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Your relationship with money matters. As a multi passionate creative woman it can be hard to balance earning money with exploring your creativity. There is a reason the starving artist lifestyle has been portray in media for years. There is a level of hustle required to live a creative life but I am here to change that. I want millionaire creatives, multi six figure lifestyles because you chose to take a chance on your art.
I want to note that everyone is in a different financial situation. These habits are here to inspire and motivate you to try something new and possibly reframe your perspective.
5 Daily Habits to Improve Your Finances as a Creative Woman
Money Mindset
Journal about your relationship with money. This is a limiting belief for a lot of people. If you are someone who doesn’t feel worthy of money you want to dig into why. Why can’t you earn seventy thousand dollars a year from your art. Why can’t you earn six figures from a side gig that you enjoy but it might not be your dream job but it pays the bills. Why can’t you work a corporate job for sixty thousand a year and earn thirty thousand from your art.
It is all about balance.
The next money mindset that comes into play is carrying resentment towards people who have more money than you. Or they at least look financially stable. You get angry at people who seem to have money come to them easily. Why can’t that be you? It makes you want to just go down a career path that has a very large salary attached to it even if it drains your soul just to feel that so called sense of security.
Who ever coined the phrase “money doesn’t buy you happiness” never struggled financially. Because money might not buy happiness but it sure as shit can buy peace of mind. The brain space that money takes up when you do not have enough for food, water, a home let alone your art is astronomical.
In order to start building your money mindset you need believe that you are worthy of having money.
I started off with this one money affirmation:
- I will always have enough money to pay my bills.
Then once I felt safe, bills paid, money in savings, I changed the affirmation to:
- I will always have enough money to pay my bills and pursue my creative projects.
And I am currently at that stage but I thought of another add on to this affirmation, once I get there.
- I will always have enough money to pay my bills, pursue my creative pursuits and take care of my family.
You will grow and change over the years. It’s just a matter of what do you want to change?
Financial Literacy
The more you know about money, money systems and money habits in this current day the better off you will be. Dedicate 10–30 minutes to reading, listening or watching content about personal finance, investing, how does your money make money.
I didn’t but together by first budget until I was in my mid twenties. The rest of the time I just hoped my card didn’t decline and the debt I was racking up on my visa would be future me problem. It really did not bother me except for the crippling anxiety of opening my banking app ever so often. Which actually bothered me a lot!
Learning about money will set you up for success. What account’s should you be opening? What investments should you be focusing on?
And another thing to be aware of is your own buyer behaviour. Do you impulsively click on that text message sale, add to cart and don’t think about the $100 you just spent. Or maybe you hold onto money so harshly that when any unexpected expense comes up you spiral for days about how you are going to be able get past this even though you have money in your account.
Marketing teams are designed to get you to feel connected to a brand to make it easy to purchase. Have a strong sense of money knowledge and self awareness can help you spend your money in a way that feels good and safe.
Budgeting + Tracking
Use a budgeting app, google sheet or a simple notebook to record daily expenditures. I personally do a bi weekly financial day where I go through all my spending and how it aligns with the budget I set previously.
This is a great daily or weekly habit to get into because it will shine light on where all your money is going. In fact one of my new years resolutions was to not order from food delivery apps at all. I deleted the app off my phone because during one of my budgeting dates I realized I bought food just for me four days in a week and it was so much money for what! Convenience? Yes. Healthy, well round food that makes me feel about myself, Nope.
Be willing to be inconvenience.
Automate Your Money
Set up automatic transfers to bills, savings or investment accounts so you don’t have to remember to do it. This is can help alleviate the time spent thinking about your money. It is just being done for you. Instead of missing bill or falling behind on your savings goals, the money will just move automatically. Plus, you get to see your savings and investments go up each month.
I know this can be scary when you have always held onto your money tightly. You want to control where your money goes but I found that when I didn’t automate my savings the money never went to savings. Even if it was just $25 I would see it in my checking account, ready to make the transfer and then my mind will fret over if I will need that money for something later on so it stays where it is.
Getting started with automating you can transfer $5 a paycheque. It will be so incremental you don’t even know it’s gone but some money is going into a savings or investment account for your future goals.
Increase your Income activations
What can you do in your day that can help make you money? Side businesses, ask for a raises, sell items you can around your house, and investing. Your money can make money. I personally use Wealthsimple for my investments and savings accounts. There is a learning curve here which is why you are setting time aside each day or week to learn more about money, investments and savings.
Over the last 3 years I have paid down 9k in credit card debit, saved up enough to put a deposit on a condo (still saving for for the full down payment) and I still have money going into savings each month.
Start focusing on your daily habits to start improving your finances one day at at time.
Want some money inspiration? 25 Money Affirmations for Creative Women