There are two types of people when it comes to approaching a goal or task.
Type A-The planner. This individual spends intentional time in thought and consideration before trying to tackle a task or achieve a goal. This person might make a list, do research, write out multiple plans, and call up friends for advice. Chances are, this individual will take a while before making a decision, or moving forward with the plan. This person might take a while to make a final decision, but once the decision is made or the plan carried out, it is seen through to the end with confidence.
Type B-The “just wing it” person.This individual might spend little to no time in preparation before jumping all in to a challenge, goal, or task. They tend to do first, learn during, and correct as they go. And unlike the first type of individual described above, a common theme in this person’s approach is that they often times start out on a task or goal with confidence, but then burn out, change their mind/plans frequently, or even quit before finishing.
What if we applied these two approaches to some real life situations? For example, which type of person would you prefer when building your dream home? Type A or B? Which type of person would you want teaching your child at school? Which person would you most trust with treating you medically?
Which type of person would you rather place in charge over your finances?
The hard truth is, many of us with O.C.D. fall into the second description, not necessarily by choice, but by default due to our mental disorder that leads us to have uninvited obsessions and compulsions. If you haven’t yet checked out my first post regarding the danger of when O.C.D. collides with financial decisions, check it out here. For this post, I want to offer a few practical tools that can help us “Type B” individuals, graduate to “Type A” with a little practice, persistence, and patience (and prayer if you’re a believer!).
Helpful Tools:
Consider Godly Instruction
If you aren’t a follower of Jesus, feel free to skip down to the next tool. Although, what I’m about to share can be helpful to anyone if applied, whether Christian or not! The bible has much to say when it comes to managing our finances such as avoiding debt, not obsessing over accumulation of money or things, and even how to properly give to others with what we’ve been blessed what. But something that more specifically applies to our topic in this post, is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.
Here the writer Paul specifically instructs us not to dish out money “under compulsion”, but after planning in our hearts ahead of time. He goes on to say that God will make all “grace abound” in such individuals, so that they will learn to be content “in all things at all times”. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like he just described our “Type A” person mentioned at the beginning of this post. I would challenge any of my O.C.D. community, or even those who have a tendency of spending under compulsion, to consider forming a plan before you touch that money, that card, or that online store. Don’t go in blind, go in prepared in your heart!
Dave Ramsey
I have always said that I would never take health advice from someone who lives an unhealthy life. Well, I believe this can also be applied to finances. Why would I consider taking financial advice from someone who practices unwise financial habits?
There are many individuals who were never properly taught about being a good steward of money. There are also many individuals who know they have unhealthy habits, especially if living with the effects of O.C.D., but don’t really know where to turn for wise advice and counsel. I would like to suggest Dave Ramsey. Dave is someone who climbed out of debt himself, consistently made wise decisions, (or at least learned from the unwise decisions), and now lives a very comfortable life—a very wealthy life to be exact. He is paying it forward, so to speak, by sharing some of his best pieces of financial advice.
His financial program won’t guarantee you wealth like he has acquired. BUT, if you truly put into practice his concepts and advice, you will find yourself out of debt, living in financial freedom, and being a consistently good steward of your finances.
Two great resources he provides through his course include the Every Dollar App, and the Baby Steps.
The Every Dollar App can be downloaded for free to your computer, iphone, or android device. This budgeting tool will help you tackle your debt, accumulate smart savings, and start living more wisely with your financial decisions.
The Baby Steps are, well, just as they sound: 7 simple baby steps that can help walk you towards financial freedom.
The Envelope System
Which do you think would feel more noticeable: someone stealing money directly from your bank account, or someone stealing cash right out of your hand? When it comes to O.C.D. related financial disasters, it is so crucial that money remains tangible, and that spending money becomes emotional. I speak from experience that handing over cash out of my hand feels far more emotional than swiping a card and checking the damage to my account later. Label your envelopes. Budget every single penny of your paycheck, and place the appropriate amount of cash in the designated envelopes. Try this for a few paychecks and see the difference for yourself!
YOU CAN DO THIS!
I would not intentionally set any of you up for failure. I truly believe that you and I are capable of experiencing financial freedom and truly living as controlled, healthy stewards of our finances despite living with O.C.D., or any other environmental factors around us. Even more than that, I truly believe we can take ownership of our O.C.D. and the impact it has in our lives. We get to be the owner. We get to decide how O.C.D. effects us and to what extent.
Obsessive. Compulsive. Disordered. 