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15 Ways Money Management is like Weight Management

By Tara Conti, CFP®

1. Neither has a magic bullet or instantaneous fix. Both take time to see results. (For example, even the magic bullet of winning the lottery has not helped the majority of those that struggled financially and won the lottery. Most winners still struggled with money and bankruptcies after the lottery payout.)

2. Both require good long term habits and discipline (working out one time or saving money for only one month will NOT get you to where you want to be)

3. If you starve yourself with food or with spending money, most of us eventually splurge or binge.

4. Both are related to knowing what “enough” is

5. They both are easy to procrastinate taking action on

6. Tracking what you eat and tracking what you spend both surprise people with what they truly do. This action alone is very successful for helping keep people on track with weight management or money management.

7. Consistency over the long term is key but you don’t have to be perfect all of the time in either area to get where you want to go.

8. Both are balancing acts – enjoyment in the moment AND longevity for the future.

9. There are multiple ways to accomplish both. You need to find a sustainable system that works for you.

10. Both are helped with some level of knowledge and understanding

11. A consistent extreme of “too much” or “not enough” is not sustainable in the long term

Weight Management
Not Enough-Anorexia (many health issues/death)
Too Much – Obesity (health issues/death)

Money Management
Not Enough – Ultra Saver (doesn’t enjoy the present or using money for things they enjoy and want)
Too Much – Ultra Spender (credit card debt / bankruptcy)

12. Both money management and weight management deserve to be paid attention to.

13. Food and purchases both trigger the same pleasure center of the brain.

14. Both are requirements for living. You cannot live without food or money in some form.

15. Both are important to living a happy enjoyable life. Although being healthy and / or rich do not necessarily buy happiness.

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