What’s keeping you from making the changes you know you need to make? The idea of a “growth edge” describes that uncomfortable space where fear, uncertainty, or perfectionism can keep you stuck—even when you know what you want is on the other side. Growth looks different for everyone, and what feels easy to one person can feel genuinely intimidating to another. The same idea applies to money. The best financial decision isn’t always the one that looks optimal on paper. Sometimes, the better choice is the one that supports the life you actually want—even if it isn’t technically perfect. Letting go of the pressure to “do it right” can create the freedom to take action, embrace imperfection, and move toward what matters most. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the confidence to finally make a change, there may be a better way to think about what comes next.

Key Takeaways:

• A growth edge is the point where you begin moving beyond your familiar comfort zone toward something you know you want or need to change.

• Growth edges are highly individual; what feels effortless to one person can be deeply uncomfortable for someone else.

• Self-awareness means distinguishing between “I can't” and “I am not choosing to prioritize this right now.”

• The best way to avoid unwanted advice is sometimes to clearly own a choice rather than frame it as an inability or external constraint.

• Growth often involves consciously choosing which responsibilities you are willing to take on—and which ones you are not.

• Spending more, paying more taxes, or accepting a less-than-optimal financial outcome is not necessarily a mistake when it is an informed choice in service of a person's goals.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) – Reintroduction

(03:36) – Stepping Out

(07:00) – Commitment and Consistency

(08:54) – Growing the Podcast

(13:04) – Podcasting More Frequently

(14:58) – Selling the Book

(19:57) – Freedom and Choice

(22:27) – Change One Thing 

Key Topics Discussed:

Kelley Long, Financial Bliss, Money Mindset, Financial Psychology, Money Psychology, Behavioral Finance, Financial Anxiety, Money Stress, Wealth Mindset, Healthy Relationship With Money, Financial Habits, Money Beliefs, Financial Decision Making, Spending Habits, Saving Habits, Investing Psychology, Financial Confidence, Financial Wellness, Wealth Building, Personal Finance, Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, Financial Independence, Financial Goals, Money and Happiness, Money and Relationships, Scarcity Mindset, Abundance Mindset, Fear of Spending, Fear of Investing, Financial Avoidance, Lifestyle Inflation, Financial Freedom, Values-Based Financial Planning 

More of Financial Bliss:

Get Your Copy of My Book: https://www.google.com/url?q=http://financialblisscoach.com/book&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1787278536772124&usg=AOvVaw3Vv2EfFMi0OktlKwJf2C9T

New Year, same me...

One of the primary reasons we find it impossible to stick to new habits or goals or routines, especially when they are aspirational as New Year's Resolutions tend to be, is because we forget to consider a really important aspect of what it takes.

In this episode, Kelley Long gets into what it is that we often forget to factor in and why sometimes it's ok to not have ANY new goals while still feeling like you're making progress in life.

If you're sick of the constant push for self-improvement or feeling like you're spinning your own wheels on working toward your goals, this episode is for you.

If you're keeping your savings at a big bank with lots of branches, there's a good chance you're losing hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars a year without realizing it. But switching banks feels overwhelming, and how do you even know which one to pick?

In this episode, Kelley Long, financial coach for women, cuts through the noise around high-yield savings accounts, credit unions, and online banks to help you figure out where your money should actually live. You'll learn the red flags to avoid, the surprisingly simple criteria that actually matter, and why making the switch might be easier than you think.

Why do so many people struggle to pay off debt—even when they're doing "everything right"? In this episode, I reveal the one habit that's sabotaging your progress (and keeping you stuck in the cycle). If you're serious about becoming debt-free for good, this is the uncomfortable truth you need to hear. It's not about budgeting harder or earning more—it's about breaking the pattern that got you here in the first place. Plus, I'll share the deeper work you need to do to make sure you stay out of debt forever.

While everyone's debating the big-picture politics of the new tax law, financial expert Kelley Long cuts through the noise to reveal three under-the-radar changes that could actually impact your wallet this year. From a surprising shift that might bring back itemizing deductions for homeowners, to new rules about car loan interest that sound better than they actually are, to a clever 529 strategy for working professionals—this episode focuses on the practical money moves you can make right now. Whether you're cleaning out your closet, car shopping, or paying for professional certifications out of pocket, these insights could be the difference between overpaying Uncle Sam and keeping more of your hard-earned money where it belongs.

Child-free and single women face unique financial pressure from constant wedding and baby shower gift-giving with no reciprocal celebrations. This isn't about financial hardship - it's about intentional spending choices and opportunity cost. Society places gendered expectations on women to be generous and nurturing, labeling those who prioritize their own goals as "selfish" - pressure rarely applied to men. The solution isn't to stop celebrating friends, but to set conscious celebration budgets, create boundaries around gift-giving, and establish your own meaningful milestones worth celebrating. True generosity comes from choice, not obligation, and your financial goals matter too.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the personal finance advice out there. In this episode, Kelley Long breaks down the top 3 things she thinks every woman (and really, every person) should know about their own finances, bare minimum. You’ll learn what those three things are, why they are important and how to figure them out for yourself.

Resources to support this episode:

www.annualcreditreport.com

Decoding Credit Scores

3 Common HSA Mistakes to Avoid

8 Game-Changing Facts About HSAs I Wish I Knew Sooner

The 4 Ways That a Roth IRA Can Help With Your Savings

Are you stuck in patterns that keep you from the life you want, but can't pinpoint what's holding you back? In this eye-opening episode, host Kelley Long explores how the unconscious stories we tell ourselves—especially about money—become the invisible barriers to our dreams. Drawing from the pioneering work of financial therapy experts, she reveals how childhood beliefs about money can sabotage our adult success, even when our circumstances have dramatically changed.

Through a powerful interactive exercise featuring 30 thought-provoking prompts, you'll uncover your hidden "money scripts" and learn to identify which beliefs are keeping you trapped in outdated narratives. Whether you're the person who still feels "poor" despite financial success, or someone who can't enjoy their money even with substantial savings, this episode offers practical tools to rewrite your story. Kelley shares real-world examples of how these unconscious beliefs play out—from missing once-in-a-lifetime experiences to making automatic decisions that conflict with our true goals. Ready to break free from the stories that no longer serve you and create space for the future you actually want?

Based on her work with numerous new and hopeful parents, Kelley Long, CPA financial planner and unbiased money coach shares the top 3 financial considerations for new parents she hears about the most. In this episode, she covers how to think about making decisions around the best way to save for a child's future, what estate planning things you need to figure out ASAP and the new expenses that tend to cause the most challenges with growing families.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

www.savingforcollege.com

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2023/mar/saving-college-new-529-to-roth-irs-transfer-rule/

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/oct/the-ins-outs-roth-iras-for-children/

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/aug/strategic-uses-roth-iras-beyond-retirement/

https://www.financialblisscoach.com/post/want-surprisingly-flexible-savings-options-the-one-account-that-can-help

The term "self-care" has come to mean everything from taking a bubble bath to getting your bikini line waxed and is an area of spending that tends to get a free pass when modern women examine their cash flow.

The truth is that self-care has nothing to do with appearance and has everything to do with building resilience as an act of political defiance.

In this episode, Kelley Long, financial coach and money activist, gets into the nuance of this growing multi-billion dollar industry, with gentle thoughts on where we might be able to strengthen our emotional and financial resistance, by calling this spending what it really is: personal grooming and maintenance.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• The Gospel of Wellness, by Rina Raphael
• Outwitting the Devil, by Napoleon Hill, annotated by Sharon Lechter