Your Relationship to the Green Stuff (Not Drugs)

I am NOT a money guru.

Which is exactly why I have to share my journey from financial hot-mess to financially aware.

Long ago in the times of January 2023, a flip switch went off in my brain that made me a money-minded b**ch.

Not like, in a cheap way.

But in a way that says “I realized at 31 years old that I actually have financial goals I want to meet.”

Maybe I’d like to buy an RV or invest in some stocks and sh*t, I don’t know… Maybe SAVE some more of it.

I began to follow all kinds of social media money guys like Caleb Hammer, Dave Ramsey, and Graham Stephen.

And I realized something throughout this year of becoming money-minded: The way you handle your money is a sign of your mental health.

You will hear a lot of financial gurus saying to evaluate your relationship with money for good reason.

Spending too much? You’re distracting yourself from something.

Spending too little? You’re living with a scarcity mindset.

Saving is hard? Your priorities are scattered.

Giving sh*t away to excess? You may be a people pleaser.

I think back to all the money I’ve spent on crap and it’s just…TRAGIC.

I could’ve at least owned a dingy by now.

I started to understand an alternative meaning to money.

I realized that in recent years, my spending habits SUCKED… and that meant something.

My money habits sucked because I used money as a distraction from the real work I had to do inside.

Spending money made me feel like I was progressing in some area of my life.

If I was improving my life in ways that money could buy, then I was “growing.”

Like when I felt stressed, I’d go Amazon hunting for that thing I “need” (Who NEEDS a random set of new towels or a rice cooker or a shower head filter???)

But did I ever focus on the thing that had me stressed? Nope.

I focused on my shiny new shower head filter.

And here is the thing: I wasn’t spending money because I was a money baller.

I was spending money I didn’t have.

Instead of paying off the debts I already owed, I used my money to pay off the new expenses.

So I just kept NOT SAVING what I ultimately could have.

I know… Sad times.

So all this is said to inspire you to perhaps look at your own relationship to the green paper stuff.

Not just so you can save more money, or identify your coping mechanisms, but not being reliant on money for happiness makes you BETTER.

Another thing I realized after reflecting on my relationship with money is that: Not being so reliant on the green stuff, makes you have to channel your inner creativity MORE (And who doesn’t need more of that??)

Once I stopped counting on money to rescue my a**, a lot of other resources I hadn’t exercised came to light.

For example, my low self esteem wasn’t solved by buying a shower head filter.

It was helped by making more Art.

Being creative.

Becoming more generous.

Doing more rather than buying more.

It taught me to become reliant on myself again.

SOOO this year, I made it a goal to get as frugal as possible and downsize the lifestyle creep that happened back in the days of Before Consciousness aka BC.

Back when I was laboring for someone else to death to pay for crap I didn’t need.

This year:

I got rid of a bunch of subscriptions. (Trust me, get rid of yours too, they won’t miss you!)

I changed where I lived.

I unsubscribed from emails that tempt me to buy.

I started traveling less.

I don’t eat out anymore unless I have to (My cooking skills are now BOMB!)

I have started getting free furniture and altering it myself.

I developed the mindset of falling in love with the things I ALREADY own.

I started repurposing items in my home.

Old Cabinet Doors became an over the bed decoration

Now when I buy something, it is for a purpose, not a void.

Downsizing my expenses has allowed me to also put in less hours at work, giving me time to build my newsletter, learn Astrology, and build my consulting practice.

Money is a resource that when used wisely, can produce more resources for you: More time, more creativity, more consciousness.

I hope this long winded post inspired you to look at these questions:

-How do you handle your money?

-Why do you handle it like that?

-Who are you if you can’t resort to using it to solve your problems?

I love you guys! Email me at mollyirizarrynp@gmail.com on any comments you may have to share!

See you next week ❤️