154: 5 Steps to Help You Talk About Money

There are four Money Archetypes that shape what we believe about money and how it impacts what we do–or don’t do–with our money. The second money personality type is the Free Spirit. Known for their radical optimism and general "why not?!" attitude toward life, they tend to be excited to spend. The shadow side of their excitement is they sometimes spend and focus on outward appearances as a reflection of their self-worth and worry about what others think about them if they don’t overspend. Think your spending makes you a Free Spirit? Listen to find out! Resources Mentioned: Financial Archetype Quiz https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/quiz

Over the next 4 weeks, I’ll be sharing mini-episodes on the Financial Archetypes. These Money Archetypes shape what we believe about money and how it impacts what we do–or don’t do–with our money. For those who fall into the first category, the “Blissfully Indifferent,” money is a sensitive topic that is best avoided. This person may feel overwhelmed by money management, financial literacy, and a combination of embarrassment and avoidance. If that’s you (or someone you know), tune in to learn more about the strengths of this archetype and ideas to help you start having a healthier relationship with money. Resources Mentioned: Financial Archetype Quiz https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/quiz

We often think about Survivor Guilt as something that happens to survivors of accidents or natural disasters, but a financial twist also happens. Financial Survivor’s Guilt is a phenomenon where individuals feel guilty for their financial stability while others around them struggle. People who experience this might experience similar symptoms of traditional survivor guilt: racing thoughts, anxiety, and physical pain or discomfort. In this episode, I cover this phenomenon, and give listeners ideas for how to cope with it and dial down the intensity of those symptoms [Hint: it doesn’t involve giving away all of your worldly possessions and living in the woods]. Resources Mentioned: Hire a Financial Therapist! https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/speaking

We can spend a lot of time working on our own relationship with money, but it's equally important to know how to discuss it with others. If you’ve ever clammed up or stumbled over your words, you're not alone. And frankly, whether it's explaining to your nieces and nephews why you can't buy them ice cream again or discussing a house down payment with your partner, money conversations are inevitable. Despite our progress, surveys show people still find talking about money more awkward than discussing sex. But trust me, many of us want to have these conversations; we just don't know how to start. In this episode, I’m laying out 5 steps to help you have the money talk. Resources Mentioned: Quiz: Which Financial Wellness Topic Does My Team Need? https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/quiz-financial-wellness Hire a Financial Therapist! https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/speaking 

It’s no secret that mental health is a fundamental part of overall wellbeing. 1 in 5 American adults experience a diagnosable mental health condition annually, and 1 in 4 will experience a mental illness at some time in their life. I’m a believer that we don’t need to have a diagnosable mental illness to tend to our mental health. Especially because our mental health impacts how we think, feel, and behave financially. In this video, I’ll share more about how money and mental health intersect, including how it impacts those without a diagnosis and how we can tend to our financial and mental health. Whether you're experiencing mental illness,  an employer hoping to better support your team, or an ally helping a loved one, I've got practical tips to help you at the intersection of money and mental health. Resources Mentioned: Quiz: Which Financial Wellness Topic Does My Team Need? https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/quiz-financial-wellness Emergency Funds the Easy Way https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/emergency-fund-formula-easy-savings-plan  Popcorn Finance Podcast Episode: How To Make Therapy More Affordablehttps://popcornfinance.com/podcast/432-how-to-make-therapy-more-affordable/ 37 Ways to Practice Financial Self-Care https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/financial-self-care-examples Financial Wellness for Teams in the Workplace https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/financial-wellness-for-teams  Hire a Financial Therapist! https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/speaking

Lindsay, financial therapist and founder of Mind Money Balance, shares her personal money routines, which she follows annually, quarterly, monthly, and more. She is a huge fan of automating her routine as much as possible, but even with automation, it’s important to check in and tweak as needed. There’s nothing better than hearing from others about what really happens, and she's happy to share more about this. She also shares more about how her paycheck routine looked different when she wasn’t financially able to automate the way she does now. Resources mentioned: Which Financial Wellness Topic Does My Team Need? Quiz https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/quiz-financial-wellness Invested Development Investing Course by Amanda Holden: https://amandaholden.podia.com/invested-development/2g0h0 37 Ways to Practice Financial Self-Care: https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/financial-self-care-examples Financial Archetype Quiz: https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/quiz

As if you needed any more reasons to give your boss the “I’m on vacation” autoresponder, let’s talk about how good travel is for your brain. In this episode, financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin covers what makes travel so beneficial for our brains. She shares how much time off you need according to research, ways to enhance the mental health benefits of your vacation, how to get the most bang for your buck when you spend on travel, and how to get the mental health benefits of travel if you aren’t in a position to travel right now.

While cold brew on tap and a foosball table might’ve worked in the past to incentivize employees, those perks aren’t what are keeping employees around. In this video, financial therapist goes through recent HR surveys that highlight that when employees struggle financially, it impacts their work. She also shares ways employers can assess the perks and benefits they offer their employees to help support them in–and out–of the office. Tune in for tips on what’s missing from financial wellness programs and how you can make them better.  Hire Lindsay Bryan-Podvin for a Financial Wellness Workshop: https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/speaking Blog version of today's episode: The Importance of Financial Wellness for Teams in the Workplace https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/financial-wellness-for-teams

Lifestyle creep or inflation-when you spend more money as you start earning more-often gets a bad rap. But understanding why spending your money doesn’t feel as good as you thought can be a great first step in making sure that you’re using your money the way that feels best. In this episode, a financial therapist will walk you through four tips to help make that new paycheck feel good–so you can have your cake and eat it, too.

“Should I buy or rent?” It’s a question that comes up a lot, but outside of the finances, how do you know if it makes sense? In this “Ask Mind Money Balance” episode, financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin answers a flight attendant from Atlanta’s question about this exact topic. There are some unique considerations, such as assessing values, determining the why behind short-term renting, and benchmarks to have saved. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should buy or rent, tune in to navigate the emotional and practical steps to achieve your housing goals! Watch the corresponding video here: https://youtu.be/GjA1mrCWhhk?si=DT6eYlV3pi10gX0j