AB 15: PLAY – What is the impact of fun on our finances?

Kristine welcomes guest Elena Bell who shares how she drastically reduced her expenses and saved her house. But this isn't a conversation about budgets and spreadsheets, this is a conversation about what it means to completely recalibrate your financial identity in order to move your money ship in a brand new direction.    Elena is a licensed clinical social worker who was doing a lot of stuff right – she owned her home, she had excellent credit, fully employed, paying all her bills and then, one day, one letter in the mail turned her world upside down.   Keep listening and you'll hear her story unfold in four phases. First, she entered a Pain Cycle Phase – where she reached out for help. Second, she entered a Power Cycle Phase – where she gained some knowledge. Third, she entered a Maintenance Phase – where she consistently made better choices. And then she entered a Phase of Thriving – where she is now building wealth.   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/    

Miata and Kristine offer some counterintuitive perspectives on what balance – in any area of one's life – actually looks and feels like.   Miata maintains that the way you define "balance" impacts your level of self-criticism, and Kristine explains why she considers balancing one's life to be an active state, not a static goal.    Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/

Kristine welcomes guest Sarah joining who shares her emotional journey across the threshold of a milestone birthday... which, as a result of her bravery, included a significant expansion in her financial life.   After spending most of her 20's and 30's as an actress and a playwright in New York, Sarah made a complete lifestyle and career pivot and, is now a seasoned digital strategist and political campaign manager.   As her 40th birthday approached and her financial ambitions grew, she realized that some of her habits, thoughts and parts her identity were no longer serving her very well.  So, despite some initial fear and resistance, she decided to summon her courage, get some quality guidance, and step into full ownership of the value she brings to the marketplace. Sarah turned stocks into a side biz AND she increased her annual salary by $28,000.   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/

Miata and Kristine discuss their definitions of resiliency and their interpretations of what the concept of "the obstacle is the way" actually means.   Miata analyzes one of her biggest moments of financial resiliency (repaying $80,000 of credit card debt) and Kristine notes the difference between self-sufficiency and resilience (and why exhibiting resilience attracts people to want to help you).   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/

Kristine welcomes guest Courtney Shane who shares her inspirational story of shifting from someone with a "starving artist" mentality to someone who lifted herself up and into a six-figure support job that provides her with a new sense of financial and creative freedom.   And she most definitely is creative; she's an actor, dancer, voice over artist, clown (as in: trained by Cirque du Soleil), producer, director, content creator... and now, coder.   Her financial transformation started with some odds definitely stacked against her and her husband. Not only did they have to learn how to have a more empowered relationship with money and put some new habits and structures in place, but they also had to unlearn their old – and distinctly different – money stories. Because even though Courtney quadrupling her annual income was a positive shift in their lives, it was something they each had to adjust to.   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/  

Miata and Kristine chat about how creating intentionally healthy partnerships can increase your abundance – because partners are the ones who help you stretch, encourage you to stretch, and point out when you are resisting stretching.   Miata shares the origin story of one of her oldest partnerships (and why she remembers it to this day!) and Kristine explores the distinctions between a partner and a guide.   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/

Kristine welcomes guest Liza Fernandez who shares the candid story of the moment the "Cinderella bubble" that she had been living in popped and she was confronted with the harsh truth of her financial situation.    For Liza, an actress who grew up in Australia, making her way to New York and then to Los Angeles was a dream come true. And although she had been relying on the kindness of a few Prince Charmings throughout her life, this is the tale of how she became her own hero and saved herself.   No matter how painful some of the lessons were, she committed to learning how to stand on her own two feet and learning how to show up as a mature and equal partner in a relationship (even when her income was much less than his).   In just a few years, Liza did a full financial 180 – transforming her relationships with herself, her partner, and her money.   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/

Miata and Kristine compare their own (and very different) relationships with play and they each share stories they had to unwind from in order to incorporate more joyful recreation into their schedules.   Can you generate wealth without play? Yes. Can you experience "success" without play? Certainly. Can you create the texture of a truly abundant life without play? Glad you asked...   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/

Kristine welcomes guest Ruthy Otero who shares how she grew beyond her initial shame around not knowing what she "thought she should know" about money to becoming one of the first Abundance Bound course facilitators for the Financial Empowerment Program   As it is for so many of us, Ruthy's family of origin wasn't able to offer much in the way of solid financial guidance – especially in relation to her life as an artist and non-traditional earner. So she chose to seek out a community that understands the challenges of having income that fluctuates and that provides a space where it feels safe to be a beginner without any judgement.   Working at Abundance Bound became an additional source of income for Ruthy, as did the little side biz that she started shortly after the pandemic began.   Over time, her relationship with money matured into one filled with much more clarity, intimacy, and kindness.   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/

Miata and Kristine discuss the value of making conscious and informed choices regarding the people we are motivated and influenced by – especially when it comes to our relationship with money.   Miata shares a story illustrating the "dark side" of role models, and Kristine delineates the very important differences between role models and coaches.   Full show notes and more info here: https://abundancebound.com/the-podcast/