Learn Your Money Personality and Unblock Your Finances

Have you ever thought about how and why you dealwith money the way you do? Why do you choose to save, or not save? Why do you avoid talking about money, or is it no problem? Why do you make the spending decisions you do? Part of our money behavior comes from what we saw … Continue reading Learn Your Money Personality and Unblock Your Finances →

A Pep Talk for Hard Times

We are going through some hard times right now. Our political system seems to be in constant chaos, economic indicators are bad, and every day the news seems both frightening and surreal. And against this backdrop we all have our own personal struggles and challenges. I see this with my coaching clients, who are often … Continue reading A Pep Talk for Hard Times →

How Do You Answer the Question “Can I Afford It?”

It is one of the most basic questions of personal finance. But have you ever thought about what it REALLY means to answer the question “Can I afford it?” Do you just look at the balance in your checking account? Or do you go with your gut? Is it okay if the monthly payments aren’t … Continue reading How Do You Answer the Question “Can I Afford It?” →

Eight Things I Don’t Spend Money On, and One Thing I Do

Ever been curious about how someone else spends their money? It’s not something we get to see that often, but it can be interesting to peek into another person’s life, and maybe pick up some ideas for our own spending. To give you a look into my own spending, below are some things that I do … Continue reading Eight Things I Don’t Spend Money On, and One Thing I Do →

“How can I get ahead when something always comes up?”

We’ve all been there. You’re going along, spending is on track, and then … something comes up. It’s the annual insurance payment, or it's someone’s birthday, or there is an out-of-town trip, or an unexpected car repair. Now you are scrambling to come up with the money, and you find yourself saying, “How can I get … Continue reading “How can I get ahead when something always comes up?” →

7 Ways to Use Your Tax Refund to Level Up Your Finances

Expecting a tax refund this year? If you are one of the people getting money back, why not use this as an opportunity to make a real difference with your finances? Below are seven unique ideas for turning your tax refund into a bigger paycheck, smaller bills, more money for the future, more peace of mind, or just a … Continue reading 7 Ways to Use Your Tax Refund to Level Up Your Finances →

A Tale Of Three Grocery Carts: Saving 80% On Groceries

As a personal financial coach I see a lot of people’s grocery budgets, and I can tell you two things: People spend vastly different amounts on groceries. People have a lot of set habits around groceries–so much so that our grocery habits can even be part of our identity. And I totally get it–we all … Continue reading A Tale Of Three Grocery Carts: Saving 80% On Groceries →

My Top 10 Tips for Having Great Credit

To be honest, credit is kind of a game. If you know the rules, you can do well. If you don’t, you can end up in real trouble. It would be tempting to just ignore it, but a low credit score means: Higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and personal loans, which could cost … Continue reading My Top 10 Tips for Having Great Credit →

Celebrating Financial Wins (Even When You Think You Don’t Have Any)

Celebrating financial wins (and yes you do have them) is what gives us the positive energy we need to stay engaged and reach our goals. When I talk to my coaching clients, one thing that I consistently find is that people don’t give themselves enough credit for what they have achieved. When we focus on … Continue reading Celebrating Financial Wins (Even When You Think You Don’t Have Any) →

Book Review—Broke Millennial Talks Money

As a financial coach I read a lot of personal finance books, and there are very few that I would recommend as whole-heartedly as “Broke Millennial Talks Money: Scripts, Stories and Advice to Navigate Awkward Financial Conversations” by Erin Lowry. Everyone should read this book! Ever needed to know how to ask for a raise? … Continue reading Book Review—Broke Millennial Talks Money →

The ONE Image That Shows How Investing Can Make You Rich

You’ve probably already glanced down and seen the image and thought, “What’s so special about that?” But let me break it down for you and you will see the incredible power that this image represents. This is a graph of what happens when someone invests $160 per month for 45 years (such as from age … Continue reading The ONE Image That Shows How Investing Can Make You Rich →

Don’t Be Afraid of the “B-Word” (Budget)

I know, a budget sounds awful. It sounds like pinching pennies and never being able to have the things you want. But it is actually the opposite! A budget can help you get what you want in life because a budget is about spending with intention. It is about consciously choosing what things are most … Continue reading Don’t Be Afraid of the “B-Word” (Budget) →

How To Make Your Graduate a Millionaire

Looking for a unique graduation gift? How about one that can make your graduate a millionaire? Does it sound impossible? Well, the thing you have to remember is that your high school or college graduate has one very important thing that you don’t have – a lot more time. That means there is time for … Continue reading How To Make Your Graduate a Millionaire →

22 Ways to Celebrate Milestones For Free or Cheap

Taking time to celebrate your milestones can help you have gratitude and happiness for the things you have achieved, and to look forward with joy and optimism to what is coming next. It can help keep you motivated, and help you realize that yes, you have actually made progress – especially when progress seems slow.

The Debt Consolidation Trap, or How I Saved My Client $48,000

A client came to me recently because of credit card debt and feeling like she never had anything left over at the end of the month. I had her do something that I have all my clients with credit card debt do—I had her make a list of all of her credit cards with the … Continue reading The Debt Consolidation Trap, or How I Saved My Client $48,000 →

What Is a Roth IRA and Why Should I Care?

For most of my adult life the term “Roth IRA” was one of those things that I would hear people mention, and I would nod knowingly, pretending I knew what it was when I actually had no idea. Which is unfortunate, because while I was busy looking at the Walgreens sales flier trying to save … Continue reading What Is a Roth IRA and Why Should I Care? →

2024: 7 Ways To Use Your Tax Refund to Boost Your Finances

The IRS says that the average tax refund in 2024 will be about $3,000. When extra money comes along it can be easy to just fold it into our normal spending and then wonder where it went. But it can also be a great opportunity to get a jump start on a financial goal – … Continue reading 2024: 7 Ways To Use Your Tax Refund to Boost Your Finances →

What To Do When Willpower Doesn’t Work

Trying to change habits and keep resolutions is hard. Our brain wants to keep doing things the way we always did them, so when you try to disrupt that with new habits or new choices, willpower alone doesn't always work. My advice? Take willpower out of the equation as much as possible. Luckily when it … Continue reading What To Do When Willpower Doesn’t Work →

Turn $312 into $600 with 401(k) Magic

So, your financial coach tells you that you should be putting $600 per month in your workplace 401(k)—but you don't know where the money is going to come from. Enter … 401(k) magic! First of all, 90% of companies with 401(k) plans will match employee contributions, and the most common option is to match 50%. … Continue reading Turn $312 into $600 with 401(k) Magic →