When I ask my clients if they would like to feel more in control of their money, the answer is always a definite YES! Yet, although the recognition is there the resistance is stronger.

The resistance can come in various forms. Some feel bored, anxious and stressed just at the thought of money, some think that money is too hard for them to understand and others would just prefer for someone else to do all the work and sort it out for them.

Like you, these are smart, driven, high achieving women. Who, when they set their mind to something will go out and achieve it. So why when it comes to money do they not apply the same approach they do to all the other areas of their life?

The reason is that taking control of your money is not just about focusing on the outer work of wealth - the things you need to do - the practical tactics and specific behaviours to achieve success. But it’s what many of us high achieving, driven women tend to do which is actually counterproductive.

As most of the time the problem isn’t outside of us. It lies deep within us. So often we are unconsciously undermining ourselves and our ability to build wealth. When you start to include self exploration and mindset into the equation you will get quicker and lasting results. It’s learning the practical side whilst also doing the inner mindset work - examining your thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs.

Creating financial independence for yourself is an evolutionary process. It’s this combination that will enable you to capably and confidently begin making more money as well as being able to successfully manage your money that will lead you to build wealth and create the life you desire.

 

You can choose to have a major impact on your own financial life if you're willing to do the work and show up for yourself

 

Below are 3 things you can do today to help you feel in more control of your money:

Ask yourself WHY money is important to you

We all know money is important. We understand the rationale of spending less than we earn. We acknowledge that we want to look after ourselves financially throughout our lives but in most cases, we don't value these pragmatic things because we're not doing anything about them.

Knowing what your wants and needs are will help you define what is really important to you. We all want for so much (largely because we are trying to keep up with the Joneses) but in actual fact, when we get really honest with ourselves we don't need much at all to be happy.

It's only when we slow down, strip back and simplify things that we realise this. Which is why it's time to get real and figure out what's important to you, what you place value on in both your life and career and focussing on those things whilst letting go of anything you actually don't care about.

The beliefs and areas of your life that are most important to you become your guiding forces in life. When you know what is important to you and what you want in life, you're able to make decisions quickly and easily. You know what you believe in and what to prioritise and they can also lead you in the way you act.

Every financial decision should be driven by what is important to you and what makes you happy. Understanding what you're looking for in life is the foundation on which all successful financial game plans are built on.

Whether you want the fine things in life, a lifestyle filled with simple pleasures or maybe a combination of both the choice is yours. Most of all make sure you are comfortable and confident with owning what's important to you as it becomes your ‘why’.

It is your ‘why’ that gives you the strength and determination to stay in your clarity, to stick to your financial game plan and keep going no matter what challenges come your way and to stay true to you.

Understand WHERE you currently stand

Do you know where you currently stand financially? If you don’t know the answer don’t worry you’re not alone. But if you want to take control of your money you must get clear on where you are right now. You need to have a starting point so that you can plan what you need to do next to move closer to building wealth and creating the life you want.

Below are 4 numbers that you want to know if you want to take control of your money:

1. How much you earn
2. How much you spend
3. How much you own
4. How much you owe

Now for some of you just the thought of doing this exercise might make you want to stop right here. Please don’t! Even though it may feel confronting, it’s needed if you really want to start building  wealth.

When doing this exercise it’s handy to have access to your bank accounts, credit card statements, payslips, superannuation balances etc. Knowing these 4 numbers is going to give you clarity around where you currently stand financially and what areas you may need to work on.

For instance, if you’re spending more than you earn, you’re breaking even or have limited savings it’s time to switch things up. When it comes to wealth building there are 2 important things to remember: spend less than you earn and regularly and continuously save and invest.

If you are finding that you are spending more than you earn or you’re breaking even, go back to the previous section and look at what is important to you. Is what you’re spending your money on aligned with the things that are important to you and moving you closer to the life you want? If not, then this is your chance to make changes so that you can start using your money in a way that is aligned with what is important to you and that will help you create financial freedom whatever that may look like to you.

Know WHAT you need to do to create the life you want

Ok now it’s time to close the gap. When you know why money is important to you and the lifestyle you desire along with where you currently stand financially, you’re able to see the gap that exists between the two. Goal setting is a powerful process for closing this gap and motivating you to turn your vision of the future into reality.

Once you know what you want, you can concentrate your energy on making it happen instead of wasting time on distractions. Start with 3 Big Goals that will help you close the gap from where you’re currently at to where you want to be.

I always like to break my Big Goals down into 90 Day Goals. It's an ideal timeframe to focus on a goal. So for each Big Goal, work out what is realistically achievable for the next 90 days. You can then go further and break them down into monthly and weekly tasks. Find a system that works for you and stick with it.

Now that you have your 3 Big Goals, refer to them when you’re considering making a purchase. If the purchase is not moving you closer to your 3 Big Goals and is not aligned with your values, then it’s probably a good idea to pass on that purchase. That way you can put your money towards something that is meaningful to you.

3 actions to help you feel more in control of your money

• Clear some time in your schedule to work on the 3 exercises. Grab your notebook, favourite drink and put on your favourite music.
• Work through each exercise and write down your answers. You may want to do this in one go or you may wish to do one exercise per day. If you come up against resistance and get stuck don’t worry it’s totally normal to feel this way. Just take some deep breaths and push forward through the resistance. Do it for your future self. You’ve got this!
• Get your planner out and start allocating time aside to do the tasks you’ve listed. You may have your goals but if you don’t take the necessary action, you’re going to struggle to achieve them and move closer to the life you want.

By working on these 3 exercises you will start to feel more in control of your money and be on your way to creating the life you want. It’s never too late to start as long as you start now!

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can take control of your money and ultimately your life, you can find me at:

Website: www.nataliejhall.com

Instagram: natalie_j_hall