“Money can feel like this thing that we just can’t touch because it causes too much distress. I like to point out how their thinking might be causing some of those distressful feelings.”

What if reframing your beliefs about money could transform your relationships and well-being? Our host Ed Coambs chats with fellow Financial Therapist Jennifer Calder. From her early career in international development to her vital work in domestic violence support, Jennifer's journey is a testament to the power of addressing money-related stress in therapy. She uncovers how financial intimacy can be a cornerstone of healthier relationships and shares personal anecdotes from her childhood in a wealthy community that reveal how financial issues can touch anyone, regardless of economic status.

Money, shame, and empowerment are deeply connected. Jennifer provides actionable strategies to reduce money-related shame by understanding the psychological underpinnings of financial decisions. She also discusses common money scripts, especially among those in helping professions, and how these scripts influence attitudes toward wealth and self-worth.

Ed and Jennifer reveal the intricate skills therapists use, such as active listening and pacing, to foster effective financial communication. They examine how cultural and religious beliefs shape our financial behaviors and the impact of family dynamics on money conversations. Jennifer emphasizes the critical role of self-awareness for both clients and financial professionals in creating meaningful financial plans. All this and much more in this episode of Healthy Love and Money!

Key Topics:

• Jennifer’s Professional Journey (01:57)
• Money Shame, Financial Therapy, and How it Helps People Make Better Decisions (09:17)
• Pacing, Silence, and Feedback in Therapy Sessions and the Impact on Client Outcomes (19:43)
• Money Scripts, Genograms, and Their Impact on Financial Planning and Therapy (34:53)
• Money Mindset and its Impact on Financial Well-being (41:45)

Resources:

• MoneyMindsetConsulting.com

Connect With Healthy Love and Money:

1. Schedule your free 30-Minute Discovery Call About Therapy-Informed Financial Planning™.
2. Learn about your money and attachment style with this short Attachment Style Quiz.
3. Buy the Double Award Winning Book: The Healthy Love and Money Way.
4. Hit Follow on Your Favorite Podcast Player To Get the Latest Episodes.

“Boundaries are an important part of budgeting, but so is flexibility. And the more humans you have in your family, or the more dynamics you have in your financial life, the more flexibility you need.”

What if there were a way to make budgeting less stressful and more sustainable? On this episode of Healthy Love and Money, our host Ed Coambs welcomes Natalie Taylor, a seasoned financial planner with over 20 years of experience, to share her unique insights on balancing boundaries and flexibility in family finances. Natalie’s innovative approach to budgeting emphasizes flexible boundaries, aiming to make financial planning adaptable and less burdensome for families with fluctuating incomes.

Ever wondered how to categorize and manage your household expenses without getting overwhelmed? Ed and Natalie break down the concepts of fixed and flex expenses, offering practical advice on maintaining control over your finances. From using dedicated credit cards for variable spending to handling kids' sports costs, Natalie provides a structured yet flexible framework that keeps financial surprises at bay.

Ed and Natalie then explore the often-overlooked concept of non-monthly expenses and how to plan for them effectively. Natalie shares actionable tips on setting up a dedicated account to manage these irregular costs, ensuring a steady cash flow throughout the year. They also touch on optimizing credit card points within a budgeting system and the value of financial intimacy. Take a moment to reflect on these insights and consider how they can be integrated into your life for better financial health.

Key Topics:

• Welcome, Natalie Taylor! (01:40)
• Budgeting and Managing Finances to Avoid Shame and Judgement (06:31)
• #1: Fixed Expenses (10:09)
• #2: Flex Expenses (15:20)
• #3: Non-Monthly Expenses (23:58)
• Potential Resistance to the Flow Perspective (30:54)
• Wrap-Up (37:50)

Resources:

• Natalie Taylor on LinkedIn
• The Goodland Group

Connect With Healthy Love and Money:

1. Schedule your free 30-Minute Discovery Call About Therapy-Informed Financial Planning™.
2. Learn about your money and attachment style with this short Attachment Style Quiz.
3. Buy the Double Award Winning Book: The Healthy Love and Money Way.
4. Hit Follow on Your Favorite Podcast Player To Get the Latest Episodes.

“Because we can’t avoid money, money is going to resurface [past trauma]. As grownups, we can predict, if not guarantee that money will surface or trigger these past associations.”

Unlock the hidden pathways between your financial decisions and emotional well-being with our host Ed Coambs and returning guest Amanda Clayman. In this enlightening discussion, Ed and Amanda look into the often-unspoken world of financial trauma, where seemingly unrelated spending patterns reveal deep-seated emotional connections. They bring to light the physiological similarities between financial and sexual arousal and the mysterious nature of dissociative splurges that often go unnoticed in our day-to-day lives.

Step into the complex dance of family dynamics, where childhood scarcity meets adult fiscal success, and emotions run high. Whether it's a simple family dinner or confronting parental expectations, you'll see how these experiences shape our financial narrative and the intricate web of feelings that emerge when money intertwines with our most intimate relationships.

The journey toward financial intimacy is not a straight line but a series of steps, each offering a deeper understanding of love and money. The episode concludes with an affirmation of growth and the therapeutic power of humor, when appropriate, to navigate life's complexities.

Key Topics:

• Financial Trauma and How it Affects us Today (02:37)
• Financial Dissociation and its Impact on Emotional State (06:41)
• Managing Emotions and Needs in Financial Decision-making (13:08)
• When to (and not to) Use Humor in Coping (19:46)
• Personal Growth, Vulnerability, and Overcoming Fear (23:58)
• Gender Roles, Ambivalence, and Emotional Labor (31:06)
• Money as a Symbol and Tool, with Personal Transformative Potential (38:15)
• Emotional and Symbolic Exploration in Financial Therapy (42:37)
• Healing through Nonlinear Processing (48:53)

Resources:

• AmandaClayman.com

Connect With Healthy Love and Money:

1. Schedule your free 30-Minute Discovery Call About Therapy-Informed Financial Planning™.
2. Learn about your money and attachment style with this short Attachment Style Quiz.
3. Buy the Double Award Winning Book: The Healthy Love and Money Way.
4. Hit Follow on Your Favorite Podcast Player To Get the Latest Episodes.