A Shift in Money Mindset
Sometimes, retirement happens to you.
Ellen was released from her work at Macy’s – a job she thoroughly enjoyed and wasn’t mentally ready to retire from yet.
While she had money set aside for a comfortable retirement, she had to make sure her spending habits didn’t threaten that foundation.
Minimalism vs. Savvy Living
The idea of being intentional and focusing on what is most important to you is the philosophy of Savvy Living.
So, what is the difference between Minimalism and Savvy Living?
The Pause Habit
A friend tells me about a book and before she finishes the description, I’ve already whipped out my phone and bought it. When it arrives, it goes on the pile of unread books that I acquired in the same manner.
This is a common scenario clients have used to describe their spending.
The ease of 1-Click technology, along with how very busy we are, primes us for a habit of making a purchase without really thinking through whether or not we really want or need that item.
The Life You Want Is In The Editing
The life you really want may be just a few “No’s” away.
How Much Should You Spend On…?
One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “How much should I be spending on… dining out, groceries, clothes, entertainment, etc.”
We, as humans, like easy answers and the Internet is filled with pie charts stating how much you should be spending on various categories from housing to entertainment.
However, if everyone abided by those pie charts, very few people would be living in places such as the San Francisco Bay Area (where I recently moved from) or Manhattan because it takes too much “pie” to live there.
Do You Need a Holding Account?
Intermittent expenses can catch you by surprise and create a vicious roller coaster of accumulating debt, paying it off and then building it back up again.
The Perils of Retroactive Living
Retroactive living is falling into the trap of continuously paying for last month’s (or last year’s) experience long after it happened. It is the typical way most people use their credit cards.
The Family CFO is Not the Bad Guy
Sadly, it’s unfortunately common for the person managing the family’s money to become The Bad Guy, The Money Police, The Buzz Killer - and that’s not fair! It’s not fair especially given that their ultimate goal is to take care of the family and they’re getting chastised for it.
