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Browse published articles attributed to Cindy Parran Brochu, with full-archive search.
Are you cringing right now at the very mention of financial sacrifice? There is a misconception that sacrifice is a bad thing — and it somehow means you're losing out. It's really quite the opposite, especially when it comes to money goals. Sacrificing something you value for something of greater importance is really a good thing!
Does your financial life seem chaotic and crazy? When it's time to pay your bills, do you know exactly where you put them? I'm wondering how you are simplifying your financial life. Are you spending more on a monthly basis than you're actually making? Do you have several bank accounts that you need to keep track of each month? Financial success is not only about paying attention to where you spend your money and diligently saving, but it's also about taking other action steps and creating systems that simplify and make your financial life easier.
Webster's definition of master is "a person who has dominance or control of something," and this plays a large role in money management. Dominating or controlling something or someone can sound negative but when we're talking money, it's a very good thing. If you aren't in control of your money, you'll become a slave to it, and it will feel as if it's controlling you. This often leaves people feeling frustrated, powerless, ashamed, stressed and overwhelmed.
In your quest for financial fitness, it's normal to think that if you had more money, your life would somehow magically be different. The truth is that more money might help you breathe a little easier, but it doesn't change the way you relate to money or make you a different person than you are right now.
Do you know what your financial IQ is? You have your IQ, or intelligence quotient, that assesses your overall intelligence level, and an emotional IQ, which measures your ability to control your emotions. Your financial IQ is a measure of your financial intelligence - how well you do with money!
What motivation do you need to get your financial life in order and get financially fit? Are you waiting for the next bonus? Or waiting for some certain thing to happen before you take action? What better time than now? There are so many reasons to get started and give your financial life the priority it deserves.
Are you often frustrated, overwhelmed, or worried about your financial situation? Understanding the why can help you to figure out what might need changing. Might it be that you just need to sit down and look at all the numbers and come up with a plan, or is it something deeper than that?
Imagine feeling a strong sense of financial confidence. What would this look like for you? Being financially confident means that you are, without a doubt, in control of your financial life, you know what decisions are the rights ones and you make them with clarity and definiteness, and you have total belief and trust in yourself to achieve all your financial desires.
Summer is such a great time of year, and that normally means you begin to think about your vacation budget. Summer months seem to take away any of the blues and fill you up with sunshine, watermelon and loads of fun; people are more active, full of life and smiles, and generally feeling carefree and happy. Watch out, though, because this carefree attitude can turn to carelessness if you're only paying attention to the sunshine and not your money.
Are you ignoring your financial fitness? You may be if you hear a voice saying to you when you spend money, “I shouldn’t really be buying this,” or “How am I going to pay for this?” Maybe you hear no voice at all. Is it so buried that you wouldn’t even hear it if were screaming at you?
I’ve heard every excuse in the book as to why people decide not to focus on their financial life and make it better -— mostly I hear that people are just too busy. Here’s the truth. Everyone is busy! When there is something that you really want, you find the time to do it, right? Okay, so you might be saying that you really don’t want to focus on your financial life, but that you do really want your financial life to look different?
Creating a healthy relationship with money starts by reducing your money stress. Worry and stress deplete your energy and rob you of precious time that could otherwise be spent doing what brings you joy and happiness. Isn't it time you stop stressing about your finances?
Whether you're looking to change the way you relate to money or want to learn how to set boundaries in relation to spending, you'll need to draw on power from within to help you set your money plan. Money power has nothing to do with how many zeros come before the period but it has everything to do with developing your inner strength in order to feel a strong sense of financial purpose. When you hold a strong sense of financial purpose, there will be nothing or no one that can knock you off course.
Were you ever a part of a team sport? If so, do you remember what it felt like to be a team player? It was, no doubt, exciting to work toward a common goal. When it comes to your financial success, there are certain professionals who should definitely be on your financial team. They include an accountant, estate lawyer, financial coach and financial advisor. These professionals play an important role in helping you achieve your money goals.
Creating a healthy relationship with money starts by reducing your money stress. Worry and stress deplete your energy and rob you of precious time that could otherwise be spent doing what brings you joy and happiness. Isn't it time you stop stressing about your finances?
On your journey to financial independence, you may decide to look at millionaires as your financial role models. Did you know that millionaires are often hard to spot? Many people tend to assume millionaires drive fancy cars, stay in the best of hotels, live in gated communities and dress in the finest of clothes. More often than not, these big spenders are in debt up to their eyeballs and more conce ed about appearance than attaining financial independence.
Whether you like it or not, the time has come -- time to gather all those receipts and paperwork to complete your tax return. Has it been on your mind lately? Whether you'll be getting a tax refund this year or you'll be paying Uncle Sam, here are a few tips to help you in making tax time a little easier and less stressful:
Does spending less lead to living more? Is that really true? Well, it depends who you ask. I'm wondering what having less really means to you. What it means for me is that I'll have less clutter and stuff to worry or think about, which really translates to greater focus on what really matters in my life.
Over-spending, avoidance, excuses, poor planning, no planning -- what is your money stress costing you in terms of your finacial fitness? Besides the obvious - money - it also could be costing you your health, a happy relationship with your partner, peace, fun and overall happiness.
Do you know what the number one issue couples argue about? You guessed it - money! A difference of opinion on the best use of money, lack of communication about money, dishonesty with respect to spending, overspending, what appears to be lack of money, all cause madness in marriage and take away from marital bliss. So, how should you really approach the topic of money in your marriage, and what's the best way to manage your money? Is it best to keep your money in separate accounts or keep it all together?
Is your money telling you what to do or are you telling your money what to do in a money plan? I hope you're telling your money what to do. If you are, it really means that you're making it behave, and making money behave means that you're actively taking charge and managing it. When money is telling you what to do, it typically shows up with more going out of your pocket than is coming in. This happens because of poor spending habits and poor money management.