Are you more foundational or aspirational?

Photo by Sophia Kunkel on Unsplash

Pretend you just learned you’re inheriting money from a relative you’ve never met. 

What’s your first thought on what you'll do with the money?

Would you book plane tickets to Fiji? Or top off the kids’ college savings?

Your answer can help you identify whether you’re more aspirational or foundational by nature.

Being aspirational means you’re naturally inclined to use your money to maximize your life. Being foundational means you’re naturally inclined to use your money to protect yourself from whatever the world might throw at you.

There’s no right or wrong here, but knowing your natural inclination is a great starting point to getting outside of your comfort zone.

For example, if you’re more aspirational by nature, it can feel like a waste of money to build up a sizable cash cushion. However, reminding yourself that a sizable cash cushion is what makes future travel plans possible even if the A/C unexpectedly quits on you this summer might just be the motivation you need to get started.

And if you’re more foundational by nature, it helps to acknowledge out loud that no dollar amount will ever fully make you feel safe, and practicing spending more despite that uncertainty might improve your life. Even if you don’t want to upgrade your material possessions or your vacations, you can always use the foundation you’ve built as a way to gain back more control over your time.

Any initial discomfort you might experience by pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is well worth the long term benefits you’re likely to experience in a more fulfilling and well-aligned life.