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Happy Money

Happy Money

The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money
by Ken Honda 2019 240 pages
4
3k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Money is energy: Happy Money vs. Unhappy Money

Happy Money is the kind that a ten-year-old boy uses to buy flowers for his mom on Mother's Day.

Happy Money creates positive energy. It circulates with love, care, and friendship, making people smile and feel deeply cared for. Happy Money is an active form of love that can be seen, felt, and touched. It helps others in ways that nothing else can, especially during hardships.

Unhappy Money breeds negativity. It's the kind of money used begrudgingly to pay bills, taxes, or alimony. Unhappy Money circulates with frustration, anger, sadness, and despair. It makes people stressed, desperate, and sometimes violent. It deprives people of their dignity and self-esteem.

The energy with which money is given and received determines whether it's Happy or Unhappy Money. Your choice of flow significantly impacts your life outcomes.

2. Your relationship with money shapes your financial reality

If you believe it is something that can be used for good, that is abundant, and that can be given and received freely, your outer life will begin to reflect that inner change.

Your beliefs shape your reality. Your money – and hence your life – is a reflection of your beliefs about money. If you believe money is a positive force that can be used for good and is abundant, your outer life will reflect that inner change.

Negative beliefs limit your potential. If you hold onto negative mindsets about money – that it's evil, creates drama, or is the root of all problems – your outer reality will reflect that inner monologue. These limiting beliefs can prevent you from achieving financial success and happiness.

To improve your financial situation, start by examining and changing your beliefs about money. Focus on developing a positive, abundant mindset towards money and its potential for good in your life and the world.

3. Heal your money wounds through gratitude and forgiveness

Once you know why we think the way we do about money, we can begin to heal and change.

Understand your money history. Your relationship with money is deeply influenced by your past experiences, especially those from childhood. Recognizing and understanding these influences is the first step towards healing your money wounds.

Practice forgiveness and gratitude. To heal your money wounds:

  • Forgive yourself and others for past financial mistakes or hardships
  • Practice gratitude for what you have, no matter how small
  • Appreciate the lessons learned from past financial experiences

By healing your money wounds, you can transform your relationship with money and create a more positive financial future.

4. Increase your Money IQ and Money EQ for financial success

In order to achieve a Happy Money life, you need to have both a healthy Money IQ and a healthy Money EQ.

Money IQ is financial intelligence. It involves understanding:

  • How to make money effectively
  • Spending money consciously
  • Protecting money through clear relationships
  • Increasing money by aligning with your values

Money EQ is emotional intelligence with money. It includes:

  • Receiving money with gratitude
  • Enjoying money in the present moment
  • Trusting the flow of money
  • Sharing money generously

Balancing and improving both your Money IQ and Money EQ is crucial for achieving financial success and happiness.

5. Understand your money personality type to improve your finances

Knowing your own pattern is a means by which to understand the motivation behind the actions you take.

Identify your money personality. Common types include:

  • The Compulsive Saver
  • The Compulsive Spender
  • The Compulsive Moneymaker
  • The Indifferent-to-Money Type
  • The Hippie
  • The Saver-Splurger
  • The Gambler
  • The Worrier

Use self-awareness to improve. Understanding your money personality helps you recognize your patterns and motivations. This awareness allows you to make conscious changes to improve your financial habits and decision-making.

By identifying and understanding your money personality, you can take steps to balance your approach to money and create a healthier financial life.

6. Money flows: Cultivate a positive relationship with its ebb and flow

Money is like water. It can be a conduit for commitment, a currency of love.

Understand money as energy flow. Money is constantly flowing in and out of our lives, like water. Recognizing this natural ebb and flow can help you develop a healthier relationship with money.

Embrace both inflow and outflow. Cultivate gratitude when money flows in, and trust when it flows out. Remember:

  • More inflow than outflow: Enjoy and invest wisely
  • Less inflow than outflow: Use as an opportunity for growth and reflection
  • Equal inflow and outflow: Maintain balance and make conscious choices

By aligning yourself with the natural flow of money, you can reduce stress and create more positive financial experiences.

7. Create a Happy Money flow through generosity and appreciation

Giving extra in these situations transforms the reluctant, anxious energy into a positive force that leaves people feeling like they are cared for and loved.

Practice generosity. Ways to create a Happy Money flow:

  • Donate to charities
  • Give money or gifts to friends
  • Pay more than asked when appropriate
  • Send gifts to clients or your boss
  • Rejoice when receiving money
  • Pray for happiness when spending money
  • Buy from people you like

Express gratitude consistently. Saying "thank you" or "arigato" when money comes in and goes out can transform your relationship with money and attract more positive experiences.

By focusing on generosity and appreciation, you can create a powerful Happy Money flow in your life and the lives of those around you.

8. Trust in life and the future to overcome money fears

If you can trust life and the future, your money worries will disappear.

Identify the root of money fears. Often, what we fear isn't actually about money, but about our future and our ability to survive and thrive.

Cultivate trust in life. To overcome money fears:

  • Focus on building a strong support network
  • Develop confidence in your abilities to adapt and succeed
  • Practice gratitude for what you have in the present moment
  • Remember past instances where things worked out despite fears

By trusting in life and the future, you can reduce anxiety about money and create a more positive financial outlook.

9. Honesty and transparency are crucial for family finances

The families I have seen that are the happiest are very transparent about money, and other things too, with their children.

Practice financial transparency. Be open and honest about money matters with your family members, including children. This approach helps everyone understand the family's financial situation and fosters responsibility.

Benefits of financial honesty:

  • Children develop a mature understanding of money
  • Partners build trust and avoid conflicts
  • Family members can work together towards financial goals
  • Reduces stress and anxiety about money within the family

By cultivating honesty and transparency around money, families can create a healthier and happier financial environment.

10. The future of money: Abundance mindset and AI integration

I think that money can become something more like salt.

Embrace an abundance mindset. The future of money may involve:

  • Increased accessibility to essential resources
  • Reduced dependency on money for survival
  • Greater focus on sharing and collaboration

Prepare for AI integration. As artificial intelligence reshapes the job market and economy:

  • Develop adaptable skills
  • Focus on uniquely human qualities and creativity
  • Embrace lifelong learning

By adopting an abundance mindset and preparing for technological changes, you can position yourself for success in the future of money.

Last updated:

Review Summary

4 out of 5
Average of 3k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Happy Money receives mostly positive reviews for its unique perspective on the emotional relationship with money. Readers appreciate Honda's emphasis on gratitude, positive mindset, and reframing attitudes towards finances. Many find the book thought-provoking and helpful in changing their approach to money. However, some criticize it for being repetitive, lacking practical advice, and overly simplistic. The book's focus on psychological aspects of money rather than technical financial advice resonates with many readers, though some find it too abstract or New Age-like in its approach.

Your rating:

About the Author

Ken Honda is a renowned Japanese author and financial expert who has sold over seven million self-development books in Japan since 2001. His writing uniquely combines finance and self-help, focusing on achieving personal wealth and happiness through self-awareness. Honda's expertise stems from his experience owning and managing multiple businesses. He is the first Japanese member of the Transformational Leadership Council. Bilingual in Japanese and English, Honda has lived in Boston and currently resides in Tokyo. His work aims to help readers create and generate personal wealth and happiness by fostering deeper self-honesty.

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