There are many things money can buy, but the most valuable of all is freedom. Freedom to do what you want and to work for whom you respect.Earning more is not the solution. More money entraps you, keeps you in shackles. Lesser money, but with more freedom is the key.

Earning More Is Not Enough

Managing money isn’t something we usually learn in school. And if one grew up in a family that lived from paycheck to paycheck, it’s harder to make wise financial decisions as an adult.How you spend, save, get into debt, and invest depends on you. How other people manage their money is insignificant.Solution: Understand how personal finance works. The more you learn about money, investing, and wealth, the better you get at managing your own finances.

Cause 1: A Lack of Financial Literacy

56% of Americans can’t cover a $1,000 emergency expense with savings.Emergencies happen. It’s not a matter of if but when. Your washer breaks, you slip and injure yourself, a loved one gets sick, and so forth.Solution: Build your emergency fund, little by little. Saving is a habitYou don’t have to build your emergency fund suddenly. Try saving a comfortable percentage of your income today. It’s all about consistency.

No Emergency Fund

Most people assume that more money is the answer.But simply having more income won’t solve your money problems. While we all want to earn more, there are deeper, underlying issues we need to resolve first.The first step to getting rid of money stress and living a healthier, happier life is to identify the specific reasons that are causing you to worry.

Causes of Financial Stress and How We Can Solve Them

Money is the biggest cause of stress in the United States, according to the American Psychological Association.You can also find that back in medical statistics. 75% to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints including chest pain, headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia, and depression.Stressing over money will make you mentally and physically sick. Now, no one likes the fact that money is the most important thing in our society. But it’s the way things are.

Money Stress

Many stick to a job they hate because of the “benefits.” That’s how much they prioritize stability.So many of us are in that position. We hate our job, but we’re used to a certain lifestyle, so we need a similar job or income to get by.Sometimes you need to take a step back in the short term to grow in the long term. Solution: Focus on long-term quality of life.

Cause 3: Short-Term Thinking

So many of us have all kinds of big desires that are simply not realistic. Look, I’m all about thinking big. But you should never think that life is only good when you live big.It’s easy to get stressed when we don’t achieve our expectations. And in today’s world, everyone seems to have sky-high expectations.Solution: Focus on the process, not the outcomesWhen you set goals, it’s tempting to think about the outcomes first. Everyone wants to get in better shape, travel to nice places, earn more, and so forth.So simply focus on a process you can work on consistently.

Cause 2: Unrealistic Expectations About Life

Stressing over money will make you literally sick. But simply not thinking about money isn't enough. Here's what you can do instead.