177: Ask a Money Therapist: Spending money guilt, debt anxiety, and rigidity

Get insight on shifting your mindset from saving to spending when entering retirement, how to manage money with a partner when the shared account gets low at the end of each month, and dealing with anxiety when you have debt directly from Michigan’s first financial therapist, Lindsay Bryan-Podvin. Sometimes, hearing from others with similar conundrums can help you understand your own stressors and think about different ways to cope or overcome them. JOIN THE FREE WEEKLY MIND MONEY BALANCE NEWSLETTER & GET INFO ON NOT ANOTHER BUDGETING CHALLENGEhttps://www.mindmoneybalance.com/newsletterREAD THIS INSTEADhttps://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/ask-a-money-therapist 

Self-care isn’t always about adding more to your skin care routine or journaling regimen; often, it starts with doing less. It's a simple, therapeutic reframe: what if the best thing you can do for your well-being, or your finances, is take something off your plate? If you're craving a low-maintenance life that actually supports your mental and financial health, this is your invitation to try a new and much gentler approach. In this episode, financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin explores self-care by subtraction. She shares how simplifying your money life can ease burnout, reduce overwhelm, and reconnect with what actually matters.READ THIS INSTEADhttps://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/financial-self-care-by-subtraction

In this episode, financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin walks you through the essential legal and financial documents unmarried couples (and poly partners or cohabitating besties!) should consider, like cohabitation agreements, estate planning tools, and property titles. Whether you’re sharing a home, finances, or a life together, these protections can offer clarity and peace of mind, without a marriage certificate.Planning while you're in love and of sound mind is one of the kindest things you can do for your future selves. TL;DR: If you don’t make a plan, the state will make one for you.READ THIS INSTEAD:https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/protecting-your-relationship-without-marriageJOIN THE NEWSLETTER:https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/newsletter

Shopping has become easier than ever, which makes overconsumption more common, tempting, and a go-to coping skill for many of us. Overconsumption can impact your mental well-being, increase stress, and clutter your home and mind. In this video, I’m breaking down what overconsumption really is, the psychology of overspending, and how to resist consumerism without shame or guilt.👉 READ THIS INSTEADhttps://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/how-to-stop-overconsumption💌 JOIN THE FREE WEEKLY MIND MONEY BALANCE NEWSLETTER https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/newsletter

There is a real affordability crisis caused by decades of underbuilding, restrictive zoning, slow permitting, and rising costs. In this episode, Michigan's first financial therapist explains that housing is a social determinant of health, impacting both mental and physical well-being. Learn why it feels like no one can afford a home and what you can do to advocate for more housing. Read this instead: https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/housing-stability-movement Join the Mind Money Balance Newsletter:https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/newsletter

You can start improving how you treat money in about 2 minutes. Overcomplicated spreadsheets and spending rules often leave people feeling like they’ve failed. That’s why I love what I call micro-dosing your financial habits. Microdosing financial habits means taking small, consistent, low-lift actions that support your financial well-being.

If an emergency fund is for emergencies, a Fun Money Fund is for JOY! A Fun Money Fund is a type of savings or checking account that we can all use tp build in spontaneity, impulse spending, or saving for that not totally necessary purchase that you know will feel good to you, without derailing your financial goals. As a financial therapist (and someone who’s been using this method in my own relationship for nearly two decades), I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is to build some joy and spontaneity into your monthly money plan.You’ll learn:🤑 What a fun money fund actually is🤑 How to decide how much fun money per month makes sense for youCreative, fun ways to spend money without it impacting your other financial goals🤑 Tips for using tech to automate your fun budget🤑 How this practice can reduce tension in relationships and make budgeting feel more sustainable💌 JOIN THE FREE WEEKLY MIND MONEY BALANCE NEWSLETTER https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/newsletter❓ TAKE A FREE QUIZ TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR MONEY TYPE https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/quiz📝 SUBMIT A QUESTIONFill out this quick form to submit a question for me that I might answer on an upcoming "Ask Mind Money Balance" episode!https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/ask👋🏽 Say Hi!! 👋🏽Website: http://mindmoneybalance.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/mindmoneybalanceTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mindmoneybalancePinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mindmoneybalance/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindmnybalanceYouTube: https://youtube.com/mindmoneybalance

What even is a recession, and how can we prepare for one without spiraling? As a certified “Millennial who survived the Great Recession” and a financial therapist, I’ve got you. In this episode, I explain what a recession is (beyond just bad vibes), how they work, and how to take care of your emotional and financial well-being when the economy slows down. Chapters0:00 Recession1:43 What is a Recession?5:45 How to NOT Prepare for a Recession15:07 Mental Health Tips20:55 Financial Tips💌 JOIN THE FREE WEEKLY MIND MONEY BALANCE NEWSLETTER https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/newsletter

Want to boycott but not sure how? You don’t have to go all-in to make a difference. This boycott guide covers what a boycott is, how to participate, ways to effect change beyond a full boycott, and how to protect yourself from boycott burnout. Corresponding blog: https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/boycott-guide-vote-with-your-dollarsResources referenced:News Clipshttps://youtu.be/rnQQ7TGobb4?si=rOT8s4sUzwbGFBfU&t=25 https://youtu.be/3rQcozbaWsg?si=_a1Eu1nFupnw8Fnb&t=118https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P1yG2VPLVg Sugar Boycotthttps://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/abolition/abolition_tools_gallery_07.shtml Buy Canada MovementToronto Sunhttps://torontosun.com/news/national/many-canadians-willing-to-ditch-u-s-travel-and-alcohol-but-not-streaming-services https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdb9gLnkpXY  Target Backlashhttps://www.axios.com/2025/02/18/dei-consumers-shopping-politics-poll https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/19/business/target-dei-boycott/index.html https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/target-cofounder-daughters-dei-efforts-concerns/ Maurice Mitchell, “It’s a Relay Race,” on the Vibe Check Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-a-relay-race-featuring-maurice-mitchell/id1637476174?i=1000684645813  

What New Year resolutions did you set at the beginning of the year? If improving your financial health was on your list, you’re in good company. “Improving financial health” was the second most common resolution for 2024, right behind physical health. But most resolutions don’t make it past February. And by “don’t make it,” I mean they quietly fade into the background as life takes over. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Only about 6% of people stick with their resolutions all year. As a financial therapist, I see this all the time—money goals aren’t just about numbers, they’re about behavior, emotions, and habits. That’s why rigid financial advice often fails and why tailored and sustainable shifts are the key to long-term success. In this episode, I’m breaking down the three most common financial resolutions—paying down debt, spending less, and saving more—and giving you real, practical ways to make them work for you.