Money Isn’t Scary - Money Mindset, Money Anxiety, Intentional Spending, Saving Money, Money Management

In today's episode, I explore a deeper layer of our spending habits—looking not at what our money is helping us move toward, but what it may be helping us avoid. Building on the idea of the “upgraded self,” I share personal patterns I've noticed in her own life, from spending during moments of mental overwhelm to purchasing things that feel productive but actually delay decision-making. I also touch on the social side of spending—like over-giving or saying yes to things we don’t want—as a way to avoid discomfort in relationships. At the core of the episode is a powerful shift: instead of focusing on discipline or restriction, I invite listeners to get curious. What if your spending isn’t random—but patterned? What if it’s helping you avoid something you already know you need to face? This episode is a reminder that awareness—not perfection—is what creates real change. When you understand the “why” behind your spending, you give yourself the opportunity to choose differently. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

Today I’m really excited to share my conversation with psychiatrist and author, Dr. Ellen Vora. We dive into one of my favorite topics—anxiety—and explore it in a way that feels both grounding and empowering. Dr. Vora takes a holistic, mind-body approach to anxiety, focusing on getting to the root rather than just managing symptoms. As you’ll hear throughout the conversation, there’s a powerful parallel to how we experience anxiety around money—so often, it’s not just about the numbers, but what’s happening beneath the surface.   About Dr. Ellen Vora: Dr. Ellen Vora is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and the author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. She is known for her integrative approach to mental health, combining conventional psychiatry with functional medicine, mindfulness, and lifestyle-based interventions. Rather than viewing anxiety as something to suppress, her work helps people understand it as meaningful information—often pointing to imbalances in the body, mind, or environment. Her approach challenges the traditional medicalization of stress and offers a more empowering, human-centered way to think about mental health.   Connect with Dr. Ellen Vora: Website: https://ellenvora.com/ Instagram: @ellenvoramd Book: The Anatomy of Anxiety ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!   

In this week's episode, I explore the idea of the “upgraded version” of ourselves—the elevated identity we imagine when we think about who we want to become. Inspired by a simple desire to buy a J.Crew sweater, I unpack the deeper psychology behind why certain purchases feel like they’re bringing us closer to a more confident, composed, and secure version of ourselves. I discuss how many of us quietly try to spend our way into becoming the person we believe we’re meant to be. But often, what we’re really seeking isn’t better clothes, a nicer home, or a bigger paycheck—it’s emotional safety, self-trust, and a sense of internal stability. This episode invites you to look beyond the aesthetic upgrades and consider the deeper shifts that actually create lasting change. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!   

In today's episode, I'm talking with Amanda Foust, a high-performance neuro coach trained in neuroscience and trauma-informed care. Amanda works with leaders and high performers to help them understand how their brains work, shift the patterns that keep them stuck, and create the lives they truly want. Amanda and I talk about how neuroscience and self-awareness can help us better understand our triggers, break out of old patterns, and show up more intentionally in our lives — whether that’s in leadership, parenting, or the way we approach success and personal growth. Find more from Amanda:  https://www.wakeuptoyourlife.co/resources ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!   

In honor of Women’s History Month, today I’m reflecting on the subtle, unspoken money lessons I absorbed from my mom — and how those early patterns shaped my relationship with money in ways I didn’t fully understand until adulthood. In this episode, I talk about how inherited money beliefs often live in our nervous systems, how survival strategies get passed down generationally, and why awareness isn’t the same thing as blame. I also walk you through a few reflection exercises to help you: Identify a money belief you may have inherited Notice how it shows up in your day-to-day decisions Separate yourself from the belief so you can consciously choose something new And I share what rewriting my story has looked like — moving from silence to conversation, from scarcity to sufficiency, and from overwork to enoughness. This episode is about honoring the women who shaped us — seeing their strength and humanity clearly — while giving ourselves permission to build on their foundation instead of unconsciously repeating their patterns. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

In this week’s episode, I share a relatable story about almost buying a $178 sweater — and then hitting pause. That moment got me thinking about delayed gratification, impulse spending, and why it’s so hard to wait in a world built for instant rewards. I talk about the psychology behind impulse buying, money habits, and self-control, what the marshmallow test teaches us about trust and patience, and how tools like Buy Now, Pay Later affect the way we experience spending. I also share practical tips for pausing before purchases, saving effectively, and practicing financial patience without feeling deprived. Whether you struggle with impulse spending, budgeting, or long-term financial goals, this episode will help you build confidence and trust in your money decisions — one small pause at a time ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!   

In this episode, we’re talking about the money anxiety that shows up even when nothing is technically wrong. Bills are paid. There’s no emergency. And yet, you still feel tense, on edge, or like you can’t fully relax around money. I talk through why this happens, how past financial stress can linger in your nervous system, and why quiet seasons can make money anxiety feel louder. We also explore the difference between financial facts and financial feelings, and why anxiety isn’t always asking for a new plan — sometimes it’s asking for safety. This episode is for anyone who feels anxious about money even when they’re “doing everything right,” and wants reassurance without budgeting rules or financial shame. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!   

In today's episode, I’m sharing my conversation with Leslie Forde — author, CEO, researcher, and advocate for women’s maternal needs. Leslie is the creator of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, a powerful framework that helps explain why traditional self-care so often falls short for moms. We talk about why so many of the struggles moms face aren’t personal failures, but the result of systemic and cultural pressures — including scarcity and money stress. Leslie shares how growing up with financial instability shaped her relationship with work and options, how financial stress shows up in the nervous system, and why understanding money as options (not just numbers) can be so empowering. We also explore why believing we deserve care is such an essential — and often missing — starting point. Find more from Leslie: 🌐 Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs: https://momshierarchyofneeds.com/ 📘 Repair With Self-Care — available wherever books are sold 💼 Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!   

In today's episode, I talk about why money can feel so urgent when the world feels uncertain—and why that urgency is often anxiety, not clarity. I share what I’ve seen after nearly 20 years of working with people around money: most financial mistakes don’t come from waiting, they come from acting while overwhelmed or trying to feel in control. We talk through what you don’t need to decide right now, why pausing big financial decisions is often the more responsible move, and how choosing steadiness can reduce anxiety and lead to better long-term outcomes. This episode is for anyone feeling pressure to have everything figured out. You don’t need a perfect plan right now—you need a steady enough one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cozy Earth has been part of my routine lately, especially this time of year. You can use my link below for 20% off at cozyearth.com with the code MONEYISNTSCARY.  *And make sure to check out their viral pajamas! — they’re running a BOGO pajama sale from through February 8 for listeners of the podcast! Use code MONEYISNTSCARYBOGO  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!   

In today's episode, I’m talking about the quiet, often unspoken ways grief shows up in our relationship with money. Not just the grief of losing someone we love, but also the grief tied to paths not taken, timelines that shifted, dreams that didn’t unfold the way we expected, and the lives we thought we’d be living by now. I share how this kind of grief can sneak into everyday money decisions, show up as tension or self-criticism, and make money feel heavier than the numbers alone can explain. I also talk through gentle ways to notice and name these feelings—without judgment or pressure to “fix” them—so money can feel a little lighter and more honest. If you’ve ever felt a quiet ache around money and couldn’t quite put your finger on it, this episode is for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cozy Earth has been part of my routine lately, especially this time of year. You can use my link below for 20% off at cozyearth.com with the code MONEYISNTSCARY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here: 🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want. You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.  I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!