Your values are your foundation. From the relationships you maintain and the decisions you make, to the day-to-day activities you engage in, your values are the common thread. And when it comes to your money and the financial choices you make, it should be no different.
Here are three ways to align your money with your values.
Part 1: Understand your values
Pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, you must first know what your values are. To begin uncovering your values, you'll need to look inward and do some soul-searching. Ask yourself important questions like What is important to me? What makes me feel fulfilled?What do I want to accomplish in my lifetime?
Gaining a thorough understanding of what matters the most to you is an extremely important first step in aligning your values with your money choices and investments. For additional tips, tricks, and prompts to help you identify, explore, and manifest your values, check out our previous blog.
Part 2: Be intentional with your spending
We all strive to live balanced and fulfilled lives, but achieving this equilibrium is often easier said than done. A significant cause of this imbalance is a misalignment of our values and actions. When our values and actions are facing in opposite directions, it's nearly impossible to feel content and satisfied, which is why it's so important to keep them on the same page.
Great news: because this balance is achieved by spending your money in alignment with your values, we're not here to limit you or tell you what you can or can't buy. If you value weekend movie nights with the family, splurge on a nice television. If you value a comfortable commute to work, buy yourself a nice car with padded seats.
Of course, it's not always so black and white. Sometimes, you need to spend some serious time weighing the pros and cons before spending money on something. For example, if buying something aligns with your values, but will ultimately get in the way of you achieving a financial milestone or investing in something you want even more down the road, you'll need to dig a bit deeper and really think through your priorities.
Part 3: Trim the fat
What exactly do we mean by this? Essentially, trimming the fat just means cutting out any spending that explicitly does not align with your values. A great place to start is with your budget. Looking at your budget from the last six months or so, is there anything that stands out as being particularly out of line with your values? Are there adjustments you can make? Perhaps spending less in one area will free up your budget so that you can spend more on what really matters to you.
The takeaway
Ultimately, while aligning money and values will look different for each individual, the process requires a uniform foundation of self-awareness and the conscious choice to spend money intentionally. Are you striving to achieve your own perfect equilibrium? Our team can help. At Triada Advisors, we thrive on building personalized wealth management plans for individuals, families, and business owners alike that are deeply rooted in their values. Contact us to learn more.