If you've ever wondered how much you should be spending on the different categories of your budget, you're not alone. This is one of the top questions my clients ask me when we first start working together. In this episode, let's talk about why following what you “should” do often leads to undesired results and a better way to decide how much to spend on your budget categories. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/98 for the full episode show notes.

My client Alex felt confused with all the conflicting advice out there about how to manage his money. He also felt trapped by his student loans and didn't think he would be able to accomplish some of his life goals, like buying a house, until years down the line when he had paid them off. After working with me, those thoughts and feelings totally changed. In this episode, Alex and I chat about our work together, including how he shifted his view of money and checked off some of those life goals—while still paying off some of his debt—in less than a year. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/97 for the full episode show notes.

If you're looking to your financial situation to feel secure, you're not alone. So many lawyers think a larger bank account or higher income will make them feel more secure—but they're mistaken. In fact, seeking security in your financial situation often leads to never feeling satisfied with what you have. In this episode, let's talk about why looking to your financial situation to feel a certain way doesn't work and how to find security inside yourself instead. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/96 for the full episode show notes.

As lawyers, we often get really caught up in doing things the “right” way or wanting to make the “right” decision. But what if there is no right or wrong when it comes to personal finance? In fact, what if looking for the “right” way leads to spinning in indecision and not making progress? In this episode, let’s talk about why lawyers try to make the “right” decision, how it holds you back from the progress you want, and how to think about making decisions instead. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/95 for the full episode show notes.

So many of us live our lives on autopilot, going through the motions and not questioning anything or really being intentional about what we're doing. Awareness is recognizing your thought and behavior patterns and really questioning them and deciding if you want to keep them. When you bring awareness to the way you think about money and the way you spend your money, you will discover the most valuable data to help you achieve your financial goals. In this episode, let's talk about why awareness is so valuable and go through some exercises to bring awareness to the way you think about money and the way you spend your money. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/94 for the full episode show notes.

Sometimes when lawyers are thinking about getting control of their money, they focus on the things they don't like about the process and what they don't want to do. It's an un-useful exercise that hinders some from even getting started. In this episode, let's talk about why focusing on what you don't like or don't want to do keeps you from achieving your goals and a better place to focus your attention. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/93 for the full episode show notes.

One of the biggest misconceptions lawyers have about money and money management is that it has to be complicated. If you think money has to be complicated, you'll likely either avoid your finances altogether or make them more complicated than they have to be. In this episode, let's chat about what happens when we believe money is complicated, why money is actually very simple, and some tips to simplify your personal finances. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/92 for the full episode show notes.

Do you feel like you've tried everything to get your money under control, and nothing has worked? Many lawyers tell me some version of this statement. It's a very common sentiment, but it's also one of the most unhelpful things you can tell yourself when you're working to achieve your money goals. In this episode, let's talk about the actual belief underlying this statement, why it's holding you back from achieving your goals, and what to do instead. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/91 for the full episode show notes.

"I should already know how to do this." "I should be able to do this on my own." These thoughts come up a lot for lawyers with respect to money and many other areas of life. We often feel shame and embarrassment for seeking support because we're smart, so we shouldn't need it, right? But what if the smart thing is getting the help you need so you can actually get the thing done? In this episode, I'm sharing a few examples of the many times in my life I've sought support and how my clients benefit from seeking my support with their finances. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/90 for the full episode show notes.

My client Toni-Ann Mayembe felt so overwhelmed by her multiple-six-figure student debt and her $20,000+ credit card balances that she simply avoided them altogether. After struggling for some time and not making any progress, she reached out to me—a decision she says has changed her life forever. In this episode, Toni-Ann and I chat about our work together, including the biggest thing that helped her pay off all of her credit card debt and one of her student loans in only six months. Head to https://www.rhothomas.com/89 for the full episode show notes.