‘Budgeting’ has been on my mind lately :)

These days, I like to refer to budgeting as a ‘Map of Intention’, an ‘Intentional Budgeting Process’ or just ‘Creating a Plan for our Goals’.  Some people like to call it a ‘Spending Plan’, but, to me, that leaves out some of the other important parts of our planning that include our current income goals, saving goals, giving goals, etc.

I now see ‘budgeting’ as an ongoing process that I have a relationship with on a monthly and yearly basis.  It is not static, something I create and then I am bound to stay exactly within those parameters. It is a process where I choose to stay in touch with my budget intentions, at the end of each month, to make sure I am staying in alignment with current values and goals in how I am making my money, spending my money, saving my money, paying off debt, etc.

  And, when I veer off track, I take the time to understand what is working and what is not working and either come back to the same intentions (and try again) or adjust some part of the plan.  I also take the time, to celebrate the parts that are working, improving and the lifestyle I am getting to experience.  And, lastly, I take time to learn about myself along the way: How is my money relationship playing itself out right now? And, how is it affecting my self worth, purpose, relationships..., etc.?

Also, it is a tool that is dependent and shaped by what is happening in our lives, what phase we are at in our lives, what our current goals and priorities are and how much we are bringing in at the time.  So, our budgets will need to be re-vamped or created from scratch again and again when we go through transitions ie: illness, divorce, marriage, having a baby, new job, loss of job, starting a new business, business booming, new goal arises, etc.

How to have new Money Conversations:

Tips on how to set up Money Partners & Money Dates

In my work, I like to support transparency around our relationship and actions with our
finances. I am thrilled when I hear that all of you are initiating new money conversations
with the people closest to you. 

I know that many of us come from families that do not talk about money or some of us
come from families that talk 'too much' about money. We need to find the right balance
here. And, for many of us, it is typically being willing to open up and start sharing
our money experiences in a new way and in a safe way.

And, I don't mean I am encouraging you to start screaming your money story (strengths
or challenges) from the rooftops. But, I am inviting you to find a few, or start with one,
safe person to start having new and different money conversations with.

Who can you imagine feeling comfortable with (or slightly stretching yourself) to talk to
about money in a new way?  A friend, a spouse, a partner, a colleague, a sibling, a parent or a child (of appropriate age), or even a journal to start!

Here are some examples:

Having new money conversations with a sibling and comparing notes on your upbringing and how the similarities and differences have played themselves out in your adult money patterns.

7 Mini Exercises to Help you Determine Your Value & Fees

And, other side notes... :)

As par for the course and par for my 4 month Conscious Bookkeeping, Level 1: Wake UP With Money Tele-Course, many people in the group are grappling with how to value oneself, determine their fees and charge for their services in the world! 

I know some of you are credit card free and are committed to never using them again and/or to never starting to use them in the first place and I salute you! I have seen many financially responsible people go to credit cards in the last year with the shifts in the economy or due other significant junctures in our lives (getting sick, having a child, divorcing, losing a job, etc).

Here are a few resources for what do with your current credit cards.

This article in the NY Times by Ron Lieber (was posted back in August 2009) although, it is still very helpful regarding the current credit card changes and it offers some good options for all us:

Hi There~

Lately I have been writing in my blog often....although it happens to only be happening in my head! :)  You see, my little guy, Noah, who is almost 16 months old is really the focus of my life right now, plus trying to sleep and hike and eat some food and oh, yes, get some time with my husband and a few close friends.

While I have my Monday - Wednesday office hours (10 - 14 hours per week), where a nanny is here with Noah. That time is really consumed with teaching my 4 month Wake UP With Money Course (I typically have 1 or 2 going at the same time), seeing some private Financial Therapy clients and then offering some 30 minute free Intake Sessions to provide a sounding board, direction and resources to this community.

Yin and Yang Currency~

Bari here, writing my first blog post. Or rather, my first article. Yeah!  I do not have a current head shot of me so i thought i would include a recent family photo for my first blog article~

The first time I saw Bernard Lietaer's power point presentation on ‘The Role of Complementary Currencies',  I sat back in awe and utter excitement.

This is the second guest post in this series by April Lane Benson.

April Lane Benson, PhD., is a nationally known psychologist who specializes in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder. She has been in private practice in New York City for over 30 years. Dr. Benson is the founder of Stopping Overshopping, LLC (linked to website), and creator of Stopping Overshopping, a comprehensive program to help eliminate compulsive buying. She is the editor of I Shop, Therefore I Am: Compulsive Buying and the Search for Self (linked to page on website about book). Her newest book To Buy Or Not To Buy?: Why We Overshop and How to Stop, is scheduled for publication at the end of 2008.
www.stopingovershopping.com

By now we all know that a transaction need not occur within the walls of a store for it to be titled “shopping. ” And no matter how clearly you know what you’re shopping for, there are always pressures to overshop. Shopping—at a mall, on the Internet, or even from a catalog—is almost guaranteed to stir up feelings and impulses. Mindful shopping can help in all of these cases.

This is a guest post by April Lane Benson.

April Lane Benson, PhD., is a nationally known psychologist who specializes in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder. She has been in private practice in New York City for over 30 years. Dr. Benson is the founder of Stopping Overshopping, LLC (linked to website), and creator of Stopping Overshopping, a comprehensive program to help eliminate compulsive buying. She is the editor of I Shop, Therefore I Am: Compulsive Buying and the Search for Self (linked to page on website about book). Her newest book To Buy Or Not To Buy?: Why We Overshop and How to Stop, is scheduled for publication at the end of 2008.
www.stoppingovershopping.com

 To Buy or Not To Buy— it’s a question we ask and answer almost every day, if not multiple times a day. For many people, this question is one that doesn’t cause much inner turmoil. But for compulsive buyers, it’s a high stakes question, and an affirmative answer can be devastating.