Is your spending in line with your personal values?

Is your spending in line with your personal values?

In other words, does your spending go hand in hand with your personal values?

We were born into a family of people who, despite being father, mother and children, are totally different.

In other words, throughout our lives we acquire habits and customs, forming values. Maybe what’s important to you isn’t so relevant to your family, and that’s normal.

Personal values are formed by what is paramount to us, what guides our desires, actions, goals and so on.

Relationships, experiences, education and even suffering shape you over time.

Some people believe that in order to be happy, there needs to be harmony between what they do and their values.

So, does your spending go hand in hand with your personal values?

It would be somewhat inconsistent for someone to fight for animals and buy a fur coat, for example.

Or to try to be environmentally friendly while choosing disposable items all the time and, worst of all, not recycling.

It would be interesting to be able to harmonize values and finances: what we consume often dictates who we are.

Values help you make intelligent decisions, and understanding the negative behaviors you’ve acquired throughout your life can help.

This allows you to act safely and can lead to even better results.

Control your influences so that your spending matches your personal values

First, get to know yourself. Don’t let yourself be influenced by the rampant consumerism of the modern world.

In other words, don’t let the media or a marketing campaign make you make decisions.

See what really makes you happiest, and whenever you buy something, see if you need it.

On the other hand, happiness doesn’t lie in the item you’ve bought, but in its personal value, in the good it will bring you.

Think about all the way that item has come to you.

Most of the time, people don’t buy what they need, but what they’ve seen on television and are easily influenced.

We are often bombarded with slogans such as buy now or don’t waste time.

But in order for your spending to match your personal values, you must first acquire them.

Get to know some of these values

In order for your spending to match your personal values, you first need to know a little more about them.

Well, there are those who believe that there are at least 5 values that cannot be missing from a human being’s life.

First and foremost is respect, the sensitivity to consider other people and their feelings;

It also includes animals, nature and others.

Honesty is something that is lacking, but it is fundamental for everyone, and includes all aspects of an individual’s life.

When this quality is lacking, a person can become disorganized and maladjusted; a dishonest human being harms himself and others.

Therefore, in order for your spending to keep up with your personal values, this requirement must not be lacking.

Solidarity is when you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and help to ease their pain without asking for anything in return;

Humility doesn’t make a human being any less valuable; on the contrary, the humble are more intelligent;

Self-control, it sounds silly, but if you can control your impulses, everything becomes easier.

There are many other values as important as these. Think about yours or include some of them in your life.

Make budgets that suit you

Your spending needs to be in line with your personal values, to suit your lifestyle.

If your finances are disorganized, the same tends to happen on the personal side.

So organize your ideas, get to know yourself and see what your values are.

After this analysis, look at your monthly expenses and see if they are in line.

If you want to be environmentally friendly, don’t mix organic and recyclable waste, for example.

Or even try to save up to buy durable furniture instead of furniture that doesn’t last very long.

This attitude is a great opportunity to make you think about what is really important in your life.

Be charitable or donate

If you want your spending to be in line with your personal values, what you can’t do without is charity.

That is, whether it’s for important causes such as the environment or an institution that cares for people.

Don’t stop donating, it will do you a lot of good as someone who cares about others and causes.

Therefore, consider setting aside a percentage of your earnings each month for this.

“Giving is better than receiving”.

Charity, or solidarity, is something transformative; it makes us feel positive.

Consequently, happiness and contentment have become part of our routine.

Invest wisely so that your spending matches your personal values.

Yes, but does your spending match your personal values?

Take a look at your investments and see if you’re putting your money into companies that have a positive impact.

In other words, if these institutions have the same values as yours, they are in line with what you think is right.

Your investment portfolio needs to be based on what you believe in. Don’t just think about profit, think about the process.

In other words, if a company works with slave labor, it obviously doesn’t deserve your investment, does it?

Invest in an institution that uses clean energy and that, like you, values human beings.

Where to start

To ensure that your spending is in line with your personal values, start by determining each of them.

If this is the case, consult someone who knows you, it could be a friend or a sibling, and after defining them, select a few.

Yes, those that are essential or indispensable to you, you already know, but it’s good to highlight them.

However, values can change over time. We are constantly changing individuals.

Reflect on them whenever necessary and think about what is most important, both for you and for others.

Evaluate your budget so that your spending matches your personal values

So, do an analysis of your expenses, organize your finances and you’re spending to fit the values listed.

If there are any mismatches, the budget is not in line with what you have understood as your values.

Try again from scratch, and you’ll see how value-based spending can help organize your financial and personal life.

Daniel 29 de April de 2024