I have a few vivid memories from preschool. I remember my mother visiting the class; always choosing finger painting as an activity; rest time; and learning to tie shoelaces. To be more exact, I remember not learning to tie shoelaces.
Our teachers took time one day to show us how to cross and turn green shoelaces on a pair of wood boards shaped like shoes. After they demonstrated this to us in small groups, and guided our hands through the process, we then got a chance to go up in front of the class and try to tie them. I remember sitting on the carpet, and being called upon. I went up to my teacher and picked up the two green shoestrings. I crossed them, and then stopped. I did not know what to do next. I remember my teacher smiling and saying something, and then I sat down. I was disappointed, but did not think much of it.
It was a couple more years before I mastered tying my shoes. Now, I often tie my sneakers in the pitch dark of early morning. The reason tying my shoes is so easy, is that it is an automatic habit. Tying my shoes is so engrained, that I have to think about the steps so I can teach my kids how to tie their shoes.
What if I had decided in preschool that because I couldn’t tie my shoes that one time, that I could never tie my shoes? I am sure I would have found workarounds. I could have purchased slip-on shoes or sandals. I probably could have found sneakers with Velcro straps so that I could engage in sports.
I could probably live my life without the skill of tying my shoes. I could also probably live my life without the skill of financial management. The problem is that without knowing how to tie my shoes, there are many activities I probably would not have engaged in, like running, because without the skill of tying my shoes, I probably wouldn’t have bothered trying those activities at all. The logic flows this way: People who are good at sports tie their shoes. I’ll look funny with Velcro shoes. I won’t fit in with people who play sports. I won’t play sports.
Now apply that logic to financial management: I don’t know how to do a budget. So I won’t bother trying to invest my money in items with long-term value. I’ll probably not be able to talk to someone who is good with money, because I don’t know income and expense. I won’t focus on how to invest my money.
Financial management is not a one-time goal. You don’t “learn” financial management, check the box, and walk away. Financial management is a practice that allows you to do more things. Just like tying your shoes, you manage your money so you can have more options.
It took me a long time to learn to tie my shoes, and even longer to grasp many of the key components of financial management. In fact, I’m still learning to match how I handle my money with the things that matter most to me. Don’t give up learning how to manage your money. It is a practice, not a goal. Every step you take in evaluating how you use your money, brings you closer to new opportunities to live out your values.
Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash