Since I saw the Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, I have been a fan. To be honest, I haven’t read any of her books yet but I have been reading excerpts from individuals who were able to read her works. But her method and philosophy is something that anyone can apply especially if you want to clean up your home and your possessions. If you feel that you have quite a lot right now especially with your possessions, incorporating the KonMari method will help provided that you are open to her methods.
As I was binge-watching on her series, it got me thinking maybe this can also be applied with our finances. Her processes might also be applicable to other facets of life not only to our clothes, and miscellaneous items among others. Perhaps, we can apply her philosophy to our personal finances. And that’s exactly what I did. So getting some tidbit here and there, I am sharing with you some lessons that can definitely help tidy up your finances using KonMari method.
Lesson 1 would be Respect and Gratitude.
One thing that anyone would notice in the series is how Marie Kondo pays respect to the house prior to any cleaning and tidying. She would normally find a spot in the house where she can sit, give thanks and respect the house. Apart from that, she also tends to greet the house when she returns home. This is for her a way of expressing thanks and the things that the house provides.
“Each time I return home, I greet the house. This is my way of expressing thanks for the shelter and comfort it provides me. You can even do this by reflecting on your gratitude in your mind as you walk through the front door. A change in perspective can alter your reality. #konmarimethod” – Marie Kondo Facebook
Apart from greeting and respecting the house, Marie also suggested that whatever you would discard during the tidying up process, you thank the item. This makes it easier to get rid of the clutter.
“Giving sincere thanks to an item will significantly reduce or even eliminate any guilt you may feel when you decide that you will no longer have it in your home,” she says.
Then I realize, having this sense of respect and gratitude to your belongings can surely make a difference on how you will treat it. And you will be more careful and extra cautious on such properties.
Having that sense of respect and gratitude can surely be implemented to your personal finance too. You don’t have to thank your money of course but the opportunity to earn money. You would be more conscious of where your money is coming from and have a grateful heart that you were able to earn that much.
Second would be to respect that money and that source. When you have that sense of respect, you are more careful as to how to spend it. You don’t want to waste such resource on mindless spending because you know it can serve you much better. When you respect your income, you will treat it well, you will add more value to it and you will make sure it will be used prudently.
I tried an experiment weeks ago. So I got my income from my job and before spending a dime from it, I put the money on the table and said a silent thank you for the income, for having a job that provides it and asks for grace that I can use this income wisely and be a good steward of this resource.
Then I set up to do my budget for the month. I notice, I became more careful with how much I am spending. It helped me realize that this money might be fleeting but how I use it can be lasting. Thus, it is but just to use and invest it right. So I moved some of my budgeting in favour of a future investment and sacrifice a few expenses in order to cover this ground more. After I did that, I know exactly where this income will go and I would not be guilty of spending even a cent out of it.
Having a grateful heart and respect to your money definitely had a difference as to how I treat it. It made me value not only my income but my job and the opportunity to earn too. That alone helped me budget my income practically and cautiously.
P.S To those doing the 52 Week Money Challenge, it is Week 2 already! Did you deposit the next amount yet?