If you want to change your money mindset, it’s important to become more aware of your thoughts and beliefs about money. Once you’re aware of the negative thoughts that are holding you back, you can start to replace them with more positive, productive ones.

It is important to understand the characteristics of a positive money mentality to establish a strong foundation for growth.

Characteristics Of A Positive Money-Mindset

Money Is Neutral

The first characteristic of a healthy money mindset is understanding that money itself is neutral. It’s neither good nor bad. What matters is how you feel about money and how you use it

Some people believe that money is the root of all evil. They think that wealthy people are greedy and selfish and that they only care about themselves.

Our thoughts about money are irrelevant; we must comprehend that money is impartial and immune to our ideas.

We tend to connect our emotions to money, for example, by saying things like “money is bad” or “money doesn’t bring you happiness.”

While it’s true that money can’t buy happiness, it is not responsible for our feelings. Our thoughts and beliefs about money are what create our experiences and relationship with it.

If we want to change our relationship with money, we need to start by changing our thoughts about it.

Money is a tool that you may utilize in your life to accomplish the activities you desire. When you consider the benefits of money, you may alter your viewpoint. Simply figure out what you want, devise a strategy, and execute it!

You Deserve It

Another key characteristic of people with a positive money mentality is that they believe they deserve to be wealthy. They don’t feel guilty about wanting more money or having nice things. They know they work hard and deserve to be rewarded for it.

If you want to attain financial success, you need to believe that you deserve it. You can’t let feelings of guilt or unworthiness hold you back. When you know you deserve to be successful, you’ll be more likely to take the necessary steps to make it happen.

It’s Not A Competition

Another important money mindset characteristic is understanding that wealth is not a zero-sum game. Just because someone else has a lot of wealth doesn’t mean there’s less for you. There’s no reason to be jealous or envious of others.

Successful people know that wealth is not a limited resource. They don’t see other people’s success as a threat to their own. Instead, they view it as proof that achieving their goals is possible.

When you have a positive money mentality, you understand that there’s enough wealth for everyone. You don’t feel like you have to compete with others or put them down in order to succeed.

You’re In Control

People with a positive money mindset know that they’re in control of their own finances. They don’t believe that luck or fate determines their financial future. They understand that they make their own decisions and are responsible for their own success.

Successful people take initiative and don’t wait for things to happen to them. They know they need to work hard and make smart choices in order to realize their goals.

When you have a positive money attitude, you understand that you’re in charge of your own life. You don’t wait for circumstances to change or for other people to give you permission to succeed. You take action and make things happen.

Giving Back Is Important

People with a positive money mindset know that giving back is important. They don’t view their wealth as something to be hoarded or used only for themselves. They understand that they’re lucky to have what they have and want to help others who are less fortunate.

Successful people are generous with their time, wealth, and resources. They know that giving back makes them happier and helps create a better world for everyone.

When you have a positive money attitude, you understand the importance of giving back. You don’t view your wealth as something to be squandered on unnecessary things. You know that giving back is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

You’re Not Perfect

People with a positive money mentality understand that they’re not perfect and that’s okay. They don’t expect to make every decision perfectly or always have things go their way. They know that mistakes are part of the learning process and that failure is sometimes necessary for eventual success.

Successful people are okay with making mistakes and understand that they’re not always going to be perfect. They don’t beat themselves up over small missteps and instead focus on what they can learn from their mistakes.

When you have a positive money attitude, you understand that you’re not perfect and that’s okay. You don’t expect to be perfect or always make the right decisions. You know that mistakes are part of the learning process and accept them as such.

You Can Handle Setbacks

People with a positive money mentality know that setbacks are a normal part of life. They don’t view them as failures or personal failings. Instead, they see them as opportunities to learn and grow.

Successful people understand that setbacks are inevitable. They don’t let them discourage or derail their plans. Instead, they use them as motivation to keep going and to become even better.

You’re Not Your Money

People with a better money mindset understand that they’re not their money. They don’t define themselves by their bank balance or net worth. Instead, they see money as a tool to be used to realize their goals.

Successful people know that wealth is just a means to an end. It’s not something to be worshipped or obsessively pursued. They use it to accomplish their goals and improve their lives, but they don’t allow it to control them.

When you have a positive money mentality, you understand that you’re not your money. Instead, you see money as a tool to be used to reach your goals.

You’re Capable Of Achieving Your Goals

People with a positive money attitude believe that they can achieve their goals. They don’t doubt their abilities or think that their dreams are out of reach. They know that if they work hard and stay focused, they can achieve a high level of success.

Keep Your Focus

If you have a positive money mentality, you’ll stay in your own lane and not be concerned about what everyone else is up to. You believe in yourself and believe you have the funds to accomplish your goals, so you concentrate on the next steps you can take to do more for yourself.

Successful people have a clear vision for their life and what they want to achieve. They don’t get sidetracked by comparing themselves to others or letting outside distractions take them away from their goal.

The more focused you are, the easier it is to stay motivated and take action towards your goals. When you know what you want and put all of your energy into achieving it, success will be yours.

Characteristics Of A Negative Money Mindset — Avoid These

A negative money mentality is characterized by a lack of belief in oneself, an inability to handle disappointment or setbacks, feelings of guilt or shame around money, and a focus on the short-term. People with a negative money mindset often struggle to achieve their financial goals.

Some common characteristics of a negative money mindset include:

You Don’t Believe In Yourself

If you don’t believe in yourself, it will be very difficult to achieve your goals. If you doubt your abilities or think that your dreams are out of reach, you’ll never even try to achieve them.

Having A YOLO Mindset

People with a negative money mindset often live for the moment and don’t think about the future. They spend money without any thought of the consequences and don’t save or invest for the long term. This can lead to financial problems down the road.

The YOLO concept stands for “you only live once” and has been transformed into a phrase that people frequently use as an excuse to make poor decisions. It’s the favorite money quote of those who make poor decisions.

There is a fine balance to be struck between living life to the fullest and being a financially responsible person. But having a YOLO attitude when making decisions that could have an impact on you or your finances can be harmful. You can’t just pile up credit card debt without considering how it will affect your financial objectives.

You Handle Setbacks Poorly

People with a negative money mindset view setbacks as failures. They often give up when things get tough or their plans don’t work out. They see any setback as a personal failure instead of an opportunity to learn and grow.

You Feel Guilty Or Ashamed Around Money

People with a negative money mindset often feel guilty or ashamed about money. They think that it’s somehow wrong to want to improve their financial situation. This can lead to a feeling of powerlessness and prevent them from taking action to improve their finances.

Your Focus Is On The Short-Term

People with a negative money mindset often focus on immediate gratification. They want things now and are willing to sacrifice long-term financial security for short-term pleasure. This can lead to bad financial decisions and a cycle of debt.

Adopt A Positive Money Mindset To Live A Life Of Abundance

If you want to be successful, it’s important to avoid these negative money mindset traps. Instead of a scarcity mindset or a bad money mindset, work on developing a positive money mentality and believe in yourself and your abilities. Focus on the long-term and don’t let setbacks get you down.

15 Ways to Change To A Positive Money Mindset

Here are 10 ways to change your money mindset and live with abundance:

1. Understand Your Relationship With Money

The first step to changing your money mindset is to understand your relationship with money. What are your beliefs about money? Do you think it’s evil or bad? Do you think it’s necessary or helpful? Do you think it’s something that should be controlled or something that should be enjoyed? Your answers to these questions will impact your relationship with money.

2. Be Grateful For What You Have

One of the best ways to change your money mindset is to be grateful for what you have. When you’re grateful for the money you have, it becomes easier to attract more money into your life. Gratitude opens the door to abundance.

3. Focus On Your Strengths

Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, focus on your strengths. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? When you focus on your strengths, you’ll be more likely to make decisions that are in alignment with your values and that will lead to financial success.

4. Change Your Money Story

If you want to change your money mindset, you need to change your money story. What is your money story? Do you believe that you’re not good with money? Do you believe that you don’t deserve to be wealthy? Do you believe that money is the root of all evil? Whatever your money story is, it’s time to change it.

5. Let Go Of Limiting Beliefs

If you want to change your money mindset, you need to let go of any limiting beliefs you have about money. These beliefs might be holding you back from achieving economic success. Some common limiting beliefs include: “I can’t make enough money,” “I’m not good with money,” and “I don’t deserve to be wealthy.”

6. Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

One of the biggest traps you can fall into is comparing yourself to others. When you compare yourself to others, you’re setting yourself up for feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and insecurity. These negative emotions can sabotage your economic success. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your own journey and progress.

7. Invest In Your Education

If you want to change your money mindset, it’s important to invest in your education. When you learn about personal finance and investing, you’ll be more likely to make wise decisions with your money. There are a lot of great resources out there, so take advantage of them.

8. Focus On What You Can Control

There are a lot of things in life that we can’t control, but our finances aren’t one of them. When you focus on what you can control, you’ll be more likely to make positive changes in your financial life. You can’t control the stock market or the economy, but you can control how you are spending money, how much capital you save, and how you invest it.

9. Live Below Your Means

One of the best pieces of advice for changing your money mindset is to live below your means. This means spending less than you earn and investing the difference. When you live below your means, you’ll be more likely to save money and achieve financial success.

10. Give Yourself Permission To Succeed

One of the biggest roadblocks to financial progress is self-doubt. If you don’t believe in yourself, it will be very difficult to achieve your financial goals. Give yourself permission to succeed. Believe that you can and you likely will.

11. Practice Gratitude

Take some time to jot down three things you are grateful for each day. It’s much harder to have a negative attitude when you live a life of thankfulness. Give it a go right now, and see how it affects your day!

12. Evaluate Who You Spend Time With

This is a fantastic money hack to get you started! Have you ever heard the adage, “You are the average of the five individuals with whom you spend the most time?”

Take a look at the five individuals you spend the most time with and consider how they influence you. Is it necessary for you to attempt to spend more time with people on the same wavelength as you when it comes to finances?

When it comes to changing your money attitude, taking things one step at a time is critical. It took Rome centuries to build, and even longer to maintain, so don’t expect overnight success when it comes to improving your finances. Keep in mind that making small adjustments in your thinking and behavior might not seem like much at the start, but over time, they may have a significant impact on the money mindset formed.

13. Make Financial Freedom Plan

Our minds like to play a variety of games on us in order to persuade us that things are much worse than they actually are (why do we do this to ourselves?). However, when we have a very clear-cut strategy for moving ahead, our minds may not be so vocal. Creating a budget is an excellent place to start with your finances. A budget will reveal where you currently stand financially and how far you need to go in order for your life to improve.

14. Forgive Yourself For Past Mistakes

We often criticize ourselves for all of the poor financial choices we’ve made in the past, but this isn’t productive. We tend to obsess over the fact that we were not into saving money in the past and spent too much on some stuff that is not in our lives now. Tell yourself that what you did previously was the correct decision for you at the time and that you may create good changes for your future based on what you now know.

15. Allow Room In Your Budget For Fun

When you’re working on your finances, whether it’s your first budget or anything else, it might be easy to be strict with yourself in order to achieve your objectives faster. But there’s a problem: you’re heading towards failure. Cuts eliminating every little pleasure from your life will not help anyone! It’s critical to figure out what makes you happy; make sure they’re included in your spending plan. This implies that you understand how valuable your finances are and that managing your finances does not imply living a life of scarcity.

Final Thoughts On Changing Your Beliefs About Money

What is the best thing about changing your financial mindset and getting financial stability? It’s free! You may immediately alter your life for the better and achieve more prosperity than you ever imagined.

It all starts with a change in your attitude and mindset. If you want to improve your finances, you have to first change the way you think about your finances. Equipped with the new money mindset that you achieve from following the tips we’ve outlined above, we guarantee that you’ll begin to see a difference in your life.

Co-Founder Bob Neubert is a serial entrepreneur and educator, currently serving as the Director of the nationally ranked Entrepreneurship Program at the University at Buffalo.