She Strengthens

Reflecting on My Financial Journey

As the year comes to a close, I’m taking a step back to assess my life and financial goals. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made so far – I’ve been consistently setting aside money each month, making headway on paying off debt, and contributing to my retirement fund. However, I’ve come to realize that saving for the sake of saving isn’t enough motivation for me. I need a clear purpose driving my financial decisions.

Finding My “Why”

I’ve been pondering the question posed by J. Money: What is my “why”? What drives me to improve my financial future? For Derek Olsen, the answer is to provide a strong foundation for his family. While that’s a great reason, it doesn’t resonate with me right now. My “why” is more closely tied to my current life and relationships.

A Personal Motivation

Full disclosure: my income disparity with my boyfriend is a significant motivator for me. I want to earn more and build up my savings not just for personal security, but to feel like a more equal contributor to our relationship. It’s essential for me to acknowledge that we may never be on equal financial footing, but that’s okay. We’re at different stages in our careers, and that’s something I need to accept.

Inspiring Reads

If you’re struggling to find your “why,” I recommend checking out these thought-provoking articles:

• 7 Steps to Making Your Money Matter by Be Awesome Not Broke: A motivational guide to taking control of your finances.
• Rockstar Money Challenge: What’s Your “Why”? by Rockstar Finance: A simple challenge to help you figure out your financial motivation.
• How I Crushed My Student Debt on a $25k Salary by The Resume Gap: An inspiring story of overcoming financial obstacles.
• The What-The-Hell Effect by ChooseBetterLife: A cautionary tale about the dangers of exceeding your financial limits.
• Renting vs. Buying: It’s Not About The Money by Mr. Free At 33: A refreshing perspective on the renting vs. buying debate.
• The Power of 10x Thinking by Afford Anything: A guide to focusing on high-impact actions to fast-track your financial progress.
• I Don’t Buy Christmas Gifts and I’m Not Sorry by Yes I Am Cheap: A thought-provoking piece on the true value of gifts.