The other day, my Wife said something interesting to me, “You need to have more balance. Your first reaction is to save everything.” To be honest, I didn’t even realize that I had this tendency, until I thought about how waiting between paychecks makes me feel.
As I’ve talked about prior, I’ve struggled with the thought that I should not be here. The events of my childhood, the poverty, the lack of financial security, are never far from my mind. Now that I am a Surgeon and I have the benefit of having some semblance of financial security from my profession, I have yet to break the habit of thinking I have to save and not spend.
For me, saving is like a security blanket of sorts. If I see that I have cash or access to cash available, I can keep any anxiety I have about lack of money at bay. To be honest, its kind of irrational when I think about it. I am in a high paying profession and I do my best to keep my expenses reasonable. Yet, I’ve developed anxiety about not having money available.
As a Doctor, I understand that a sign of pathology is the lack of self-awareness regarding its presence. Until my Wife said that statement, I was unaware of my tight-wad habits. Granted my habits are a defense mechanism and they scream of an inner-child looking for security, the reality my profession provides stability and that defense mechanism needs to dial back.
Today, I am going to make a concerted effort to live more and save less. Not save less in a way that jeopardizes my family’s financial future or detracts from my goal, but save in a more reasonable manner and live an existence that is less anxiety filled. I am choosing to trust in my reality and not live in an irrational state.
Saving is a mechanism to accomplish a goal. If your saving is causing anxiety, re-evaluate the amount your saving, and realize its okay to back off and live a little.
As always if you have questions or concerns regarding creating an emergency fund, investing, real estate, insurance, or planning for the future, don’t be afraid to speak with qualified financial advisor. Smart Asset has a great tool to find an advisor in your area or feel free to email me (contact@surgifi.com) to help you on your path to financial independence.
Follow us on Social Media