$20 Money Makeover (Debit card with > $20 Balance Required)

Let’s assume that you

1. are frustrated with the way you are currently handling your money.
2. have a debit card with > $20 balance.
3. have an inkling that you’d like to change your ways.

You might fit assumption (1) if you feel like you:

• spend too much money on x
• don’t save enough
• don’t invest enough
• blow money
• etc.

Ok, you’ve matched assumption (3) which likely means that you’d like to straighten up and follow a different financial path.

Excellent news!  Congratulations!

As a reward, here is an awesomely powerful motivational exercise that may help guide you along this path.

Just follow the following steps.

1. Find the closest ATM that does not charge a fee.  Plan a walk to the ATM.  If walking is not possible, try public transportation and/or driving.
2. Transport yourself there using whichever way you decide to.  During your trip, think about what you’re doing.  Think about the $20 you’re about to retrieve and put away in your wallet/pocket.  Think about all of the ways you spent $20 in the past.  The good ways, the bad ways.
3. Arrive at the ATM and withdraw $20.
4. Carefully look at the bill.
5. Secure the bill in your pocket, wallet, purse, sock.
6. Keep the bill in this location for as long as possible. Ask yourself?  What would it take to keep this bill for 7 days?  How about 30 days?  Or a year even?  Set a personal goal for how long you think you can hold onto this bill without spending it.  Don’t hide it away.  Keep it in plain view as a reminder of your journey.
7. Test yourself.  Hold the bill for as long as you can.  When you have an urge to spend it, think about how you felt when you withdrew it.  Think about how you’ll feel if you spend it.