Can You Control Your Finances Or Do They Control You

Do Your Finances Got You Trapped?

I recently read a great article about diversifying your income by earning money though other ways other than your job by a IttyBiz.  This particular post interested me because it made a valid point that there are more ways to earn income other than just your JOB.  In the past year she was able to earn $176,000 though various income streams.

Not Bad.

Though while I was reading the article it made me realize that she had one thing that not all American have, CONTROL.  She decided a long time ago that she controlled her income and that no one else does.  In today’s society with layoffs and companies going under I felt this post would be appropriate considering the times.

This post is all about the things you can control and the things you can’t.   By the end of this post you may feel like I do and ready and willing to take action.

What Can You Can’t Control?

When deciding to take control of your finances realizing that you don’t have control over everything is the first step.  Why you might ask?

One thing almost every person ( including myself) are guilty of is blaming, complaining, and criticizing others for things we have no control over.  In fact one of my favorite sayings has always been:

Before you criticize, blame, or complain walk a mile in that persons shoes.  This way if you do decide to criticize, blame, or complain you will be a mile away and have that persons shoes.

In all things being fair you can’t control everything.  For example you can’t control what the President of the United States will do.  You can’t control what others will say or do.  You can’t control when your bills are do. You can’t control what the markets will do. There are a million things that you can’t control. 

The worst part of this all though is that we worry about these things like the sky is falling.   In the end though we can influence people all we want but we can’t make there decisions for them.  So why spend all of are time worrying about things we can’t control and look at the things we can control.

What Can You Control?

Obviously IttyBiz didn’t worry about these things and neither should you.  In fact this is a tactic the rich will use.  While most people are in fear the successful rich are calm and in control.  They look at life from a different perspective.  What they can control.

So what can you control?

You may not have much control over how much you get paid from your employer but that doesn’t mean they can tell you how to spend it or earn money though other sources.  Such as starting a part time business. 

You may not have control over the market but that doesn’t mean you could take steps to invest correctly such as investing long term and diversifying your money. 

You may not have control over your bills but this doesn’t mean you  couldn’t watch your spending and pay them on time. 

The point is you have control over a lot of things when it comes to your personal finances.  However with as much control that people don’t think they have they tend to play victim to being stuck in debt.  Does this sound like you?  Leave a comment and tell me about it.

What Can You Do To Take Control?

• Except responsibility.  Are you blaming others for your financial problems.  You are the only person who pays your bills, spends your money, and makes your financial decisions.  Except responsibility and you are on the road to success like the great ones.
• Put a budget together.  Learn where your money goes.  Put a monthly budget together and plan out where your money is going then track to see your true results.  Knowing where your money is going will help in being more cautious.
• Put a debt plan together.  A true debt plan will give you the exact way to get debt free and stay that way.  With a debt plan designed with your goals in mind it will go a long way in stopping further problems down the road.  You can put your personal debt plan together free here.
• Start a part time business.  Starting a part time business puts you in control of your money not your employer.  It also gives you the power to learn how to improve your business while you have a full time job helping diversify your income just in case you lose your job.  Here’s a great post on starting a part time business.
• Educate yourself.  I say this a lot but I feel I can’t say it enough.  Learning more about your money and how you can control it better helps you time and time again.  Take time now to educate yourself and sign up for my RSS and check out my blogroll of other personal financial bloggers who will help to put you on the right track.

Are You In Control?

Do you have your finances under control?  Do you play the blame game?  It may be hard to admit this to yourself but it’s the first step to taking control of your financial future.