“Will I ever stop feeling broke?” How many times have you said this to yourself? If you’re like me, quite a bit. Feeling broke is a dreadfully defeating frame of mind. And yet, our typical solutions for how to stop feeling broke always seem to involve some version of “I just need more money”. My friends, I am here to tell you this mindset is holding you back.
Thinking more money is the solution for how to stop feeling broke is a trap. I used to believe it too but as I moved through different phases (and income levels) in my life; I came to realize just how untrue it is. Not only is this belief untrue – it is HARMFUL! It’s harmful because it tricks you into believing the solution to your emotional state is money. It is not.
I am so freaking passionate about this y’all! Your mindset about money is not at all correlated to how much or how little you have. You are choosing your mindset each and every day and if you feel broke you are choosing it. This is not empty words here – I’ve been seriously broke before. So please let me show you how to challenge this lie. Because your mindset is something that is completely within your control.
My story of homelessness – and how I turned it around
Stop feeling broke by infusing gratitude
There is a reason being intentionally grateful is mentioned a LOT when it comes to changing your money mindset. If you really want to stop feeling broke you need to really take regular moments to infuse some gratitude into your day. I’m not just talking about general thankfulness either. I want you to get specific.
- Remember when you were first living on your own as a young adult – what did your financial situation look like then versus now. Chances are you’ve made a ton of small but important steps forward in your finances. It can sometimes be hard to acknowledge until you look back a few years.
- If you are keeping a budget, track of quarterly goals. Make your progress visible and tangible so you see all your efforts are achieving something. I know some times when you are sticking tight to a budget you can feel broke because you don’t have ‘extra’ but this visual of your true gains can stop this lie in its tracks
- Remember any progress is good progress. You don’t have to be paying off your credit cards and have 6 months in your emergency fund to be celebrating progress. The first step towards those bigger goals? Sticking to your budget. Maybe in just 1 category at first. Celebrate no matter how small the victory may seem.
Stop feeling broke up including regular rewards in your life
No matter what goal you are trying to achieve, it is important to reward yourself for your effort. As humans, we are conditioned to perform hard behaviors in hopes of getting a reward. When was the last time you did something super hard knowing you’d get nothing good out it? My guess is probably never.
A reward is anything that makes you feel a little bit spoiled and special. We each have our own ideas about what this means. A key component to stopping feeling broke is to manage your money mindset by creating positive associations with continuing on your financial path. My criteria for a reward is this:
- Is it something I wouldn’t normally do for myself but always want to do?
- Does it feel luxurious?
- Is it easy to do for myself?
Non-monetary rewards such as…
When something meets those criteria I know I will seriously enjoy it and I am likely to truly make it happen for myself. It’s no use giving yourself a reward you won’t actually experience. I actually prefer to have experiential things as rewards versus items. It works for your money mindset whether you have a physical reward or not. Here are some of my favorite examples to help you get your creative juices flowing:
- A relaxing bath – maybe with essential oils, bath salts, a bath bomb
- Sitting outside in my back yard reading in the quiet with a nice beverage
- Lighting some candles in the evening, putting on some good tunes and doing some yoga (I love Yoga with Adriene for my free yoga from home)
- Taking a nap
- Having a foot soak while watching something lovely on the tv (usually a classic movie)
- Doing a face mask (great homemade recipe)
- Playing an extra board game with my family
- Laying out in the yard in the sunshine and reading or just listening to nature
How rewards can work for you to help you stop feeling broke
Rewards can work in several ways. I like to regularly reward myself simply for staying to course. Instead of setting these crazy goals for which I get something pleasurable, I like to just reward myself for staying on budget, not spending on my credit cards that month or week or something simple. Celebrate the little victories! This is what works best for me.
If you want to set a target goal and then go big on your reward that’s a great idea too! Paid off all your credit cards? Do something awesome to celebrate! My advice is if you’re going to celebrate with something that costs money – plan for it. Include it as a part of your goal by saving up for it. So if you want a night out on the town in all your fancies? Save up! Want to take a big trip when you pay off your mortgage? Do it! Just save up for it AS you are paying off your mortgage so you can enjoy the trip guilt-free!
Stop feeling broke by rewording to reset your money mindset
Ok friends, this is a big one because your money mindset will make or break your ability to stop feeling broke. If you are constantly saying, “I’m broke” what does that say? It implies you have no money at all, you are lacking, you have less than you need. Maybe it is true but it leaves no room for gratitude or for the universe to add abundance to your experience. So here are some common verbiage shifts you should make.
- From “I’m broke” to “I am providing ________ for myself right now” – use this as an opportunity to list all the things your money is doing and providing for you right now. Gratitude shifts the mindset towards the positive.
- From “I don’t have money for that” to “That is not in my budget right now because I am prioritizing other things.” – even though it still sounds negative it says you are in control and you have chosen not to spend on that area.
- From “I wish I had more money” to “I am in control of how I choose to spend my money” – use this so you don’t focus on just having more money but on your efforts you have control over and what you are doing to make it better.
Another powerful tool for resetting your money mindset is using mantras. My favorite money mantras are: I live in abundance. I make the right financial choices to ensure the future I want for myself. and I use my finances to create the life I desire.
What to do next….
Know someone who needs this in their life? Share it! Pin it. Email this link to a friend. Share it on Facebook. But more than anything, my friend. Please use these tips and ideas for how to stop feeling broke! I promise it will change your life.
