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
Category: Emotions and Money
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?”
“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?”
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
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.
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
What To Do When Debt Collectors Are Calling
Even if you have never had to deal with debt collectors, I urge you to read this post. You might be able to help a friend or family member who is going through this situation. I remember getting calls from bill collectors back during my days as a struggling Chicago theater artist. It was extremely … Continue reading What To Do When Debt Collectors Are Calling
Being Thankful for Financial Turning Points
No one makes their financial journey alone. All of us can think back to times in our life when someone helped us, even just with some advice or a word of encouragement.
Fast Brain vs. Slow Brain – Which One Is Making Your Spending Decisions?
Every day our brain has to make thousands of decisions, from the mundane to the more important. In a 2011 book by Psychologist Daniel Kahneman called “Thinking, Fast and Slow” he talks about two systems of thought that help us make these many decisions
Book Review — Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
I was very skeptical of this book by Bill Perkins, because unless you know the date of your death, dying with zero is impossible. So what could it really be about? But I was wrong, because this book is about so much more than just “dying with zero”. To be honest, it is one of … Continue reading Book Review — Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
Practice Having Money Conversations
When my sisters and I were helping our mother transition from our family home to an apartment and then to assisted living, we had to have a lot of money conversations. At first it was difficult – especially since it meant asking a parent to reveal their finances to their children. But with time, those … Continue reading Practice Having Money Conversations