We all know the feeling – when we’re getting a tax return and we feel, well, rich. Not rich like a millionaire, but richer than we were yesterday. It’s like gold falling from heaven. And then it starts. The “what can I use this money for” dreams begin. And believe it or not, we probably dream spending 4 or 5 times the value of our refund. This is money euphoria.

Understanding how you think about money can help you identify your behaviors in real time...and change them on-the-spot.  If you believe you can change your own spending habits, then this video may be powerful enough to get you there.  Are you a Rainy Day Saver? If so, you've got some great behaviors..and some that could get you into trouble. If you're not a Rainy Day Saver, stay tuned for other profiles and share this with someone who might be. It's only about 3 minutes. Thanks for listening !

If saving money were easy we’d all be doing it. And frankly, about 50% of the Boomer population hasn’t saved much at all. If you wish you were saving more, you belong to a VERY BIG club of like-minded people. That doesn’t mean we should let ourselves off the hook – we do need to plan for the future. But here’s why it’s so very hard.

We all have money beliefs, formed during childhood.  We didn’t choose them. They just grew as we processed, experienced, and observed our small world. Often, they came from our parents, or a close role model. We may have adopted similar beliefs, or rebelled.  So here we are today, with our money beliefs.

Money-Life Balance means taking money off a pedestal, and putting your happiness on it.  It means fulfilling your life, instead of pursuing the almighty dollar.   It means spending enough to enjoy life today, and saving enough to enjoy life tomorrow. So, what does money life balance look like? Since it is different for each of us, how do we begin to think about that balance for ourselves?

This is THE YEAR you want to get on top of your cash. GREAT! The worst thing you can do is start with a budget. What? Really? Why? (and secretly, you’re probably thinking Yay!!). Money is not logical. Money is fraught with emotion.  And if you force yourself to do something you “should” be doing, you will find some zillion reasons not to do it. Then you’ll feel bad because you “should” be doing it but aren’t, and you’ll start judging yourself, and then feel like a failure.  You’ll quit.

Dear Readers,

I try to add value to your money-life balance in each of my blogs.  Today, I'm taking a different tack to help you with that same balance by highlighting an event valuable to all of my entrepreneur followers in the Tri-state area.

First of all, I say that it’s important because it really is. And why? Because I believe that nobody has ever presented an event quite like this. An event that is not only chock full of cutting edge strategy but introduces you to the subtle art of leveraging your effort, time and success. It is called:

 The Art of Harmony and Success in Business

When: Tuesday, October 11^th, NYC

Where: At The Lofts at Prince Street, 177 Prince St, New York, NY 10012

Time: 9:30AM to 5PM, Networking Reception 5:15PM-7:15PM (Doors open at 9AM)

“Judgment by Your Peers Sucks”. This phrase comes from The Feel Rich Project,by Michael F. Kay, CFP.  And it could apply to so many things.  Michael talks about how this fear of being judged drives what we eat, what we wear, what we own.  And let’s face it, most of us have it to some degree – but does it fuel your need to spend to keep up a façade?

I’ve been in financial services for almost 30 years.  I have friends who see a big house with new cars outside, and think Wow! Those people are wealthy. They have everything. But often that’s not true.  I see a huge mortgage, leased cars, credit cards with balances on them – and wishful thinking that someday things will work out. 

The stress and anxiety associated with not having enough to pay the bills is often discussed with heartfelt empathy. Do you know that savers often have money anxiety as well?  It’s a misconception that all savers are good at putting away money because they’re financially savvy, and that they’re at peace with the world. Some blindly save and save and save, because they fear running out of cash, or making a bad decision that will erase all of their hard work. That fear is fueled if they don’t have measurable goals to compare what they have versus what they think they’ll need. Fear is often much larger than the actual problem.

Fear is uncomfortable, and unwelcome in our lives. Centuries ago it kept us alive. Now, it’s more about emotional failure or social exposure. How then do we overcome a fear, and face our current situation head-on?

Introducing Jenny Powers, the bubbly, energetic and successful creator of Running with Heels, a women’s networking group in NYC. While in Vegas vacationing with her family, Jenny had the opportunity to go zip-lining.  It was on Jenny’s bucket list – the same list many of us have – adventure, making peace with those we love, and conquering something we’ve always been afraid to tackle.