One of the great injustices in this world is that few of us are ever taught what we need to know about money and the world of personal finance in order to be successful. These are often multi-generational patterns; since many of our parents weren’t taught, they did not possess the foundation to teach us nor do we often know how to teach our own children. And, in all likelihood, our children will probably repeat this cycle unless we decide to do something differently. We can and must end this cycle by committing to becoming financially aware and empowered.
The other thing we are not taught and greatly need to learn is how to talk about money in a healthy way. In my experience as a Certified Money Coach (CMC),® this even more important than financial education. Why? Learning to talk about money allows us to understand and communicate our needs and fosters a healthy, personal relationship with money. As long as money remains a taboo subject, we tend to avoid it at all costs. This only deepens our money issues and often perpetuates avoidance, aversion and disconnection with money which can lead to financial self-sabotage.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could break this cycle and not have to struggle with the same financial issues over and over again?
The truth is that our lack of financial awareness and capacity is not our fault. This is a collective societal issue that I believe our government and education system has failed to provide. Unfortunately, we can no longer afford to wait for someone else to do this for us. However, we can y must choose to do this for ourselves. Everyone needs and deserves to be financially educated. The price we are paying for this is far too great to ignore. For quite simply, without this knowledge and awareness we have become pawns in a game we have thus far not been winning at. So, what are we to do?
We can become committed to becoming financially aware and empowered for ourselves, for our children and for future generations to come.
Here are Five Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Empowered:
- One of my favorite sites is the National Foundation for Financial Education (NEFE) who provides free, non-consumer oriented financial education to teens and adults. You can even go back to college online and take their Cash Course which is an amazingly valuable program that anyone can take.
- The U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission offers some excellent financial education programs that are free on their website including a “My Money” toolkit which is available online or can be ordered by phone by calling their toll-free number (888) 696 – 6639.
- Make becoming financially educated and informed a family project and priority. You can have fun learning together!
- Commit to taking one step, one action toward becoming financially educated and empowered today.
- Take the Cuestionario de tipo de dinero and learn to understand your own types and their subconsciously driven patterns and behaviors that influence your decisions every day.
- If you need to get help and support, visit the Aldea de coaching de dinero and have a consultation with a Certified Money Coach(CMC).® They’re here to help and will give you a free 30-minute consultation. What do you have to lose?
