Financial Coaching
Dinner Choices
You’ve been invited to a night out for an elegant dinner with friends. You know this will be at least a $100 evening. Do you say yes and figure out the money part later, or do you politely decline? When the choice is social interaction, good food, and friends versus sitting at home living the “boring” life, most of us will elect to go despite the impact it has on our bank account. Do we have fun, or miss out on splurges due to money worries?
This is one instance of how money influences us and yet many have not created a plan for their money. We may rack up credit card debt, fritter away savings, and just make poor financial decisions. Those of us who earn enough to live well today may have nothing left for tomorrow or our future selves.
The Paycycle Yo-Yo
Our money may be out of balance between paychecks, where one paycheck you have more “free” money and the other half of the month means Ramen noodles and PB&J sandwiches. Living in the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle is exhausting. Not only does it deplete our bank accounts, but it also depletes our life energy. I lived it for the first 20-something years of my life.
Back then, I made enough to afford my bills, go out to dinner at least once a paycheck, and catch a movie too. But I made no conscious decisions about what I wanted my money to do for me. Nor did I have a plan for emergencies like when my car needed $7,000 worth of repairs.
I didn’t have one of those B words. You know that word that some of us equate to cutting all fun money out, staying home, and clipping coupons? Yes, I’m talking about budgets. Before you bail at the word budget, let me offer a different perspective.
Embracing the “B” Word
A budget is a spending plan that allows you to consciously decide when, where, and how you spend your money. It allows you to get MORE of what you want and less of what you don’t want (see ya, sleepless nights & hello happy hour). There are several budgeting methods for personal finance, but all of them have one thing in common: figuring out how much money you have coming in and where that money is going. The “figuring out” part is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. That’s why I created a Budget Workshop, offering a safe place for women to overcome their blocks to money and improve their financial health
What is a Budget?
The Budget Framework
I Can’t Afford This House, or My Life
My budget journey began 20 years ago when my partner & I bought our first house. That first mortgage payment stressed me out as I realized it would nearly wipe out my checking account. I knew I had two choices: cut spending somewhere to shift money towards the mortgage or earn more money. I chose to do both.
I found a book that gave me a framework to manage our money (Spoiler, it wasn’t to split the bills evenly!). And I increased my income by $20k by switching jobs. Over the next 5 years, I fine-tuned our money strategy to incorporate changes in our lives, like having a baby and a career pivot. I was better financially, but not completely bulletproof. While I had a plan for minor emergencies like car repairs, I didn’t have a plan for when my marriage ended, and I was left with ALL the household expenses. I once again dug into the money details to refine the plan to meet my current needs. It was a few years of self-preservation, both financially and emotionally. But I survived and learned even more about myself and my money habits.
Debt-Free & Traveling
Now 20 years later, I’m 3 years away from paying off that first house, have stayed out of debt (minus mortgages), bought a rental property, and am planning an early retirement. I even enjoyed an amazing 10-day vacation to Ireland last year, all stress-free over money.
How did I go from recently divorced, single mom to real estate investor and business owner with multiple streams of income? I want to share the strategies and techniques I used to go from feeling anxious about money to having all that I need. The first step was making a conscious decision to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.
You can also choose to consciously manage your money. The first step is setting the intention so that you take action. Whether it’s joining a circle of women in my Budget Workshop, working one-on-one with me, or finding your own supportive tribe, set the intention and take action to improve your financial health. Future you will thank you.
Where attention goes, energy flows.
Join the Tribe
Money is complex. Creating a money plan is the hardest step. You can choose to do it alone, or you can join a Tribe of Women. I offer small-group coaching that walks you through creating a personalized money plan. Through the program, you’ll gain support from the collective group, guidance from me, and insights into the strategies that allowed me to achieve a level of financial freedom.
