As many of you already know, I’m a scientist by training. It is in the very marrow of my bones to think and act in geek-speak. I edit and write this newsletter with an eye of analysis and make sure that what I and others have to say is worth the time it has taken you to read. It is very important to me that you never waste a minute while trying to become debt-free and eventually, financially independent. With this in mind I approach each issue of My 2Cents with a jaundice eye for anything that does not promote the goal of efficient time management. 

Don’t worry, this article is not going to be an attempt for you to squeeze yet one more goal onto you’re already busting calendar of obligations, responsibilities and meetings. What today’s message focuses on is your ability to make time so you can find the joy in your life. Many of the folks that I have mentored over the years have lost much of the zest they have for life due to their burden of debt or financial responsibilities. I don’t want that for you frugal friends. I don’t want you depressed as you save money and down because you can’t figure out how to start an IRA while you’re saving for your kid’s college fund. 

What I want for you is the same peace of mind and calm that I have when a new problem hits and I have no idea on the HOW! That’s right. During the time that Brad and I were working on becoming financially independent we had many crises hit our bank accounts. Brad got cancer (don’t worry he is fine now) and we had medical deductibles to pay and prescription medications that were out-of-pocket. I was also eight months pregnant with child number two and was looking at a whole list of expenses coming up within our growing family as well as relatives living out-of-state.  

If it hadn’t been for my past experience at handling financial crises, I could have very easily snapped under the pressure that was looming overhead. What saves my sanity when financial woes are larger than the income? Here are some of the tricks I use to break me out of my stupor.  

1. What do you want out of life? This is the question I always ask myself. It is the question that saved us so many times when we could very easily have managed to lose our financial way. I often tell my clients and students that if you don’t know what you truly want, you’ll never get it. You’ll wander through life being a victim without a thought as to the path you’re walking on. So, for starters, why are you working to get out of debt? What is the purpose of your life? This is a challenging question to answer and in next month’s edition I’ll work you through some of the steps Brad used to find his purpose in life. I use Brad as an example because it took him five years longer than me to figure out what he wanted.

1. Don’t worry about HOW you are going to come up with the money, worry about the amount! This may sound totally stupid, but it is the focus I used many, many times to dig ourselves out of financial issues. I never knew the HOW to anything, but I would instead focus deeply on the exact money that was needed and then I would start asking everyone I ran into if they needed someone to do odd jobs for them or I would hold a garage sale or do medical transcription for a time from home. This sounds stupid, I know, but I would make every effort I could to raise money by my own work and soon a contract, buyer of a quilt I had made or some other fortuitous event would occur that would attract the very person I needed so I could earn the money required.

1. Double check your expenses. If you’ve been serious about getting yourself out of debt and into financial abundance, you’ve been tracking your expenses. Now that you need money, take a look at what you have been buying that will have to go on hold until the car repairs are made or the furnace replaced. You’re already used to doing this to some degree, but I want you to make it an art form on your daily purchases. Remember, keep buying the chocolate and ice cream if it helps you to keep your stress down, but monitor your bigger expenses to see if you can get a better deal on the tires for the pickup (yes, we are from the Midwest and still own a pickup!)or figure out a way to hold Johnny’s birthday party at your house rather than paying for one of those party places that have so many lights, noises, videos and sugar that your kid becomes sensory overloaded in the first minute he walks through the door. (You know the places I’m talking about!)

1. Relax. Yea, right. I can hear you laughing at me on this one. But it is true. Keep saying to yourself, “It’s going to be alright”, “A way will present itself!” “I know there is a solution to this!” Having a positive outlook no matter the amount of the financial crisis is the beginning to a solution. If you allow yourself to be glum before you ever begin to fix the problem, you’ll not have the energy or mindset to find the answer or even be open to the solution when it comes to you. And trust me, it will come to you. It always does to those who are looking. That is the key! Are you looking or have you accepted defeat?

Basically, I’ve taken a round-about way to show you the power of positive thinking. That is the single greatest key to wealth I know. Brad and I were always looking for alternatives, opportunities and solutions even when our road to financial stability was dark as a moonless night. I’m not saying this is a “Don’t worry, be happy” philosophy. I couldn’t ever get myself over worrying; I’m not even going to try that tack with you. However, I am saying that you need to stay positive.  

Remember the adage, Positive thoughts and actions are contagious? So, it is time for you to be like a virus and start reproducing those positive thoughts about being able to find a solution. Then I strongly recommend you take those positive thoughts and start replicating them as fast as a virus does. (Check out the math sometime, it’s fascinating!) By looking for positive things to come your way, they will. By being grateful for them, they will multiply and then within a matter of weeks you’ll see that your problem was handled. Right down to the penny. Right down to the wire. As a girlfriend of mine said, “God loves a photo finish.”