Editors’s note: To celebrate New Latina’s first birthday we’re teaming up with a special guest contributor, Meadow Devor, financial expert and master money coach! This week, Meadow will be sharing a new article on New Latina and giving away one FREE COPY of her 30-Day Starter Kit (a $49 value) each day (Monday through Friday) at 8PM EST! That’s five free Starter Kits shipped out to New Latina readers! And if that wasn’t enough, we’re also giving away 100 downloadable copies of Meadow’s Money Love ebook ($9.99 value) from 12pm to 4pm EST on Saturday! Giveaway information is below!
Do you love money?
Are you sure?
If you’re anything like me, or my clients, we’ve actually had to learn how to love money.
I used to think I loved money because I could spend it. I loved what money could buy. I loved the stuff that could be purchased with it. I loved the adventures that money could take me on. I loved the idea of shopping or spending.
So many of my clients have this same belief. Money is only good for what it can buy. Money is as good as what can be purchased with it.
To make it really simple.
The way I loved money was to get rid of it. And fast.
And, this.
Is not love.
We love our kids, right? And we don’t want to give them away. (Ok, maybe sometimes we do want to give them away. But for the sake of the metaphor… follow me on this.) We want to spend time with them, take care of them, and protect them.
We love our pets. We don’t get a puppy just so that we can quickly exchange it for something else. (Alright, maybe this isn’t the best metaphor, either. But, hopefully you’ll get the gist.) We love spending time with our pets, taking care of them, playing with them, and protecting them.
What if we loved money – in the same way that we love our kids?
What if we loved our money by spending time with it (saving it), taking care of it (investing wisely) and protecting it (not buying shit that we don’t want and we don’t need).
What if we respected our relationship with money – just like we respect our relationship with people that we care about? What if we treated it like something that meant a lot to us?
What if we saw spending money that we don’t have (going into debt) in the same way that we would see having affairs with people who aren’t our partners.
What if we saw debt as cheating on our own money?
My best friend says, “I love money.”
Often.
Outloud.
To strangers.
And she really means it. She’s the one who showed me what the love of money really means. She respects it. She loves to make it. She loves to hang out with it. She loves to give it, share it, keep it.
I want you to love money.
I want you to love your money.
Care for it. Respect it. Hang out with it. Take care of it.
It’s yours.
You earned it.
GIVEAWAY TODAY AT 8PM (EST)!
One FREE copy of Meadow Devor’s 30-Day Starter Kit (a $49 value).
How To Enter the Giveaway!
It’s simple: Just share what you liked about this post, or what resonated with you. Leave a comment below.
For additional chances to enter (only after you answer question above):
1. Like New Latina fan page on Facebook and leave a message letting us know that you “Liked” the fan page. If you have already “Liked” the page, leave a message letting us know that you’ve already “Liked” us.
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3. Subscribe to New Latina updates via email and leave a comment letting us know that you subscribed. If you’re already a subscriber, leave a message letting us know that you’re already a subscriber.
4. For 1 additional entry: Tweet the following and leave 1 separate comments with a copy of your tweet.
Giveaway today @ 8PM EST! 30-Day Money Starter Kit by @Meadow Devor ($49 value) http://wp.me/p132np-2tf via @NewLatina #latism #latinabloggers
This giveaway ends tonight, at 8PM EST. Winner will be randomly selected via Random.org. We will notify winners via email and Facebook.
Buena Suerte!!
Disclosure: New Latina is not an affiliate of Meadow Devor Money Coaching products. This is just another effort by New Latina to empower our readers and followers.
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Wow. Never thought of loving money that way. Usually when people say they love money, they like to spend it. It is important to develope a good relationship with money.
Patricia – I’m all about helping people develop a better relationship with their money and with themselves. Do you have a good relationship with money? Why or why not?
I like New Latina on Facebook.
http://twitter.com/#!/yourpotofgold/status/115796939777392640
Thanks for the tweet!
I subscribe to your emails.
I’ve had some challenges with loving money… I’ve actually let go of money that I earned because I wasn’t able to reconcile my feelings on money.
I’ve done contracted writing gigs, research consulting, and worked on extended research projects also on contract and have not been paid. And the worst part is, the reason was ME! That’s because I could’t step up and and say, “that’s what I am owed and it is mine.”
So, this article really speaks to my lingering challenging relationship on my what do I say is my WORTH here, what do I offer, and what is okay in the exchange of money.
Thanks for this article.
Vicky, you are definitely not alone in this one. Often times, as Latina women, we want to be so nice and helpful, that we neglect to ask for what we need and deserve. Being nice and helpful has nothing to do with compensation. As you get older (take me from me), you’ll totally learn how to embrace your worth and you’ll become very assertive in making sure your time and smarts are valued (and well compensated…).
Vicky -
I think it’s challenging for a lot of us to speak up and say “This is what I’m owed and it is mine.”
What I hope to help you (and other readers) with is understanding why it is difficult in the first place.
If you don’t believe in your own self-worth – it will FOR SURE show up in your earning.
So- the million dollar (ha punny!) question is: What would it take to believe you’re worth it?
It’s funny how much I’ve learned how to love money, but now I’m bad at spending it. For example, I’ve been saving to buy the iPad because I refuse to just pay for it and I rarely use my credit cards, because of past debt. This year for my birthday, I asked everyone to chip in and give me only money so I could buy the iPad. Instead I went to the outlets with more coupons to buy a nice coat that will last me for years and back-to-school clothes for my son. This is the 2nd time I’ve saved money and didn’t buy the iPad or didn’t spend the money. I only buy designer bags off of eBay now, if I even decide to spend the money. For me, I’ve learned ways to make extra money and was not born with a silver spoon. In this regard, money is not expendable for me – its something I really work hard to earn and keep. I need to work on investing my money better (more so in learning how to invest in stock) and working to maintain my credit. Even though I’m in my 20′s, unlike my other friends my age – I refuse to waste it away on shoes or random trips and endless nights of fun. I want to make something out of it – problem is, I don’t know HOW to spend it anymore… at least on myself. I’m really good at spending it on my son, though. (excuse my rambling – i could go on and on haha)
Hey Tara-
I know it can be kind of overwhelming trying to decide what to spend and why. I wrote a post on the Four Types of Spending – you might like it.
http://meadowdevor.squarespace.com/moneyblog/2011/3/8/four-types-of-spending.html
The basic idea is to spend money only from a good feeling place. To change your thinking so that you feel abundant before you spend.
I have never invested and since having a baby, saving seems like a distant memory, lol. I would love to discover ways to reclaim my money love. ;)
Hey Chantilly-
Why does investing feel like a distant memory?
I have had trouble with money since I started managing my own. Is tougher now that I am a stay at home parent and just started working from home. Is completely different than receiving a guaranteed pay check every month.
I just started a home based business and I really need to start loving my money!!!! This gives me a glimpse of what I need to do so as of today I’m ready to start loving my money
Hi May-
Why do you think you’ve had trouble with money?
i like new latina on facebook
i like Meadow DeVor on facebook
Hmm, haven’t thought about money that way; but what about the emotional aspects?
Hi Seline-
Say more. What do you mean by the ‘emotional aspects?’
Great!! Very true!!
This is so true! I need to change my attitude towards money. I’m so looking forward to reading more this week.
What an interesting concept! To love money.
How do you do this without getting greedy?
I am also looking forward to learning more about this subject.
Teresa-
I see greed as wanting money at someone else’s expense. Taking what’s not mine. Or wanting someone else to go without. To me, that’s not loving money.
Loving money means loving money for myself and loving money for others.
Loving Money is hard to do but I am looking forward to rekindling that relationship again. Before i was able to pay bills on time, save and even help others…what you call a loving relationship with $. Then, I lost my job and the $ support of my ex-husband all within two months. Although I had saving that covered over 6 months…the current underemployment/salary simply does not cover,& finding an affordable apt..is NOT an option when you live in NY. The adjusting to debt and lack or the shock of it all takes a toll. But I do believe that something will come thru..so keeping myself positive is the Best for now and looking forward to one heck of a Love Affair with $$ again ;-)! Bring it ON
Ivelisse -
Even better than a love affair – how about a passionate long term relationship with money. :)