“If you don’t take care of your money your money won’t take care of you.”
― Mac Duke The Strategist

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I feel everyone reading this will relate to parts of what I am about to write. Why, because money is the one area of our life that can either make life easy, or it can enslave us till our death.

I was not very adept in managing my finances. When I stop and think of all the money I have wasted on just a crazy whim on stupid things, things I really didn’t need, just some crazy on the moment want.

I was always chasing for enough money to take care of the necessities, in some ways I was like a dog who chases his tail, a futile effort. I was horrible at managing my bank account. Writing a cheques then hoping I could find the money to cover it so that it would not come back as “insufficient funds”.

For a guy who went to an all academic school, taking business courses including three years of accounting I was a walking disaster when it came to handling money. It would come in one hand just so I could spend it before it would burn a hole in my pocket.

I still know the feeling of jumping every time the phone would ring, thinking it was probably another bill collector. Also having no phone because I couldn’t pay the bill. All of this contributes to a heavy case of depression, over the top anxieties.

My heart goes out to students entering College, University and by the time they leave their debt burden can be close to $250,000.00 dollars. For some it takes them a life time to pay off that debt. I have often thought that somewhere between kindergarten and grade twelve there should be a mandatory course on financial management.

Over the past sixteen years I have finally arrived at managing money, no phones ringing with bill collectors threatening legal action. Keeping all the bills paid, having some credit with companies in case of household emergencies such as electrical or plumbing. I do not have one credit card in my name. I strictly pay cash, if I do not have the cash to buy something it will remain on the store shelf.

With finally able to manage money my anxieties are ninety-nine percent gone. I now can sleep at night knowing that the power will not be disconnected. That when I go to the fridge that there will be food there.

On a down note, I have been seriously praying for all those who have lost their jobs because of covid-19. Those who have children and must juggle teaching them at home or going to work to put food on their table. I am probably correct that conversations at the tables around the world are not jovial, but rather a one full of fretting and worry.

So dear reader I felt that this topic, “Mental Health & Finances” is very relevant now and it should be relevant from the time we leave high school.