I used to ignore my finances and existed for many years in thick money fog. The sum of negative consequences finally caught up with me and something had to give. My journey to becoming vigilant with my money was not a straight line.

My mom died two years ago and while I miss her immensely, I still feel connected to her on a daily basis. Even though my mom chronically overspent all her life, she was a great role model with money. Here are the best money lessons I learned from her.

Everyone’s lives have been impacted in subtle and overt ways since the pandemic struck and the world events around racial justice. Even amidst all the upheaval, people are finding gifts, blessings and silver linings as well as a lot to be grateful for.

Patterns in behavioral finance are not always universal. You may relate to some but not all of the following taxpayer traits on the healthy or anxiety-prone side or you may experience challenges…

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offers this model for integrating the rational mind and the emotional mind. Here are the four levels of the financial wellness process and guidance…

Money is a naturally confronting topic, so we need to take extra care of ourselves (and others) when dealing with it. There are numerous simple, yet powerful exercises you can use to …

As a result of COVID-19, you may have lost your job, received a decrease in salary, been furloughed or perhaps, nothing has changed income-wise. The following case study is a true story…

The hardest part of staying on top of your personal or business finances is the set up. Realistically, initiating a new system to track and analyze your spending, saving, and earning can take…

Even for families with two full-time working parents, after childcare, the mortgage payment, student loans, a busy family life with small children and monthly credit card bills, it can…

Money avoiders believe they are undeserving of money or that money is bad. They often practice noble poverty and believe that wealthy people are greedy or corrupt. Because of their…

1. Unsubscribe from marketing email lists. This includes: all stores, conglomerate sites like Gilt or Groupon, vendor sites like eBay or Etsy and any other flash sale site.

Saving is the fastest way out of debt. Time and time again I see men and women in debt keeping themselves in deprivation mode saying things like, “I can’t buy new clothes until my debt…

Keep a bridge job. It’s critical to be able to pay your bills and live your life while you start a business. It is possible to maintain low to no overhead in the beginning. Before rushing out to rent the…

Couples that have the most success staying on top of their finances meet for an hour a week. Single people need money dates too, but half an hour should do it since they don’t have to…

I took a yoga class last week and the instructor gave me specific verbal instructions to deepen a pose. I saw her mouth moving and heard the words, but I could not comprehend what she was saying.

A monthly budget is a work of art, not a science. People tend to put too much pressure on themselves to be exact and do it right. Gone are the days of old-fashioned budgeting like our…

Do you love shopping a little too much? Does enhancing your wardrobe bring on feelings of urgency, regret, guilt or even a high? Try shopping in your own closet, in other words, it’s time…

Gary Chapman, PhD wrote a book called The 5 Love Languages. He asserts that the five primary ways to express love are words of affirmation, touch, acts of service, quality time and gifts. 

Clients often hear me say, “The financial recovery process is about telling the truth and being honest and realistic about your money.” Do you ever wonder about how much things actually…

1. Get current.  It’s impossible to make changes for a better future without knowing where you stand financially.  Set aside consistent time to sort through the mail, check on your accounts…