You’re not the only one

Photo by Nik on Unsplash

If you made me pick just one, I’d say the most common planning question I get is some version of the following…

Am I the only one that…?

There are so, so many versions of this question. For example…

Am I the only one that keeps that much in cash?

Am I the only one that thinks it’s insane they spent so much on their house, car, boat, or vacation home?

Am I the only one who wakes up at night worrying if I’m doing it “right”?

If you’re asking yourself these questions, the answer is no. You’re not the only one.

Conversations around our personal finances aren’t typically ones we’re comfortable having with friends, family, and neighbors. When you don’t have someone to talk about these questions with, worry often fills the void – especially when you can’t know what’s “normal” or not.

Allow me to assure you of the following:

1. You’re not the only one.

2. It’s normal to be curious but it’s ultimately irrelevant what other people are doing.

3. The only approach that really matters is the one that works best for you.

So when you find your inner monologue asking a bunch of “am I the only one?” questions, that’s a great time to return to your own financial framework to remind yourself what works best and matters most for you.