Originally Posted by GreyWolf

Back when I did financial counselling, I was surprised to find I was the guy getting the "toughest" cases. My colleagues told me that dealing with people with addictions, family/marriage problems, personality issues, were all easier than dealing with debt crises. They said people will seek help for a mental or physical problem, a relationship or sex issue, or just about anything else long before they will admit they have a money problem. A big part of it is that we are all brought up to be responsible for our own financial well-being... to take care of ourselves.

There are medical and mental health professionals, and we see those areas as basically beyond an individual's control. Relationships involve other people, so it's difficult to control more than your own side of that. You can't be responsible for the other person's actions/reactions.

But MONEY... we're all supposed to know how to handle it. So few of us do. Admitting we are a failure financially is the ultimate in self-betrayal. So no one wants to, and no one wants to seek help. By the time they do, it's very late in the game.

That being said, I've always told my clients & friends that money should NEVER be a life-goal. What it can do for you... bring peace of mind, security, allow you to do things you otherwise couldn't... those are worthwhile goals, and money can be a means to them. But it shouldn't be the end.

The only book that I push now is called The Wealthy Barber, by David Chilton (available in Canadian & American versions). It should be required reading for highschool students. It isn't revolutionary in its concepts... its actually quite conservative. But it's readable, and enjoyable, and lays out the basis for a sound financial future in easy to grasp terms. (No, I don't know David personally... wish I did, lol)