Yesterday was supposed to be my first financial coaching session for the non-profit I signed up for, but sadly the client cancelled at the last minute. She did have a good reason to cancel but it just made me think about how it can be so easy to prioritize everything else in life above finances. When you’re busy putting food in your fridge, raising your children, keeping your pets, yourself and your spouse exercised, all on top of the hassle of trying to feed and clothe yourself, an abstract activity like budgeting seems less important (and rightfully so!). But if it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the laundry pile (like all of my hand-wash clothing) then progress (or hand-washing) just won’t happen.
So show up for your finances. Make them a priority. If you are really ambitious, make them THE priority. What we spend our time focusing on and practicing is what we will see improvement in.
Just like you show up for family and friends because you care about and support them, show up for your finances by doing regular checkups on your bank accounts, tracking your net worth, and researching ways to cut spending.
Don’t cancel your finance time. If you don’t show up, no one will.