How many Canadians are selling themselves short

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To My Money Lady Readers:

This time I wanted to ask you a question – something that I have discussed with readers many times through email.

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How many Canadians are selling themselves short Back to video

Have you ever noticed how we encourage, support and tell others to “go for it”, yet we allow fear to hold us back and never take the advice that we so freely give out?

Why is it that we often don’t apply the same encouragement to our own situations? Or is it that we just have trouble “practising what we preach?”

By the time you reach your mid-fifties, you have probably suffered greatly with either personal, financial or career challenges. Have you noticed how you can see the problems, or more importantly the solutions, for others due to our own life experiences but often cannot recognize it for ourselves?

Perhaps it is our own personal or perceived insecurities about how to address difficult decisions that many Canadians today are selling themselves short, especially when it comes to saving for retirement.

Yes, I know that life is expensive and there are a lot of demands on your wallet. But to become debt-free and wealthy the solution is very simple: Set a goal, make a plan, work your plan, reassess your outcome and have the courage to make the necessary changes to achieve your goal.

Consistent determination is the only way people have improved their lives and become financially successful.

I meet people all the time with whom I am overwhelmingly amazed with how they have overcome hardships, how they have started a business (and perhaps have failed more than once) and have then triumphed to success.

I have helped clients who have lost everything after a divorce or career failure and have seen their unwavering desire to get back on top and be successful again.

I have clients that are in their 70’s who have saved too much money to spend in retirement, who never made a large income during their working careers but simply saved consistently and lived below their means.

In contrast, I also have tried to help many people that look like they have it all on the outside with the fancy cars, expensive homes and clothing, yet beneath it all, are racked in overwhelming debt and are facing a negative net worth situation.

Money is emotional. To save for retirement you can either make excuses why not to, or you can find a way to make life changes and sacrifices to ensure your independence and security as you age.

Remember that true success is not measured by material things that you have purchased, but instead should be defined by what you have overcome in your life. It is about how many times you got back up after you’ve been knocked down and never stopped trying to succeed to accomplish the things that other people said you could never do.

Take back your inner power and control.

Refuse to settle for less and make sure you retire debt-free and wealthy!

Good Luck and Best Wishes,

Money Lady

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Written by Christine Ibbotson, author of the best-selling book, How to Retire Debt Free & Wealthy, and a new book Don’t Panic – How to Manage your Finances and Financial Anxieties During and After the Coronavirus. Both are available at all bookstores across Canada. If you have a money question, please email on website: www.askthemoneylady.ca