Master Your Money You Will: How to Become a Financial Jedi Master

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . . There was a mystical knightly order thoroughly trained to guard justice and peace in the universe. They called themselves Jedi. Today, I'm going to teach you how to master your finances – like a Jedi. Worry do not, smart you are. Prevail you will. So hop on your eopie – or tauntaun if you prefer – and prepare yourself for the long journey ahead. May the Force be with you.

1. Tap into the light side of the Force – and think honestly about your finances.

This side of the Force is aligned with many virtues worthy of pursuit. Honesty is one of those virtues. In order for you to master your finances, you must be honest with yourself. What's your current financial situation? Are you living paycheck to paycheck or are you hoarding wealth and living in luxury like Bohhuah Mutdah? Neither extreme is good for a Jedi – you must find balance. But to find balance, you must think honestly about your finances. That's not an easy thing to do when you're having to think about your own financial situation. That's why I recommend talking with a friend – like Child of Winds. Find someone who can assist you. Financial advisors – like yours truly–  are a good choice, as they not only have unbiased opinions because they're not a part of your family, but they have the experience to know what to do in battle. Remember:

It is not simply enough to know the light . . . a Jedi must feel the tension between the two sides of the Force . . . in himself and in the universe. – Thon, Tchuukthai Jedi Master, Tales of the Jedi

Do you feel the tension between where you are and where you want to be? Are you passionate about tapping into the light side of the Force? Then you need to be realistic about where you are in your finances in order to get where you're going.

2. Learn the Jedi mind trick – but trick yourself.

The Force is a powerful influencer that can be used by Jedi on the weak-minded. A thoroughly trained Jedi can use the Force to implant a suggestion or idea into others' minds. This allows them to accomplish their missions. In order to master your finances like a Jedi, you must learn the Jedi mind trick – but trick yourself instead. For example, let's say you have a spending problem. When you set out to save some money instead of spending it all, you're not going to want to do it. Instead, you're going to want to spend – just like you always have. Try out these other great tips on ways to make money fast to help you with your saving endeavor! You're going to have to trick yourself into spending less. And there are several ways to do this. One way is to hitch a ride to an abandoned Sith world. There, there's really nothing to do – nothing to spend your money on. If you don't have enough credits for such a journey, you're going to have to avoid marketplaces that are full of droids and the like. Droids can be expensive – why not fix up one of your old ones instead of wasting your galactic credits on the latest model? While you're at it, have your old droid keep track of your credits for you. Have it keep you on a budget. Their artificial intelligence will help you make important decisions on what you should and should not purchase. Being mathematically precise is a necessity when it comes to finance – and droids have this mastered like none other. But when it comes down to it, you're going to have to be the one to trick yourself out of your emotional impulsiveness and into self control. Feel the Force and let it be your guide.

3. Don't become another Darth Vader – give according to the light side.

We all know the tragic story of Anakin Skywalker. This Force-sensitive human was once a very heroic Jedi Knight who later in life became seduced by the dark side of the Force. It pains me to even talk about this. Anakin slipped into the role imposed on him by Darth Sidious and enforced his master's will as Darth Vader – a man aiming to destroy the Rebel Alliance. Money and power can surely corrupt. Don't let this happen to you. A Jedi has self control beyond measure. When you start to accumulate wealth, don't let it get the better of you. Help out your fellow man. Just because you have access to the Force doesn't mean that you have to be influenced by the dark side. Instead, use your wealth for good. Help out the common folk and give to causes worthy of support.  This also includes buying a final expense insurance plan or life insurance policy to take care of your family. In order to give, though, you should first take care of yourself and your family. Make sure you have an emergency fund, are saving for retirement, and are funding your children's college education.

4. Don't buy an Imperial Star Destroyer – it's too expensive.

Listen, you don't need all those bells and whistles. What do you need laser cannons and tractor beams for anyway? Instead, buy a vehicle you can afford. Think podracer. Sure, Anakin eventually went over to the dark side, but you have to hand it to his younger self – he built his vehicle from spare parts. Cheap, fast, and built for those who have the Force running through their being. Who wants to be paying interest on a vehicle loan for the next 15 million years? Not a Jedi, that's for sure. Jedi live within their means and seek to be as efficient as possible with their credits. If you have a need for intergalactic travel, sure, buy something that will get you from planet A to planet B, but don't become a slave to the New Order to do so. Heck, I drove my grandmother's 1998 Chevy Lumina for several years and survived! That saved me a bundle that I used  able to invest more money.

5. Train constantly and don't give up.

A Jedi's training in the Force never ends. – Vodo-Siosk Baas, Krevaaki Jedi Master, Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith

Change is bound to happen. That's why a Jedi must constantly train to meet the demands of the changing times. And you know how Jedi trained? It was either in groups or in a Master-Apprentice format. That's right, you must train with those who are going to sharpen your skills. Here again, there's value in training with a financial advisor. I did so in the early days, and so can you. In fact, you can become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional too – if that's what you're seeking. But perhaps you'd just like to learn some more about how to handle your own money and not necessary the money of others. That's acceptable, but remember it still takes a great deal of effort to master virtues such as self control. Managing ones finances takes a tremendous amount of discipline and self control. That's why you need to train constantly to ensure you aligning yourself with the light side of the Force. One small deviation from your plan may cause you to question the goodness of the light side, something no Jedi should ever do.

Training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge, and even if you succeed, it's a hard life. – Qui-Gon Jinn, Human Jedi Master, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

Sticking to your financial plan over the long-term is perhaps one of the most difficult things you'll ever have to do. Think about it. When you see your investments fall by 10 or 20% – are you going to freak out and sell them or are you going to stay the course until retirement? What about when financial hardship comes your way? If you were to lose your job repairing tutor droids, would you have what it takes to recover and find a new job – perhaps working on exploration droids? Would you have enough galactic credits saved up to ensure you could survive using food synthesizers to create edible organic matter from the raw materials in your backyard? A true Jedi trains for just about every conceivable hardship yet does not become burdened by the process. Training is intense, but the Jedi calmly works through their training to prepare for inevitable circumstances.

Grab Your Lightsaber – It's Time for Battle

This was the formal weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or a fusioncutter–but to use a lightsaber well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary. – Obi-Wan Kenobi, Human Jedi Master, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Novel)

Like handling a lightsaber, handling your finances requires a great deal of care and skill. You can be a cut above the ordinary. Start here. It's time for battle. Are you ready? May the Force be with you, Jedi. ##photo courtesy: coba

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