Money and Minimalism Improved My Health and Anxiety

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microbiome (sounds cool, it isn’t), and I believe it did help a lot but not enough. The bulk of my feeling better had to do with money and minimalism, at least it did in my opinion.</p><p id="2c6f"><b> $10,000 Less Equals$ 38,000 More? </b>Around 2019–2021, I became obsessed with personal finance and minimalism. I found ways to lessen my stress by working less yet make more money actively and passively. Like a mad person, I decluttered my house and my mind. During this time, I made a pivotal leap and took a lower profile job for $10,000 less per year and within one year I had somehow brought my salary back up and increased my net worth like never before. I found incredible ways to save and budget and invest.</p><p id="571f">I called almost every company that I paid a bill for and got them to lower my monthly charges. I was a negotiating machine! I submitted applications for financial aid, was denied, appealed, and have been awarded over$ 30,000 since. I brought one home-related bill down $240/year. I saved$ 375 by switching car insurance companies. I saved $465 on social outings by using my library card. I saved$ 560, then $603, then$ 1,230 on 3 trips by calling the hotel to reduce the rates. I saved $2,465 on family activities mostly by sending a few emails. I also boosted my net worth!</p><figure id="739e"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*OckcB2e4VD9LJZcB"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@micheile?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">micheile henderson</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="97a8"><b>Net Worth Up, Stomachaches Down </b>I started maxing out my retirement funds, investing in more index funds, and putting my emergency and sinking funds in high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit. I was earning 9% interest here, 5% interest there. Accounts were growing and my anxiety and gut issues were dissipating.</p><p id="9054">Had it been financial stress that was causing my anxiety and IBS symptoms? I don’t know. I’ll never know. All I know is that as I was saving and investing more money, I was physically feeling healthier and happier.</p><p id="a7d9"><b>Decluttering Like No Other </b>I was decluttering and tidying my home to no end. I Marie Kondo’d it, Kate Kaden’d it, The Minimalists’d it! My home became a safe and comfortable haven. I made extra cash by selling all my stuff online. I could not believe people were buying my junk. I made over$ 1,657 selling old shoes, ugly clothes, random plastic toys, cheap cell phone cases, dirty used makeup brushes! It was so completely ridiculous to me. And then there was my budget…</p><figure id="3ac7"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*7dSNioB9LazNYOks"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@weweclub_wewe?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">yang wewe</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp

Options

;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="edee"><b>Intentionality </b>I budgeted every single dollar, stopped impulse shopping (thus, stopping the junk from entering my house only to turn around and need to be sold), and started spending with intentionality. I suddenly could afford fancy outings like NBA games and live off-Broadway shows. I could take my family on longer, better vacations. I chose experiences over stuff and have zero regrets.</p><p id="f4bf">My stomachaches were not gone but they were definitely less frequent and severe, and my IBS episodes were more predictable and tolerable. Money did this. Minimalism did this. I believe this wholeheartedly. I wake up to a tidy and clear mental and physical space, my haven of a home.</p><p id="f5a6"><b>New Job, New Mindset </b>I took a new job. What a difference! I work with kind people, nice people. I left a very stressful and toxic environment for a garden courtyard and quiet office with a window. I get to work a hybrid schedule and enjoy most days home in my sanctuary of a home office. I sleep more, I nap more, I rest my mind and body more. I have a shorter commute and lower profile work.</p><p id="e0b6">I save a lot. I spend a lot. But I spend more on things that matter, making memories with my loved ones. Rather than cleaning and shopping all the time, I spend time relaxing and enjoying the company of the people I love. I say no to events and people and anything that does not completely and utterly bring me joy. I say no to negativity. I have developed a mindset of positive abundance, and it is wonderful and fulfilling.</p><figure id="bf6b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*q8UNaLgAyfC8efi4"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@zedlord?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">zenad nabil</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="590e"><b>Health, Wealth, and Happiness </b>Within 3 years, I went from financially illiterate to well-versed in personal finance and minimalism. I went from panicking in a stark and sterile emergency room to enjoying health, wealth, and happiness with an infinite amount of gratitude.</p><p id="a8d4"><i>Thank you for reading and engaging! I appreciate it.</i></p><div id="14dc" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@personalfinancehour/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Personal Finance Hour⭐</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.co</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*vRh_9pudZajHnc4J)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Money and Minimalism Improved My Health and Anxiety

In 2018, a severe panic attack that sent me to the emergency department unexpectedly led me to build health, wealth, and happiness.

A Panic Attack and Lobster-like Claws In 2018, I had a panic attack that sent me to the emergency department hyperventilating with nausea while my numb hands uncontrollably clamped up into lobster-like claws. They’re called carpopedal spasms. Through the fear, dizziness, and pain, I forced a smile in the car mirror to check for stroke symptoms. Was the left side of my face drooping? Thankfully no.

In the years leading up to this, I dealt with daily nausea, iron deficiency, chills, sweats, fatigue, headaches, queasiness, chest tightness, back cramps, and anxiety. I was diagnosed with anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I had seen my primary doctor, an allergist, a therapist, and two gastroenterology specialists. I did a barium swallow and had two endoscopies and one colonoscopy. Or was it one endoscopy and two colonoscopies? I don’t remember, it doesn’t matter. Oh, and medications and vitamins!

Medications on Medications I tried pantoprazole, ranitidine, rifaximin, magnesium, ferrous gluconate, sublingual B12, VSL#3 probiotic, methylcellulose, Pepto-Bismol, and good ol’ Tylenol. I also had an emergency dose of some anti-anxiety medication that has expired but my doctor refuses to refill. I carry it close to me as a security blanket but it would likely act as a placebo at this point since it’s probably no longer effective.

Money and Minimalism to the Rescue Now that you have the backstory, I’ll get to the point. Just how did money and minimalism solve all my gut issues and anxiety while all of these medications and procedures didn’t? Well, that’s not exactly true. The second gastroenterologist that I saw used a medicine regimen to reset my microbiome (sounds cool, it isn’t), and I believe it did help a lot but not enough. The bulk of my feeling better had to do with money and minimalism, at least it did in my opinion.

$10,000 Less Equals $38,000 More? Around 2019–2021, I became obsessed with personal finance and minimalism. I found ways to lessen my stress by working less yet make more money actively and passively. Like a mad person, I decluttered my house and my mind. During this time, I made a pivotal leap and took a lower profile job for $10,000 less per year and within one year I had somehow brought my salary back up and increased my net worth like never before. I found incredible ways to save and budget and invest.

I called almost every company that I paid a bill for and got them to lower my monthly charges. I was a negotiating machine! I submitted applications for financial aid, was denied, appealed, and have been awarded over $30,000 since. I brought one home-related bill down $240/year. I saved $375 by switching car insurance companies. I saved $465 on social outings by using my library card. I saved $560, then $603, then $1,230 on 3 trips by calling the hotel to reduce the rates. I saved $2,465 on family activities mostly by sending a few emails. I also boosted my net worth!

Net Worth Up, Stomachaches Down I started maxing out my retirement funds, investing in more index funds, and putting my emergency and sinking funds in high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit. I was earning 9% interest here, 5% interest there. Accounts were growing and my anxiety and gut issues were dissipating.

Had it been financial stress that was causing my anxiety and IBS symptoms? I don’t know. I’ll never know. All I know is that as I was saving and investing more money, I was physically feeling healthier and happier.

Decluttering Like No Other I was decluttering and tidying my home to no end. I Marie Kondo’d it, Kate Kaden’d it, The Minimalists’d it! My home became a safe and comfortable haven. I made extra cash by selling all my stuff online. I could not believe people were buying my junk. I made over $1,657 selling old shoes, ugly clothes, random plastic toys, cheap cell phone cases, dirty used makeup brushes! It was so completely ridiculous to me. And then there was my budget…

Intentionality I budgeted every single dollar, stopped impulse shopping (thus, stopping the junk from entering my house only to turn around and need to be sold), and started spending with intentionality. I suddenly could afford fancy outings like NBA games and live off-Broadway shows. I could take my family on longer, better vacations. I chose experiences over stuff and have zero regrets.

My stomachaches were not gone but they were definitely less frequent and severe, and my IBS episodes were more predictable and tolerable. Money did this. Minimalism did this. I believe this wholeheartedly. I wake up to a tidy and clear mental and physical space, my haven of a home.

New Job, New Mindset I took a new job. What a difference! I work with kind people, nice people. I left a very stressful and toxic environment for a garden courtyard and quiet office with a window. I get to work a hybrid schedule and enjoy most days home in my sanctuary of a home office. I sleep more, I nap more, I rest my mind and body more. I have a shorter commute and lower profile work.

I save a lot. I spend a lot. But I spend more on things that matter, making memories with my loved ones. Rather than cleaning and shopping all the time, I spend time relaxing and enjoying the company of the people I love. I say no to events and people and anything that does not completely and utterly bring me joy. I say no to negativity. I have developed a mindset of positive abundance, and it is wonderful and fulfilling.

Health, Wealth, and Happiness Within 3 years, I went from financially illiterate to well-versed in personal finance and minimalism. I went from panicking in a stark and sterile emergency room to enjoying health, wealth, and happiness with an infinite amount of gratitude.

Thank you for reading and engaging! I appreciate it.