Are You Money Wise?

The root of all evil - what's your take on it?

They say you learn your attitudes toward money from your parents. Well, that sure explains it. My father was a depression-era, work hard and you'll earn a decent living kind of guy. He never took risks, neither in business nor investments. He saved relatively little and basically lived for the day. Pretty interesting for a public accountant with six kids, ha?.

My mother, on the other hand, was the traditional good wife. She never held money in her pocket of her own; never learned how to use a checkbook. My father made all the big money decisions. She was (supposedly) happy to be taken care of.

So where does that put me? I'm my father all the way. I've earned a nice middle, sometimes upper-middle kind of life, but always way too short a distance from getting over my head. I invest little and conservatively, and have no business sense whatsoever.

So what's the deal? When I really get down to it, it's all about fear. Stocks, bonds, investments, business, sales, marketing - they all intimidate the hell out of me. And guess what? I've finally come to the point where that very fact ticks me off.

I know I need to open my mind - loosen up and see the benefits of being money wise. Cultivate a business attitude. I've been dealing in human services for so long - getting a secure paycheck and health coverage - but now I don't have that security anymore. What if I want to start a new career? Make some money for the long future ahead? At this rate, I wouldn't know where to begin. But one thing's for sure - I know it has to start in my head.

And what about you? Are you money wise? Do you have any advice to foster a new attitude? Help!