money notes
Essays on money, wellness, and making room for what matters.
What Is On Your "Yes" List?
Unless you're a trillionaire, or one of his buddies, we all have to decide on our trade-offs. A trade-off means looking at the whole picture of your life goals and deciding where your money goes. When we say no to an expense, what are we saying yes to? Typical Spending Categories Here's a list of common spending categories: Housing Food Clothes Utilities Debt repayment Insurance Public transportation Car + home maintenance Gas Personal care Childcare Petcare Healthcare Travel Gifts...
What I learned from Ted Lasso
Happy July! We’re officially halfway through 2026, and I’m grateful for the start of a new month. The last couple of weeks were rough. My energy was low, and so was my mood. In an effort to distract myself, I started watching the UK version of Ghosts. After binge-watching it, I needed another low-key show, so I decided to give Ted Lasso another try. I had watched a few episodes a couple of years ago. Then last year I tried again. Third time's the charm. This time, I loved it. It got me...
Decisions, decisions ...
A friend asked a question in a group chat recently: “Has anyone ever driven a Benz — and is it worth it?” She was asking two excellent questions:What is your experience? And is it worth it? I haven’t driven one myself, but my first thought was:Yikes, the cost of maintenance must be brutal? A couple of friends chimed in and confirmed — yes, they liked the car, but it requires premium gas and higher maintenance costs. What we don’t know Most people ask for feedback before making big purchases —...
When everything feels like it's too much
When it all feels like too much The Artemis II mission snuck up on me. But in a good way. It's been a quiet distraction among the abysmal news of this world. When I feel overwhelmed, frustrated and sad, I reach for things that make me laugh. At the beginning of Apollo 13, a group gathers to watch the Apollo 11 crew land on the moon. After the party, Kathleen Quinlan’s character, Marilyn Lovell, tells her husband—Tom Hanks’ Jim Lovell—that she doesn’t want to clean up. “Let’s just sell the...
The Awkward Phase of Budgeting No One Talks About
So here's a funny thing - I’m a certified YNAB coach. And I didn’t get it when I first started. Actually… I started twice. The first time, I really disliked it. I ignored it for years. Then I came back to it after reading more personal finance books — including Jesse Mecham’s You Need a Budget — and something clicked. Here’s the truth: YNAB (or any budgeting method or tool) doesn’t magically fix your money.It gives you a framework to build your own spending plan (aka budget). I now love YNAB...
Are we having fun yet? ❄️🌤️
Hi Reader, It’s almost February—and now we’re fully in it. The start-of-the-year energy has faded, and 2026 is rolling right along. For those of us in the Northeast, it’s cold. There’s snow on the ground, with more on the way. And yet… the days are getting longer. Slowly but surely, the sun sets a little later each evening. That’s what we need to remember.(And yes—what I need to remember too.) Consistency matters. It’s not always fun.It’s rarely glamorous. But consistency—the small, steady...
What watercolor paints taught me about money 🎨
Dear Reader, Here’s a truth about me: I have a bit of an obsessive mindset. When I get interested in something, I tend to go all in. My most recent example? Watercoloring. It started with watching a ton of YouTube videos. Then it led to buying a bunch of watercolor supplies. Have I used them? A little… but not nearly as much as I imagined I would. This is why it’s so important to know our tendencies—especially when it comes to money. I know mine better now than I used to. I genuinely intended...
Cakes and daisies 🎂🌼
Dear Reader, Confession: I had a big oopsie daisy this week. It’s a little embarrassing to admit as a spending and mindset coach, but here it is—I’ve been in tracking mode for a while. I’ve been living within my means, but I’ve mostly been spending first and figuring it out later. And that’s one of the traps of budgeting. The tools don’t make decisions for us. They just show us what money is available and where we’ve assigned it. Even with autofill and suggestions, we’re still the ones...
A Lighter Way Into 2026
Happy New Year Reader!! I’m genuinely excited about this year — for my work, my personal life, and the quieter shifts I’m making behind the scenes. I gave up on New Year’s resolutions a long time ago, but I do love choosing a word or two to guide the year ahead. My theme for 2026: Lighter. I want to feel lighter in my body and in my surroundings. I’ll be honest (because transparency matters to me): I’m on a weight-loss journey for my health and my future self. I share that not for...
🎁 A holiday gift for you
Dear Reader, As I get ready to open doors to Cashflow Confidence next week, I’ve been thinking a lot about the people in this community — especially those who’ve been wanting more clarity, more calm, and more structure with their money but aren’t quite sure where to begin. So I decided to do something special. 👉 I’m offering a FREE 60-minute coaching call to anyone on my email list who wants to get clear about their money and receive personalized guidance from me. I'm affectionately calling...
Essays on money, wellness, and making room for what matters.