What’s Your Money Sweet Tooth?
Sometime last year during the overwhelming dullness of this pandemic, I was curiously scrolling down Ramit Sethi's feed. If you don't know, Ramit Sethi is a popular east Indian finance blogger who has written a NY Times Best Selling Book called "I Will Teach You To Be Rich". I quickly shared his feed with a friend, who sent me a video a couple of hours later of him talking about how renting property was better than owning property (definitely another article, for another time).
As I clicked the Youtube link to watch more, prior to talking about real estate, he started talking about this concept called a "Money Dial". A Money Dial to Sethi is an area of your life that you value so much that you would spend even more in this area as your income started to increase. This is the area of your life that would drastically improve the quality of how you were to live your life the more you were able to invest your hard-earned money.
This is a topic I wanted to further dive into and explore, and I ended up creating my own version of a money dial with a diabetic twist, called "sweet tooths". These are areas of spending that we just cannot get enough of. Whether we're broke or ballin' in cash, we would still end up spending the majority of our money in this particular area of our finances. I love the term sweet tooth because, when you have a sweet tooth it's a craving for usually some dessert (which I am guilty of having). So essentially, your money sweet tooth is also a craving for a particular type of item or experience.
Put it this way, if you were to be blessed with an additional $5,000 tomorrow - what would you do with it? Assuming you don't have to pay down any debts, taxes, or owe anyone a thing. Also, no - you can't mention any good financial behaviors like saving or investing. Strictly, spending this amount of cash on whatever the heck it is you like. Where's it all going?
While you think about that, let's explore the 8 categories of our lives that I've coined as viable sweet tooths.
Convenience + Time
Time is money. Money is time. For some people, waiting weeks, months, or years to figure something out on their own is just not it. If you have the luxury to pay for something that can cut back the amount of time you spend, would you? Think of those who rather take an Uber to work, than walk.
If something takes me an hour by foot to get to, but I can get there in less than 10 minutes by paying someone (depending on the urgency of course, because global warming is not cute), then it may just bring me so much more relief to do so. You save yourself time and comfort, and because those two things are meaningful to you, the cost of it won't matter as much as you need to spend it on other things.
I also love to use the example of those who invest in personal trainers or coaches, to help people propel an aspect of their life forward with transformative and lasting results. As a wealth coach myself, I see countless women bet on themselves to work with me by helping them become more confident in their ability to manage their finances. They know that they could spend months or years trying to figure things out on their own, or choose to cut out the extra time by hiring someone who knows how to get them there three times as fast.
This has probably got to be my biggest sweet tooth because I know that with each second I am approaching death, I want to live my life to the fullest, and if I can pay someone to buy me an extra hour doing something I probably really don't want to do, then I will rather pay for it.
Spirituality + Community
Practicing religion or your own spiritual faith shouldn't cost money, but there are situations where spending money to strengthen our faith can be found. For example, many Christians believe in paying a tithe, which is simply a donation to the church and a gift to God. I have a client who strictly includes 10% of her budget towards her tithe, and wouldn't think of wavering. To me her money sweet tooths are spirituality and community. The money that she's spending not only goes to a cause she cares about but provides her with a deep sense of fulfillment and happiness. Why should she ever spend less in this area, if it means that much to her?
I'm very spiritual as well and believe in buying products that bring me closer to the divine. Crystals, sound bowls, candles, yoga mats, and tarot cards are my thing, I wouldn't go into debt to buy them, but if I had more money I certainly would treat myself to a nearby spiritual gifts store. These items aren't really necessary to my spiritual growth, but help me to go inwards and become a better person and find inner peace throughout my everyday decisions.
When it comes to community, however, you don't necessarily have to assign yourself to any particular faith but most religions usually preach or highlight the value of giving back and being charitable. Even in my finance coaching, I usually recommend my clients have a small portion of their budget go toward giving back. Scientists have already shown positive scores of well-being when people give their money away in an effort to help others. You may be someone who sees it as not even blinking when it comes to giving a homeless person on the street some money or supporting a charity and/or not-for-profit that's close to your heart and is spreading good in the world.
Relationships + Bonds
Are you the type of person who always lends a friend or family member money? Do you like to be a helping hand or know that you can cover financially for others? Your money sweet tooth can fall into the category of friendships. If you value spending time with others then you're probably the friend that will treat everyone to a meal, or be the first to want to cover a dinner date. It could also look like being the person to spend money on throwing an extravagant event for a friend or buying bottle service for the clique at the club. It's important that you show your friends and family you care through how you spend your money, and when you do this you feel better about yourself and the relationships around you.
At times, I find myself willing to do this because I'm someone who loves being social and attending social mixing events. There are also times when I may not have seen a friend in a while and I've missed a special occasion, so when we go out to eat I cover their bill. It's not out of desperation to buy someone's love, but as a way that you are able to show appreciation for them being in your life.
Fitness + Nutrition
Your money sweet tooth doesn't have to revolve around outside relationships, but definitely involves your relationship with yourself. Your health and the quality of your health is the reason why you are still here today, breathing. Making sure to eat nutrient-rich foods, drink plenty of water and get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day should be important to people, but for some, it's an obsession.
If you're the person who can't skip a day without going to the gym and spending money on gym memberships, fitness equipment, and high-quality grocery items - then your money sweet tooth definitely falls under fitness and nutrition. I bet you've already got a Peloton and are just waiting for the next big thing to come out. You will prioritize spending money on anything that improves your overall health and wellness, and I think everybody should too!
Beauty + Lifestyle
This one is going to be so flipping relatable for all my ladies. Looking good isn't a habit it's a LIFESTYLE. From your head down to your toes, literally, so many women pride themselves in how they look. Of course, men do too, but let's face it - women are just killing it in this arena. Not to mention this is probably the priciest area for most women when it comes to their spending because getting your hair done, nails done and everything done - costs a fortune to upkeep. Not to mention clothing, accessories, and even down to upkeeping your social media aesthetic.
But, like I've been saying already - if it's worth it to you, it's most likely a sweet tooth. First impressions definitely count in our type of society, and if you have a certain impression you want to give off you probably want to look good while doing whatever it is you do best.
Beauty also doesn’t have to just look like your face and body, it can be the beauty in other products that illustrate to others your tastes. Think about those who became best friends with Wayfair during the pandemic renovating and re-decorating their homes. If you’re the type to really spend your money on aesthetics and the presentation of your home and personal belongings, then beauty is also a lifestyle for you and a sweet tooth in my books. I definitely have some paintings hiding in my parent’s crawlspace waiting for when I buy my first home.
Safety + Security
This one is not often touched on, but just as important if not the most important as some of the other categories. Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, our livelihoods may not have been constantly threatened, but we now know how precious safeguarding our one and only life and the ones we love can be. When it comes to safety, you can think on a larger scale of maybe buying security cameras for your home or spending money on safeguarding particular assets. On a smaller scale, safety could look like always having first aid kits and emergency supplies to go.
With COVID-19, there's a new expense we've had to add to our list and that is masks. Some people may buy the cheap one-time-use ones, or others may choose to buy washable cotton masks that can be re-used. Regardless, whatever you decide in the name of fashion sense - you should be wearing a mask when asked. We can think of safety and security tying into our health as well, but I also love the idea of someone being really adamant on maybe purchasing a warranty on products they buy or willing to invest in themselves and purchase premium types of insurance. There are so many ways we can look at it, and I challenge you to decide if this is the category that resonates with you the most.
Of course, we don't have bears waiting outside our doors or are on some most wanted list for serial killers - but anything could happen at any time to us, and isn't it better to know you covered all bases in efforts to avoid any costly mistakes? Maybe that backup car camera, was really worth the investment, huh?
Mental Health + Well-Being
This category may overlap some of the others, but still all the while relevant. Mental health has been a big one in recent years, John Hopkins Medicine reports that
An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older -- about 1 in 4 adults -- suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. In particular, depressive illnesses tend to co-occur with substance abuse and anxiety disorders.
There's no surprise that anxiety and depression have been crippling our society and probably even more so as time goes on if we don't address the severity of the situation at hand. It's somewhat ironic that finances may be one of the leading causes of anxiety and depression in the average adult's life and a leading cause of divorce in most marriages. But, also in reverse, having the same mental health disorders can really impair someone's ability to manage their finances and cause even further stress and negative health distress.
I've always championed going to therapy, seeing a psychologist or even investing in some alternative healing therapies and not going the cheap route my friend. You don't want to cut corners when it comes to your health. I invested in a therapist last year and am currently seeing a dating coach and it has done wonders for my ability to heal certain aspects of past trauma around childhood and dating men. I feel better and can make better decisions because I've improved my self-awareness, and have made conscious efforts to make behavioral changes that will last and will positively impact my relationship with myself and others.
Travel + Experiences
I think I probably saved the best for last when I say that traveling and experiences, maybe at the top of the average person's list. The ability to get out of your small corner of the world, and venture out and see all the different places, people, and experiences to explore, is second to none. I can't think of a time when I'm not daydreaming about the next vacation spot and pretending I’m packing for an all-inclusive tour of Europe (soon I hope!).
When we travel or take a trip somewhere outside of our usual understanding we get to try something different, evoke our senses, and live like nobody is watching. The majority of us are so stuck into a routine, that breaking ourselves out of one can have such a positive impact on our overall health. Life is meant to be an adventure, not a one-stop shop. You don't have to go far to create new experiences. It can be as simple as planning a weekend getaway to a National Park or attending a concert for your favorite artist. Something - really anything - to break up your usual routine of things.
Traveling really does do something to our wandering spirit. We come back with a different view of ourselves and the world, and of course even better if you get to travel with friends, family, or someone you love. It makes life so much more memorable, and for that, you definitely can't put a price on it. Although, since we're talking sweet tooths here - you do. But, we already know of blogs and influencers who show you that traveling doesn't have to break the bank and if it's worth it to you to create a separate sinking fund in your bank account for your next trip after this shitshow of a pandemic is over, travel and experiences is definitely a sweet tooth worth having.
There are probably other areas of your life you can think of that you deem worth spending your money on, but whatever it is it already most likely fits into one of these 8 categories. The great thing about sweet tooths is that you can have them in various different value categories, so many people will find they spend their money based one more than one or two values. For me, for example, convenience, well-being and my health are of utmost importance. Followed closely by travel, friendships and community.
It's important to understand that our money sweet tooths can also change and evolve over time. In the past, I used to be more about appearance especially as a teenager and young adult. As I've gotten older and have found more internal ways to feel beautiful I've shifted from spending lots of money on my outwards appearance. Not to say that there's anything wrong with anyone who values that, but that's just something that wasn't adding any joy or inner fulfillment to my life in the long-run.
Figuring out your money sweet tooths, isn't done so that you can figure out more ways to spend your money on things that bring joy to your life, or help improve the quality of your life for that matter. It's actually in essence to better know and understand yourself and why you spend. This is critical when developing a healthier relationship with your money because the more you know yourself, the harder it is for external influences to manipulate you into making important financial decisions.
We live in a world where we are bombarded with propaganda about how we should spend our money. Businesses and marketing companies use a great tactic of instilling a fear of missing out on what some anonymous source has deemed worthy for society to fit in and for us to feel like we belong and have a sense of identity. This can negatively affect the way we view ourselves based on the lack of possessions we own or experiences we're constantly after. No person, entity, or thing should be driving your decisions to impulsively spend money.
Let's all empower ourselves and champion our ability to discern what only provides us temporary happiness and empty pockets versus living a financially well-off and fulfilling life. Saving money doesn't have to be boring or equate to sacrificing the things we want. We can have both a healthy financial life and a fulfilling one by spending our hard-earned money too.
This article is for informational purposes only, it should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.
Want to learn more about how you can start saving and being more mindful about your money decisions? Download the best-selling e-book on Mastering Your Money Mindset: A 3 Step Guide on Attracting Abundance , or you can also find out more about the author and holistic wealth coach at www.morganblackman.com