Don’t Fall For The Black Friday Hype

Don’t Fall For The Black Friday Hype

Who doesn't like a sale? But be cautious before geting sucked into the temptation of Black Friday.

Research shows that the vast majority of Black Friday deals aren't any cheaper than normal prices. Stores use psychological tricks like anchoring to make sale prices feel exciting compared to inflated original prices. The time pressure of limited deals can make shoppers feel compelled to buy.

Read on for insights and tips on resisting the urge to succumb to deals.

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What are we giving our children at Christmas?

What are we giving our children at Christmas?

I was chatting to my hairdresser the other day, having the conversation we’re all having at this time of year: “You all set for Christmas? Done your shopping yet?” She said she was all ready, excited for her young children aged 7 and 10, and revealed that her budget was £600 per child.

I left the hairdresser contemplating this, and the wider implications of that kind of spend. It set me thinking about what we’re actually giving our children at Christmas. Every parcel under the Christmas tree is wrapped not just in sparkly paper and ribbons, but in many layers of belief and attitudes and values. While the actual presents may soon be forgotten, these extra layers often stay with people for their whole lives – affecting how they deal with money, love and giving in adulthood.

It's these beliefs and attitudes...

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Don’t let your Chimp take charge of your money

Don’t let your Chimp take charge of your money

Right now in the UK there’s a frenzy of drivers queuing for fuel. Whilst there’s no actual shortage of fuel – just a shortage of HGV drivers to transport it to petrol stations – people are responding emotionally to the Government telling us “don’t panic buy” and the contrasting media coverage of queues at forecourts. This has inflamed the situation and we’re seeing similar results to the lockdown stockpiling of March 2020.

The emotional reaction of many people to this situation makes me think of “The Chimp Paradox”, a concept created by Professor Steve Peters in his bestselling book of the same name. The concept aims to simplify complex neuroscience (the activity of different parts of the brain) into a framework that’s easy to grasp. I frequently use The Chimp Paradox when I coach people on their decisions around spending, saving and investing.

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Ditch New Year’s Resolutions – develop good habits instead

Ditch New Year’s Resolutions – develop good habits instead

Lose weight! Get fit! Start saving! 

It’s that time of year again – the time of New Year resolutions and goal-setting. This year, though, let’s do something different and focus on habits instead. 

Think of a goal as a result you want to achieve. And habits – the things you do regularly without even thinking about it - as the process that will get you there. Of course, goals are crucial in helping you determine the direction you want to do, but it’s far more important to spend time designing the right process. 

With habits, thinking small can be the best way to bring about big change. Behaviour Scientist at Stanford University, BJ Fogg, invented the method of creating Tiny Habits. His philosophy is that motivation is only temporary and the easiest way to make a habit stick is to tack it onto an existing habit. BJ Fogg describes a tiny habit as a behaviour you do at least once a day, that takes you less than 30 seconds and one that requires little effort.

The habit-formation technique of ‘pairing’ is one form of automation that I personally use. When I turn on my computer in the morning, I check my bank account online. It’s a manual action but it’s so ingrained in me now that it’s an automatic habit – I do it without thinking.  

My work as a financial coach is often focused on working with people who want to change their financial results, sometimes having buried their head in the sand with their finances for several years. This usually involves helping them change their behaviour with money and form new, positive habits that requires small and consistent action – small, because it’s more achievable; and consistent, because this helps habits ‘stick’.  

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Could a money coach solve your money problems?

Could a money coach solve your money problems?

Flic Everett, 46, is in debt, has no pension and does not own her own property, so she put her trust in me to help her get a grip on her finances, and to improve her relationship to money. 

This article in the FeMail gives you Flic’s account of what she got out of our sessions and from the work she prepared in advance of us meeting. It also gives you insight into what goes on in a coaching session and some of the exercises I use.

Read the article here

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The gift of giving

The gift of giving

I want to share with you the most profound and inspirational story about one of my clients. She first came to see me just over 3 years ago, having inherited money and wanting to experience self-empowerment. Her wish was to do something with the money which was meaningful to her. To extract purpose and meaning from the money that was not entangled in emotional connections to money in her family. She was aware that over time her relationship with the money had become tense and uncomfortable, sometimes tainted by shame and guilt - she wanted to heal this along the way. 

I'm thrilled by the progress she's made. The way that her relationship with money has changed. How she has carefully and methodically selected the right investment approach, and advice, to have confidence that her money is working well for her and aligned to her goals and integrity. How she is gaining confidence in her understanding of the complex financial landscape. And is standing in her power in so many different ways. 

But, I'm especially proud of ...

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What the ELLE is Financial Coaching?

What the ELLE is Financial Coaching?

Having worked with clients in a coaching capacity for over 15 years now, I know that Financial Coaching changes people’s lives for the better. Often the reason for someone’s money problems is rooted in their relationship with, and attitudes towards, money rather than their knowledge and understanding of finance.

What I also know is that unfortunately the vast majority of people still don’t know that financial support outside of traditional advice exists. 

That’s why I was delighted when ELLE, the world’s best-selling fashion magazine, asked to come and experience a Financial Coaching session. 

You can read Alex Holder’s full write-up here: Meet the money doctor who will change your life

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WOW - Women of the World - Festival

WOW - Women of the World - Festival

Happy International Women's Day! 

I'm getting really excited about taking part in the WOW Festival this weekend. I'll be there 3-4pm on Friday as part of a panel discussing risk, exposure and resilience. And also delivering a worksop 'Getting Personal with Finance' 3-4pm on Saturday, where I'll be taking women through the 7 Laws of Sheconomics and answering audience questions.

Passes for the festival are now sold out, but come and see me if you're there! @WOWtweetUK #WOWLDN

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sowing the seeds for financial success

sowing the seeds for financial success

This month our inboxes are overloaded with motivational messages, pinging at you like a hyperactive personal trainer: Lose weight! Get fit! Stop smoking! Start training! Write that book! Sort out your money! I'm advocating a calmer, gentler approach to achieving your financial goals; scaling down intentions to a manageable level. If you set yourself up to succeed, you'll be rewarded with an upward spiral of belief and trust in yourself.

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Changing Financial Behaviour

Changing Financial Behaviour

I've been a great fan of Pete Matthew at Meaningful Money, who shares my passion in delivering financial education to the masses and helping people build a better financial future for themselves. I often suggest his podcasts or videos to clients to listen to, and would strongly recommend taking a look around his site and, if you're interested in learning how to invest, signing up for his free 10 day email course.

This week, I was delighted to be inverviewed by Pete for his latest Meaningful Money podcast, as part of his season covering the subject of behavioural finance. In this interview I talk about the power of coaching and how we also need to address our emotional relationship with money to create a secure path towards our goals. I also share some tips and insights.

You can listen to it by clicking on the audio link above (the interview starts about 6 minutes into the recording) or via the Changing financial behaviour page on the Meaningful Money website. If you scroll down the page on the Meaningful Money website, there's also a transcribed version of the podcast and a list of resources that I mention during the interview. Please do take a look at Pete's website, as there's tons of valuable resources on there. 

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Coping with money worries

Coping with money worries

The words ‘money’ and ‘worries’ go together so often they can seem inseparable. For many people, their relationship with money is fraught with anxiety. In Sheconomics we talk about ‘Money Anxiety Disorder’ (MAD) – a fixation with money worries and a persistent sensation of simply not having enough. I also come across something I call ‘net worth anxiety’ – where people assess themselves at a certain stage of life and compare themselves to friends or colleagues or to their own expectations, and feel that they’ve fallen behind.

Money worries can leave you trapped in a relentless cycle of anxiety.

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