Let’s talk about a very costly mistake today. You might be making this critical error in your life, and not even realize it! It is very subtle, but it leads to a detrimental mindset about money.

At 17 years old, I became pregnant out-of-wedlock. My parents disowned me, my boyfriend deserted me and I was working 2 jobs to pay for rent, food, car insurance and gas. I remember standing in the grocery store, and I reached for the big-name brand of ketchup. Then I saw the price and thought, “There’s no way I’m going to pay that much for ketchup!”

The worst part was, it’s almost like I was embarrassed to buy the generic brand. I stood there and thought to myself, “Someday, I’m going to make enough money so I can buy all the name brands in the store.”

What’s so wrong about this mindset? The problem is, I had a mindset that if I made a little more money, I would spend more at the grocery store on name-brand products. No doubt, everyone would love to spend whatever they want at the grocery store without concerning themselves with the final bill. But this thought process actually originates from a poverty mindset.

This mindset affects the very rich and the very poor. It doesn’t matter how much you make, if you have the poverty mindset you spend everything you make. Think of a hungry dog. If you set endless food in front of a starving animal, they will eat ALL of it. Because it’s instinct! The dog doesn’t know when they will see food again. That is essentially the mindset you have with money, if you spend every penny you make. This paycheck could be your last, so you feel the need to load up on STUFF and STATUS QUO items now.

I want to share a quote with you from John Maxwell, “Everyone wants to be thin, but no one wants to diet. Everyone wants to live long but few will exercise. Everyone wants to have money but seldom will anyone budget or control their spending.” And it’s true, I’ve seen people who would rather PRAY for a financial breakthrough before they would change their spending habits!

Look at what everyone else is doing with their money. Where do they blow it? On stupid little things, never thinking about the future. If they didn’t blow it on the little things – the candy, Starbucks, clothes, toys – then they could be paying cash for a car or a house or a vacation. But instead, they stay stuck!

What happened to the last raise you got? Where did it go? What about your last bonus? You’re probably making more money today than you did when you first entered the workforce. You’ve probably gotten some bonuses and raises. So, where did all that money go? Convenience foods, sodas, coffee, eating out, partying, shopping, more stuff.

Come on, think BIGGER than that! If your desire is to become financially independent, you cannot stay in an impoverished mindset and an impoverished lifestyle, always living paycheck-to-paycheck. Get a tool that will revolutionize how you budget and take control of your spending.

Today, I want you to step away from that poverty mindset and that lifestyle keeping you stuck! Leave your comments below and Like or Share today’s message on Facebook and Twitter!

In great faith,

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