The Reason Is Me
Blame. First, let me start by saying that I do not blame anyone else around me for where I find myself. My excuses and explanations are more so me coming to an understanding of how I am the way I am and how that works against me, but could work for me, in my financial world. But I do know what about myself is to blame for how I make constant money decisions that hold me back from thriving.
Enneagram Seven. I am an Enneagram 7 – the one that wants all the fun. Everything should be fun – right? So talking about money isn’t really fun (unless you have it) especially doing spreadsheets or budgets. No. Thank. You. So since budgeting isn’t very fun, isn’t an active activity, and since I have no one to budget with (read: single girl problems) – it is not on my list of things I want to do. Along with that, if I spend the time doing that, I will likely be missing out on things other people are doing.
Extrovert. I am an extrovert, meaning whenever the opportunity arises I would rather do things with people than sit home. Granted, doing thing with people doesn’t have to cost money but it can and often does. The friends and family that aren’t trying to be intense with their debt payoff typically aren’t trying to do things for free.
Enneagram Two. So, even though I have diagnosed myself as an Enneagram 7, I scored highest as a 2. Now, being a two basically means that the wants and needs of others can take priority to the wants and needs of yourself. It often can look like being a martyr and your own (in this case) finances come second to those of others. I have allowed that to hold me back but I love being generous and look forward to when there is no risk in that.
A.D.D. – Okay, so also NOT diagnosed as A.D.D. but I have a little bit of a hard time focusing and I have many thoughts that typically go on at once. I have read that this is common with the Enneagram 7 and with ENFP, which I am on the Myers-Briggs personality type test. This makes it hard to earmark money for certain things without then getting distracted by other things and earmarking the same money because I forgot about the first thing. I would spend on both things because I budgeted for them both in my head.
All of these are reasons that making goals and setting a budget are so important. If you are anything like me, making goals isn’t the hard part. The hard part is setting a plan and following it. As in a previous post, Qube Money is what I recommend as a helpful tool to make spending intentional and making a proactive budget. It is way more intentional to blow your budget this way too, which in my case – will help me stay on track rather than make the distraction take over. Check out the Qube Money bank and app if you want the most helpful tool I’ve found!
**I am an affiliate of Qube Money – as part of my plan to get out of debt – and get paid for anyone that sets up a premium or family account**