Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems

The greatest wealth is to live content with little. – Plato

“I wish I had more money.” I catch myself thinking, and saying, those exact words quite often. Part of me definitely seems to be under the impression that having more money would solve so many of my problems. Don’t get me wrong, money DOES solve a lot of problems…especially when you have little of it. Yet, at a certain point, does money really continue to have the same effect? Each time I find myself in a position with more money coming in, my problems still remain. I expand my lifestyle to adjust for the increase in income, and once again I find myself wanting more. 

I had a conversation with a friend recently that really got me thinking about this topic. She, as a freelancer, recently picked up more work in order to make more money. As a result, naturally, she now has less time for other areas of her life that matter to her. She is now finding herself tempted to spend more money on things that would give her back some of her time (a house cleaning service for example). Together, we laughed at the irony of this…shaking our heads as we philosophized on this subject. Who could blame one though? It is a vicious cycle that we all fall into now and again. 

Even for those of us who make a livable wage, it can be easy to adopt a mindset of “lack” when it comes to money. “If only I had more money, I could afford to buy this, do that. Oh, but poor me, alas, I do not.” And yet, when we get down to it, what is the cost of this money? Very few people get rich quick. It takes TIME. And a question we each must ask ourselves is, how much time am I willing to give up?

As I wrote earlier, having more money would solve some of my problems for sure, but not all of them. Research actually shows that, “Earning more money makes people happier until about $75,000 a year, at which point higher salaries are no longer associated with well-being” [PsyPost]. No, at this point, for me, happiness and well-being will involve inner work…not an increase in income. In fact, having more money for me has always resulted in me amping up my lifestyle just a tad, increasing my expenses and soon finding myself, again, in a place of wanting more. On top of that, the increase in money usually comes with an increase in responsibility and we all need to be able to carefully weigh out how much responsibility we are willing to take on. 

So, what is the answer? Money matters, yes. But it isn’t everything. The time we have available to us to enjoy our lives is equally as, if not more, important. How can we reach that place of feeling abundant in what we have while also maintaining a sense of balance and an ability to enjoy the free moments available to us?

That is the question I have been asking myself. I still don’t know, but there are some strategies that I have been employing to move me closer into that space. 

♥ Evaluating where my money is going ~

The first step I have taken in addressing my own tumultuous emotions around money is to evaluate exactly how much money I am making and where this money is going. I then have to ask myself, “Am I spending my money in a way that reflects my values?” And, “Where am I overspending on things that don’t really matter to me?” Finally, “How can I adjust my spending so that I have more money available where it matters?” For me, this exercise of being more engaged with my own spendings has solved more problems than having more money ever could. 

♥ Evaluating where my time is going ~ 

Money and time are deeply intertwined. When I have little time, I tend to want to spend more money to compensate for this…to counter the stress and fatigue that accompanies a lack of time. And, when I have too much time, I think, “How could I be using my time to make more money?” And, so once again, I must step back and evaluate, “Am I using my time in a way that feels valuable to me? Where am I using a lot of time in a way that doesn’t really contribute to my overall well-being?” Finally, “Am I burning the candle at both ends? If so, where can I adjust so as to add more opportunities for self care?”

My time is yver important to me. When I have it, I want to use it wisely. 

♥ Expressing gratitude for the money and time that I have ~

Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude  – I come back to this again and again, and I will continue to do so. Instead of always existing in that place of seeking more, I am working to express gratitude for what is available to me today. I have money in the bank. I have a steady paycheck. I am incredibly grateful to have a job I love and feel passionate about. So, instead of seeking more, I am working to express gratitude for the time and money I have so that I can use it in a way that supports me enjoying my life. 

Money has been on my mind lately. I have had this nagging feeling that more money, especially if it comes at the cost of precious time, isn’t really the answer. Instead, for me, it is more valuable to look at how I am spending my money and to ensure that I am being mindful around this, so as to continue to make the most of my time. 

If this resonates with you, I encourage you to go back to the strategies above and ask yourself those same questions: 

• Am I spending my money in a way that reflects my values?
• Where am I overspending on things that don’t really matter to me?
• How can I adjust my spending so that I have more money available where it matters?

• Am I using my time in a way that feels valuable to me? 
• Where am I using a lot of time in a way that doesn’t really contribute to my overall well-being?
• Am I burning the candle at both ends? If so, where can I adjust so as to add more opportunities for self care?

“My favorite things in life don’t cost money. It is really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.” – Steve Jobs