Show love through money - serve

Ah, February.  The month of love.  Everything is suddenly red or pink, heart-shaped objects abound, and love songs play in the background.  Restaurant reservations are harder to secure, basic food cost more, and the $6 arrangement of roses now costs $35.  February is complicated.    But we will not shy away from the complication – we will lean in.  All. The. Way.

During this month, we will look at a couple ways we can show love to ourselves and our families through our money.  The first way is through service.  Sure, that can include actual acts of service, but I want to focus on serving by meeting the needs and wants of our household. 

Serving means that we are putting others ahead of ourselves.  We consider their desires as a bigger priority than ours.  It doesn’t mean that we go without, but we don’t insist that we come first.

The needs and wants of our household have an underlying value.  When we take time to learn the household needs and wants, and endeavor to provide for them, we satisfy those values and express love.

Needs

• Safe shelter – security

  • Pay rent/mortgage timely

• Food – health

  • Prepare healthy, planned meals at a reasonable cost

• Transportation – freedom

  • Filling up the gas tank of your significant other

Wants

• Saving for retirement – security & independence

  • Contributing to employer sponsored retirement offering

• Creating an emergency fund – security

  • Regular deposits into a savings account to accumulate 6 mos of household expenses

• Securing necessary estate planning documents – planning for others

  • Drafting a will and advanced medical directive

Sometimes we are grumpy about paying for all the things all the time (even in February).  However, if we consider those costs and tasks as serving the needs, wants and values of our family, we can get on board.

50/70/100 principle.  How do you really feel about paying for all the things?  Can that perspective shift for the good of yourself and family?   Happy to chat.  Email or call at letstalk@studiomfinancial.net, 469-615-0387.  Until we meet…keep working on the change.