Oprah’s LifeClass Lessons With a Financial Twist – Part 5

This is the final week of Oprah’s Lifeclass lessons with a financial twist. We went through 4 weeks of lessons and applying them to our money and our financial situation. I hope that these lessons will make a change in the new year. Here are the final 5 lessons:

Lesson 21: Love Doesn’t Hurt

Just about everyone has been in love before. If you’re not now, you have been in the past or will be in the future. When it comes to relationships, money is always going to be a factor. Coming from two different upbringings, you may have different beliefs and dealings with money. One may be a saver, and another may be a spender. When you come together, you have to find a compromise and be willing to work together. No one person should be deliberately sabotaging the couple’s finances. This can truly destroy a relationship. Work together to reach financial independence. Pay off your debt, save your money, and pay your bills together. If one person is doing more harm than good, it may be time for mediation.

Lesson 22: Plague of America

Lesson 22 was all about living a financial lie, the plague of America. She brought on a couple where the wife had dug the family into an enormous amount of debt without her husband’s knowledge. She chose excessive shopping and spending over providing her children with health care. Oprah’s financial expert Suze Orman was there to give the harsh reality and help the family come up for air. Do you know how much you spend each month? Are you aware of what you’re actually buying, or are you an emotional shopper? Come to grips with the reality of your purchases and if you see something you’re not happy with, change it. A void cannot be filled by overspending. You can’t live off student loans forever.

Lesson 23: Slow Down

How many of us are rushing through the day, through the week, through the month, through the year? We’re in such a hurry to get somewhere or finish something, we often miss out on life. In some extreme cases, something tragic can happen if you don’t slow down. Take some time to really think about what you’re doing, relax, and be patient. You should take things slow like your education, building a business, and even your vacation.

Lesson 24: Newton’s Third Law

Remember physics class when you went over Newton’s laws? Well for a refresher, Newton’s third law is for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It’s about the energy you put out into the world. Remember when we talked about the things that bring bad karma? Practice things that will bring you good financial karma, like donating, paying back your loans with interest, giving your all at your job and paying your bills on time.

Lesson 25: You’ve Always Had the Power

As the final lesson of this series, be confident in knowing you always had the power. You always had the chance to be a successful entrepreneur. You’ve always had the opportunity to make what you want to make. You’ve always been able to get out of debt, pay off your student loans, and become a home owner. You’re completely capable of being successful in every aspect of your life, not just your finances. You can fulfill your dreams and make them a reality. There are so many personal finance bloggers who were able to quit their day jobs, travel the world, and even sell their blogs for millions. So many of them were able to make double what they were making at their regular jobs. People like Adam Baker and Trent Hamm took their lives by the horns and did what they wanted to do. Now it’s your turn. I hope you were able to apply these lessons to your everyday life. Oprah has inspired us, and I hope translating these lessons into financial speak has inspired you as well.