Healthy Love and Money Blog

     We have discussed attachment styles in the last few posts. In my LinkedIn article, Determining How You’re Attached in Love and Money, I did an overview about how the attachment theory (which is the study of relationships) determines how you view things, how you react in situations, and how you show up in your relationships. I also explored how by understanding these four styles and identifying them in yourself and your intimate partner, you can more clearly...

      In psychology, the study of relationships is called the Attachment Theory. Defined within the theory, there are four Attachment Styles – secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. These styles show patterned ways you interact in relationships. They begin to develop at birth and run throughout your lives impacting all areas of your relationships. Today we will be looking at your financial life and how your attachment styles will dictate, in part, how you and your...

     I have always been puzzled by the saying “New Year, New You.” We are not new because the calendar flips from one year to the next. We are the same people as we were the previous year. That said, we begin each new year by setting goals and intentions and taking stock of where we are, and where we would like to be. 

     When you do your annual assessment, I would encourage you to spend some time with your partner reflecting on how you sit...

        Financial self-care is something you may not have heard about or fully understand. Most of us recognize self-care as doing things that improve our physical or mental health. Financial self-care is similar. You need to take the time to review your financial situation and figure out how money works in your life. Your finances need your attention and to be cared for in the same way as your body and mind, so that you can reset the financial area of your mind to...

It may surprise you to hear that in my financial therapy sessions we discuss the painful experiences of my client’s past that seem like they are completely unrelated to money. N It often surprises my clients as well. Why do these seemingly-unrelated experiences matter to their financial woes? The truth is the memories of those traumatic situations — no matter how deeply buried — can impact your financial outlook and how you handle your money now. Acknowledging that past pain...

       We are just days away from the holidays, though this year may be different with the pandemic, the chaos and holiday stress will likely remain. The financial impact, family expectations, and social gatherings can all be overwhelming. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as you may think. You will be glad to hear, I am not suggesting budgeting, although that can help. I am referring to practicing financial self-care. It is about becoming aware and...

In my previous posts, we have covered the family-of-origin and how they influence your money stories, how these stories contribute to money fights, and how these fights do not have to be normal inside your marriage or relationships (even if culture may have us believing otherwise). We also touched on how everyone can use the Family Money Tree to identify their money stories, whether single or in a relationship, plus the benefits of doing so. 

In this post, I would like to talk more about...

       Your money stories and beliefs start with your Family-Of-Origin, which encompasses everyone on your family tree, even great grandparents and step-relatives. It is possible these people were deceased before you were born, or have been absent from the family, and yet, they can have an impact on your money stories and beliefs. How? Think about a river. The water starts upstream, and flows downstream, leaves and twigs are picked up along the way. At some point,...

       The topic of money in relationships is a touchy one, one that can lead to money fights. These fights are based on the feelings and emotions you have about money—sometimes called money stories. We all have them, though we may not know where they come from, and you and your partner likely have different money stories. When discussing money, you may believe that your money expectations and goals, are right and your partner’s wrong (and vice versa). This...

        In my previous posts on Financial Wellbeing, I have defined what it is, discussed the practical and emotional side of finances, and explained the three stages of financial wellbeing. By now (assuming you’ve been following along) you should have a clearer idea about your relationship with money and which state you fall in on your journey to your financial wellbeing. The question is, now what? What can you do to get where you want to be?

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