Reaching Abundance

What worked for you in your 20s isn’t going to work in your 30s, and what works in your 30s isn’t going to work in your 40s. This week’s guest, a COPE certified health coach shares about healthy habits, but this applies to your money too! We talk goal setting, micro habits, self-sabotage & self-care, integrating healthy fats and carbs into your overall diet, how to avoid falling apart on your cheat day, and all the ways health journeys often parallel with financial journeys. Set the best example for your children by learning to love yourself and caring for your health well with positive, nutritious habits that have the power to change your family’s trajectory.

Find out more at www.reachingabundance.com  and on Instagram @reachingabundance

We’ve all experienced the stress and headaches of an unplanned yet necessary expense popping up and destroying our well-intentioned monthly budget. If you’re getting frustrated with budgeting because some unexpected expense comes up each month to sabotage all your grand plans, you need sinking funds. 

Learn everything you need to know about sinking funds, how to set them up, the categories to consider, how to calculate sinking funds, and how much to put toward them each month. Remove the shock-factor from the surprise expenses and avoid accumulating debt to cover them by creating mini savings accounts and making irregular costs an expected part of your budget. 

If you plan, you’ll know how much you can spend.

In this episode, listen for:

• Perhaps you’ve set a monthly budget and are building your emergency fund. Have you noticed how often something “unexpected” comes up? It’s basically every month. 
• Without a sinking fund, you may scramble for funds or default to using a credit card any time there’s hiccup. However, with a sinking fund, you already have cash set aside to cover the expense!
• Holidays, birthdays, home repairs, kids orthodontics, car tires and maintenance, and back-to-school clothes are all “surprise” expenses that you can anticipate.  As your kids grow, your finances adjust, and you can add or remove categories.

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

[00:03:32] What’s the difference between sinking funds and sunk costs? These terms may sound unpleasant, but I'll explain what they really mean so you can see how they affect your finances.

[00:09:47] By establishing sinking funds, you’re setting yourself and your family up for a brighter, more financially-free future. You eliminate unexpected costs by expecting them  - let’s face it, the car will need maintenance, you will have an ER visit at some point, the home will need some repairs. 

[00:14:45] Everyone's spending patterns, income, and financial considerations are different. It’s okay if your plan looks different from mine, as long as you have one.

If this episode hit home for you, share it with a friend. Simply copy & paste this link: https://link.chtbl.com/abundance

Learn more about how you CAN create the abundant life you've always wanted at www.reachingabundance.com

Follow me at www.instagram.com/reachingabundance

Download the FREE workbook, Budgeting For Debt Freedom 

This episode is brought to you by YNAB, a budget friendly tool and get your 30 day free trial now! 

We tend to lunge directly toward budgeting, saving, and investing when the topic of money comes up, but what about the income side? A major driving factor of how well your budget math is working or how fast you might reach your money goals relies on your income. 

As we start 2021, maybe you’ll return to the office, seek a new job, or raise your hand for a promotion. Kristi Meenan, Career Coach and Certified Resume Writer (and mom!) knows what it’s like to get back “out there” after being a SAHM. 

“It's not just about creating a resume and a cover letter!” - Kristi Meenan. 

A professional resume writer, job search strategist, LinkedIn pro, and career coach, Kristi Meenan, joins me today to share her insights on how to get your ideal job. Even if you aren’t sure whether you want to work from home or switch careers, listen as she discusses money mindset and how to stand out to recruiters.

Kristi explains that she, too, has experienced what felt like an endless loop of applying for jobs without success. Luckily, she met with recruiters to determine why she wasn't getting hired.

In this episode, listen for the following:

• Although we, as moms, are not getting paid for it, we’re still managing a household. There are deliverables that need to be met and schedules to be kept.
• Step into your power - talk with a pro about how to negotiate your salary before you receive an offer.  
• Money is just one of many factors in a compensation package. Vacations, working from home, and other perks all deserve consideration. Negotiate for the best deal. 

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

[00:04:33] Kristi started her own business as a Certified Resume Writer because she loves helping moms find their way back into the workforce. 

[00:08:09] Need a LinkedIn expert? Recruiters and hiring managers do their research on LinkedIn. As a job seeker, you want to take advantage of every tool out there that’s going to set you apart. 

[00:14:17] Recruiters are searching for candidates who take the time to customize their resumes for each position they apply for, as opposed to sending out generic versions.

She shares about mindset shifts during the job search, what hiring managers are looking for this year, how to reinvent yourself at any age, and how to prepare in simple steps NOW, even if you aren’t ready to dive into the job market yet, but will later this year. 

If this episode hit home for you, share it with a friend. Simply copy & paste this link: https://link.chtbl.com/abundance

Learn more about how you CAN create the abundant life you've always wanted at www.reachingabundance.com

Follow me at www.instagram.com/reachingabundance

Free Download- Flip Your Money Mindset Freebie 

Reach out to Kristi Meenan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristimeenan/ 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ktmeenan 

Career Ignite FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CareerIgniteNow 

Click to schedule a FREE consultation: https://calendly.com/kristimeenan/30min

Your family’s health - reduced allergies, minimal chemical exposure, and decreased ingestion and absorption of irritants and fumes - is important to you. But you need a strategic, research-backed method that won’t bust the budget to make the switch to organic, non-toxic household cleaning products. 

You may think that healthy household cleaning products are more expensive, but listen up for my comparison shopping methods, the apps I use, and tips on selecting budget-friendly, safe replacement products. 

Reaching abundance is about more than financial coaching for moms; it’s about how every aspect of your life works in tandem, affecting and being affected by your money, creating the life you’ve dreamed of for yourself and your family. Protecting your loved ones from chemicals in household products is one way you, as the Household CEO, can positively alter your family’s trajectory.

Health IS Wealth-You’d have less money for medical expenses if you prioritize your health and wealth. It would be great if, as time goes on and you accumulate this health wealth, you don’t have to force money for medical expenses into your budget.

Finding the healthiest food and fueling our bodies with the richest nutrients is a long-term investment that will pay off abundantly.

In this episode, find out how easy it is to cut down on the number of chemicals in your home, how to switch to non-toxic cleaners without breaking the bank, and why you might want to get started right away.

In this episode, listen for the following:

• We’re all going to be exposed to toxins outside the house, and we know it, but as mothers, why don’t we attempt to minimize our exposure at home?
• The first items you need to swap are the cleaners, detergents, and soaps you use daily and weekly. 
• Shopping for natural cleaning products has never been better with this app - listen to find out.

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

[00:08:55] Why make the switch? Explore allergens and the substances in the sprays we use around the house at length. Research has shown the typical home contains 62 different harmful substances. That’s quite a lot, and it explains our family’s routine change.

[00:11:36] Studies reveal that long-term, continuous exposure to many of these chemicals may cause cancer, asthma, reproductive difficulties, and other bodily inflammatory responses.

[00:17:45] You may think you’re buying “green”, but think again. The practice of manufacturers changing product labels to contain attractive but deceptive language that leads customers to believe their goods are safer is known as “Greenwashing.”

If this episode hit home for you, share it with a friend. Simply copy & paste this link: https://link.chtbl.com/abundance

Learn more about how you CAN create the abundant life you've always wanted at www.reachingabundance.com

Follow me at www.instagram.com/reachingabundance

This episode is brought to you by Eat Cleaner Essentials, a product in which washes and cleans all the gunk off your fruits and veggies safely with no chemicals. 

Apps Mentioned 

EWG’s Healthy Living 

Think Dirty 

EWG.org/skindeep

When things get shaken up, it’s an opportunity to explore and get creative about the life we want to live. It’s time to look inward for the answers and lean on our intuition instead of relying on outside sources for all the answers. Productivity & alignment coach Tabitha Cee of themamamatters.com shares how to do less with more joy by trusting ourselves, our natural cycles of energy, and doing what matters with the time we have. She hones in on procrastination & the fears behind it, whether we’re making decisions for ourselves or to impress others, and the benefits of a (15 minute!) morning routine. Read the show notes at www.reachingabundance.com and follow along on Insta @reachingabundance

Whether you’re already on a path toward paying off debt and need to check-in on your progress or if you’re ready to embark upon the journey toward financial freedom, this information-gathering exercise (accompanied by the free download) will provide you a complete, clear picture from which to craft your strategy. 

Welcome to the first step along the path of absolute confidence with your money. 

You’ve got to know where you’re starting from before you can expect to make any progress toward any financial goal. This information-gathering guide will help you form a clear pictureof your personal finances so that you can make an actionable realistic goal and embark upon the steps to achieve it.

No matter your background, your debt, your credit score, etc. gathering information is the first, most important step. 

In this episode, listen for:

• Ensure you have a recent statement and online account access to every credit card, loan payment, utility, and other monthly obligation. Check your annual credit report at least once a year.
• Don’t judge yourself based on the numbers. This exercise is solely for information gathering purposes. If you start to tally debts at this point in the game, you’re likely to get discouraged and quit. Help yourself stay motivated with little breaks or prizes after certain steps. 
• Besides being an act of self-care, your efforts to improve your financial situation will lead to greater security for you your family.

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

[00:05:18] Getting a sense of where you stand is the first step. Understand the figures in front of you. It’s time to stop guessing and start working with actual data if you want to make any progress.

[00:08:26]  All bills and transactions fall under 4 categories: Credit Reports, Subscriptions/Rent/Medical, Banking, and Investments. Use the free download to help keep you on track toward a complete picture. 

https://reachingabundance.podia.com/budgeting-for-debt-freedom-freebie

[00:15:12] Learn the ins and outs of your current position so that you can seek appropriate resources and take action. Finding the correct financial coach, establishing effective goals, and zeroing in on the most pressing concerns will help you make the fastest progress.

Find out the whole story about how debt affected my life here: https://link.chtbl.com/myjourney

If this episode hit home for you, share it with a friend. Simply copy & paste this link: https://link.chtbl.com/abundance

Learn more about how you CAN create the abundant life you've always wanted at www.reachingabundance.com

Follow me at www.instagram.com/reachingabundance

Meet the co-founder of madmealsco.com, Brittney Finley as she shares her health journey toward veganism and what she discovered about her own relationship with food and money along the way. She shares how meal prepping for her own health needs opened her eyes to how she could make a difference in others’ lives and continues down the path toward breaking the cycle of negative thoughts, subconscious habits, and generational behavior patterns. This mama is making big health and money moves and I’m so honored to cheer her on and share her story here. 

Find out more at www.reachingabundance.com  and on Instagram @reachingabundance and @happyhealthyabundance

“Remember the 1000-piece puzzle of abundance you’re putting together. Take it one piece at a time.” 

Part 1 (Cultivate a Growth Mindset in Your Child - 3 Key Beliefs and the Do’s and Don’ts of Parenting) of this series discussed the three crucial factors that must be considered while assessing your parenting style, tempering your reactions, and recalibrating your approach to discipline in order to achieve long-term success and overcome challenges.

In this episode, we discuss how we, as parents, handle stressful situations and how we react to potentially negative events. Our children learn how to deal with fear, change, and frustration based on what we do and say. 

Seeing and believing in the positive potential outcomes of any situation is valuable beyond measure and can positively impact not only your child’s outlook, but their career, relationships, success, and every facet of their future.

Learn and practice these 10 techniques with your child to reinforce positive beliefs, nurture a growth mindset, and give them the tools to battle that mean internal voice. 

• Modeling Desired Behavior 
• Affirmations and Visualization 
• Gratitude 
• Breathing Exercises 
• Alter the Environment 
• Monkey Brain 
• Superstar-What would they do 
• Magic 3 
• Anxiety is a Good Thing 
• Provide Opportunities 

In this episode, listen for:

• Modeling self-talk not just in parenthood, in every aspect of life
• How to help your children form words about themselves and their feelings, promoting communication and emotional intelligence
• At around 7 years old, kids develop sufficient reasoning skills and an understanding of cause and consequence to begin formulating their own answers to problems

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

[00:06:16] Modeling Desired Behavior has to be the number one activity you start with to create, instill, and nurture a growth mindset and positive self talk

[00:14:45] Studies show when we’re going through the mundane tasks in our day, we don't breathe enough. Implement intentional breathing exercises throughout your day to promote better mental, physical, and emotional health.

If this episode hit home for you, share it with a friend. Simply copy & paste this link: https://link.chtbl.com/abundance

Learn more about how you CAN create the abundant life you've always wanted at www.reachingabundance.com

Follow me at www.instagram.com/reachingabundance

This episode is brought to you by FamZoo, preparing your child for their financial journey. 

Resources + Research 

verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-2795457

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/take-a-deep-breath

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/28/health/thanksgiving-gratitude-conversation-wellness/index.html

https://www.dailygood.org/story/426/how-imagination-shapes-your-reality-gabriel-cohen/

Book: The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel & Tina Bryson

Book: The Yes Brain by Daniel Siegel & Tina Bryson

Book: Don’t Should On Your Kids by Dr. Rob Bell 

Book: How Parents Can Teach Children To Counter Negative Thoughts by Frank Dixon

Book: Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids

Book: The Conscious Parent by Dr Shefali Tsabary

“We all have the power to choose how we will see a situation.” - Virginia Elder

We long for our children to have the missing piece of our own life puzzle. Whatever it was that we were missing from our own lives - maybe a talent, an opportunity, or an understanding - we hope they get blessed with what we didn’t.

Cultivating and nurturing a growth mindset in your child takes consistent actions and conversations with them over time. There are 3 key beliefs one must have to see positivity and a shortlist of Do’s and Don’ts for parents when it comes to discipline and intense situations. 

In this episode, I share about the detrimental self-beliefs I’m discovering in my son, the research I’ve done toward battling that negativity, and what we’ve been working on as a family to improve his self-esteem, instill positive beliefs about himself, and explore how we can parent toward supporting a positive outlook. 

Remember that you, and not anyone else, hold the key to your own development and the choices you make as you guide your children through similar processes. Consider how you’ll respond, how you’ll feel, and how long you’ll allow yourself to dwell on an issue.

In this episode, listen for:

• Getting on your child’s level in order to help them understand and work  through their emotions 
• Emotional intelligence and perspective can impact one’s ability to achieve financial abundance 
• The importance of expressing compassion and love even when it’s difficult to do so. Our natural inclination as parents is to immediately resort to discipline, but that’s not always beneficial

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

[00:11:33] Fair is Not Equal - We must accept that difficulties will arise. With kids, fair may not seem equal because of differences in age and activity.

[00:14:59] Not everything about us is set at birth. Discovery, practice, and personal development can help us go wherever we want to go

[00:21:17] Explaining the do’s and don’ts - Rather than focusing on specific actions, focus on your mindset and approach to the problem

If this episode hit home for you, share it with a friend. Simply copy & paste this link: https://link.chtbl.com/abundance

Learn more about how you CAN create the abundant life you've always wanted at www.reachingabundance.com

Follow me at www.instagram.com/reachingabundance

Find out which female celebrity shares your money mindset https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/5f161526ef921800143bd117?method=iframe

This episode is brought to you by FamZoo, preparing your child for their financial journey. 

Resources + Research 

verywellmind.com/piagets-stages-of-cognitive-development-2795457

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/take-a-deep-breath

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/28/health/thanksgiving-gratitude-conversation-wellness/index.html

https://www.dailygood.org/story/426/how-imagination-shapes-your-reality-gabriel-cohen/

Book: The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel & Tina Bryson

Book: The Yes Brain by Daniel Siegel & Tina Bryson

Book: Don’t Should On Your Kids by Dr. Rob Bell 

Book: How Parents Can Teach Children To Counter Negative Thoughts by Frank Dixon

Book: Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids

Book: The Conscious Parent by Dr Shefali Tsabary

Many of the “journeys” we take in life can feel isolating, and feelings of shame and guilt can creep up any time you’re in judgment of how you think you should feel about your particular stage of life. This is true of the financial journey, and motherhood is no exception. It’s completely normal to feel alone and lost while simultaneously feeling guilty about any desire for more fulfillment in life. Like, isn't my beautiful baby enough to make me happy?  While motherhood is awesome in many ways, there’s no denying that you’re capable, called, and deserving of more. April Sky and I chat today about answering that call for fulfillment outside of motherhood and why it’s important to lean into our intuition. 

More at www.reachingabundance.com and on Instagram @reachingabundance