Money often evokes strong emotions and opinions. Have you ever heard, “Money can’t buy happiness” or “Money isn’t everything?”

Why do you go to your job, no matter what kind of work you do? The majority would say to make money. So, if money isn’t important, then why should you work at all?

While some argue that money is not everything, its importance cannot be understated because money provides security, comfort, and freedom. Money allows you to buy the things you need AND want. Money gives you options.

The Importance of Money

Money serves as a tool to access resources, experiences, and opportunities. It allows you to:

• Cover Essential Needs: Pay for housing, food, healthcare, and other necessities.
  
• Create Security: Build an emergency fund to protect against unforeseen circumstances.
  
• Invest in Your Future: Save for retirement, education, or future goals.
  
• Buy Happiness and Freedom: While not directly buying happiness, money allows more flexibility to buy and pay for things you want and need. It can allow you to change a job that may be draining your energy or stealing more time away from your family or hobbies, pay for activities (like laundry or cooking or yardwork) that you do not enjoy, or physically buy a car or vacation or whatever that can bring you happiness.

The more money you have, the greater your freedom to make choices about your life, career, and leisure. Most importantly, it allows you to spend the most asset you have, Time, how you please. That means you can prioritize experiences, pursue passions, and delegate tasks you dislike while creating a life that aligns with your values and interests.

Understand and Advance

Going back to where we started, a job is just a means to an end and a way to acquire currency to get the things you want and need. Per famous financial expert Robert Kiyosaki, JOB stands for Just Over Broke. This is how many people get stuck into the rat race and live paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. And yes, I agree, this should not be someone’s end goal; everyone should strive for more. Strive for a high paying career, explore entrepreneurship and starting or buying businesses, and learning to invest. But…

I will say that having a job is where most individuals start. There is nothing wrong with having a job in the beginning of your life because a typical 9-5 job is what fuels your initial ability to live and obtain money to pay for wants, needs, and investments.

Most people stop here and just continue to work at the same job year after year. And most jobs don’t keep up with inflation, don’t’ give out substantial raises to keep up with living standards, and don’t allow people to expand their ability to live their life to the fullest. A paycheck from a job is great and is a starting point to expanding your future life. But what gets you from the starting position to next stages of life is advancing your ability to make more and maximizing your income (learn ways to increase your income here).

Conclusion

Money is more than just a means to an end. It’s a tool that, when managed wisely, can provide security, opportunity, and freedom. By maximizing your income and making strategic investments, you can ensure that your money works for you, opening a world of possibilities and allowing you to design a life that reflects your values and aspirations. Remember, money isn’t everything, but it is a powerful tool for building the life you want by using it to pay for the needs AND wants of life.

To the New World and the New You, much success in finding your financial freedom.