--- title: Mark Zaifman|Money Matters Blog | Your Money or Your Life (3) description: Your Money or Your Life | Articles on Investing, Retirement Planning, Cash Flow Planning and Tax Planning (3) --- [![Spiritus Financial Logo](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/Spiritus_Financial_logo.png?width=238&name=Spiritus_Financial_logo.png "Spiritus Financial Logo")](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/) [707-534-9478](tel:707-534-9478) ![spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png?width=933&name=spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png "spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png") # MONEY matters Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics ##### [Your Money or Your Life - What’s Your Choice?](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/73101/Your-Money-or-Your-Life-What-s-Your-Choice) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Sep 26, 2011 @ 03:18 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15142921-jpg/images/creating_balance.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/73101/Your-Money-or-Your-Life-What-s-Your-Choice) Next time you’re stuck at the airport on a business trip or sitting in traffic on the way to or from work, ask yourself this question. If given a choice between a **higher quality of life vs. a higher standard of living**, which option would I choose? As we move into a global economy that moves faster and faster and becomes ever more competitive, the question of your money or your life will become ever more relevant. That’s because the financial pressures will continue to increase as will the demands on your time. ## **A Balancing Act** Striking a balance between work and play used to be a lot easier.  Although this has traditionally been a struggle for most people, now it seems harder than ever. And with a sagging global economy and a roller coaster stock market thrown in the mix, finding time to just clear your head and think about your future is a daunting challenge. For all the amazing [**benefits financial planning brings**](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/personal-financial-plan/) to people lives, perhaps one of the least understood yet most powerful outcomes is giving yourself the freedom and space needed to step back from your day to day routines and check in with yourself. Although this seems like such an easy exercise to perform, with busy lives and demanding careers, it’s easier said than done. Usually a task like this gets put on that elusive to-do list, never to be seen from again. And before you know it, 10 or 20 years goes by like the blink of an eye. Yet taking the time this year or even next year to stop, slow down and assess where you are and where you’re headed can reap enormous dividends if done well and with unabashed self-honesty. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/73101/Your-Money-or-Your-Life-What-s-Your-Choice) ** [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [5 Essential Questions That Transform Your Relationship with Money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/65609/5-Essential-Questions-That-Transform-Your-Relationship-with-Money) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Fri, Aug 05, 2011 @ 01:20 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15887188-jpg/images/transform-your-relationship-with-money.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/65609/5-Essential-Questions-That-Transform-Your-Relationship-with-Money) # How to Transform Your Relationship With Money Transforming your relationship with money is mostly an inside job. Exploring your history, emotions and assumptions around money AND being willing to challenge and change outdated beliefs is easier said than done - yet it must be done. ## 1. What’s My Money History? [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/65609/5-Essential-Questions-That-Transform-Your-Relationship-with-Money) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [financial independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-independence), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [A Major Roadblock to Financial Independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/62772/A-Major-Roadblock-to-Financial-Independence) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Jul 26, 2011 @ 07:39 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15145669-jpg/images/feeling_worthy_of_financial_success.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/62772/A-Major-Roadblock-to-Financial-Independence) If you’re a fan of Dana Carvey and Mike Myers, you know their famous line as Garth and Wayne from Wayne’s World – ***I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy!*** [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/62772/A-Major-Roadblock-to-Financial-Independence) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [7 Tips on Feeling Worthy of Achieving Financial Independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/63203/7-Tips-on-Feeling-Worthy-of-Achieving-Financial-Independence) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Jul 18, 2011 @ 11:57 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15137440-jpg/images/achieving_financial_independence.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/63203/7-Tips-on-Feeling-Worthy-of-Achieving-Financial-Independence) If you have struggled with your relationship with money, you may be having difficulty with the concept of feeling worthy of **[achieving financial independence](http://spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/49131/Save-Baby-Save-Your-Passport-to-Financial-Independence)** and financial success. Here are 7 tips to get you thinking, and acting, like the winner that you are. - Watch your language. Make sure that what follows "I" or "I am" is what you want to manifest. If you say "I am poor," the Universe will answer you with its only response: yes! [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/63203/7-Tips-on-Feeling-Worthy-of-Achieving-Financial-Independence) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [Inspired Financial Planning, The Ultimate Way to Plan Your Future](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/56565/Inspired-Financial-Planning-The-Ultimate-Way-to-Plan-Your-Future) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Apr 14, 2011 @ 09:39 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-1596274195-jpg/images/sunset_orcas.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/56565/Inspired-Financial-Planning-The-Ultimate-Way-to-Plan-Your-Future) For most people, a conversation about stocks, bonds,** [index funds](http://bit.ly/1304V1)**, 529 plans, IRA’s, 401K’s, [**financial planning**](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/comprehensive-financial-planning/), etc, is the equivalent of a sleeping pill. For many it’s also a necessary task but not high up there in terms of joy and fulfillment. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/56565/Inspired-Financial-Planning-The-Ultimate-Way-to-Plan-Your-Future) ** [financial independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-independence), [abundance](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/abundance), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [The Best Investment You Can Make In 2011](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/52094/The-Best-Investment-You-Can-Make-In-2011) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, Jan 19, 2011 @ 10:10 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15149334-jpg/images/health_is_wealth.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/52094/The-Best-Investment-You-Can-Make-In-2011) The best investment you can make this year is an investment in your physical well-being, your health. As life gets busier and more demanding, taking care of your *mind, body and spirit* often gets put on the back burner. Yet health must always come first. There is absolutely nothing more important or vital than your health. *** *** ***Health is wealth.*** [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/52094/The-Best-Investment-You-Can-Make-In-2011) ** [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life), [holistic financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/holistic-financial-planning) ##### [Keep Your Financial Dreams Alive by Delaying Gratification](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/46043/Keep-Your-Financial-Dreams-Alive-by-Delaying-Gratification) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Fri, Oct 01, 2010 @ 04:45 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15863360-jpg/images/ice_cream_boy.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/46043/Keep-Your-Financial-Dreams-Alive-by-Delaying-Gratification) Growing up, my Mom made sure to teach the lessons of delayed gratification. *No dessert until you finish dinner. *Who doesn’t remember hearing that growing up?* *Lucky for me, my dog Bochie was more than happy to act as my willing accomplice so I could get to the ice cream sooner rather than later. As adults managing our personal finances, the lessons of delayed gratification are more important than ever. Spending money is all about choices. Many of us have a hard time resisting the instant pleasure a purchase can bring us. It’s the impulsive side of us that wants everything now. Who wants to delay consumption when you can buy it now and pay for it later? [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/46043/Keep-Your-Financial-Dreams-Alive-by-Delaying-Gratification) ** [save money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life), [budgeting](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/budgeting) ##### [Financial Independence (FI) and Simplicity](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41711/Financial-Independence-FI-and-Simplicity) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Jun 22, 2010 @ 11:17 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15147284-jpeg/images/financial-simplicity.jpeg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41711/Financial-Independence-FI-and-Simplicity) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41711/Financial-Independence-FI-and-Simplicity) ** [fee-only financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [Investment Risks](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41714/Investment-Risks) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Sun, Jun 13, 2010 @ 11:35 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15148824-jpg/images/golden-nest-eggs.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41714/Investment-Risks) Imagine being an investor at the time of the Crash of 1929 and realizing that you lost all of your savings that was invested in the stock market. Picture the images of distraught businessmen leaping out of buildings and the poverty that followed in the years of the Great Depression. These images burn in the minds of those who lived through it and will forever be associated with the risk of [**investing**](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/investment-management/). The risk of the market alone wasn’t what caused people to jump to their deaths, rather, it was the enhanced risk caused by leverage. People were investing beyond their means by buying on margin, and as a result lost more than they had invested; in many cases, they lost more than all of their net worth. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/41714/Investment-Risks) ** [risk management](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/risk-management), [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [Don’t fear market turmoil — invest safely and save](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42153/Don-t-fear-market-turmoil-invest-safely-and-save) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Sun, Apr 25, 2010 @ 05:54 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15885165-jpg/images/stock-market-crash.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42153/Don-t-fear-market-turmoil-invest-safely-and-save) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/42153/Don-t-fear-market-turmoil-invest-safely-and-save) ** [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [save money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) [Previous](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life/page/2) [All posts](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life/page/4) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Recent Topics - [retirement planning (103)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) - [investing (93)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing) - [book recommendation (54)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation) - [relationship with money (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) - [risk management (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/risk-management) - [fee-only financial planning (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning) - [save money (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money) - [financial planning (36)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning) © 2026 Spiritus Financial Planning. 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