The tragic death of Robin Williams in 2014, who took his own life while suffering from severe depression as well as facing money problems among other things, reminds us of a truism of personal finances: it doesn’t matter how much you make in any given year, or in the span of your career.

If you spend more than you make, and do it in a hurry, you can end up as bankrupt as anyone. This last year has been particularly tough for many people and so prudent finances are more important than ever before.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Yesteryear, we often read about professional athletes or entertainers who annually earned multimillions of dollars, but then, a few years out of the sport, or out of the celebrity limelight, fell into financial ruin.

How could someone raking in several million dollars a year, we thought, end up penniless? How foolish, how reckless, how wanton could people be with their money?

Today, at least among pro athletes, money managers ensure that said individual will have regular annual income for life. In pro contracts, clauses stipulate how much of an athlete’s earnings will actually be dispensed in any given year.

Hence, 15 to 20 years out of professional sports, an athlete who had been earning, say, $10 million a year will be assured of income for life as a result of effective money management. Celebrities who are wise enough to choose effective professional financial counsel are similarly aided.

Low Debt = Breathing Space

No matter how much you make, if you don’t effectively manage your money, it can all go to pot. Studies show that an inheritance, of any size, is dissipated on average within seven years. So, whether someone receives $5,000 or $500,000, on average, far too soon all that money is gone.

Being in debt is not conducive to having breathing space. In fact, it’s the antithesis. When you’re in debt, that reality has a way of dominating your day. When the next bill arrives, you think about your finances. When the next mortgage or rent  payment becomes due, the issue arises again.

Every time you write a check, or surrender your credit card to a vendor, or even take money out of your wallet, you are reminded of your tenuous financial condition.

When you’re in debt and seek to re-pay it, you tend to work longer and harder. You want to make extra money to pay down credit card balances. Living beyond your means, however exhilarating in the short run, is insidious in the long run, for people and for entire nations.

The constant drum beat in the back of your mind, “I’m not making it,” “I owe others,” and “What if people find out?’ can wear down an individual in ways that we don’t even fully understand.

Construct a Cash Flow

The fastest and easiest way to understand the state of your current as well as future personal finances is to construct a 12-month cash flow spreadsheet.

A well-constructed cash flow plots all of the incoming cash and revenue from all sources, and to the best of your ability projects all of the expenses you will be incurring. A 36-month cash flow is more ambitious and more revealing.

It’s too easy to get caught up in thinking, “I’m making a big bucks annually, and my goodness, what do I have to worry about?” The fate of rich people who die with money issues tells us that you have plenty to worry about if you spend more than you earn.

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Jeff Davidson

Jeff Davidson is the world's only holder of the title "The Work-Life Balance Expert®" as awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is the premier thought leader on work-life balance, integration, and harmony. Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management. Visit www.BreathingSpace.com for more information on Jeff's keynote speeches and seminars, including: Managing the Pace with Grace® * Achieving Work-Life Balance™ * Managing Information and Communication Overload®

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