Dealing With Financial Distractions

The Overlooked Obstacles for Women in their Twenties

Hey ladies! Welcome back to the "For The Love Of The Funds Blog, I’m Such A Lady" series, where we’re all about making girl math make cents and embracing the rollercoaster of adulting with some class. 

In our twenties, we’re bombarded with advice about staying focused in your twenties. Some times when i am seeking or given advice for older people it's always "oh I wish I would've started earlier in my 20s’" and then they give the typical financial advice to save, save, save, build an emergency fund, invest in your 401k, avoid unnecessary spending. The list could go on and on. While this advice is precious, it often overlooks the subtler financial distractions that can derail our path to financial stability that they often don't mention.

Financial distractions are usually unnoticed forces that pull you away from your goals, can be particularly insidious. They don’t just drain our wallets; they drain our time, energy, and focus. These distractions are sneaky, and pervasive, and can significantly impact our financial health if not addressed. I am honestly just becoming aware of my financial distractions and I'm ready to navigate through them. So let's address them.

The Shift: From Couch Comfort to Financial Confidence

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Stepping out of your financial comfort zone can feel like a daunting leap, one that many of us hesitate to take. It’s tempting to stick with familiar spending and saving patterns because they feel safe. However, staying in that comfort zone can limit your financial growth and keep you from exploring opportunities that could lead to greater success. It’s easy to fall into the routine of paying bills and saving money, but there’s so much more to financial health than keeping money in a regular savings account.

Imagine you’re on the edge of a diving board, looking down at the pool below. It’s scary, right? But that jump is necessary if you want to experience the thrill of learning how to swim. It’s about taking that leap of faith whether it’s investing your money, negotiating for a raise, or exploring new financial strategies. Scared money doesn’t make money, and if i ever go broke, yall know the rest! You have to be willing to step out, take risks, and learn about the wealth of knowledge available on managing and growing your finances.

Investing your money can be intimidating, especially when you're used to the safety of saving. But here’s the thing: simply saving your money in a regular account won’t make it grow. To truly build wealth, you need to invest so here is what I am starting to do: educate myself on various investment options, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and more. Me and stocks don't get along so this may be a long journey for me. I think I have tried everything in the book, youtube university, podcasts, and that sh*t did nothing, it was like I was watching someone speaking another language to me and trying to understand what they were saying. Sounds very discouraging but I'm telling you I'm not giving up. Imma lock in and figure it out and once I do I will share what I learn because I feel like there are a lot of women who look like me touch my skin*  that don't understand how to grow their money and just need someone to break it down. I have downloaded every financial app you can think of Forbes, Washington, and Economics so I can read up on investment strategies. 

Taking these actions isn’t just about financial gain; it’s about developing my confidence in my ability to manage and grow my money. Each step I take outside of my comfort zone is a chance to learn and expand. So, get off the couch, take that leap, and start building.

Mental Distractions: The Power of Your Thoughts

Our thoughts can be a significant distraction from our growth. Overthinking financial decisions, dwelling on past mistakes, or feeling overwhelmed by future uncertainties can paralyze you and hinder your progress. When your mind is preoccupied with worry or self-doubt, it can prevent you from taking necessary financial actions and seizing opportunities. It’s like your thoughts are playing a constant loop of doubt and worry, keeping you stuck in a state of inaction. 

The fear of making a mistake can be so overwhelming that it stops you from doing anything at all. When your mind is overwhelmed with these mental distractions, it's like you see the road ahead, but you can’t move forward. This paralysis can prevent us from doing a lot of things as simple as getting minor things done throughout our day, folding our clothes, and taking the trash out. I still spend weeks, even months, agonizing over whether to start something new letting all the potential what-ifs keep me from taking the plunge.

To break free from these mental barriers, try grounding yourself in the present. This is still something I am currently working on. I really do enjoy being present in the moment and not having any worries or thoughts lingering in my head about “Did I pay that bill” “When is this due” How imma pay for this” Well one thing first autopay is a girl best friend along with sticking with my budget which also has been challenging because I offered think I deserve to ‘treat myself” but that's another story for another day lol. One of the biggest things that I am learning is how to celebrate myself is not always about materialistic things. I can celebrate with non-financial rewards, like a day off to relax or a special homemade meal. This way, I can get to enjoy little wins without derailing my bigger plans.

But just some advice on how to unclutter your mind financially. Stop trying to take on the world by yourself. Break down your financial goals into smaller, achievable steps THAT WORKS FOR YOU! Tackling one step at a time can make things feel less overwhelming.

Journaling your thoughts or talking things out with a financial advisor, can also give you a clearer perspective and help you refocus. For instance, instead of stressing over the entire amount you need to save for an emergency fund, start with a small, manageable goal like saving $100 a month. Sometimes, just writing down your worries can lighten the mental load and make your goals seem more attainable.

By addressing these mental blocks and nurturing a more positive, proactive mindset, you'll find yourself moving closer to where you want to be and tackling your goals with clarity and confidence. Don’t let your thoughts hold you back from achieving the life you desire to live. You can control today and it's not about perfection but progress. 

I refuse to allow myself to talk myself into a hole of anxiety that never existed. Most of the time, we create problems in our minds that never actually happen. We become so consumed with fear and worry that we work ourselves up and talk ourselves out of opportunities. We often think, "What if this goes wrong?" or "What if I lose everything?" But have you ever considered, "What if it works?" I live daily by the quote, "It had to work or it has to work." I refuse to let a negative thought be the reason I didn’t accomplish what I set out to do in this lifetime. Clock that tea!

Procrastination: The Thief of Time, and Money

Let me just start with this blog that was supposed to come out last Sunday.

Procrastination is a common yet often overlooked financial distraction. Delaying important financial decisions, such as paying off debt, saving, or investing, can lead to missed opportunities and increased stress. The longer you put off these tasks, the more daunting they become, creating a vicious cycle of financial stagnation.

Procrastination isn’t just about being lazy or avoiding work. It’s often about fear and anxiety, fear of making the wrong decision, fear of failure, or even fear of success. Sometimes, it’s easier to delay and distract yourself with less important tasks. But procrastination can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. I keep on putting off my student loans because the process seemed too complicated and I'm just A GIRL who got scammed into going to school and taking these loans out. It wasn’t until months later, when those interest rates started biting my ass back, that I realized how much my delay had cost me and I have to stop playing around and it's the same credit cards the longer you keep just missing those minimum payments or only making the minimum payment that interest will grow.

Procrastination comes in many forms. Maybe it’s waiting for the “perfect” time to start budgeting or thinking you need toknow everything about investing before you begin. This kind of mindset can keep you stagnant I’ve told myself so many times that I’ll start investing once I understand the stock market completely. But guess what? That perfect moment never comes, and meanwhile, my money isn’t growing.

Overcoming procrastination is about taking that first step and continuing to move forward, even when it feels challenging. You can turn procrastination into productivity. Let's make today the day we stop putting things off and stop bullsh***** life. Because the sooner we start, the sooner we’ll see the benefits, and the less power procrastination will have over our financial lives.

The Allure of Instant Gratification

In a world where everything is available at the click of a button, the lure of instant gratification is strong immediatedesires can easily overshadow long-term financial goals. I get it—sometimes a new bag or eating out feels like the perfect pick-me-up after a tough day. But these moments of instant gratification can become financial pitfalls if not managed wisely. Delaying gratification is a cornerstone of financial success; it's about making decisions that benefit your future self rather than giving in to immediate desires.

Temptation is crazy but Visualize your long-term financial goals and how immediate decisions impact them. Imagine what achieving those goals would feel like—maybe it's the freedom of being debt-free, the security of a healthy savings account, or the excitement of traveling without financial stress. Creating a vision board or writing down your aspirations can keep them at the forefront of your mind and can make it easier to resist that instant urge to spend. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of why I’m saving and investing, which makes it a little easier to skip that impulse buy and realize that little moment of happiness is not worth it. Having financial discipline is a lot of work but I will work my ass off to get where I want to be. I remind myself that it's food in the house.

We all have moments when shopping becomes a way to cope with emotions like stress, boredom, or sadness. While retail therapy can provide a temporary boost, it often leads to regrettable impulse purchases. I’ve had days where buying something new felt like a quick fix to a bad mood. But those purchases often ended up collecting dust in my closet, leaving me with buyer’s remorse. Emotional spending can lead to accumulating items you don’t need and busting your budget. It can also create a cycle where you rely on shopping to manage your emotions, which isn’t sustainable or healthy. Find healthier ways to cope with emotions, such as exercising, journaling, or talking to a friend. When you feel the urge to shop impulsively, give yourself a cooling-off period to reconsider the purchase. Make a list of things you truly need and stick to it.

Another tip is to use the 24-hour rule—wait a day before making any non-essential purchases. Often, the urge to buy will pass, and you’ll realize you didn’t need that item after all. This has saved me from many impulse buys that I would have regretted later and also telling myself “Taylor get out of the store you don't need that '' as crazy as it sounds I listen to myself and leave the story and it is the best decision I've ever made. Best reward ever. It’s not always easy, but your future self will thank you for it.

Whew, Chile all of that above was a mouth but I am honestly happy I decided to wait to post this blog because it wouldn't have been this had it been posted last week Thank you for sticking it out with me.

Navigating through these distractions in your twenties requires mindfulness and intentionality. These distractions are more than just minor inconveniences; they are significant barriers. This journey is about embracing the discomfort of stepping out of your comfort zone, taking control of your thoughts, resisting the pull of immediate desires, and tackling tasks head-on instead of putting them off.

It’s about being proactive and deliberate, making choices that align with YOUR goals rather than succumbing to immediate pressures and temptations. It's a marathon, not a sprint. As a young woman in my 20s, I’m right there with you, figuring things out one step at a time. Together, we will navigate these financial distractions and push ourselves to build the life we dream of. Adulting with class, and you'll find yourself better equipped to handle whatever challenges come your way. Let’s make our future selves proud.

Until next time ladies, always remember YOUR SUCH A LADY! <3