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Have you tried changing small habits to get ahead financially without much success? The problem might not lie with your budgeting habits but with your mindset. After all, changing your actions without changing the thoughts driving those actions can make it hard for helpful habits to stick. Trying to save money without thinking through the how and why may be putting the cart before the horse.
Below, we talk through a few crucial mindset changes that can make all the difference when it comes to sustainable, long-term financial growth.
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Pay your future self before anyone else
Yes, paying off your bills and dealing with daily expenses is crucial. But if you don't prioritize savings and investments, it's unlikely you'll be able to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck.
Automating monthly transfers from your checking to savings account or setting up automatic 401(k) contributions ensures you'll have a future retirement, so get into the mindset of paying yourself before anyone else.
Focus on the long term
Forget the idea that your new budget is going to build you a fortune overnight. Instead, remember that wealth grows over time, and you might not see profits from the small changes you make now until a few decades down the line.
Compound interest is key here. It takes time for the money you save and invest to generate interest, but if you stick with it, you'll be surprised by how much your savings can grow.
Don't sweat the short-term changes
Part of looking at the big picture means remembering that ups and downs will flatten on a long enough timeframe. Your investment accounts will rise and fall over time, but the only thing that will stop you from earning a return is panicking whenever conditions fluctuate and shuttering your accounts. Doing so doesn't protect your financial future — it just stops you from recouping your losses once the market inevitably starts to rise again.
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Treat mistakes as learning experiences
Financial mistakes often come with huge price tags, but learning from these costly mistakes can help make the price worth it. Instead of feeling ashamed of your mistakes, try to consciously think through what went wrong and what you'd do differently next time. This type of growth mindset is much more likely to help you cultivate wealth than being ashamed of your errors and trying to pretend like they never happened.
Remember that comparison is the thief of joy
Comparing yourself to those around you is a great way to ensure you never feel truly content with your financial situation. Rather than thinking you've failed because your home is smaller than your neighbors' or your car is a few years old, focus on your personal successes.
Have you paid off a few debts, no matter how small? Are you putting away a few more dollars per paycheck than you used to? Celebrating these wins will motivate you far more than pushing yourself to keep up with the Joneses.
Ask how you can afford things instead of assuming that you can't
When you tell yourself you "can't" afford something you really want, are you being honest? Or are you assuming the worst based on your current spending habits? And what could change if you started to ask yourself how you could afford something instead?
Approaching your budget as a problem you can solve instead of a foregone conclusion can help you find creative solutions that you wouldn't have otherwise encountered.
Take charge by planning prior to crisis
A major financial crisis, such as a job loss or health emergency, can force you to make fast, effective financial changes. But you'll save yourself a lot of stress if you plan for potential crises ahead of time, acting in advance instead of reacting in the moment.
Contributing to an emergency fund, budgeting for likely future expenses, and making a clear financial plan for unlikely but possible crises will help you feel more in charge of your financial future.
Pivot from scarcity to opportunity
If you're always thinking about how scarce money is, it's easy to start hoarding it. But while having enough money in savings is essential, so is knowing when you can afford to spend.
For instance, if you're relatively far from retirement, you can afford to take risks with your investment portfolio. You should have ample time to rebuild any losses over the next several decades. Don't take unfounded risks, but remember that if you're fretting too much about scarcity, it's harder to recognize good opportunities when they come around.
Bottom line
Changing your financial mindset means that even when money is tight, you're still able to lower your financial stress. Hopefully these mindsets can help you weather any financial storms the new year blows your way, but if you want more personalized recommendations for success, it never hurts to schedule a meeting with a retirement planner or financial advisor.
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