A person would rather struggle than ask for help. It sounds crazy, right? If you think about it, you’ll realize that we all do it to some point. I learned a long time ago that it’s ok to ask for help. Having a disability means I need help with everything. Things would get pretty messy if I was too stubborn to ask for help when I needed to use the bathroom.
Independence is important and my family would tell you that I am extremely stubborn as well, but I do realize when I need help. I believe that is the key…to realize we need help and trust the advice of a professional. When we are sick, we go to the doctor, but when we aren’t sure about what to do financially, we stay silent. Silence can be disastrous when you’re in quick sand. Do you just sit there and wait to sink or do you call for help? Financial trouble is just like quick sand in that, regardless of what you try, you can’t get on top of it without help.
I remember when I was a child we were not allowed to ask others about money. It was considered rude and it was just something that “you didn’t do.” I still think that is a good policy because we shouldn’t treat a person any differently regardless of how much money they make. Plus, we live in an ultra-competitive society and nothing good can come out of comparing salaries among friends.
However, I believe we have gone too far in our efforts not to discuss our financial situation. Why? Because our wallet is directly connected to our ego. It is a boost to our pride when we have money. That’s ok because money allows us to feed our families and chase our dreams. We feel successful because our wallet is full and our needs are met. What happens when we have a bad month? A bad quarter? A bad year?
Naturally, we feel inferior when we struggle. Our coworkers do the exact same job, so we probably make the same amount, but they seem to be doing so much better. How can they have money when ours runs out? We continue going through life with our secret struggle because we’re afraid of what people will say. The credit card debt continues to mount because we have to keep up appearances that everything is fine in our life. When we start skipping payments or only paying the minimum, interest and late fees accumulate. Silence is actually forcing us to give money away! Our ego or pride becomes a very high and unnecessary expense.
Instead of throwing money away, doesn’t it make sense to have a financial planner help you manage your money? Everything is confidential just like when you go to the doctor with an illness. I would be glad to check your financial health. Stop suffering in the shadows and let me help you. Make an appointment today!
