Rap songs have my heart.
Rap videos…not so much. (they don’t even make sense, am I right?)
One day, driving to work I was listening to – you guessed it- a rap song on the radio. In the middle of throwing gangsta signs, cussing so much my mama would proud, and ballin’ so hard, I had a “woah, rappers have this money stuff down” moment.
Here are three money lessons we can learn from rappers everywhere:
I love this concept. Instead of running around chasing relationships and blowing money on dating, what if we actually focused on our careers? Your 20s are the best time to be selfish. It’s the time for cleaning up debt, growing your savings, and setting your future up on the right foot. It’s also the best time to grow your career.
One of my favorite Ted Talks from Meg Jay titled “why 30 is not the new 20” reminds us that 80% of life’s most defining moments takes place by age 35.
And most shockingly to your financial life:
[Tweet “The first 10 years of your career have an EXPONENTIAL impact on how much money you’re going to earn.”]
That by telling 20-somethings not to worry, they still have 10 years before they need to get serious about their life robs them of the sense of urgency they need to set their life up for success and happiness.
So when I say rappers got f*ck beeches get money right, they really got it right! Your 20s are the time to focus on your career and be selfish.
Like rappers, I firmly believe we should all have rubber band banks in our pocket. (Rolls of money with a rubber band around it.) Although, there’s no way that would fit in my pocket…because you know, leggings just don’t have pockets.
Now, hear me out, I am not implying all of our net worth should be in cash, don’t take this post that literally, but research does show that spending cash triggers pain sensors in our brain. It physically hurts us to spend cash money.
Interestingly enough, this is not the case when using plastic. When using plastic we spend 12-18% more than with cash. Plastic just doesn’t hurt our hearts quite as much as cash does.
[Tweet “Having a large savings gives you options.”]
If you have a 6 month oh sh*t fund, you can much more easily quit your 9-5 and spend a couple months seeking out your dream job than if you had no savings. Or maybe you’ve always wondered if your “jump to conclusions mat” has legs and want to try to turn it into a business. Having money saved up to pay for the bills makes this process SO much more enjoyable– speaking from experience on that one.
Money gives you options.
There comes a time in everyone’s life where your hard work pays off. You busted your hiney for 5 years straight and saved up to get your dream home. Or a new car, or you took an amazing month long trip across Europe.
You share your excitement with the world and guess what you find? Not everyone is excited for you. In fact, a lot of people will hate on you. Sometimes those people who seem to throw the most garbage on your path are the ones closest to you. Your siblings might start sarcastically mentioning how they wish they could buy a car with cash. Your significant other might sideswipe your career successes downplaying all your hard work.
I really don’t know why, but people can sometimes act like total jerks when they find out other’s are doing better than them. It’s weird, it’s annoying, but it is what it is.
That’s why once again, rappers got it right. Haters gonna hate.
[Tweet “You can’t control how your success, money choices, and way you live your life makes others feel.”]
I learned this when I publicly shared my story of how I paid off debt. People were pissed. I shared my own personal story thinking it might inspire someone to take action for their life and started receiving mean comments and emails discussing how terrible I was for insinuating people not pay for their children’s health insurance and not taking daycare costs into consideration with my get out of debt story. (Saaaay wha?)
The point is, when people feel like they are being attacked, or you are bringing attention to their lack of progress, they might be upset. You just have to shrug your shoulders, agree to disagree, and remind yourself haters gonna hate. Love them from a distance.
Those are the lessons rap songs taught me about money + life.
I know, I know, you may never listen to T.I. the same way again…
Forever livin’ debt free,
