"Money…its a hit" so sings Pink Floyd in the song Money.  There are few things that play such a prominent role in almost everyones life.

How many times have you heard people say "if I could just have a million dollars, or If I could just win the lottery life would be complete!"?   And yet in many cases, those that do win the lottery wind up a year or two later worse off, in trouble with the law etc, after winning a real lottery.   Why is that?  We want this thing called Money Sometimes more than we should!  One thing is for sure.  Money (whether having lots, or the lack of) changes us.  Money changes our outlook, mood, and attitude about ourselves and the world around us. We must be careful of the change it can bring.

Is money really a liberator or a captor?   It has to do with perspective.

Money in its purest form is just a means to an end.  A means to something you want.  Unless you barter or trade, you cant get the things you need or want without money.  What you get is usually determined by how much money you have.  If you dont have enough, you must wait till you have enough money to purchase.  Usually if we stay in a situation where it seems like we never have enough, we are driven to find ways to make more money.  In a lot of cases, greed motivates us to work more (i.e. workaholics), to spend more than we make, be dishonest (Bernie Madoff, Enron etc).  You get the idea.   So, of course, money is essential to life, you must have it.  What we do with the money we have, and how much money we "think" we need is crucial to whether money is a liberator or a captor.  Your attitude, value system, and life balance will determine whether money captures your life or not.  We will take the three angles of attitude, values, and balance and discuss.

Attitude

Attitude towards the earning of money is so important.  Do you think that you never earn enough?   Do you continually look for new ways to continue to make more money? Can you honestly say that if you earn X dollars per year that you will be content in your heart and mind?  If you dont have a figure in mind that defines "enough", you may end up chasing an elusive goal that you will never get to.   Deep down that spells a lack of contentment and a restless heart.  Define "enough" and be satisfied, and enjoy life!  If you dont, you will chase things to the detriment of time, family, church, and other intangibles.  Know and accept that someone will always have more. Be content where you are financially.  Might you be disappointed at times because you dont have the money you think you need?  Yes.   Better to be a few times disappointed than to spend a lifetime dissapointed because you think you never have enough.  If you are this way, money might have too big a grip on you.

Value System

Your values help shape your attitude.  For example, when you purchase something, does it always have to be new?  Does it always have to be name brand?   Do you always pick an item based on the lowest or the highest price?  Do you think you must have the best of everything?  Are you afraid that you will be looked down upon if you dont keep up materially with your neighbors?  Do you know the difference in paying top dollar for something because it will be an investment or because it will make you look good?   If you understand that material things are not all of what makes up life, then you will go a long way from overspending, and if you dont overspend, then it is easier to come up with that figure of what is "enough", and money will be less of a captor.

Balance

Balance in the whole of life will determine where you spend your money.  Where your money is, your heart will be also.   You can tell a persons determination of what is important by what they spend money on.   I suggest you have a balance between charity, necessities, and want to haves.  You cant spend all your money on charity, any more than you can spend all your money on "want to haves".  This is where the budget master of the house comes in and creates the much needed budget.   Periodically review the budget with your spouse if you are married.  It will help make sure you are balanced in your spending.  If you are balanced, you are one step close to contentment, and money becomes less and less a captor.

Check these three things in your life and within your family.  Determine what is "enough".   Dont let the things of this world captivate you so, that you think you must have them no matter what.   Make sure you have balance in your spending.  Use a budgeting system to achieve balance such as the "Allowance system" which can be used effectively for all members of your family.