What if Your Financial Peace Starts with Not Caring?

Hi Reader,

Welcome to The Money Series! If you are new here, thank you for signing up. Personal Finance can feel ambiguous and overwhelming, but I am here to help simplify the journey.

Sometimes, your finances are not just shaped by the things you ignore but also by the ones you pay attention to. We often carry the weight of opinions, appearances, and comparisons that - when you really pause to think about it - don’t matter. Not in the long run. And definitely not to your financial peace.

Whether we realize it or not, our spending decisions are not always driven by need, but sometimes by the pressure to look a certain way, appear successful, or to keep up with a lifestyle we may not even want.

As you navigate your personal finance journey, here are a few things I believe you’d be better off not caring about:

What Others Think About Your Life Choices. If you allow other people’s opinions to stop you from doing something you are passionate about - a business, a YouTube channel, a career pivot - you are not just saying No to that one thing. You are giving up on all the possibilities that could come from it. You’re closing the door on opportunities that you can’t even envision yet.

You are responsible for the outcome of your choices, regardless of who influenced them. So if you choose a simpler lifestyle, a modest apartment, or an older car, let it be your choice. Own it.

Remember that wealth is not just measured in monetary terms, but it’s also about having choices, and feeling confident and free to build your life your way.

Looking Like You Have Money. “Wealth is what you don’t see. Spending money to show people how much money you have is the fastest way to have less money - Morgan Housel”. Real wealth isn’t the designer bags, the luxury car, or the first-class ticket. Those are purchases. True wealth lies in unseen things, the things that you keep - your income, financial assets, etc.

There’s a difference between looking rich and being rich, and the more you spend to look rich, the less you actually build wealth. When you spend money on things, you end up with the things and not the money*

Other People’s Paths or Choices. In today's digital age, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing our lives to the perfectly curated highlights of others on social media. This constant comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy and impulsive financial decisions as we strive to keep up with perceived lifestyles.

Each time you compare yourself to someone else (offline or online), I want you to imagine yourself as an athlete in a race. Every second spent looking at your opponent is a second you lose in your own race. This applies to your career, your business, your goals, your finances.

You win by staying in your lane.

When You Spend for Validation, Here's What You're Saying No To:

• Building your emergency fund

• Investing consistently

• Paying off debt

• Starting that business or taking that break you’ve dreamed about

• Experiencing true financial freedom

What You Can Do

• ✅ Create financial goals that matter to you, not what looks good on social media.

• ✅ Build a lifestyle below your means 

• ✅ Limit your social media consumption and unfollow you know who

• ✅ Save for freedom, not flexing. When your money is working for you, there’s no need to prove anything to anyone.

The freedom you seek - to leave a job, take some time off work, travel, take a risk. or start a business - starts with not trying to look like you’re already there. You don’t have to fake it till you make it. You can start building quietly, intentionally… now.

Reflect on This:

• What’s one financial decision you recently made just to “keep up”?

Heads up (UK readers):

The tax year ends this weekend. A new one begins Sunday. If you're not sure what this means for your savings, investments, or taxes, hit reply and let's chat.

Till next week, I am rooting for you, money-ly!

Dee

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*Quote from the book ‘The Psychology of Money’

Disclaimer: This does not constitute financial advice. Please conduct your research or consult your financial advisor for important financial advice.