What does “enough” money really mean?

When I talk to people about money, one of the most common things they say is how To view this email as a web page, [click here]() {NAME}, When I talk to people about money, one of the most common things they say is how they have to save more. “I can’t spend money on that. I have to save for the future.” Is it important to save money? Absolutely! But how do you know when you’ve saved enough? When I ask people, "So, what are you saving money for?" more often than not, I'm met with a deer-in-the-headlights stare. No one has a real answer! “The future” is the most common reply. But think about it: If you don't know exactly what you're saving for, how can you figure out what to spend it on? How do you know when you’ve saved enough and can move on? What do you love spending money on? If you’ve seen my Netflix show, “How to Get Rich,” you know that I help people get control of their money and live their Rich Lives.(And if you haven’t, [check it out]()!) What do you love spending money on? That question shouldn’t be hard to answer, but for many people, it is. Your Rich Life is yours, but it’s interesting to see how scared many can be just thinking about the endless possibilities of spending their money. [Ramit fitting tailored clothing] Being fitted for a beautiful suit because perfectly tailored clothing is part of my Rich Life Your Rich Life can be as simple as saying “yes” to appetizers at a restaurant or snagging that item you've been eyeing without waiting for a sale. But how do you get to that point? Here’s what surprises people: If you’re scared to spend money on appetizers, you won’t do it, no matter how much money you have. These feelings you have about money can have a huge impact on your life. [About money] For many of us, this “save, save, save” mindset is deeply rooted from the start. We grew up watching parents who saved every penny, or we were told things about money that aren’t true. Over time, we absorbed these beliefs. They became [invisible scripts]() that unknowingly influenced our lives, scripts like: - “I’ll never be successful if I don’t go to college.” - “I need to buy a house and stop renting. I’m throwing my money away!” - “Money is tight everywhere. My company doesn’t have enough to offer me a raise.” - “I’d love to figure out my finances, but it’s hard to start when I don’t make enough money.” “We don’t want to just keep throwing money on the pile” Take Mindy and Carl, recent guests on my podcast who are worth a whopping $4.3 million, and who struggle to spend a dime of it. “I feel security in the investments, but I don’t want to touch them,” Mindy told me. “They’re for the future.” “Not to be too blunt,” I answered, “but when’s the future?” [Podcast]() “The silence of mortality.” This conversation was absolutely fascinating. Mindy and Carl achieved FIRE ([Financial Independence, Retire Early]()). They know that they have more than enough money to live comfortably. And they still can’t stop worrying about the future. ([You can watch the whole episode here]().) “I think it’s really hard for us to look at ourselves and how we’re spending money and acknowledge that this isn’t really what we want to be doing,” Mindy said. “We don’t want to just keep throwing money on the pile and keep being cheap.” “How do you go from ‘should’ to ‘do’?” Mindy asked this very important question that I think often gets overlooked when people think about their money. You know what you should be doing. How do you get there? While Mindy and Carl both admitted that they feel secure in their investments — and remember, they are worth over $4M — they still get visibly uncomfortable at the thought of spending $99 (including a tip) while out to breakfast with their family. Here’s the truth: Unless you change your feelings about money, the same anxiety and overwhelm will be there, even if you have $4,000 or $4,000,000. Mindy and Carl were both experiencing these invisible scripts that made them break into a cold sweat at the mere thought of spending money, even when they KNEW their finances were solid as a rock. Freedom from financial anxiety and guilt Mindy and Carl are not alone. Earlier this year, [a Bankrate survey revealed]() that 52% of American adults experience anxiety, stress, or worry about money, impacting their mental health. This doesn’t have to be you. What if you could have financial freedom PLUS the ability to spend money without all the guilt? You can learn to enjoy money instead of having anxiety every time you open your bank account. And the best part is, you don’t have to have Mindy and Carl’s net worth to do it. Starting today, you can change your money mindset and start living your Rich Life. In my [Money Coaching]() program, this is something I cover extensively. Stay tuned this week to find out more about [Money Coaching](), a program that is designed to help you stop stressing and actually feel good about your money again. [Signature] P.S. Are you saving money for something specific? Reply to this email and let me know what it is. While I may not be able to respond to each message, I read every one. You may be new to IWT. Here's all the stuff we offer [Programs]() [Podcast]() [Netflix show]() [Books]() [Check out our website for more]() Follow Ramit [ig]() [fb]() [tw]() [yt]() [pc]() Was this forwarded to you? Sign up [here](). This email was sent to [{EMAIL}](). If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may [unsubscribe]( at any time. 548 Market St #89946 San Francisco, CA 94104-5401