Twenty-One
“We are what we repeatedly do.” - Aristotle
Clutter2Cash made this comment the other day, “Building good habits takes some time.” To be exact about the amount of “time”- experts agree that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. People can set in motion the things that will change their lives in just three short weeks of solid repetition.
Often times, doing this alone can be a challenge. Jean Chatzky from MoneySmart suggests that we seek out support. “Working with another person – or group of people – can provide just the boost you need to get with the plan.” If you want to look better, you can join a gym or employ a personal trainer. But I have yet to find a club that encourages good financial health, which is why an online community is great place to start if you are looking for a support system.
When I started Sitting Pretty, I was surprised to find that there was an entire blogging community dedicated to investing and saving. Some blogs are a collection of articles while others use their blog as a way to chart financial success and their day-to-day path.
Chatzky also says “better money habits absolutely can make a person happier.” She did an extensive study and “was able to isolate a number of good behaviors that respondents to her survey said had led to their financial well-being… Adopting even a few can make a significant difference in your overall contentment.” These are five financial habits that can make you happier:
1. Balance your checkbook.
2. Save 5% of what you make.
3. Make a will.
4. Give to charity.
5. Talk to your spouse/partner about what you plan to charge.”
It goes back her point that I try to make here often, “it's not how much you make that matters. It's how you handle it… The ability to shape your own life, to control it, is very important. It's highly associated with psychological well-being.”
Ed Diener, the University of Illinois researcher was quoted in Forbes as saying, “Happy people tend to have higher incomes later on in their lives. So, while money may not help make people happy, being happy may help them make money.”
Be happy, make money… not bad advice.
Clutter2Cash made this comment the other day, “Building good habits takes some time.” To be exact about the amount of “time”- experts agree that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. People can set in motion the things that will change their lives in just three short weeks of solid repetition.
Often times, doing this alone can be a challenge. Jean Chatzky from MoneySmart suggests that we seek out support. “Working with another person – or group of people – can provide just the boost you need to get with the plan.” If you want to look better, you can join a gym or employ a personal trainer. But I have yet to find a club that encourages good financial health, which is why an online community is great place to start if you are looking for a support system.
When I started Sitting Pretty, I was surprised to find that there was an entire blogging community dedicated to investing and saving. Some blogs are a collection of articles while others use their blog as a way to chart financial success and their day-to-day path.
Chatzky also says “better money habits absolutely can make a person happier.” She did an extensive study and “was able to isolate a number of good behaviors that respondents to her survey said had led to their financial well-being… Adopting even a few can make a significant difference in your overall contentment.” These are five financial habits that can make you happier:
1. Balance your checkbook.
2. Save 5% of what you make.
3. Make a will.
4. Give to charity.
5. Talk to your spouse/partner about what you plan to charge.”
It goes back her point that I try to make here often, “it's not how much you make that matters. It's how you handle it… The ability to shape your own life, to control it, is very important. It's highly associated with psychological well-being.”
Ed Diener, the University of Illinois researcher was quoted in Forbes as saying, “Happy people tend to have higher incomes later on in their lives. So, while money may not help make people happy, being happy may help them make money.”
Be happy, make money… not bad advice.
posted by Nina Smith at 5:39 AM
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