This Valentine's Day Get Rid of Loser Money Habits

Last year’s Valentine’s Day blog was about how to not break the bank on this holiday.

But, if you really need a change this year, the way to really get your finances in order may be to kick your negative money habits to the curb and change your relationship with money. Below are a few common examples of relationships with money gone wrong:

Loser investments. 

Many investors develop an emotional attachment to certain investments in their portfolios. Maybe it was a hot fund manager at the time that has fallen on tough times, or a stock you thought you were in love with long ago that you’ve been patiently waiting to once again develop the returns you know it’s capable of.

If this may be you, take a little advice from Kevin O’Leary of ABC’s Shark Tank, “Don’t cry about money, it never cries for you.”

If an investment does not fit into your portfolio needs, or you found it to be riskier than you thought, just dump it. Don’t wait for it to change. If it’s no longer a good match, dump it today and get into something that will meet your needs.

False beliefs. 

Most of us don’t feel our finances are in as good of shape as they should be. We tell ourselves things like we’ll never get on track; or, that it just isn’t possible to save a little more, or pay down our credit card balances.

This can be especially trying if you are going through a change or more financially difficult times.

Instead of focusing on the negative, look for positive stories from others. There are plenty out there who have been through whatever your financial struggles are, and made it through it with better habits.

Included here are also those who let others tell you what you should have financially. Just like your friends, you of course should be married to a mortgage and own fully-funded college savings plans for your future children. Don’t feel guilty about where you are at financially; just focus on what is the next thing you can accomplish.

The no-work relationship. 

Many turn to financial help late because they don’t want to put in the work to see an adviser, or don’t feel their situation is complicated enough (yet!) to pay for advice.

The irony is that sometimes they spend so many years in a bad relationship with their money that they create a more costly outcome than they imagined. I see it all of the time with neglecting investments, or not believing that paying for a financial check-up will yield enough to be worth the cost.

But, just like an annual physical is worth the cost even if you don’t find anything wrong, so too is a regular update with an adviser on your financial plan.