5 Steps to Clear Your Money Clutter
What is Money Clutter?
Money clutter is the unresolved money situations or issues in the following categories that rob you of your time, energy and income:
People – unresolved or incomplete conversations regarding your money with your business partners, family, employees, etc that need to be completed. Phone calls, emails and requests that need to be made.
Places – the physical environment –your office, work space or room in your home that may be unorganized or cluttered.
Things - unpaid bills or taxes, credit card debt, money owed to you, unorganized paperwork, equipment, lack of systems, etc that have PILED up, robbing you of Time, Energy and Income
How does Money Clutter affect Your Life and Your Business?
Everything in your environment either gives you energy or drains your energy. Your environment is also somewhat defined by the recurring activities or patterns of action that occur in it. According to Christopher Alexander, architect and philosopher of environmental design “The fact is, a person is so far formed by his surroundings, that his state of harmony depends entirely on his harmony with his surroundings”
So what does that mean for you? Everything in your environment that relates to money is either supporting you, giving you energy and moving you closer to your goals or it’s sabotaging, draining you and keeping you further away from your goals.
5 Steps to Clear Your Money Clutter
- Get Clear on the desired results or goals you have for your Money and your business.
- Identify the People – Places – Things in your
Money Environment – you can begin by making a list and then identifying the
recurring activity. i.e. People - Conversations with Business Partners, Accountant, Coach. Places - where you pay bills, schedule payments, collect fees, file documents. Things - Files, supplies, paperwork, software programs, computer, etc.
- Leverage Resources – list the resources you
already have in place in your money environment in each of the areas of people, places
and things and rate how they can support your goals and desired results. Note what resources are missing and any that you
would like to put in place. i.e. People - team member that is skilled in money activities, accountants or bookkeepers. Place - office or space set up to handle money activities. Things- supplies, software, filing systems, equipment.
- Tolerations – identify what you are tolerating
with your money clutter– what’s broken, a mess and missing. Zap your tolerations by fixing something
that’s broken, cleaning up a mess, replace something that’s missing.
- Uncover the underlying payoffs you are getting from keeping your money clutter the way it is. Your environment is a reflection of what’s going on inside – it’s important to consider the payoff you're getting from your money clutter otherwise if you just clear the physical clutter, it may re-appear because you haven't revealed and shifted the hidden intentions that are running in the background. i.e. you may be resisting clearing up disorganized bills or stacks of paperwork because you have a fear of not having enough money to pay the bills or guilt about money you've spent. In some way keeping the money clutter is serving you in a negative way and keeping you from achieving your money goals.
Are You Ready to Eliminate Your Money Clutter? I've created a resource to help you get started!
The Money Clutter Environmental Scan is a powerful tool that will help you take a look at and assess the environments of People Places and things as they relate to your money so you can create more Time, Energy and Income!
Estelle Gibson is a CPA, TED Speaker, International Best Selling Author and Holistic Financial Coach. With over 40 years of professional experience in finance, purchasing and management she’s worked with individuals and companies, from small privately owned businesses to Fortune 500 corporations, in diverse industries.
With over 20 years as a Holistic Financial Coach, she’s helled women, couples and entrepreneurs that are ready for a new experience with money after a life changing experience (divorce, marriage, career change, retirement, empty nest) rebuild their lives financially and emotionally. She’s committed to empowering her clients and students to have financial freedom, so they have the power to choose to live their dreams, and use their gifts and talents to make a difference in the world.
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