Do you have trouble managing your money? Below are 5 ways you can think about your money differently and increase both yourself and net worth from my book, Worthy,:

Powerful Decision #1: Hire Someone to Help You

Is consulting a financial advisor one of your ways to regain control of your purse strings? If not, you might consider it. We often think it’s not worth spending money on financial advice. From my experience, if you want to increase your personal net worth, paying an expert is worth every penny! But be careful whose advice you take. Choose someone who has no stake in your money, and pay the person you hire a fee rather than a percentage. If someone has any stake in your funds, they might be prone to give you less than objective advice. Paying a fee rather than a percentage also protects you from getting stuck with an unexpected bill that feels too high.

Powerful Decision #2: Spend Some Money

Those of you who are naturally spendy can skip over this category! This particular pattern interrupt is for those of us who, ahem, have been known to hoard cash out of fear of going without. The defining feature of this category is to spend only the money you have. If you’d have to dip into credit, this is not the pattern interrupt for you!

Powerful Decision #3: Save Some Money

If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, have more debt than you want to admit, or just know that money burns a hole in your pocket, this one’s for you. The simplest financial decision for spendthrifts is to “buy” into a 401(k) or savings account each week or month. Treat it like a purchase you’re making or a regular bill you’re paying, and imagine what that savings might allow in your life in the future.

If you truly feel like you don’t have enough money to save, start small—set up an automatic transfer of $20 a week from your checking account to a high-yield savings account. (A favorite of mine is from Capital One 360.) No matter how little we have coming in, most of us can afford $20 a week. Over time, that $20 will add up.

The simple act of changing your behavior even a little bit opens up some energy around your finances. You may find that you become more abundant very quickly, allowing you to increase that transfer to $50 or $75 per week in a matter of months.

Get 5 exclusive FREE gifts when you order my new book, Worthy, here.

Powerful Decision #4: Make Some Money

If you haven’t worked in a long time, or if you’re in a low-paying job that you hate, make the powerful decision to get the training required to change your circumstances. Don’t tell yourself that it will take too long. Even if you have to go slow, the sooner you start, the faster you’ll have the skills you need.

Have you always wanted to start your own business? There’s no time like the present to look into what you’d need to make it happen. A great first step to propel you forward is just to buy the website address you’d want for your business. With the Internet, it’s never been easier to sell services or products. You can start with very little money up front.

What would be the most exciting way for you to make more money? Start with one step, but dream big.

Powerful Decision #5: Handle Your Money Better

Get hold of your purse strings by becoming a better money manager. Do you have trouble facing the truth about your finances? Do you put your head in the sand? If so, your best pattern-interrupt financial decision might have to do with changing your behavior around money. Here are some of the ways that you might change how you handle your finances:

•     Pay bills as soon as they come in.

•     Balance your checkbook every month.

•     Pay off your credit card balances every month.

•     Pay down your debt a certain amount every week or month.

•     Keep track of what you spend every day and how you spend it. Watch for ways to spend more on what you want and less on wasteful items.

•     Make a commitment not to use your credit cards or bank overdraft —except in a true emergency. Make a list of what constitutes an emergency (and be strict) so that you don’t stray.

•     Make a commitment to no longer shop as a way of avoiding your feelings.

•     Give up your excuses for spending on things that aren’t important.
 

Can you think of other behaviors that have helped you manage your money better? Let me know in the comments below...