Are You Obsessed with Money?
Are you all about money?
Obsessed with making more money and having more of it to spend on the things you want?
How would you characterize your relationship with money?
Since I’m known amongst some of my friends and family as the money guy, I often get viewed as being all about money.
I really cringe when I hear that, or when I get the sense that people view me that way. I don’t think they mean any harm by the comment. Still, I want to make it perfectly clear that money (i.e. making more, having more just for the sake of having more, etc.) isn’t what rules my life.
What’s led me to this point in my life (blogging three times a week on the topic of personal finance, having a bunch of money books and magazines strewn about the house, etc.) are a few things, the least of which is money, in my opinion.
Personal Responsibility and Security
There’s a time in my life that I’m not too proud of: post college, when I had to move back in with my parents and rely on them for shelter and employment. It’s a long story, (you can read some of it here) but the bottom line is this: in the end I got fed up with not being responsible for myself and burdening those around me.
Something changed in me during those few months and since then I’ve valued personal responsibility, independence, and securing my future over most other things. I never again want to depend on anyone else or burden them because of my poor choices. Money is just the tool that can help me create that personal responsibility and security.
Another aspect to this is the fact that, as a Christian, I feel that God calls me to take care of myself, those under my care, and those that cannot help themselves. So much so, I feel it’s one of the building blocks for living a life that is pleasing to God.
“If anyone has no care for his family and those in his house, he is false to the faith, and is worse than one who has no faith” – 1 Timothy 5:8
Creating Something of Value
Another reason I do this (spend time each week researching the topics within personal finance and subsequently writing an article) is that I really enjoy creating. This is fun for me. And it’s become somewhat successful.
Even for a guy who’s not that great of a writer. There’s so much that goes on with running a blog: reading, writing, networking, coding, designing, commenting, emailing, selling, and the list goes on. I have a great time running what has essentially become my own small business.
I may eventually grow tired of this subject, but for now I feel like there’s still a bunch to discuss, and more growth to be had with the blog.
Just a quick note to clarify that this is a niche blog written by a real person. But it is not a personal blog, in the traditional sense. The focus here has always been, and will remain on money and finance from my perspective. I say this because I get the feeling sometimes that people may not know the difference between what I’m doing here at PT Money, and what Mrs. PT does with her personal blog, for instance.
Having the Right Perspective
Okay, back to my main point… For us to have success in our own personal dealings with money, I think it’s key to actually put money in it’s place. It’s really not money we’re after. …It’s happiness, security, the ability to give, the freedom to have guilt-free fun, (fill in this space with what you value).
Money is just one of the tools to help get you there.
So next time you find yourself focusing too much on money, try and remember what you’re really after. What is it you’re obsessed with? Money itself or something greater?
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I agree with you. Money is just a means to an end not just an obssesion. I also get a lot of happiness out writing on my blog.
This bring me to my point. We all have a purpose in life. That purpose is what drives in life and makes us great at what we do.
I understand where you’re coming from as far as being thought of as the “guy that always talks about money”. I get that sometimes too.
To be honest, sometimes it can get to the point where blogging/etc becomes more about the money than it should. I started doing this as a creative outlet, as well as to help people with the things I was learning. Then when it because a bit more lucrative to blog, and the extra money was more than just hobby sized income, it is easy to start losing focus and to start focusing too much on the money. thanks for the reminder!
I feel like Stefan and I have reached that point in our lives. We’re sick of relying on everyone else. We’re ready to be responsible, it’s definitely not an overnight fix for us, but it’s been nice having each other to keep accountable and keep our goals high for the right reasons.
Thanks, Jules. I appreciate the kind words about the blog. Thanks for letting me rant a bit.
I don’t get the vibe that you are “into money”, rather, your blog radiates a responsible mindset about finances, alluding to the need to provide adequately for yourself and your family in the present and future.
Like you, I blog about frugal living and personal finance which makes it seem like I’m obsessed with money, but there’s a lot more to me that my blog doesn’t show. For me, money is a means to an end and learning how to properly manage our finances is vital if we want to live a responsible, healthy and comfortable life.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have other priorities in my life, though many priorities also depend on money. For example, my dog is an important part of my life. And in order to properly care for my dog, I have to have enough money for food, supplements, veterinary care, etc.
It can be difficult to separate finances from individual aspects of our lives because money plays a role in everything.
My obsession with money depends on the context. I’m neither a miser nor a spendthrift, although I am occasionally on the frugal side. So I’m not really obsessed with either spending or saving.
But my obsession with money kicks in when it comes to salary. I have a lot of education and experience and can not be happy if I don’t feel that I’m pulling a salary consummate with that.