Knowledge is power. Particularly when it comes to (our own) finances. Which is why we will be providing new input on this on a regular basis from now on. What do we have planned? What are the next steps? Which aspects are important? And how will we be kicking things off? Find out here:
Some people say it’s vulgar to talk about money. They also say things like: “The stock market isn’t exactly sustainable – it’s just one big gamble.” “I won’t get a pension anyway, so I might as well just give up now!” “Oh, I can look into that next year …” Or that old chestnut: “I don’t have a clue about anything about that.” These are sentences that come up again and again in discussions about finance and making provisions for the future. It’s also quite possible that some readers might recall saying them themselves – which is hardly surprising, really, since many people don’t learn about money at school or from their parents. This then sets up (mental) roadblocks that are sometimes very difficult to break down.
So it’s worthwhile taking a closer look at these everyday excuses – they give plenty of insight into how we deal with money, how we approach the subject or if we even talk about it at all. As for the taboo of talking about money, we should start by asking ourselves who actually benefits from this. One thing is clear: you certainly don’t.
Anyone who has no idea about the state of their own finances and doesn’t even have a nodding acquaintance with the financial subjects that inevitably face us every day will simply lose out in the end. This is because a lack of the requisite knowledge leads to uncertainty, which in turn results in poor decision-making. Because they are unable to gauge what their own performance is worth or because they simply have no concept of how money can increase over time – even if they might never belong to the top one percent of the world’s population.
So… how much do you earn?
The beauty of this is, once you start talking about money, including your own money, you’re also likely to learn something about other people’s money and finances. After all, talking about money is not a one-way street. For instance, you might talk to friends about salaries, about money worries (and the underlying reasons) or about how other people make provisions – or if they do at all. This can lead to very motivating and eye-opening moments but also can yield the odd nasty surprise. Such as when drawing comparisons leads to a greater awareness of structural problems or lays bare important gaps in your knowledge. But whatever comes to light, talking about money is good for us all.
And one thing that you will be sure to find out is that this subject area is not as dull or abstract as it might appear at first glance – but is damn important, damn relevant and, in many areas, not so damn complicated after all.
Sustainable money management
This is why we will be talking even more about money from now on. With you. Every month on this blog and even more on our Instagram channel. We want to share facts and knowledge with you and discuss how we can manage money sustainably: for ourselves and our future, for the environment and for us all as a society – because money can be part of the solution.
And no, we won’t be telling you how to make your first million or promising you any other miracles. After all, this is not about hitting the jackpot – it’s about self-efficacy. In other words, it’s about what levers you can activate to (finally) get a better handle on an occasionally tiresome subject in such a way that a few worry lines may disappear and a financial strategy will jump out at you. About how to start getting to grips with your finances in the first place – and, yes, how to invest without your money being used to finance arms, coal or narcotic substances.
To do so, we will be starting with our first two Short Guides as an overview of the subjects motivation and saving money, in which we will briefly introduce key points from broader topics that we will be looking at in greater detail in later articles. After all, the first step is always to understand why it is so important to gain a good understanding of your own finances – and to determine the best way to start.
Under “Money Matters – Financial Guidance for a better future”, you will now find all contents that revolve around the subject of money.
