Why Most People Struggle With Money Isn’t About Math

If you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “I’m just not good with numbers, that’s why I can’t get ahead with money,” let me stop you right there.

Personal finance is not about math. It’s about behavior.

Sure, math plays a role — you need to know how to add, subtract, and maybe calculate a percentage. But I’ve yet to meet an officer who couldn’t do basic math. What actually derails us is how we behave with money when the paycheck hits the account.

The 80/20 Rule of Money

There’s a saying I live by (and teach in every workshop): personal finance is 80% behavior and only 20% head knowledge.

Think about it:

• You don’t need a finance degree to know you shouldn’t spend more than you make.
  
  

• You don’t need calculus to realize credit cards rack up debt fast.
  
  

• You don’t need an accounting background to understand that saving consistently leads to a cushion when emergencies happen.
  
  

The challenge isn’t knowing — it’s doing.

Cops Know Discipline — But Not With Money

In law enforcement, we’re trained to follow procedure, policy, and discipline. Yet when it comes to money? We often run on impulse:

• We buy the truck because the overtime check was big.
  
  

• We put the vacation on a credit card and promise to “catch up later.”
  
  

• We chase the shiny new thing because we “deserve it.”
  
  

It’s not math — it’s behavior. And unless we admit that, we’ll keep falling into the same traps.

Winning With Money Means Building Habits

What actually works is the same thing that works in the field: consistent, repeatable actions.

• Write a budget every month before the month begins.
  
  

• Stick to the plan, even when you don’t feel like it.
  
  

• Save first, spend second.
  
  

• Pay cash for big purchases instead of borrowing.
  
  

None of that is complex math. It’s about building behaviors that make your money serve you instead of the other way around.

The Bottom Line

If you can master discipline in your job — in the academy, on the street, in your command role — you can master discipline with money.

Don’t let yourself hide behind the excuse of “I’m just bad with numbers.” The real test isn’t in a calculator. It’s in your day-to-day choices.

👉 Action step: For the next 30 days, track every dollar you spend. Don’t change anything at first — just track. You’ll be surprised at how much of your financial stress isn’t about math, but about habits.

💥 Ready to Take Control of Your Money?

You don’t need another sales pitch—you need a game plan.

👉 Book a Free Consult or Bring This Training to Your Agency 👮‍♂️ 

Or shoot me a message if you’ve got questions. I’m always here for the first responder community.