Dear Reader, “I didn’t realize how burned out I was... just from handling all these things.” That’s what one of my clients shared with me recently. Between therapy appointments, school meetings, field trips, meal planning, and staying emotionally available for everyone in her household—she was carrying so much. She had a business. She had systems. She had goals. But she also had invisible labor—the kind no spreadsheet accounts for. And when her business revenue didn’t grow the way she’d...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, You don’t have to wait until you’re completely debt-free or investing 15% of your income to feel proud of your financial progress—getting to Stage 7 is already a huge win. In my coaching framework, there are 10 stages of financial security. Each one builds on the next, starting with the basics like covering your monthly expenses and stabilizing your checking account, and gradually moving toward full financial independence. Here’s a quick snapshot: 1️⃣ Cover all your expenses with...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Spending money on eating out isn’t the problem—it’s unplanned spending that creates stress. When you don’t know how much you’re working with for the week, grabbing lunch at work or going out to dinner can leave you questioning your habits—even when those choices help get you through the day. One of my clients recently told me, “I’ve been eating at work nonstop... I get busy at work and I just do what’s easier for me.” She thought the solution was to start meal prepping every...
12 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Not talking about money when there’s “nothing to talk about” is one of the biggest things keeping couples financially stuck. It makes sense on the surface—why bring up finances if income hasn’t changed? Why schedule a check-in if you’re not making progress on a goal? But when we only talk about money during high-stress moments or after something “new” happens, we miss out on the consistency and connection that keep wealth-building sustainable. One of my clients shared this with...
17 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, “I didn’t reach out because our financial situation hasn’t really changed.” That’s what one of my clients said during a recent coaching session—and maybe you’ve thought the same. They’d been using all the tools I gave them: ✔️ Having regular money dates ✔️ Paying themselves from their business ✔️ Distributing tax refunds into sinking funds ✔️ Holding steady during the slowest year of business yet So they assumed: If nothing’s changing with our finances, there must be nothing new...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Sharing your truth with people who haven’t earned your safety isn’t brave—it’s self-abandonment. We’re taught to believe that transparency is always noble, that “living in your truth” means telling everyone everything. But in reality emotional self-care means protecting your energy, your peace, and your nervous system. If someone isn’t safe, you don’t owe them your story. And here’s why this matters for your dinero: When you’re spending emotional energy managing other people’s...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, Grief doesn’t just show up in your heart—it shows up in your budget, your sleep, and your spending habits. And that’s not because you’re not disciplined enough. It’s because grief scrambles everything—your nervous system, your routines, your ability to make decisions. You might overspend, stop checking your accounts, cancel plans you already paid for, or stop doing the small daily habits that used to keep you grounded. Again, this isn't a discipline issue—it’s grief doing what...
25 days ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, When self-care feels like a chore, it's a sign that you're tired, dysregulated, or both. We’re taught that journaling, meditating, or gratitude lists are always supposed to feel good. But when you’re deep in survival mode, even picking up a pen can feel like too much. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it means your nervous system needs care, not pressure. I know this because I’ve lived it, and so have many of my clients. After my Abue Ana passed away, coloring by...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, When I was 16, I woke up one morning unable to move the right side of my body. That moment changed the trajectory of my life. For the next 16 years, I cycled through diagnoses—fibromyalgia, a slipped disc, unexplained inflammation. Some years I used a wheelchair. Others, I was bedridden. Always, I was fighting to find answers. In 2019, with two small children and a body that wouldn’t cooperate, I hit a breaking point. My Abue Ana told me I had to fight. And so I did—not just for...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read