How to stop thinking about money all the time (free yourself from money worries)

Money worries can be a major source of stress in our lives.

If we’re constantly thinking about money, it can be difficult to relax and enjoy ourselves.

But don’t worry, there are ways to stop thinking about money all the time.

You can help yourself stop thinking about money all the time by making a budget, not comparing to others, finding ways to relax without spending money, talking about your money worries and seeking professional help when needed.

This article will cover some often common money worries and a few steps on how to stop thinking about money all the time.

Why do I think about money all the time?

Thinking about money all the time can be attributed to various factors:

1. Survival and Security: Money is closely tied to our basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. Concerns about meeting these needs can lead to constant thoughts about money.
2. Societal Pressure: Society often equates wealth with success and happiness. This pressure to accumulate wealth can cause money to occupy your thoughts frequently.
3. Debt and Financial Obligations: If you have debts or financial obligations, the stress of repaying them can lead to constant worry about money.
4. Lifestyle Aspirations: Desiring a certain lifestyle or comparing oneself to others who appear to have more can lead to a preoccupation with money.
5. Lack of Financial Planning: Without a clear financial plan, you might feel uncertain about your financial future, causing money to be a constant concern.
6. Fear of the Unknown: Worries about unexpected expenses or potential financial emergencies can keep money on your mind.
7. Past Experiences: If you’ve experienced financial hardship in the past, it might make you more prone to worrying about money.
8. Mental Health: Sometimes, excessive worry about money can be a symptom of underlying mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

It’s important to recognize why money is constantly on your mind and take steps to address these concerns. This might include setting a budget, seeking financial education, talking to a financial planner, or engaging in activities that bring fulfillment outside of monetary gain.

1. Understand where your money worries are coming from

When it comes to money worries, it can be helpful to understand where they’re coming from.

Maybe you’re constantly worried about how you’ll make ends meet.

Or maybe money is a major source of stress in your life.

If this is the case, it’s important to take some time to understand where the money worries are coming from.

This can help you address the issue and work towards freeing yourself from money worries.

Sources of Money Worries

There are many sources of money worries.

Some people are constantly worried about how they will make ends meet each month.

Lack of savings for short, medium and long terms needs.

Saving for a house, retirement and children are very common money challenges.

And the amount of debt you have and how you will ever pay it off is one of the most common stresses around money.

Addressing the source of money worries

Once you’ve identified the source of your money worries, you can start to address them.

If you’re constantly worried about how you’re going to make ends meet each month, creating a budget and sticking to it can be helpful.

If money is a major source of stress and anxiety, not comparing your finances to others and finding ways to relax and destress without spending money can be helpful.

And if the money worries are overwhelming, talking to someone you trust or seeking professional help may be necessary

How to find out where your money worries are coming from

If you’re not sure where your money worries are coming from, there are a few things you can do to try and figure it out.

First, make a list of all the ways in which money is a source of stress or anxiety in your life. Once you’ve made this list, take some time to think about each item on it. What specifically about this issue is worrying you?

What to do if you’re struggling to understand the source of your money worries

If you have trouble understanding where your money worries are coming from, you can do a few things.

First, try talking to someone you trust about your concerns. This could be a friend, family member, or even a financial advisor.

Talking about your worries can help you to better understand them and figure out how to address them.

Automate as much of your money as you can

One way to free yourself from money worries is to automate as much of your finances as you can

This means setting up things like automatic bill payments and savings contributions so that you don’t have to think about them each month

You can take some of the stress out of managing your money by automating your finances.

You can also use one or more banking apps to help you automate your finances

These apps can track your spending, help you stay on budget, and even send you reminders when bills are due

There are a variety of budgeting apps available, some free and some paid for.

2. Be clear about what you want your life to look like

One way to free yourself from money worries is to be clear about what you want your life to look like.

This means having a vision for your life and knowing what’s important to you.

When you have a clear vision for your life, it’s easier to make decisions that align with that vision and take the necessary actions.  

And when you’re making decisions and actions that are in line with your vision, you’re less likely to worry about money.

3. Make a budget and stick to it

Making and keeping to a budget is one of the most important things you can do to address money worries.

When you have a budget, you know how much money you have to work with each month and how much you can afford to spend.

This can help take the stress out of money worries and help you to relax more.

How to make a budget

To make a budget, make a list of how much you earn and how much you spend each month.

You’ll want to include all expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments, food costs, transportation costs (think gas or car insurance), the cost of your phone plan and cableTV, and any other debts you’re paying off.

Once you have all of your expenses listed, you can start to see where you can cut out things or cut back in order to save money

Kakeibo budgeting

Kakeibo is a Japanese budgeting system that can help you to save money each month.

The word “kakeibo” literally means “household finance book.” The system is designed to help you track your spending so that you can see where your money is going each month

To use the kakeibo system, you will need a notebook or spreadsheet to track your income and expenses.

You will want to record your monthly income and expenses and how much you have saved.

You can total up your income and expenses at the end of the month to see how much money you have leftover.

The kakeibo system is designed to help you become more mindful of your spending so that you can save money each month.

The system asks 4 questions each month

1. How much do you have to spend?
2. How much would you like to save?
3. How much money are you spending?
4. How can you improve next month?

You then need to categorise your budget and spending into 4 categories

1. Needs – things you can’t live without food, water, shelter, medicines
2. Wants – things you like to have but don’t need – eating out etc
3. Culture – books and museums
4. Unexpected – things you didn’t know were going to happen, i.e. house repair

The four areas of Kakeibo: budgeting, saving, investing, and tracking, are a key part of destressing your feelings around money.

4. Don’t compare your finances to others

One of the best ways to stop worrying about money is to stop comparing your finances to those of others.

When you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, it can be difficult to relax and feel good about your financial situation.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s financial situation is different and that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to manage your money.

Instead of comparing your finances to others, focus on what you can do to improve your own financial situation.

Be clear on your own goals

The first step to conquering money worries is to understand your own financial goals.

• What do you want to achieve?
• Do you want to be debt-free?
• Do you want to save up for a rainy day fund?
• Or are you aiming for something bigger, like retirement?

Once you know what your goals are, it will be easier to stay focused on them and not get sidetracked by money worries.

Run your own race

It can be tempting to compare our financial situation to others, but it’s important to remember that everyone’s circumstances are different.

What works for someone else may not work for you, and vice versa.

So instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your own financial journey and what you need to do to reach your goals.

Enjoy other people’s success, and let it spur you on.

Jealousy is normal, but it can be destructive if we let it take over.

If you are jealous of others’ financial success, use it to motivate you to achieve your goals.

Think about what they’ve done that you can do too, and use it as inspiration to get where you want to be.

5. Find ways to relax and destress without spending money

It can be difficult to relax and enjoy ourselves if we’re constantly worried about money.

But there are ways to relax without spending money.

By finding activities that we enjoy and that help us to relax, we can free ourselves from money worries and enjoy ourselves a little more.

Some examples of activities that can help us to relax include reading, taking a walk

How to read for relaxation

Reading can be a great way to relax without spending money.

It can help us escape from our worries and stressors and provide us with an enjoyable activity that we can do in our spare time.

When choosing a book to read, selecting the one you are interested in and think you will enjoy is good.

If you choose a book that is too challenging or that you do not enjoy, it can actually increase our stress levels – just drop it and try another.

How to take a walk for relaxation

Taking a walk is another great way to relax without spending money.

Walking can help clear our minds and be a great form of exercise.

Try disconnecting from all forms of media to help give you the peace, quiet and space to relax and think clearly.

How to find activities that help you relax without spending money

There are many different activities that can help us to relax without spending money.

A little bit of experimentation can help you decide which is the best for you.

Activities such as yoga and meditation can be done alone or with a group for free or relatively inexpensively.

Listening to music or spending time with friends and family can also be good free activities to relax ad unwind from the world.

6. Talk about your money worries with someone you trust

Talking about your money worries can help reduce their impact on you.

By discussing your money worries with someone you trust, you can better understand them and may be able to find a solution.

It is important to choose someone who we feel comfortable talking to and who will be supportive.

You may also want to seek professional help if the money worries are overwhelming. This can be useful as a financial planner or coach can be an impartial sounding board to help you understand how to address your concerns.

7. Seek professional help if the money worries are overwhelming

If the money worries are overwhelming, it may be helpful to seek professional help

These can include:

• Financial planners
• Financial coaches 
• Debt councillors

These professionals can help us understand our money worries and guide how to address them.

Seeking professional help can be a great way to reduce the impact of money worries on our lives.

These people can help you get back control of your money and start building a plan for financial success.

Table: How to stop thinking about money all the time

Step	Action	Description
1	Set a Budget	Create a monthly budget to manage your finances effectively. Knowing where your money is going can alleviate stress.
2	Build an Emergency Fund	Save money for unexpected expenses. This fund acts as a financial cushion and reduces anxiety about money.
3	Limit Exposure to Consumerism	Reduce the time spent on social media and avoid advertisements to lessen the desire to spend.
4	Set Financial Goals	Define short-term and long-term financial goals. This gives purpose to your money and reduces aimless worrying.
5	Seek Financial Education	Educate yourself on personal finance. Understanding money management can reduce fear and uncertainty.
6	Practice Mindfulness	Engage in mindfulness practices like meditation to detach from constant thoughts about money.
7	Talk About It	Share your financial concerns with a trusted friend or family member. Sometimes just talking about it can be very relieving.
8	Seek Professional Help	If thinking about money is severely impacting your mental health, don’t hesitate to seek the help of a financial advisor or therapist.
9	Focus on Non-Materialistic Values	Engage in activities that don’t involve spending money. Focus on relationships, hobbies, and personal growth.
10	Reward Yourself	Set aside a small portion of your income for something you enjoy. This can help in creating a positive association with money.

FAQ how to stop thinking about money all the time

Final: How to stop thinking about money all the time

We hope the tips in this post have given you some ideas on how to stop thinking about money all the time.

It’s not easy, but it is possible.

If you can understand where your money worries are coming from and be clear about what you want your life to look like, you’re already on your way.

Don’t compare your finances to others – that will only make you feel bad. Find ways to relax and destress without spending money.

Talk about your money worries with someone you trust, and if they are becoming overwhelming, seek professional help.

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Remember, financial freedom isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. And every journey is easier when you have a guide. So, let’s embark on this journey together and create a financially happy future. 🚀💸