{"id":49277,"date":"2021-09-15T13:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T17:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=49277"},"modified":"2021-09-23T12:17:20","modified_gmt":"2021-09-23T16:17:20","slug":"take-control-of-your-finances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/take-control-of-your-finances\/","title":{"rendered":"Can&#8217;t Take Control of Your Finances? Here Is Why"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Does thinking about your personal finances make your palms start to sweat? Do you often find yourself wondering where your paychecks go? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If so, you\u2019re not alone. The sheer amount of information out there about managing your finances is overwhelming, especially for people in their 20s and 30s who are just starting their financial journeys. Not only is there an insane amount of money <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-be-a-great-manager\/\">management advice<\/a> out there, much of it\u2014like \u201cjust stop buying lattes&#8221;\u2014is completely unhelpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at the most common excuses people make for not being able to manage their money responsibly, how to avoid them, and how defining your &#8220;rich life&#8221; can help you take control of your finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common Excuses for Not Managing Money (and How to Avoid Them)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a financial educator, Ramit Sethi has heard every excuse in the book for why his system can\u2019t possibly work for someone because of their individual circumstances. And while there <em>are<\/em> structural inequalities that give some people an unfair financial advantage over others, the fact that there are some factors you can\u2019t control isn\u2019t a valid excuse for ignoring what you <em>can <\/em>control.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, if you work at a minimum wage job, it might be much harder for you to save money than it is for someone with a trust fund. And while you can\u2019t change that unfair advantage, you <em>can <\/em>decide whether to use it as an excuse not to try or to refocus on whatever factor you can control\u2014even if that\u2019s just something as small as automating your credit card payments so you never face another late fee.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the years, Sethi has learned that many people don\u2019t want to hear that logic\u2014they\u2019d rather make excuses than take control of the problem. Most of these excuses fall into two categories: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/choice-overload\/\">decision paralysis<\/a> and blaming the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Decision Paralysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Information is helpful, but too much information can easily distract and overwhelm us. If you are like most people, when you decide to take control of your finances, you feel like you can\u2019t (or shouldn\u2019t) make financial decisions until they have <em>all <\/em>the information. However, the opposite is true: <strong>The more information you have, the less likely you are to act on it. This is called <em>decision paralysis<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, all you really need to know are the basics of financial health that you\u2019ll learn in this summary; any information beyond that will just add to the confusion and overwhelm many of us feel when it comes to finances. It\u2019s normal to be nervous about making a mistake, but at this stage in your financial journey, remember that <strong>the worst possible mistake you can make is not getting started at all.<\/strong> If you start investing early (ideally before age 35), you\u2019ll be better situated in the long run than someone who waited until age 45 to invest\u2014even if you make a few mistakes along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If you\u2019re older than 35 and just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/getting-started-with-investing\/\">getting started with investing<\/a>, don\u2019t let this information scare you off. When it comes to investing, starting early is best, but starting <em>now<\/em> is far better than not starting at all.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Blaming the System<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>American socioeconomic policies have created a deeply unequal economic situation in which people who are born into privilege have an unfair advantage over everyone else. While those issues are real and important, they\u2019re outside of anyone\u2019s individual control\u2014so when it comes to growing your own wealth, it\u2019s much more productive to focus on what you <em>can<\/em> control than to fall back on blaming the system. Here are some of the common excuses people use for giving up on trying to improve their financial lives:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>\u201cMy situation means I can\u2019t save.\u201d <\/strong>Your situation may be difficult, and you may not be able to save <em>as much<\/em> money as other people in the same amount of time, but you can still save <em>some<\/em>. The important thing is not to use your situation as a reason not to try at all.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>\u201cThis financial system won\u2019t work because the society is unfair.\u201d <\/strong>Sometimes, that\u2019s true\u2014the American socioeconomic system is deeply unfair. However, if your goal is to increase your wealth, it doesn\u2019t help to focus on those larger issues that you can\u2019t control. Instead, focus on what you <em>can<\/em> control; no matter how insignificant it might feel, you\u2019ll always be better off than if you didn\u2019t try.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>\u201cIf they\u2019d taught this in school, I\u2019d be better off by now.\u201d<\/strong> If you went to college, they probably <em>did <\/em>teach personal finance classes, even if you didn\u2019t take them.<\/li><li><strong>\u201cFinancial institutions prey on their customers.\u201d <\/strong>That\u2019s true, and it\u2019s what they\u2019re designed to do. But like any other situation we can\u2019t control, it\u2019s best to move on and focus on the things we can control instead of getting bogged down in anger or helplessness.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>\u201cI can\u2019t afford to get it wrong and end up worse off.\u201d <\/strong>Investing can be scary, especially for people who\u2019ve lived through global economic recessions. However, remember that investing is about long-term wealth\u2014you don\u2019t need to worry about the market fluctuating in the short term so long as there\u2019s even modest long-term growth. If you\u2019re especially nervous, remember that not all investments are equally risky, so you can always put your money in very conservative, low-risk options.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>\u201cI have no way to make extra money to invest.\u201d <\/strong>That\u2019s okay\u2014you don\u2019t need to. Instead of bringing in more money, this book will focus on cutting your existing costs to free up money to invest.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>\u201cI want really impressive returns, not average ones.\u201d <\/strong>When it comes to investing, average is actually the best place to be: You\u2019ll have less risk, avoid unnecessary fees, and still make a solid profit at the average 8% rate of return.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To get the most out of this book, we need to move past these excuses and focus on taking small steps toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/achieving-financial-success\/\">financial success<\/a>. Here are the key ideas to keep in mind as you read:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cGood enough\u201d is better than perfect. If you can get started with managing your money and get it right most of the time, you\u2019ll still be richer than if you don\u2019t start at all.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Get comfortable with making mistakes so that you can learn from them.<\/li><li>Understand your priorities so you can spend money on the things you love\u2014guilt free\u2014by economizing on things that don\u2019t matter to you. The goal of this book is to help you live <em>your <\/em>version of a rich life, including spending money on whatever means most to you.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Embrace \u201cboring\u201d when it comes to your financial life. You won\u2019t become a venture capitalist just by following Sethi\u2019s advice, but you\u2019ll consistently grow your money with far less risk.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The goal of accumulating wealth is to free you up to focus on things other than money. The more hands-off your financial system, the more you can focus on more important things in life than spreadsheets.&nbsp;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/habit-1-be-proactive-covey-7-habits\/\">Be proactive<\/a> with your finances. Instead of passively accepting things like bank fees, make the effort to deal with them now and save yourself thousands in the future.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Does a \u201cRich Life\u201d Mean to You?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Being \u201crich\u201d means something different to everyone.<\/strong> Your version of rich may look like taking lavish vacations every year, or financing your parents\u2019 retirement, or donating huge sums to charity. In any case, having a clear vision of what a rich life means to you will help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-define-your-goals\/\">define your goals<\/a> and make financial decisions that will help you get there. We\u2019ll cover specifics later on, but in general, here are Sethi\u2019s 10 rules for a rich life:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Spend freely on things you love by cutting costs on things you don\u2019t.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Focus on the five to 10 things that will have the biggest impact on your financial situation instead of getting bogged down in specifics.<\/li><li>Think of investing as a long-term strategy. You won\u2019t be seeing huge returns right away, but over time, you\u2019ll be better off than people with more \u201cexciting\u201d investments.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Reducing your spending is helpful, but there\u2019s only so much you can cut. Instead, focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/why-more-is-less\/\">maximizing<\/a> your earning potential.<\/li><li>Ignore financial advice from friends and family. Everybody has conflicting ideas, and getting bogged down in those perspectives will just add to the confusion and decision paralysis.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Create your own spending rules, including what you <em>will<\/em> spend on, not just what you won\u2019t. For example, one of Sethi\u2019s personal rules is that if he wants to buy a book, he does\u2014no second guessing, no questions asked. Books are something he allows himself to spend extravagantly on no matter what because he knows he\u2019s cutting the costs in other areas to make that possible.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t worry about \u201cadvanced\u201d tips. Just stick to the basics. You\u2019ll make more progress by consistently focusing on the \u201cboring\u201d rules than wasting time on advanced tips, just like you\u2019ll make more progress as a runner by going for a jog than spending hours comparing different brands of running shoes.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Focus on what you <em>can <\/em>control instead of complaining about what you can\u2019t.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Create the life <em>you <\/em>really want, not what you think a rich life should be\u2014even if that\u2019s wildly different from other people\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-measure-success\/\">definition of success<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Do the work now so that your money takes care of itself while you focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-live-your-best-life\/\">living your best life<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does thinking about your personal finances make your palms start to sweat? Do you often find yourself wondering where your paychecks go? If so, you\u2019re not alone. The sheer amount of information out there about managing your finances is overwhelming, especially for people in their 20s and 30s who are just starting their financial journeys. Not only is there an insane amount of money management advice out there, much of it\u2014like \u201cjust stop buying lattes&#8221;\u2014is completely unhelpful. In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at the most common excuses people make for not being able to manage their money responsibly,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":27822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,31,9],"tags":[496],"class_list":["post-49277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-money","category-psychology","tag-i-will-teach-you-to-be-rich","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can&#039;t Take Control of Your Finances? 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Read more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/take-control-of-your-finances\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-09-15T17:27:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-09-23T16:17:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/money.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1042\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"599\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Darya Sinusoid\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Darya Sinusoid\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/take-control-of-your-finances\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/take-control-of-your-finances\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Darya Sinusoid\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0421cce75bc249b11e2517b3a91f9c46\"},\"headline\":\"Can&#8217;t Take Control of Your Finances? 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