It's Time to Fix Your Finances
Ever feel like you're just winging it when it comes to money? Yeah, us too. Adulting is hard enough, but throw in the complexities of managing finances, and it can feel downright overwhelming.
This week on How to Be a Grownup, we're getting real about financial mindsets. We're diving deep into how our upbringings, societal pressures, and those sneaky negative thoughts can impact our wallets. We're not just talking about budgeting (though we touch on that too!). We're going straight to the source: your mindset.
We're sharing 7 practical and actionable strategies to help you identify limiting beliefs, cultivate positive money habits, and ultimately, achieve your financial goals. Because we're all in this together, mama.
Tune in or read on for a relatable and jargon-free conversation about taking control of your finances and building a brighter financial future. It's time to ditch the "flawed finances" feeling and embrace a more empowered approach to your money. Listen now!

What You Get From This Episode
Discover how your upbringing and societal pressures have shaped your relationship with money: We'll explore the hidden influences that impact your financial mindset.
Identify and challenge your limiting beliefs about money: Learn how to recognize those sneaky negative thoughts that hold you back and replace them with empowering affirmations.
7 actionable steps to reframe your money mindset: From budgeting tips to cultivating gratitude, we're sharing practical strategies you can implement today.
Learn to celebrate your financial wins (big and small!): Because acknowledging your progress is key to staying motivated on your financial journey.
A relatable and jargon-free conversation about money: No complicated financial terms here! Just real talk and practical advice from two moms who get it.
Listen Here
DISCLAIMER: This is not financial advice; listeners should consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.
How our upbringing and societal pressures shape our relationship with money
Think back to your childhood. Were you taught about money? Did you have an allowance? How did your parents talk about money around you?
Whether we realize it or not, our upbringing plays a HUGE role in shaping our beliefs about money. If you grew up in a household where money was always tight, you might subconsciously associate money with stress and scarcity. On the other hand, if you grew up in a household where money was abundant, you might have a different perspective altogether.
And let's not forget about societal pressures! The media constantly bombards us with messages about wealth, success, and the 'perfect' lifestyle. These messages can often leave us feeling inadequate or like we're not doing enough financially. Recognizing how these external influences can impact our money mindset is important.
Identifying and challenging limiting beliefs about money
Now, let's get real. We all have those little (or not-so-little) voices in our heads that whisper negative things about money. Things like, 'I'll never be able to save enough,' or 'I'm not good with money.' These are what we call limiting beliefs, and they can seriously sabotage our financial goals.
Think about it. If you truly believe you're 'bad' with money, are you more likely to avoid budgeting or maybe overspend out of frustration? Probably! These beliefs can become self-fulfilling prophecies.
So, how do we identify these limiting beliefs?
Pay attention to your inner dialogue. What do you tell yourself about money? Do you notice any recurring negative thoughts or phrases? Journaling can also help identify these subconscious beliefs.
Once you've identified those limiting beliefs, it's time to challenge them.
Ask yourself: Is this belief really true? Where did this belief come from? Is there any evidence to support it? Often, these beliefs are based on past experiences, societal conditioning, or even just plain old fear.
Sidenote: This is a good exercise for other areas of your life, too.
How to cultivate a more positive and abundant money mindset
Now that we've identified and challenged our limiting beliefs, it's time to cultivate a more positive and abundant money mindset. This involves shifting our focus from scarcity to abundance.
Forgive yourself for past money mistakes.
Money is complicated and tricky, and not everyone is taught how to manage it effectively (something I’m still bitter about with the public education system).
You probably learned through trial and error, like a lot of other folks do. As Happy State Bank said, “Whatever decisions you’ve made in the past are in the past. Yes, you might still be suffering the consequences of those mistakes, but you don’t have to continually beat yourself up over it. The two most important things to focus on are learning from your mistakes and forgiving yourself.”
Stop comparing yourself to others.
We’ve talked about this before. Comparing yourself to others is bad for you. It’s true with beauty, fashion, relationships… and yes, it’s true in finances.
Social media is a LIE, girlfriend. If want to feel better about the garbage you see on social media, follow accounts like “Influencers in the Wild.” Do you know how many people have been caught taking pictures with beautiful homes, cars, and purses that don’t belong to them? OMG, it’s unreal and amazing.
All this does is make you doubt yourself and crap all over how far you’ve come. This ain’t that.
Create a money mantra.
Replace those negative thoughts with more positive and empowering affirmations. Instead of telling yourself 'I'm bad with money,' try telling yourself 'I am learning and growing in my financial journey.' Small shifts in your inner dialogue can have a big impact on your overall money mindset.
“Money is completely neutral and simply a tool to acquire assets and decrease liabilities.” —veritas643
Money—the object—isn’t good or bad. Money is a tool. Keep that top of mind, and I would even add it to your money mantra moving forward.
Practice gratitude for what you already have.
Appreciate your financial blessings, no matter how small. Celebrate your financial successes, no matter how big or small.
That said, you can be thankful and still have goals.
Visualize your financial goals.
Imagine yourself achieving your financial dreams. What does it feel like? How does it make you feel? Visualizing your goals can help you stay motivated and inspired on your financial journey.
Work on creating good money habits
You’ve beat yourself up. Maybe you’ve accumulated debt. And you know something has to change.
That something could very well be the pattern of behavior you’ve developed around money.
So, face your ughhhhhhhhh!
Educate yourself about budgeting (I like the 50-30-20 method), set small goals to build momentum, dedicate time weekly to go over your finances, and remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and good habits and healthy finances aren’t either.
Also, budgeting doesn’t have to suck. Find a budgeting system that gives you room to spend on things that make you happy.
Celebrate your small wins!
Did you successfully stick to your budget this week? Did you pay off a small debt? Didn’t make that impulse purchase today? Reward yourself (and not with a li’l’ treat) with 10 minutes of something you love. Acknowledge and celebrate these accomplishments. Recognizing your progress will keep you motivated and inspired on your financial journey.
Resources to Learn More
Full disclosure: I (CK) needed fast recs and got these from AI…
Books:
"You Are a Badass at Making Money" by Jen Sincero: A motivational and inspiring book that challenges limiting beliefs about money.
"The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel: Explores the behavioral finance aspects of money and how our emotions and psychology influence our financial decisions.
"Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki: A classic that challenges traditional views on money and investing.
Podcasts:
"Afford Anything" by Paula Pant: A podcast that focuses on building wealth and achieving financial independence.
"Happy Money" by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton: Explores the psychology of happiness and how it relates to money.
Websites and Online Resources:
NerdWallet: A comprehensive personal finance website with articles, tools, and calculators on a wide range of topics.
Investopedia: A leading source for financial information and education, covering everything from investing to budgeting.
Bankrate: Provides valuable information on a variety of financial topics, including credit cards, loans, and insurance.
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Make good choices,
Caitlin & Jenny
Sources for this episode
I got some support from AI for this episode, and of course, Reddit!
Other sources:
DISCLAIMER: This is not financial advice; listeners should consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.
Who We Are
We're former (and current!) educators from Austin, TX, who are passionate about empowering millennial moms to navigate the ups and downs of adulthood with confidence. We aim to bring a relatable and humorous perspective to parenting and finances, drawing on our own experiences and sharing honest, practical advice you can actually use.
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