Over the past few months, Business Consultant Pria Masson has written about how money impacts our lives in unique ways. Given that money is the lifeblood of the way we manage life, working on our relationship with money, is key to managing it more effectively. Pria shares her thoughts.
As 2025 is upon us, I would like you to begin the new year from a place of knowledge and control when it comes to money. Together, let’s begin to figure out your money matters.
If you are expecting the first step to be figuring out how much money you have, you are in for a surprise. In fact, this month, let’s ignore the actual amount of money and focus instead on your experience with money. Let’s go back to the beginning and ask yourself this: how did you experience life as a child in relation to money?
Your answer will be different, of course, and could range from “We didn’t discuss money, but I knew we had enough,” or “We didn’t discuss money, but I knew we were struggling.” to “We had plenty, I never thought about money.” The key to finding your answer is in remembering the conversations related to money even indirectly. Those overheard discussions on how one would make ends meet, how often words like “too expensive” or “greedy” or “wasteful” came up. This basic interaction about money, or the idea of it, formed the foundation of how you view money.
Next, think about how you experienced money related activities. Recall what happened if you asked for something? Were you allowed to ask for things? Were you nurtured or shamed? This is likely what frames whether you fear money, see it as a necessary evil or simply deny its existence.
In most cases, it’s very likely that no one discussed or explained money and its dynamics to you, such as it being a means of exchange and its value coming from what it’s exchanged for. Given this, if you value money more than the other person, agreeing on the price of something can be tricky. Let’s use an example. You fear money, see it as a necessary evil and something to be held on to. If you want to buy a pair of shoes, you expect the shoes to be worth its price and valuable enough for you to part with money which is precious to you. You may still buy the shoes, but will derive pleasure from the purchase if it’s on sale and you believe they are worth the sacrifice.
If you aren’t the person earning and need someone else, with their own relationship with money, to buy you things, this may get complicated. This is why having a bit of money, just for you, no questions asked, eases out so much personal discord. And this, is why the ability to manage your own money – earning it, using it, and growing it, all without animosity or negativity is the ultimate life skill. Begin 2025 by acknowledging its need and taking steps to learn this skill.
Pria is an experienced business consultant who works as a business coach and advisor helping clients with their strategy, business plans and idea assessments. You can follow Pria on Instagram @guide-_my_idea and learn more about her experience at priamasson.com
