Guest Article

The Rule Of Three

Chellie Campbell, Financial Stress Reduction Expert

"Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is ready cash—use it." -Kay Lyons

I had just received a large cash settlement from an auto accident I had been involved in. Gleefully, I held the $12,000 check in my hand. I thought about what I should do with all this money. At the time, I had debts, so I considered using it all to pay down my debt. That felt good, but not great—I wouldn’t have anything fun to show for my good fortune. Then I thought, I could save all the money, but here again, I wouldn’t have any enjoyment of the money right now. What I really wanted to do was spend all the money on fun and extravagance. But that didn’t feel very responsible.

I wrestled with the problem a while, then called a friend of mine, Gale Johnston, a certified financial planner.

When I confessed my dilemma, Gale laughed and told me about the “Rule of Three.” This is what she told me to do:

1. Take a third of the money and put it towards the past—pay off debt.
2. Take another third of the money and put it towards the future—invest it.
3. Take the last third of the money and have a good time in the present—spend it.

I did as she suggested, and felt responsible and had fun at the same time.

I’m praying you receive a large windfall soon, so you can try this out for yourself!

Today’s Affirmation:
“I am successful, generous, and happy!”

I love feeling responsible. Makes me feel like I am a good citizen, a proper role-model, smart, savvy, and together. I’m taking care of the future, storing my nuts for the winter like the squirrel in my backyard.

But then I love throwing caution to the winds, escaping the bonds of frugality, and splurging on fun, excitement, travel, poker, and fine dining! I don’t see any critters in my backyard doing that, though…they are all devoted to searching for food, building a nest, attracting a mate.

Except sometimes, it seems the birds just sit in the trees and sing, apparently for no reason except to revel in the sound of their song.

I think the life lesson of that is: When you’ve stored some nuts, be sure to take some time off to sing!

Chellie Campbell, Financial Stress Reduction Expert, is the author of bestselling books The Wealthy Spirit, Zero to Zillionaire, and From Worry to Wealthy: A Woman’s Guide to Financial Success Without the Stress. She has been treating Money Disorders like Spending Bulimia and Income Anorexia in her Financial Stress Reduction® Workshops for over 25 years and is still speaking, writing, and teaching workshops—now as Zoom classes and The Wealthy Spirit Group on Facebook—with participants from all over the world. Website: www.chellie.com.