Mindful Moments
How to become money mindful.
Have you ever reached for another cookie, only to find you had already eaten them all without even realising? Becoming money mindful is how you can ensure that this doesn’t happen when it comes to your finances! Here’s how some of our readers became more mindful of their money matter, and the amazing results they achieved as a result.
Mindfulness is defined as being conscious or aware of something. It is the opposite of acting mindlessly – or on autopilot, without thinking or being aware what you are doing – like eating all the cookies, without even realising it!
“What you think, you become; what you feel, you attract; what you imagine, you create.”
When it comes to money matters, mindfulness means becoming aware and conscious of our money decisions and habits, and how they affect you and your financial situation.
Mindful money practice is when you are paying full attention to your finances. It means that you are aware and conscious of your financial thoughts, emotions and behaviours, and you know exactly how much you earn, spend and save, whether it fits into your budget, how it makes you feel and how it impacts your financial future.
Perhaps like Jane, you believe something about money that is holding you back? Or like Tom, becoming mindful of unconscious spending can help you create financial habits that improve your financial life and make you feel secure.
Jane* says that she did not understand that the beliefs we hold about money affect everything we do with our money! “It was only after speaking to my financial coach** that I recognised what I really believed about money: ‘that there is never enough anyway’, like Gogo used to say. I realised this is why I always felt anxious when I bought something and believed that budgeting and savings won’t help. Now, with more realistic beliefs about money, I have seen there can be enough money and that I can even enjoy buying what I have budgeted for.”
“I could never understand why I ran out of money before the end of the month, when I earn a good salary and, as a bachelor, I don’t have that many expenses,” tells Tom*. “It was my financial coach** that suggested I start becoming more money mindful by tracking my spending on my phone. It was a life-changing practice! Now that I am conscious of where each cent is going, I make better money decisions – like making, instead of buying, lunch every day and making new habits that improve my finances success, like saving the money I used to waste on ‘stuff’.”
Like Jane* and Tom*, we can all become more mindful of our money matters and reap the benefits thereof. Research shows that mindfulness reduces stress, anxiety and depression, while improving immune function, focus and concentration, and relationships. This is true for physical and mental health, and also for financial health.
For most of us, being mindful of our money matters and making decisions that build financial security will generate positive feelings and make it easier to consciously make better money choices in future.
Join our October Money Challenge
How mindful are you when it comes to your money?
To become more money mindful and improve your financial life, join our Money Mindfulness challenge!
Your financial coach** can assist you in making money mindfulness a habit.
* Not their real names. When you reach out to your financial coach, it is 100% confidential! Your personal information and anything discussed with your financial coach will never be shared with anyone.
** Access to your financial coach is an employee benefit provided by your employer through a completely independent third-party company. Your financial coach is trained and trusted to help you better manage your money – in complete confidentiality.