Sometimes money is tight. And finances can be a major stressor in both your personal life and relationships. But it can also be a mind over matter type problem.
Everyone has their own perspective on money, largely influenced by past life experiences. According to an American Psychological Association (APA) study, money is somewhat significant or a very significant source of stress for 63% of people. Recent stressors from inflation to concerns about the overall economy amplify the stress.
No matter your perspective, it’s possible to change your financial mindset to help the topic of money be less stressful. Money Mentors describes this mindset as your belief about money which shapes how you save, spend, and manage debt.
Here are a few steps to start to change your financial mindset.
Reflect your current financial mindset
Journaling or talking to a trusted friend or advisor about the answers to these questions, and others that come up, can give you a good idea of your beliefs and needs.
Start including positive self-talk when it comes to money
After you recognize what you think about money, try finding ways to implement positive self-talk around finances. It’s easy to be your own worst critic. The next time you’re talking to a partner, loved one, or friend about money, try approaching the conversation with a growth mindset — meaning it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be a little better than before.
For example, maybe you wish you could save $1,000. Last month you were able to save $200 toward that goal. The next month you saved $100. You could look at it two ways — “I only saved $100 this time.” or “I’m $100 closer to my goal." The latter is “growth mindset.”
Instead of jumping to the conclusion with your partner that you’ll never be able to save enough to purchase that home or car, consider sharing that goal and brainstorming ways to save up. Or the next time you’re feeling money is “always” tight, consider re-evaluating your budget and look into opportunities to gain extra income. Also, look backwards and realize how far you’ve come in understanding and overcoming money issues.
Learn more about managing money
Invest a few hours into financial research and how you can implement money management opportunities moving forward. This might mean scheduling an appointment with a financial advisor, taking a look at different bank account options, or reading finance-related books.
The more knowledge you have, the more confident you will feel, and the better you’ll be able to make decisions that impact your financial future positively, helping change your mindset.
Start by compiling a list — without self-judgment — of things you don’t really understand about money. It might include things like how interest really works, if a home equity loan or line of credit is the better option, how to overcome credit card debt, or how to invest. You can make a reasonable timeline to learn more about each answer, such as one per month, using self and expert education and resources.
The TD Bank Learning Center has many learning modules dedicated to important financial topics, including information and tips on personal credit and home lending. The site also includes articles and videos to help you learn how to budget, plan for life events, pay down debt, manage your money and more.
Set financial goals for yourself
These goals could be short term, long term, or somewhere in between. Maybe it’s paying off debt, buying a home or car, saving for a child’s education, or saving for home renovations.
Also take time to consider how much money you can save and how you’re investing in your future. Think about yourself 20 years from now – what might be important to you then?
Whatever you want to achieve, take time to set the goals and lay out a plan for achieving them. Consider bringing a financial adviser along on the journey to help you stay on track. Some people also find auto withdrawal and auto transfer functions at their bank helpful to ensure savings is being automatically transferred from your paycheck each time you are paid.
Determine your money mindset going forward
After assessing your current mindset, learning more about finances, and enlisting some help to work alongside you, you can be well on your way to an improved money mindset. You might notice it’s working, though everyone is different, if:
- You feel more confident about your financial future — not that you will be rich tomorrow, but that you have a plan to meet your goals.
- You feel more educated surrounding those previously perplexing topics, and how it might apply to you
- You notice more positive internal dialogue around growth, rather than self-criticism when something didn’t go perfectly.
Finally, you are able to enjoy your life more, and stress less about money with your new mindset.
For more on personal finance topics
If you have more questions about personal finance topics, visit the TD Bank Learning Center. You can find more TD Bank services at TD.com.
We hope you found this helpful. This article is for informational purposes only and is based on information available as of November 2024 and is subject to change. This content is not intended to be used or acted upon with respect to any client's specific circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with your qualified professionals.