling on those things isn’t what’s going to motivate you. Dwell on them for too long and they will simply control you. Instead, go outside and connect with the rest of the world. Laugh and have some fun. Take your kids to the park, go for a … [Read more...] about Want Some Financial Motivation? Get Off Your Computer and Go Outside!
My Post Retirement Ideas for When I Become Financially Free
We spend an awful lot of time on My Money Design talking about not only how to successfully plan for retirement, but even some strategies for how to get there as early as possible. Why? Because I think that financial freedom and the ability for you to choose what you do with your time are some of the most gratifying things you can accomplish in your lifetime. The big question then is: What is it that I want to do with all this time once I finally have it? - That’s a very good question, and not one to take lightly. Having some post retirement ideas and goals for what you’ll do with yourself is just as important as the planning it took to get you there. … [Read more...] about My Post Retirement Ideas for When I Become Financially Free
Is Financial Fear Paralyzing You From Being Financially Free?
The following post is a contribution from Todd. He’s the co-founder and content manager at the Men’s Blog Fearless Men. It’s a blog on Manliness that inspires men to grow strong, get fit, be wise, kick fear in the face and become a better man. What I admire most about My Money Design is the tagline “Designing Financial Freedom.” I believe that just because you have a dream or a goal doesn’t mean you’ll get there by accident. You won’t wake up in 6 months or 6 years and fulfilled your goal without having done it on purpose. You must plan, you must design how you’re going to build toward financial freedom. Want to be financially free? Stop living in Financial Fear. A leading cause of paralysis with investors, savers, planners and … [Read more...] about Is Financial Fear Paralyzing You From Being Financially Free?
How to Reverse Lifestyle Inflation
The following post is a contribution from Tony at We Only Do This Once. Tony is a trombone player who has performed with major symphony orchestra, on Broadway in NYC, and in recordings and movie soundtracks. He blogs about simplifying your life through downsizing and becoming financially fit. One of the best and worst things that ever happened to me was that I had a five year stretch of massive raises in income. During this time, I chose to not live off of my old income, and instead buy a ton of stuff. A year and a half ago, I found myself with debt up to my eyeballs (about $120,000 including my car loans, student loans, and credit card debt), and I decided that enough was enough. I am only a few short months from paying it all … [Read more...] about How to Reverse Lifestyle Inflation
Believing In Yourself After Finding Out That You Suck
It will happen to all of us at some point or another. You’re flying high. Things are going great; better than ever in fact! Sales are good. Orders are pouring in. Your customers are happy. Your colleagues are also just as happy. Believing in yourself has never been something you’ve questioned. Work is a terrific place to be right now. But brewing in some dark corner is conflict. Unrest. As it turns out, at least one person is not excited with the way you do things. This will not be anything tangible. You will not have committed any crimes. No, the problem will be intangible - what this person believes you can or can’t do in the future. Whether or not you’re really doing things according to the priorities as they see it. Ordinarily … [Read more...] about Believing In Yourself After Finding Out That You Suck
What is Financial Freedom – The Easy to Follow Explanation
The tagline to My Money Design has always been designing financial freedom. For as long as I’ve been into reading financial books and blogs about money, I’ve seen a lot of them try to answer the question of what is financial freedom. However, I feel as though the weight of this term often gets lost or trivialized. In this post, we’re going to layout a definition for financial freedom and explain where we need to focus in order to achieve it. … [Read more...] about What is Financial Freedom – The Easy to Follow Explanation
Goal Setting Activities for Your Personal Finances
Very shortly it will be a brand new year and a chance for brand new beginnings. So with that, I ask: What are you going to do differently with your finances than you did last year? Not sure? That doesn’t surprise me. We all want the best for our money and our future, but it’s pretty hard to figure out how to go somewhere if you don’t even know where it is you’re going. To really understand what it is that you want, you need to expand your financial perspective through a series of goal setting activities that help you figure out how you feel about yourself and your money. Once you’ve had the chance to visualize what it is you really want for your money, I think you’ll be surprised by how easily things will come together. Please take … [Read more...] about Goal Setting Activities for Your Personal Finances
