Why you should care about money

We’ve all heard these sayings time and time again:

• Money doesn’t make you happy
• Just enjoy your life
• Don’t do too much
• Buy it on credit
• Money is the root of all evil
• Just go get a safe and secure job

These axioms have been instilled upon us at a very early age by authority figures such as our parents, relatives, role models, teachers, friends, and acquaintances. Statements like these are what mediocre people say and when you believe this advice, it keeps you broke. Here’s why you should ignore this bad advice and actually start caring about money:

1. You won’t have to work a job you don’t like

If you find yourself stuck in the rat race, working a 9-5, barely scraping by, you may feel like you’ve lost your dignity. Do you really dream of cranking through spreadsheets in a cubicle all day? If you’re an entrepreneur or financially free, you don’t need to do someone else’s dirty work to make them rich, while you get paid in peanuts. You don’t have to have your soul sucked from a corporate 9-5 gig. You don’t have to work until you’re 75 and have only a very small 401(k) to show for it. No more coffee runs, no more being told what to do, no more BS. You call the shots.

2. You’ll be able to travel the world

If you’re financially free, you’re also free to do as you please. For many people, that means traveling. Wouldn’t it be great to set out on a 3 month trip to Southeast Asia without worrying about a mortgage, job, or how you’re going to make ends meet? Maybe you want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and then go on a safari afterwards. Go for it. When you’re financially free, you can travel all you want, broaden your horizons, and become a more cultured member of society.

3. You’ll be able to pass down significant wealth

If you really take control of your money and are able to build a large nest egg, you’ll be able to pass down massive wealth to your kids, their kids, their kids’ kids, and so on and so forth. If you teach them what you’ve learned about money, they’ll (hopefully) be responsible with their inheritance and continue to multiply it exponentially.

4. You’ll be able to pursue your passions

Whatever it is that makes you tick, that thing you’ve always wanted to do since you were a child, you will be free to pursue it. Perhaps you’d like to start a non-profit that mentors disadvantaged youth, volunteer in the community all day, or climb the seven summits. Or maybe you’d like to donate a large sum of money to your favorite charity or Church. Your dreams are extremely important. Do not give up on them. You owe it to yourself. Whatever your true dreams are, money will make it much easier to achieve them.

5. Your health will improve

How am I going to pay the mortgage? Or junior’s college? Or the car payment? You can forget about taking a vacation to relieve the stress. We’ve all been there – trying to figure out a way to make ends meet. We may feel inadequate because we feel we aren’t good enough to provide for ourselves and our family. It’s clear that financial problems can cause stress, anxiety, and even depression. Not only do these feelings effect your mental health, but also your physical health. Perhaps you can’t afford a to buy a gym membership or to eat a healthy diet. It’s a fact, when you’re wealthy, your health improves.

6. You’ll find fulfillment

There’s a warm, fuzzy feeling humans get with achievement, and achieving financial success is no exception. Financial goals are just like any other goals (athletic, professional, relationships, marriage, etc.). and when you start to achieve them, you build real confidence.

Conclusion

Listen, I’m not advocating you become greedy, self-absorbed, or unethical. I just want people to start challenging the status quo and really see why taking control of your financial future is extremely important. Money doesn’t lead to happiness, but it sure makes life much more enjoyable.