Have you ever pondered the life-altering effects of heeding someone’s advice on better money habits, even when it seemed too late? You may ask yourself: how can I improve my money habits? Well, I’m here to tell you that sometimes, it’s never too late to make a change. Let me share with you my journey.
Rediscovered texts and betters that lead me to Building better money habits
Not too long ago, I stumbled upon a whole thread of texts and recorded discussions from my mother, from when I was 15 and attending a high school. She had urged me to save everything, but back then, it left me feeling angry and frustrated. None of her words seemed to penetrate my mind. You see, she had offered financial advice following yet another tear-filled plea for money.
In the texts and recorded sessions, she wrote, “Don’t expect your thinking to change overnight. Give yourself time to feel the inward peace of mind that will eventually come.”
It took me a whopping 10 years to grasp that elusive “inward peace of mind.” How did I finally get there? I’m Hamza Khalid, and I want to share my journey with you.
A Struggling Student in a World of Plenty
I was a struggling student in a school filled with affluent peers. I couldn’t afford the education I was receiving, and it was hard not to feel ashamed when I compared my modest means to their luxurious lifestyles. This was just the beginning of a long and challenging relationship with money, one where recurring money scripts, those unconscious beliefs about money that shape our behavior, played out repeatedly.
I desired financial stability in the long term because I had started my first side-business when I was 14 doing tutoring, but it always seemed to slip through my fingers.
Shortly after high school and finished with college, I found myself struggling, grasping to whatever I could get my hands on to better my financial situation. A year later, I vividly remember sitting in the cab, tears streaming down my face, as I counted the last handful of change in my pocket.
I became overwhelmed by credit card debt and sought help from a debt settlement company, only to resume charging on the same account a couple of months later. To make matters worse, my student loan debt doubled when I decided to pursue another degree.
I was unhappy and embarrassed, yet I felt powerless. I couldn’t seem to connect my decisions with the dire situations I kept finding myself in. I learned that even hardworking and intelligent people can make poor financial choices. These scripts dictated a “money in, money out” pattern, regardless of my income level. I simply didn’t know any other way to manage my finances.
Discovering Financial Freedom with Better Money Habits
Then, I enrolled in the Financial Freedom course offered by the father of a close friend, and it transformed my life.
As I diligently worked through the course materials alongside fellow learners, I felt as though a fog was lifting from my mind. On many evenings, I couldn’t wait to clear the dinner dishes so I could delve into the course material.
Since completing the Financial Freedom course, I’ve overhauled my spending habits, and surprisingly, it feels like I have more, not less.
- Within weeks, I established an emergency fund and started to pay off my student loan.
- I attended yet another financial advisor’s presentation at work, and for the first time, I comprehended everything she was saying.
- After years of concealing my financial history in shame, I’ve mustered enough self-compassion to share it with you.
Why didn’t I just read a book or attempt to learn these concepts on my own? Well, some people can do that, but I needed something different. I needed a structured class that provided accountability and a social aspect to learning. Most importantly, I needed an approach that started from within.
Following my completion of Financial Freedom 1, I went on to complete Financial Freedom 2, which delves into more advanced topics. In my spare time, I’ve also been working on enhancing my financial literacy. That one course sparked a desire in me to attain financial freedom by absorbing as much information about money as I can.
My Mother’s Wisdom on Better Money Habits
What was my mother trying to convey to me all those years ago?
Suddenly, it all clicked into place for me.
In hindsight, my mother’s wisdom shines through. My money scripts weren’t an excuse to perpetuate self-destructive financial behaviors. Now that I comprehend myself better and have adopted an entirely new perspective and approach to money, I’ve been able to make positive changes.
As it turns out, the happiest people are those who make money work for them. We must learn to operate within the system because it won’t change just because we desire it to. The journey toward adopting a new value system has been one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned, even if it didn’t happen for me until 10 years later.
