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money mindset is how you think about money and what it means to you. It’s the attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions you have about money. Your money mindset influences how you manage your finances and approach financial decisions. A person with a healthy money mindset will generally be prepared for unanticipated expenses, understand the value of a dollar, invest wisely and be charitable with their savings. A healthy money mindset helps you make sound short-term and long-term financial decisions. Here are six tips to help you build a healthy money mindset:
Building a Wealth Mindset: The Ultimate Guide
Review your finances regularly.
You might think this only applies to people who are in serious debt, but in fact, it applies to everyone. You should review your finances regularly to know where you stand, what you gain, and what you stand to lose. This way, you can make adjustments accordingly and see where you stand. It’s not good to just be ignoring your finances and hoping for the best. You have to know where you stand financially to ensure you’re prepared for whatever might come your way.
Don’t rush making financial decisions.
As we all know, the stock market is unpredictable. So is real estate. So is any other type of investment you can make with your money? If you’re very young and have a lot of money to invest, you may feel you need to rush to make as many investments as possible. But it may not be the best idea. It’s important to remember that investments come with risks. You may lose some or all of your money. So, if you’re young, you may want to take your time investing so you can learn about different types of investments. That way, you’ll understand the risks and be prepared if any of your assets don’t go as well as you planned.
Don’t invest everything you have
This one is significant. Now, we’re not saying that you shouldn’t invest any money. What we’re saying is that you shouldn’t invest everything you have. There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t do this. If you have all your money invested in stocks, and the market suddenly plummets, you could lose a ton of money in the blink of an eye. You may never be able to recover from that loss. If you have everything invested, you have no money to fall back on. You never know when you might need that money. You can’t rely on getting a regular paycheck like you can with a 9-to-5 job. You have no guaranteed income from your investments. You may need that money for something important at any given time. What would you do if you needed to take out a loan because your assets suddenly went south? The thought of taking out a loan is embarrassing. You don’t want to put yourself in that position.
Save for the things you value
Whether it’s a vacation, a house, or a child’s education, you need to have money saved for these things. Many of us make the mistake of not saving enough money for the things we value. Spending money on things like food, rent, and bills is easy. But keeping items vital to you is more important in the long run. If you don’t have enough money saved for things you value, you may end up in debt. You may take out a loan or use the money you don’t have. Neither of these options is healthy. You should have enough money to cover your bills and save for the essentials in your life, like a house, car, or even your child’s education. You should also have money saved for emergencies. You never know when something unexpected might happen that could affect your finances.
Be charitable with your money.
You might feel like you’ve lost your financial security and don’t have any money to give away. But you can find ways to be charitable with your money. For example, you can donate blood, plasma, or your time. There are also other ways you can give back to your community. You can be charitable with your money by sharing it with those in need. You can donate to a charity or help others in your community. You can also help your community by volunteering your time. There are so many ways you can be charitable with your money. You have to be creative and think outside the box. You can also make sure to pay your bills on time. This way, you won’t end up with bad credit and can give back another way.
Cultivate a gratitude practice
If you want a healthy money mindset, you must cultivate gratitude practice. Gratitude can make you more resilient, optimistic, and generous. You can take time out of your day to be grateful for things in your life. You can meditate and focus on something in your life that you have gratitude for. You can share your appreciation with others, and they will feel gratitude towards you.
Develop resilience
When you cultivate a gratitude practice, you become more resilient. This means you are better equipped to handle life’s ups and downs. For example, you may lose your job, experience financial hardship, or suffer from a health issue. These things happen to everyone. When you cultivate a gratitude practice, you’re prepared for these situations. You know that these things happen and that you can get through them. You won’t let them keep you from living your life. You won’t let these circumstances rob you of your joy and optimism for life. You’re prepared to face these circumstances and become a better person on the other side.
Track your money
We’ve told you that you should review your finances regularly. Now, we’re telling you to track your money. Yes, tracking your money is different than studying it. Following your money means keeping track of where your money is going. It means writing down the amount of money you spend each month on different things. It means tracking your income, so you know how much money you have coming in. You should follow your money to see where you stand financially. You should know how much money you have coming in and going out each month. This way, you can make adjustments if you need to. For example, you may be spending too much money on certain things. You can make adjustments and find ways to save money.
Commit to being an educated investor
Knowing about the stock market, real estate, and other investments will significantly impact your finances. You could lose a lot of money if you’re uneducated in these areas. You could make rash decisions without having all the facts. You don’t want to be one of those who buy stocks because they saw someone on the news talking about them. This won’t happen if you aren’t educated in your investing areas. You must research these areas and understand them before making any financial decisions.
Negative money mindsets that you should avoid
When we think about money, most of us will react in one of two ways: we either get excited and get pumped about the prospect of making some, or we get nervous and feel anxious about not having enough to cover our expenses. The way you see money will directly impact how you manage it. Suppose you’re constantly worried about how much you have and stress over bills or whether you can afford something. In that case, your relationship with money will probably be strained. However, this is also a sign that you must work on changing your negative attitude towards money. Suppose your current response to cash is usually a frown rather than a smile. In that case, it might be time for new perspectives and positive affirmations. Here are some negative money mindsets that you should avoid if you want to have a healthy relationship with money:
You should feel guilty when you spend money on yourself.
There is a common misconception that if you don’t feel guilty about spending money on yourself, you’re somehow irresponsible with your money. But this is not the case. Feeling guilty about spending money on yourself is an unhealthy mindset that can lead to poor financial choices. If you feel guilty every time you indulge in something for yourself, you will be less likely to make sacrifices for other areas of your life. An essential part of building a healthy money mindset is understanding that you’re not expected to live a frugal lifestyle. You should feel guilty about spending money on yourself because you prioritize your happiness over someone else’s. You should feel guilty when you make decisions that only benefit you and not others. You should feel guilty when you spend money on yourself because you want it, not because you feel obligated to or because someone else thinks you should.
You shouldn’t have to work for the rest of your life to be successful.
The idea that you have to work for the rest of your life to be successful is a misconception that many people unfortunately perpetuate. If you’re self-employed, you know you must work to keep your business growing constantly. To have a successful career, you have to be dedicated to continual self-improvement, maintain good relationships, and work to keep your skills relevant to your field. There’s no finish line where you say, “Welp, I’ve worked enough. I’ve made it.” Success is a continual journey and often involves many different careers. Furthermore, success is different for everyone and can be measured differently.
It would help if you didn’t trust anyone with more money than you.
If you’re in a partnership with someone who has more money than you, you’re more likely to make poor financial decisions. This is because you often have to justify yourself to the person with more money than you. You think you need to prove that you’re worthy of their investment. This can cause you to make bad financial decisions, such as showing a quick return on someone’s investment in you or giving up too much equity in a business you’re starting. Conversely, if you have more money than someone else, you might begin to feel like you’re entitled to make decisions on behalf of that person. You might also make bad financial decisions because you don’t feel you need to justify your choices. If you want to build a healthy money mindset, you should always be open to feedback from others, regardless of their net worth. You should also allow others to make their own decisions, even if they make less financially sound choices than you would.
Only rich people can invest their money and make more of it.
This is not the case. You don’t have to be rich to invest your money. You can start investing as early as your first paycheck. There are many different types of investments that you can make, such as an RRSP, a TFSA, stocks, mutual funds, real estate, etc. All of these different investment types have different risk-reward ratios. This means that some investments are safer and have a lower chance of losing money than others, but they’ll also have a lower rate of return. Other assets are riskier but have a higher rate of return. An essential part of building a healthy money mindset is understanding that you don’t have to go all in on one investment. You can diversify your money by making different types of investments. You don’t have to be rich to invest. You can start investing as early as your first paycheck by putting money into a savings account.
If you’re not a millionaire by 30, you’re a failure.
Many people are told that if they’re not a millionaire by 30, they’re a failure. This is not the case. The most common route to becoming a millionaire is starting your own company. Starting a company is risky and complex. According to a study by the Journal of Finance, only 32% of new companies survive more than five years. If you have a 9-5 job and become a millionaire, you should be proud. It’s tough to make that amount of money working full-time. If you have a 9-5 job and you become a millionaire by 30, it’s likely that you’re overworked and not living a balanced life. Many eventually become millionaires as they advance in their careers, regardless of age. So, if you’re a 30-year-old millionaire, don’t let anyone make you feel like you failed.
Final Thoughts on What is a Money Mindset?
You can’t make money or get rich if you don’t have a healthy money mindset. A healthy money mindset means you have an optimistic, realistic and successful approach to money. You have a positive relationship with money. You have goals for your money. You feel good about where you’re going financially. You understand the value of a dollar and the relative importance of different financial goals. You can save for a rainy day. And you know how to invest.
With a healthy money mindset, you can make better decisions about money and use it more effectively. A healthy money mindset also helps you enjoy life more. You feel more confident in your financial situation, and you’ll be able to handle unexpected expenses better.
Do you want to learn more about “What is a Money Mindset?” Check out Building a Wealth Mindset: The Ultimate Guide.
Also, check out the Best Books on Personal Finance.

James is the editor-in-chief at wealthmindsetschool.com. James is a workaholic and an entrepreneur who has been in the tech industry for over ten years. He has worked with Microsoft, owns multiple websites, and now owns a mattress shop. Furthermore, when he has time left over, he will be in his woodworking shop building furniture as a side hustle. James has a B.S. in Business Management Information Systems and a Master’s in Business Administration from Liberty University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Executive Leadership, and once he completes that, he will pursue his Ph.D. in Business Administration – Entrepreneurship. James also seeks investment opportunities, putting his money to work instead of himself. James is an active believer that wealth begins with developing a wealth mindset. He now teaches, instructs, and helps others achieve that goal.