Archive for May, 2012

When we asked women this question, 260 spoke up and the three top categories were:

• Finances or Money – 36%
• Confidence -  22%
• Don’t know where to start or Clarity – 13%

Some of your individual comments were:

• Have difficulty with focus and organizing my knowledge
• Looking to start my coaching business — giving up the security of a previously steady income
• I have lots of ideas but no clarity on where to go from here
• Big financial downward spiral after multiple health & family crises
• I do not know how to manage my finances — I can’t seem to move forward because I have no clue how to do what it takes to make it happen.
• Since my beloved husband passed away I’ve been in the hospital three times, and lost some of my enthusiasm and confidence.
• I say financial and I also think it stems from self esteem issues
• How do I create income doing what I love?

What IS critical to notice from these comments above is that although money is the #1 issue, it is totally connected to issues confidence and clarity.  Remember how we handle money affects every area of our lives:  where we live, where our children go to school, who we associate with, where we vacation, and even our food and health care that we receive.

Best of all, it’s never too late to late to start making smart money choices, which is why I’m sharing top 3 tips for taking charge of your money.”

Tip #1:  Clear Up Money Clutter

Money clutter can appear in many forms. The most common is of course in the form of unpaid or late bills, stacks of paperwork, lack of proper bookkeeping, overstuffed wallets, and lack of clarity when it comes to money.

The second issue comes from mental or emotional clutter when it comes to money which includes overwhelm, fuzzy thinking, procrastination and even fear.  So schedule the time to get organized, find your stuff and have a system.  You are welcome to pick up my financial organizer planner which will show you how to set up a filing system.  I created it specifically for an elderly client, but it will work for anyone. Pick up your free copy here today! (see top right corner – listed as  Caregiver’s Manual)

Tip #2:  Track Every Penny In and Out

When it comes to money, ignorance is NOT bliss. Money loves to be paid attention to and it WILL get your attention, one way or another. By tracking what you make and what you spend every day, you’re giving money the attention it requires. I use a simple tracking form where I jot down the total amount of revenue I’ve brought in each day. For expenses, I tuck all receipts into one handy folder and let my bookkeeper enter the expenses in a tracking program such as Quicken.  You will be amazed at how fast you begin attracting greater income, spending less, feeling more confident and having more clarity!

Tips #3: Stop Spending Money You Don’t Have

Only purchase consumable items like clothes, food, entertainment, gasoline, salon items, etc. on credit if you have the discipline to pay off the balance in full each month. Otherwise, you have nothing to show for it, and it creates stress and sabotages your ability to create wealth.

The only time it makes sense to use your credit card for a purchase that may not be paid in full at the end of the month is if you’re investing in training and education that will help you grow your business.  That’s because investing in yourself is always the best investment you can make. Just be sure you have a clear payoff plan written out so you stay in financial integrity and make your investment pay off.

It’s Time To Become a Smart and Wealthy Woman Who Is Living Her Perfect Life.

Highly successful women understand their relationship with money is one of the most important, long lasting and revealing relationships they’ll ever have.  Just remember, by respecting your money and creating a plan, you’re respecting yourself in a positive and powerful way that is priceless.

Ladies, it’s time to put ourselves on the list. With everyone pulling us in every direction and all wanting a part of us, it’s so easy to keep moving our own needs down to the bottom of the list, but let’s think again.

A few years ago, I was told that I needed both knees replaced. The doctors wouldn’t do the surgery until I was older (after 50) and quite frankly, I am putting it off as long as possible. In fact, I hope to avoid it. Because I am passionate about what I do,  I tend to be a workaholic. The problem I run into, is that I can put self care on the back burner and that’s probably part of the knee problem.

When I turned 50, I realized that unless I take action now, having lots of money and poor health is a terrible scenario. Besides, my husband is five years younger than I am and when he retires, we have plans for lots of travel and golf.

Since the beginning of the year, I have implemented three new smart choices in my life and I’d like to share them with you. My goal was to lose weight, feel more focused and calm today…and then ensure a more vibrant lifestyle later in my life with Mark.

Here is what I did:

• I joined a yoga class and am attending classes about three times a week. I notice that I feel much calmer, more focused and feel lighter on my feet.
• I have eliminated almost all processed food in my diet and actually spent 30 days on a special diet plan that changed my life.
• I have created a bedtime ritual (inspired by Smart Women Contributing Expert, Marci Shimoff’s 10:30 Angel Train) where I journal before bed to clear my mind, listen to music,  and read.  In addition, I have begun to listen to one of Hypnosis Guru, Steve G. Jones mp3s, and it’s been fabulous.  I try to stay away from the TV and computer after 9 pm at night.
• I am drinking lots of filtered water with lemon during the day. Here is the formula for how much water you should drink: weight divided by two and add a zero. TIP: If you weigh 150#, then you want to drink 70 oz of water daily! Many times when we feel hungry, it could just be dehydration.

These are my results.  I have lost 25 pounds, I am sleeping so much better and waking up a lot earlier, and I am much more focused and optimistic during the day.

When we get ready to retire some day, having all the money in the world will mean nothing  if we don’t have our health, right? By taking making some simple changes, I find I am more affective at work, and happier and more active at home with my family at night. Plus the yoga class is amazing…my goal is to go five times week.

What steps are you taking today to live happy, wealthy and healthy? I’d like to know! Leave your comments below!

Katana Abbott, CFP, CSA
Founder and Prosperity Coach
www.howtocreateprosperity.com