The very first time I met Eniola, I asked her how much she paid for her house. Although she was a little surprised by the question, she graciously answered me, and we were able to have a conversation about real estate costs and options in our area.

While social conventions sometimes discourage this kind of discussion, I’ve found that casual chats about money between friends allow us to share financial information and experiences that give each of us more clarity and power as we navigate our own financial circumstances, like negotiating an interest rate or asking for a salary increase.

In today’s episode, Eniola and I reflect on our first conversation which gave Eniola insight on housing prices in our area and the discussion that helped Eniola to negotiate a higher salary at her new job, as well as a more recent chat we had that convinced Eniola to raise her consultation rate.

If you want to make the financial decisions that are the most beneficial to you, then information is power. My conversation with Eniola today will convince you that having money conversations and exchanging financial knowledge with those around you will empower you to take control of your financial life and achieve the results you desire.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[08:23] How open conversations about money allow us to make better informed decisions, especially around housing costs and financing options

[15:35] How discussing salary negotiations with a friend helped Eniola get substantial salary increase as she started a new job

[29:42] Why who you choose to discuss money with can change depending on your season of life

[34:34] How asking your friends and colleagues “What don’t I know?” can lead to new financial insights, like career development opportunities

[38:32] How asking questions allows you to discover new financial opportunities, like uncovering pay scales or per diem resources from your employer

Tune in to this episode of Money Files to hear my friend Eniola and I chat about honest money conversations and how they’ve improved our financial lives.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript:

https://wealthovernow.com/an-honest-money-conversation-with-my-friend-eniola

Links mentioned in this episode…

Mimosas + Money Matters

Previous episode: Negotiating for the Salary You Desire & Deserve with Kim Tran

Have you ever taken the time to think about your relationship with debt? Many of my clients come to me with student loan debt, personal loans, or credit card debt.

Their thoughts are consumed with trying to figure out how to manage paying off their debt while also working towards other goals like buying a home, building an emergency fund, or having extra money to do things they enjoy like traveling or enjoying a spa day.

In today’s episode I help you reframe your relationship with debt so you can then decide how you want to approach paying down debt in your own life.

This episode will help you discover the root cause of your debt, engage you in a flexible plan to help you pay down your debt, and identify ways to ease the financial burden so you can pay off your debt sooner.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

[01:14] The debt brain-dump and how it can help you sort out your feelings around your debt

[04:43] How the financial awareness you gain from a debt brain dump allows you to make adjustments in the way you handle your money

[07:30] Why examining your motivations will help you choose a debt payoff strategy that works best for your unique situation

[12:03] Why you shouldn’t turn to balance transfers until you understand why you’re in debt

[16:49] How you can change debt payoff from feeling restrictive to expansive by looking for ways to make extra money and finding extra money in your budget

[24:52] Why changing your mindset and paying off your debt can open up opportunities you never thought possible

Tune in to this episode of Money Files to change your mindset around debt and pay it off for good.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript:

https://wealthovernow.com/how-examining-your-mindset-around-debt-can-help-you-pay-it-off

Are you trying to decide between saving money or paying down debt? Maybe you’re intimidated by trying to save a certain amount because you’ve never been “good” at saving money, or you’re tempted to pay off some of your big credit card balances or student loans with every spare dollar you have. But if you don’t have any savings for unexpected expenses, you’ll be stuck using credit cards and adding to your debt instead of paying it down.

Instead of trying to decide between paying off debt and saving, you can do both by asking yourself a different question: “How can I pay myself first?”

So many of my clients start out saving their leftover money after rent, utilities, and other expenses each month, but I want you to start paying yourself first by setting aside money each month for an emergency fund before you allocate your money anywhere else. Even if it’s just $25 a month, consistently saving any amount helps you build that muscle and lays the groundwork for you to save more over time.

In today’s episode, I’m going to help you rethink how to save money for yourself and reevaluate just how much money you need to save in an emergency fund for your specific circumstances (and it might differ from some of the classic advice you’ve heard before). This shift in your mindset will let you build confidence in the belief that you ARE someone who can save money, save consistently, and prioritize your own financial health. You’ll be able to plan how you save, find opportunities to boost your savings, and feel in control of your financial future.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

Tune in to this episode of Money Files to start building your emergency fund and prioritizing your financial health.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript:

https://wealthovernow.com/shift-the-way-you-think-about-saving-to-build-better-financial-habits

Are you making “good money,” but still feel you can’t do what you want with your money without concern of “how am I going to pay for this?”  You might think making more money will solve your financial desire to travel more, pay off debt, or reach your next goal of buying a home. But you can’t out-earn your spending habits, so to create clarity with your finances you need to start giving every dollar a name.

In today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through my process of naming every dollar you earn so that you aren’t overworking your money. This process will help you take the shame out of your finances and help you to get to know your numbers so you can plan and spend with intention.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Tune in to this episode of Money Files to learn how to give every dollar a name and start building the life you want.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/how-giving-every-dollar-a-name-will-help-you-make-financial-progress

Links mentioned in this episode…

Mimosas + Money Matters

I first shared Brent’s journey shortly after he finished working with me in my five month coaching partnership. In this conversation I caught up with Brent almost two years later and we’re pulling back the curtain to hear about his financial journey after working with me.

Before working with me Brent spent his mental energy either agonizing over his imperfect finances or avoiding them as much as possible. He was constantly worried about having enough and would use his credit card between paydays to sustain his lifestyle.

When we finished coaching together Brent was about to move into a new apartment, which meant he needed to shift his budget.  In fact, this past year has been one met with new financial experiences as Brent has navigated unexpected expenses, shifts in financial goals, and rising inflation. This last year of managing his finances on his own has helped Brent let go of perfectionism and embrace the shift in his money mindset.

In our conversation today, you’ll hear Brent share several powerful thoughts and questions he uses to embrace a healthy financial mindset.

Instead of old questions like “Will I have enough money for this?”, he learned to ask “Will this purchase align with how I want to use my money?” He gained confidence in his ability to adjust his budget in real time. Instead of beating himself up over a forgotten fee, now he just adds it into his budget for the next month and moves on.

Being able to trust in the financial management system he has now means that Brent has been able to invest that energy into other areas of his life. He’s been able to let go of worrying about getting his finances perfect, and uses money dates to check in periodically instead. Brent’s taken that extra time and energy to work on his fitness and health, hiring a personal trainer and setting aside money each month to cover that expense. He used the self-confidence he gained from feeling in control of his finances to negotiate a raise at his job. And Brent, who used to live paycheck-to-paycheck, now has both an emergency fund and enough savings built up to cover three months of utilities to be able to live on, giving him a sense of freedom and security he never thought possible before.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Tune in to this episode of Money Files to hear all the details about Brent’s financial results almost two years after he started working with me.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/how-brent-ditched-perfectionism-and-got-intentional-with-his-spending

Links mentioned in this episode…

Brent’s First Episode

You’re often told that you’re supposed to do life a certain way. Finish K-12, graduate with a college degree, then get a full-time job. We’re taught that life progresses in a linear fashion. But life isn’t always linear. And neither is your financial journey. Sometimes, you may take one step forward and two steps back. But that doesn’t mean failure. Everything is a learning experience. Everything is progress.

A thought that I share often with my clients is, “You got this.” I want you to believe in yourself. I want you to have your own back. I want you to know how to encourage yourself to keep going.  Notice the shifts in your thinking, in your actions, and in your results and celebrate how those changes have improved your financial well–being. You don’t have to be perfect with your money; we’re all making progress a day at a time.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing three milestones that I talk about with my clients. Celebrating these milestones will reinforce the mindset shifts you’ve made and allow you to reflect on how far you’ve come on this journey already. Reminding yourself that you’ve made progress and that you understand how to manage your money in a more mature way will continue to build your financial confidence and set you up for long-term success.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Tune in to this episode to learn why you should celebrate your milestones and wins.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/why-financial-results-dont-have-to-be-linear

Links mentioned in this episode…

Join my live group coaching calls, Mimosas + Money Matters

Download my FREE spending plan

If your story is similar to my own, you might have opened your first credit card with the intention of building your credit. But, years later, your credit line increased and the way you use your card changed, perhaps without you even noticing. Instead of using your credit card as a tool to boost your financial health or to earn cash back and rewards, now it’s just an easy way to make purchases and pay them back later. Or maybe not, if the balances are getting away from you.

But, it’s not really an issue with credit cards, is it? Credit cards can be great financial tool as long as we’re using them in a financially mature way, which means understanding their benefits and costs and establishing better credit card practices that allow you to be intentional about how you spend your money.

In today’s episode, I’m talking about the importance of identifying your intentions with your credit card use and understanding how you’re actually spending money when you use your card. I’m also sharing three tips that will help you be more intentional about how you use your credit cards.

Whether you’re someone who is paying down debt or someone who pays their monthly balance in full, building a better relationship with your credit cards will build awareness of your spending as well as help you get out (and stay out) of debt.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Tune in to this episode to learn how to use your credit cards with intention.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/how-to-build-a-better-relationship-with-your-credit-cards

Links mentioned in this episode…

Join my live group coaching calls, Mimosas + Money Matters

Download my FREE spending plan

Overspending is a common challenge for my clients. Fluctuating categories like groceries, shopping, and travel can catch you off guard if you’re not paying attention and spending with intention. Many people live with the thought that budgeting will be too restrictive, so they don’t track their money at all, leading to shame and buyer’s remorse.

But budgeting isn’t about restriction. It gives you freedom and flexibility and a way to get back on track even when you do overspend. It allows you to ground yourself in the numbers and to avoid getting lost in the emotions that can feel overwhelming around money. Because even with a budget, overspending happens. It’s all about how you respond to overspending and having helpful tools in place to bring more intention to your spending.

So, in today’s episode, I’m walking you through four common causes of overspending. Then, I’m giving you 10 tips that you can implement to go from feeling reactive about money to being in control of your money. These tips will help you stay grounded in financial reality, while allowing you room to prioritize the financial and personal goals that bring you the most joy.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Tune in to this episode to learn how to build your financial confidence and achieve your money goals.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/how-to-navigate-overspending-without-guilt

Links mentioned in this episode…

My Free 5-Day Financial Habit Tracker

Fear of failure is something I hear about a lot from my clients. If they get out of debt, they’re afraid they’ll get back into it. They overdrafted before, maybe they’ll overdraft again. They feel like making a misstep means starting back from square one.

This fear could be why you haven’t started a budget or revisited your money goals or started tackling your debt. Like many of my clients, you might be scared that the process won’t work. Scared you’re going to have to start over.

But success isn’t linear. The ebbs and flows of your money are data points. They serve as information, not an opportunity for judgment. Every misstep provides an opportunity to reflect and ask yourself how you can move forward differently in the future. It offers you a moment to ask yourself how you define failure and if you truly failed in this moment, or if, perhaps, you’ve just been given an opportunity to use the skills you’ve learned from your past experiences to make better choices going forward.

In this episode, I want you to think about why you haven’t started over (or started at all) when it comes to your financial success. You’ll learn questions to ask yourself that will help you get curious about your relationship with money. You’ll learn to rethink the way you look at financial failures or new financial circumstances so that you can apply the experience you’ve gained to have your own back when it comes to making better decisions about your money. You can always start over. Don't be afraid to begin again. And I want to empower you with the confidence to do that.

Tune in to learn how to build financial confidence and awareness that will last a lifetime.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Tune in to this episode to learn how to build your financial confidence and achieve your money goals.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/starting-over-is-just-another-step-toward-financial-progress

Links mentioned in this episode…

Money Files Episode 7: Moving Forward After Financial Failure

When I first met Amy and Jennifer, they hadn’t ever put much forethought into their finances in their 23 years together. They didn’t manage their money together, set goals together, or even think through their spending together. They had dreams, but they had no idea how to reach them financially.

Learning how to discuss and manage their finances as a team helped them transform their relationship with money.

During our ten months working together, Amy and Jennifer learned how to have honest, productive conversations about their finances. Amy was able to hand over some financial responsibility, Jennifer quit her job to start her own business, and their entire family made a long-awaited cross-country move – all because they started looking at their numbers together.

This shift has allowed Amy and Jennifer to reach a level of financial stability they never thought possible. In our conversation today, you’ll hear how they transformed their financial situation by working on their individual and joint money mindsets. You’ll see that managing money with your partner isn’t about controlling one another, but instead about empowering each other to make smart, fulfilling money decisions.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

Tune in to this episode to learn about managing your money with your partner and becoming a financially confident couple.

Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/how-financial-coaching-transformed-amy-and-jennifers-joint-finances