My what?

Your Money Story.

It’s the story of your experiences with money – from as far back as you can remember.

Writing down your Money Story is a key component in understanding your Personal Financial Operating System (PFOS).

My what?

Your Personal Financial Operating System.

It is made up of your experiences, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors with money. Similar to the operating system on your computer and smart phone, your PFOS is the system by which you interact with your financial world. It informs your thoughts and emotions about money. And it often does so “behind the scenes” – meaning that we unaware of its influence on our day-to-day financial life.

WHERE AND HOW DO YOU BEGIN WRITING YOUR MONEY STORY?

At the beginning. Your earliest memories that involve money.

Like a good author, it’s helpful to outline your story and then fill in the details.

HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS TO GUIDE YOU ONTO THE PATH OF OUTLINING AND THEN WRITING YOUR MONEY STORY.

• What are some of your earliest memories about money?
  • Are they happy or sad?
  • What were the circumstances?
• What did you learn from your father about money?
  • Was it intentional teaching or learning by example?
  • Did your father talk about money with you?
• What did you learn from your mother about money?
  • Was it intentional teaching or learning by example?
  • Did your mother talk about money with you?
• What did you learn from close family members and family friends about money?
  • Recall the specific circumstances
• How did money impact your life as a child?
  • Did money improve the quality of your family’s lifestyle?
  • Was a lack a money a source of struggle, embarrassment, anxiety, or fear for you?
• Did your parents talk openly about money?
• Did your parents argue about money?
• Was money – the abundance or lack of – a catalyst for any traumatic or especially jubilant experiences in your life?

Now that you have a framework for your Money Story, begin filling in the details. Convert your memories from bullet points to a narrative.

Imagine that you’re writing a novel or a movie script. Include not only the facts of your memories but also the emotions. How did you feel when…?

When your story is written, tell it to someone you care about and trust. Ask them to listen all the way through – without making any comments, observations, or interjecting personal experiences.

For many of us, writing and then sharing our Money Story is a cathartic experience. For the first time, we’ve walked our lives back to moments when money impacted, influenced, and began to shape our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors with money.

I have listened to clients and friends share their Money Stories with me – and I’ve shared my Money Story with them. We have “ah hah” moments as the past reaches into our present. We discover that the emotions and thoughts about money were formed in our childhood and adolescent years.

Your Money Story is neither right or wrong. It is history – your history. What matters most is what you do next.

If your history with money is healthy and helping you enjoy a success life – cherish it and thank the people who helped write your story. If your history with money is holding you hostage in the dismal fog of financial uncertainty, fear, and doubt – acknowledge it and make the decision right now that your money history will no longer dictate your money future.