Tim and Connie decided to call it quits after more than a decade of marriage. There wasn’t a big crisis; it’s just that they grew apart. While one of them wasn’t entirely happy with the decision, they both came to accept that separation, and ultimately divorce, was inevitable. There was just one problem: they both […]
Paying Off Debt: An Effective Budgeting Approach
If a woman is trying to pay off debt, should she let the cleaning lady go? Is that a superfluous cost? What about expensive hockey team fees and equipment costs for her son? Are you tempted to say yes in both cases? If so, consider this: Years ago, two women, Gwen and Jean*, approached me […]
Where do you cheap out?
Have you ever done this: You sit down for a restaurant meal and the waiter hands you the menu, asking if you’d like something to drink. “Water would be great, thank you,” you respond. Then you look over the food offerings with one eye on the items and the other on the price. Your choice […]
Tackling Debt: The Step Many People Omit
Joe and Sally are a couple in their early thirties. They have university degrees and each have good, professional jobs. As a family, they have a strong, six-figure income and no dependants. Despite their income, they are awash in debt, much of it corrosive: credit card and line of credit debt. When I first met them, they had […]
A Place for "Stupid" Financial Questions: Women's Money Group
Last fall, I talked to a heap of women from coast to coast about their challenges with money: What questions did they have? Where did they feel they need support or answers? What’s working financially and what isn’t? It turns out that one of the most common issues for women is the fact that they […]
How to Deal With Multiple Requests for Donations and Money
A reader reached out with the following question: “It seems all people are interested in is what I can do for them financially. I can’t remember the last time I logged onto social media and didn’t get hit with at least one of these pleas: Support my kid’s school or sports fundraiser. Buy my home […]
Do you really save money when you buy items on sale?
“Why aren’t you taking advantage of the massive sales at the moment? You of all people should know you can save a ton of money right now!” An acquaintance couldn’t believe that I was avoiding all of the significant discounts being offered by stores in my area. It’s sale time, what was I thinking? Didn’t […]
When Your Support System Fails You
Have you ever had this happen to you: You get a great idea, one that excites you from your hair down to your toes. Perhaps it has to do with your career, or maybe you’re trying to improve an aspect of your health. Whatever it is, you are energized and gung-ho. Brimming with excitement, you […]
Two important steps to minimize financial worries
*Janet is a disciplined person. She earns a good salary and is careful not to spend too much. She has some debt, and while it’s not an excessive amount, it is enough to bug her. On top of that, she’s not sure if she’s going to have enough for the long run. Every time she […]
Joint or Separate Finances: Scenarios, risks, and considerations
It seems my last blog post about sorting out the right time to combine finances – or not – has got people talking. And arguing. That’s the challenge with a single blog post: it’s a quick overview, not a thesis. Here are a few more scenarios, risks, and points to consider in the ongoing debate […]
