4 money myths you shouldn’t believe –
Introduction π
It’s easy to get confused when taking the leap into learning about money. π¬
There are so many different bits of advice people tell you – which should you believe? π€
Here are our top 4 money myths, that you shouldn’t listen to! π¦π
Disclaimer: This website provides information for guidance and educational purposes only. The Grown-Up School does not provide regulated financial advice. You can seek independent financial advice from a suitably qualified and regulated professional advisor. Check out our disclaimer policy for more information.
Myth 1 – Money doesn’t buy you happiness π€·ββοΈπΈ
You must’ve heard this one! – The idea that money has nothing to do with how happy you can be. π€·ββοΈ
It’s a myth! π¦
Money can buy you happiness (sort of). πΈ
Money pays for your basic needs ποΈ
It can give you:
- Food and water ππ¦
- Shelter and warmth π‘π₯
- The ability to rest and take a break π΄π
- Safety and security π
- Healthcare π©ββοΈπ©Ή
These are some of your most basic needs!
Living without your basic needs covered can make life stressful, and make it quite difficult to be happy. π
Money pays for experiences that can make you happy ποΈ
Not only can money cover your basic needs, but it can also give you life experiences that bring you happiness. β¨
Research has shown that life experiences can bring us lasting happiness. βοΈ
Things like:
- Watching sports events π€½ββοΈ
- Restaurants π
- Comedy shows π₯Έ
- Family/friend nights πͺ
- Hiking ποΈ
- Reading a book π
- Hosting a BBQ π³
- Music shows πΆ
- Bowling π³
- Growing a plant π±
- Going on holiday ποΈ
- Drawing a picture π¨
give us happy memories that can last a lifetime.π
And a lot of them cost money! π³
Money gives you choices β
If you have financial security, you get a lot more options in life. π€π
You can:
- Take holidays ποΈ
- Leave a bad relationship π
- Start your own business πΌ
- Live independently π‘
- Donate money to charities π
- Choose where you work ππΊ
- Buy treats for yourself and others π
- Choose where you live πΊοΈ
- Travel βοΈ
These choices can make you happier in life. βοΈ
Money can buy you happiness – but it doesn’t guarantee it. πΈπ
Money can buy you happiness by improving your life. π
But, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be happy and fulfilled all of the time. βοΈ
It’s commonly known that some rich people or celebrities struggle to be happy, despite having lots of money. π€·ββοΈπ°
If you don‘t feel like you have meaning or a purpose in life it can be a struggle to find happiness, not matter how much money you have. ππΈβ€οΈ
But despite this, don’t let the saying “Money can’t buy you happiness” make you feel guilty or greedy for wanting money! π·
It’s not greedy to want money if you’re not already rich – money can make a huge difference to your life and happiness! πͺβ¨
Myth 2 – “You shouldn’t talk about money” ππ€«
Money can be a taboo topic β a lot of people donβt want to talk about it. π€
But, it is something that we all need to talk about. π
Talking about money can help you to:
- get on top of your finances πͺοΈ
- increase your income π
- save money π°
- improve your relationships π
- reduce stress π
Why you need to start thinking (and talking) about moneyπΈ
If we don’t talk about money, how else can we learn about it? π§π€
The idea that “You shouldn’t talk about money” is a myth! π¦
Myth 3 – You should “just know” how to look after money π€π
One of the biggest myths about money is that people can “just know” how to look after it. π¦
If nobody taught you how to look after money, why would you expect yourself to be good at looking after money? π€·ββοΈ
You wouldn’t have a go at someone for being a bad driver if they’ve never had driving lessons, would you? ππ¨
Money management is a skill to practice, learn, and study. π οΈπ©βπ«
Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t know a lot about money! π€·ββοΈ
It’s all about learning step by step – and The Grown-Up School is here to help you do that. π£β¨π
Myth 4 – If you work hard, you’ll get rich πͺπΈ
If you’re the kind of person who works hard, that’s amazing!πΌ
Being a hard worker increases your chances of making lots of money. π
But unfortunately, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become rich. βΉοΈ
You might work really hard to keep your house super clean. π§½π§Ό
Does that mean you’ll become super rich? πΈ
Sadly not. π
A lot of jobs don’t pay enough money to live comfortably. π
You could work really hard in a job that doesn’t pay very well. πͺπ
Does that guarantee that you’ll become super rich? πΈ
Still no. βΉοΈ
Making a lot of money depends on a lot of different factors – not just how hard you work. ππΌ
And a lot of these factors could be completely out of your control! π€·ββοΈ
This includes things like:
- Where you were born πΊοΈ
- How much support is available to you from the government ποΈ
- If you were born into a wealthy family πΈ
- What kind of opportunities you come across π
- How much financial support you have from family/friends πͺ
- What you’re good at π
- How much people are willing to pay you π°
- Your life experiences (good and bad)ποΈ
- Who you’re lucky enough to meet/knowπ΅οΈββοΈ
- If people will treat you fairly or not π€π©ββοΈ
So, if you’re not rich, don’t be hard on yourself! π
Don’t tell yourself it’s because you’re not working hard enough.
You wouldn’t tell a hardworking, poor family that they’re not working hard enough, would you? π€
Give yourself that same care. π
It’s all about being kind to yourself and getting on top of your money step by step π£β¨π
Conclusion π
So that’s it!
You should believe that:
- Money can buy you happiness (but doesn’t guarantee happiness). π
- You should definitely talk about money! π€
- Learning about money comes from studying – you shouldn’t be expected to “just know” how to make money and look after money. π€
- Working hard is great, but it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become rich πΈ
If you know any friends or family members who might benefit from learning about money myths, share this post with them!
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