I’m pretty sure I need all new school…er, I mean office supplies 

We are solidly in August and, at least in the Southeast, that means it is time for back to school! Target is filled with cute school supplies, I’m getting catalogs in the mail reminding me that my kids totally need adorable cardigans for the fall (while I sit here sweating in 97° heat), and I’m feeling that start-again-fresh energy in the air. 

I have always loved this time of year. I was a kid who was pretty obsessed with school and by the time the last few weeks of summer rolled around I was chomping at the bit to get back to it. I loved learning and did well academically, which certainly helped, but I think the real reasons I loved school were social and material. I rarely got in trouble at school, but when I did it was because I wouldn’t stop talking. I LOVED coming to school with new supplies. I loved my gel pens and trapper keepers. I loved a fresh notebook and new pair of jeans. I loved it all. 

And now I’m adult who apparently works all year long and doesn’t need school supplies to start out the new school year right. 

Lame. 

I’m trying to capture that same back-to-school energy this year -- 1) because it is fun, but also because 2) that energy is infectious! It helps me figure out what’s next. It helps me see growth potential and clarify my priorities. Every business owner (and human) needs that in their lives. 

In an attempt to not go overboard with things that I don’t actually need, I’ve been working on a small back-to-school shopping list.

My Back-to-School Shopping List:

• Notebooks (I use these mostly for action item lists, but also journaling and random brainstorming)

• Stickers (I’ll probably share with my kids)

• Fun folders to upgrade the ones I use all the time for domestic administration stuff 

• iPad cover to make it easier to use my iPad as a second screen when on the run

What about you? Are you gearing up for some back-to-school fun? Ignoring the sales altogether? Tell me alllll about it, friend. 

As always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO,

I’ve always had a bit of a shopping problem. No…I don’t really mean that. I don’t want to place a judgment on it from the get go. 

I’ll start over - I’ve always loved shopping. I love new things. I love trying on outfits and there were many times in my life when I spent a great deal of time, energy, and money on my clothes. It made me happy. 

During my first pregnancy I sort of gave up on all of that. I had just started my second trimester when Covid shutdowns went into place and I didn’t feel the need to spend money on clothes that no one would see but me and my husband. In retrospect that was likely a sign of depression, but I think at the time everything was in such upheaval that I didn’t recognize it as such. 

That first pregnancy was difficult and my second one, while less challenging than the first, was nerve wracking because my previous pregnancy put me in a high risk category. I struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety after my first, which unfortunately went undiagnosed (mostly because it was so much better than what I experienced during pregnancy). The PPD and PPA got a lot worse after my second child was born and, thankfully, that time around I had folks around me who helped me recognize what was going on. I went on medication, made lifestyle changes, and went to therapy.

During all this time I continued to shop, but mostly out of habit and desperation (my shoe size changed with EACH baby) and the simple fact that postpartum Caroline was a size (actually many sizes) that I had never been before and therefore I needed at least some clothes that fit. 

Over the last few months my PPD and PPA have really improved. I still have challenges, but they are more manageable and, as my therapist would say, I have more tools in my toolkit. I know how to recognize what is happening and I have multiple ways to move forward. 

One of the outcomes of my improved mental health is that I really want to get dressed in things that spark joy for me. I want to put on clothes that make me smile. I want to wear things that make me feel powerful and strong -- that make me feel capable. I do feel all of these things, but it has always helped me when the outside reminds me of what I know to be true on the inside. 

As such, I’ve been shopping in new ways recently. What had felt more like a chore and habit is feeling exciting, but also a little bit overwhelming. I want to buy so much, but I know I can’t afford to go overboard. I also know that both my style and my body are in flux and investing too much money into a style at this point is likely premature. 

To be completely honest, I haven’t quite figured out how I want to move forward in this space. I could buy a lot of new things at a low price point (Old Navy, Target) or I could buy more things at a mid-range price point, or I could invest in just a couple things at a higher price point. Pre-pregnancy Caroline would have chosen the mid or high range and postpartum depression Caroline would have chosen the low price point. The question is, where does post pregnancy, stable mental health Caroline go? 

If you’ve been in a similar place and have advice for me, I’d love to hear it! Shoot me an email at caroline@verdiadvising.com or comment below. 

As always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO,

I get a lot of credit score and credit questions from folks and I wanted to spend some time answering the questions that I hear most frequently. Read on to see if any of your burning questions get answered! 

Have other questions you’d like me to address? Send me an email at caroline@verdiadvising.com. 

Does it hurt your credit score to cancel cards you don’t want anymore? (This question wins for being asked the most times!)

I hate this answer, but yes. A few of the factors that impact your score are hurt by closing cards: 1. Closing a card lowers the amount of credit you have available to you, making it look like you’re using more of your credit than you did before closing the card. 

The math =  You used to have 3 cards with the following credit limits: $5,000, $2,000 and $10,000. Your total available credit was $17,000 and you had a $2,000 balance. $2,000/$17,000 = 11% use of your cards.

Now you have 2 cards with the following credit limits: $2,000 and $10,000. Your total available credit was $12,000 and you had a $2,000 balance. $2,000/$12,000 = 17% use of your cards. Using 17% of your credit is “worse” than using 11% of it.

2. Closing cards can lower your credit “diversity” and therefore lower your score.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should never close a card! There are ways to do this well, I can help.

Is it better to not have credit cards?

I know plenty of credit card-less people who are thrilled to be that way, but they tend to have external factors that make this easier (i.e. are independently wealthy or have few outside responsibilities). 

If you want to make big purchases that you don’t have the funds to pay for all at once (or move to a new apartment in a big city) it is really important to build a good credit score and the easiest way to do that is to use credit cards responsibly. 

What is an average score? 

The national average is about 700. That is a pretty good score that will get you decent loan and credit card offerings. To get the best offerings you need to score over 800, but honestly the offerings for 740+ are pretty darn close to 800+. 

What is the ideal way to regularly pay off my cards? 

Note: I’m answering this from the perspective of paying off your cards regularly, not if you are working on paying down balances that have been on your card for more than a month! I’ll get to that doozy later:) 

The only way to avoid interest is to make sure that your statement balance is $0 before the due date! There are a few ways to do this well. I recommend starting out with whichever option feels best for you and then checking in with yourself after a month or two. If it doesn’t actually feel good, try another option!

• Pay your card balance after every purchase. This option can feel overwhelming for a lot of people, but if you’re particularly worried about getting into debt or have experienced debt in the past it just may feel just right.

• Pay off your balance on the same day every week. I love doing this on Fridays so you can go into the weekend feeling accomplished! 

• Pay off your “statement balance” before the due date. You can either set this up as an auto pay or set up a recurring reminder for yourself to pop in and manually do it. 

Is my score hurt if I get rejected for a card? What should I do next? 

Sort of. Your score isn’t affected by the rejection, but it is affected by the lender doing a “hard check” on your credit history, so your score is getting hurt whether you get approved or not. 

If you do get rejected, it is important to go through the following steps:

• Do you need a new card right now? If not then hold off for at least 3 months while your score improves.

• If you do need a new card it is important to apply for one that you are more likely to get approved for. Credit Karma has good recommendations based on your score and your bank can likely give you a good estimate of whether or not you’d be approved, but there are no sure fire bets. If you want help figuring out how to determine the right card for you, let me know!

As always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO,

I like to think of myself as someone who does not google medical questions. 

That is absolutely not true. 

When I’m feeling sick or one of the kids has something going on, my Google search history turns into a cornucopia of hypochondriac questions -- things like…

Rash on stomach

Rash on stomach and arms

Rash on stomach and arms pregnant?

Early pregnancy symptoms

Pregnancy rash 

And you know what? I never find helpful answers. At best, I find information that helps me narrow down the possibilities, or that helps me better understand something that I already have basic information on (for example, one of my kids has a lot of allergies and Google has helped me understand how allergies work, what antihistamines are, and how different longer-term treatments might go). That is all incredibly helpful, but it didn’t help me diagnose the allergies to begin with or even to narrow down whether or not the symptoms were allergy based. 

I have found that many folks use Google for their financial questions the same way I use it for health questions. Once you know enough to know what specific questions you need answers (i.e. “How does the debt snowball method work?”; “What are expense ratios?”) then you can get some pretty helpful information. On the other hand, more general queries often put you in the internet wild west (i.e. “how to get out of debt”; “how to invest”). 

As I’m sure most of you (maybe all of you?) know from personal experience, the internet wild west is a terrifying, terrifying place. It is full of mis-information, confusing explanations, half-truths, and outdated facts. I’m not saying folks are necessarily being malicious, but they don’t actually know you, your personality, your values, or your particular financial needs. Without those inputs, it is more likely than not that the results are going to be really unhelpful.

For example, if someone has $18,000 of credit card debt, both of the following solutions technically work, but neither would work for everyone. In fact, neither work for MOST people! 

DEBT ELIMINATION SCENARIO 1

• Stop using credit cards today

• Pay $800 extra on your credit card each month until you’ve paid off your cards 

DEBT ELIMINATION SCENARIO 2

• Stop using credit cards today

• Ask your parents for a family loan and set up a 0% interest rate payback schedule with them 

• Potentially do this again if/when you go into debt in the future 

That’s why getting personalized advice can be so life changing -- either from a medical professional or a financial professional (shuts down most recent set of google search tabs).

As always, I’m rooting for you!

XOXO,

P.S. Check out what a past client said about their experience with Individual Financial Coaching: 

Caroline has a knack for making me feel relief and self-compassion around my finances, while also giving me the confidence to make the practical improvements I need to. Speaking with Caroline feels like having the perfect balance between a non-judgmental, uplifting friend and a financial expert who seriously knows her stuff. Money can be an incredibly emotional topic and Caroline gets it!

- Emily

Money Dates are a simple, concrete way to regularly check in with your money and your money goals. Over the past 8 years I’ve been improving upon a system so that anyone can start (or maintain) a better, healthier relationship with money and I’m super excited to share my process with you today! 

I LOVE Money Dates. My husband and I have them periodically (we used to be very good about weekly dates, but now they are more irregular), and I have them with myself every Friday. Solo Money Dates are pretty simple - all you need is a little bit of time, a willingness to learn more about yourself and your money habits, and access to your bank account(s). To make them even easier to implement, I’ve created a FAQ list that will get you started off on the right foot (or buck?). 

Why should I do this?

Such an important question! Culturally, we are very isolated from our money, yet use it (almost) every day. Money Dates help to:

• Normalize our experiences with money

• Keep us on track towards our Money Goals

• Teach us about our money habits - which often teaches us about our other habits and priorities!

• Understand our lifestyles more fully

• Become more mindful with our money habits

How much time do I need?

Not much! I set aside 30 minutes for each of my money dates. I love them, so sometimes I end up spending more time, but I always commit to at least a full 30 minute chunk of time.

How often should I have Money Dates?

My personal preference is once a week as part of my regular morning routine because I find that that frequency and time of day is the easiest for me to make habitual. However, I have clients who find that 2x a month or even 1x a month is a better fit for them. I have other clients who like to have their money dates during a lunch break or at the end of the work day as a way to mark the start to a relaxing evening. No matter your preferred frequency or time of day, make sure to set aside the time in your calendar so that you don’t forget about it.

EXPERT TIP: If you choose to have money dates less frequently then try to go for a little longer — shoot for 45-60 minutes instead of 30.

Where should I be?

Wherever! You will need access to either your bank accounts or a money tracker (want to set one of these up? Schedule a free call with me so we can chat), so make sure to be somewhere where you’re easily able to pull those up, but otherwise it is totally up to you. I recommend being someplace comfortable and private so you don’t have to deal with interruptions. Usually that means I head on over to my couch, but I’ve had successful money dates in coffee shops, parks, by a pool and even on a train! Anyone else feel the start to a Dr. Seuss book here?!

What do I actually do during the money date?

First review your Money Goals and ask yourself the following questions:

• Do my goals spark joy? Marie Kondo that list y’all.

• Do any of my goals need updating? Am I updating them because I haven’t made progress? If so, what do I need to change about my action steps?

• Have I reached any of my goals? If so, do a dance, scream at the top of your lungs and shoot me an email so I can do the same! 

Then, look over your spending and saving habits since your last money date (or, if this is your first one - look at just the last week). Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are my spending and saving habits aligned with my goals? If not, what can I shift now? What will take more time?

• How can I make my spending and saving habits even more aligned with my goals?

• Does anything seem wrong (i.e. got charged twice for Netflix, my health insurance auto payment isn’t showing up, my paycheck looks smaller this month)? If so, make a plan to follow up with the appropriate people.

What treat should I have?

Treats are an important part of Money Dates. Diving into your personal finances can be scary and hard, especially when you’re first starting out, so I recommend bribing yourself with a little goodie at the end. My favorite treats are really simple -  a little bit of chocolate, a homemade matcha latte, a yummy cup of tea (do you see a pattern here?). My treats are always food or drink related, but you don’t need to be so focused (or hungry) and instead plan an activity for after the date that makes you particularly happy. Or, better yet, do both!

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO,

When I tell folks that I’m a Financial Coach one of two things usually happen: 

1 - They respond with something along the lines of, “oh my goodness, I desperately need one of those!” followed with a nervous laugh and (sometimes) a quick excuse to get away from me.

Or

2 - They look at me dumbfounded and then ask what the heck that actually means (fair). 

Since I don’t get to see you in person and respond to your confused looks (or politely let you run away from me), I thought I’d take a break from the regularly scheduled programming here and just spell out step by step what it is I do and what it looks like from a client perspective. 

Step 1 = Client Intake/Discovery 

THE GOAL of this step is for me to better understand your financial goals, concerns, and situation. I’ll ask a bunch of questions so that I know if I’m a good fit for you (or, if I’m not, I’ll open my mental rolodex to figure out who to refer you to). You’ll get a chance to ask me questions too! The coaching process is relationship based, so it is important that we BOTH feel good about the decision to move forward.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE →

• A free 20 minute consultation call (book here!) where we chat through what you’re looking for and I answer questions about my work. 

Or

• You fill out the Client Inquiry doc (email me at caroline@verdiadvising.com for a copy of the form) and I respond via email with follow up questions and answer any questions you have. I sometimes respond via Loom video so you can see and hear me!

• After the call/email session I follow up with a proposal that includes: 

• An outline of your coaching goals 

• Proposal for coaching series (i.e. # of hourly sessions or recommendation for Sprint Days) and pricing (did you know my pricing is all public? You can check it out here) 

• A link to schedule your first session 

• If you decide to move forward with the plan (i.e. you book a session) then you move to step 2!

Step 2 = The Pre-Work

THE GOAL of this step is to make sure you are super prepared for our first session! That way we can hit the ground running. 

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE → 

• I will send over a Client Service Agreement for you to sign

• I will share pre-work in our joint Coaching Notes doc and via email. This doc will act as our hub for all of the work we do together. It includes the proposal, pre-work, all coaching session notes, and links to toolkits/spreadsheets/videos we use during coaching. 

• Pre-work usually includes: 

• Answering a few questions about how you feel about specific financial goals or questions (i.e. what do you want your relationship to debt to look/feel like in 5 years? What does financial success mean to you?). These answers help me understand your financial values and idiosyncrasies and make me a better coach.  

• Filling out a spreadsheet with some financial facts (note: I don’t always have folks do this as pre-work since, for some people, it can be overwhelming to do before the first session)

Step 3 = The Work-work!

THE GOAL of our work is to reach your coaching goals! 

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE → 

• If you are doing hourly coaching sessions we will schedule these out in advance. They are usually once a month or once every other week, but that cadence is based on your personality and goals. Most people work with me for ~ 12 hourly sessions and then do quarterly or bi-annual check-ins for a while after we wrap.

• If you are doing Sprint Days those intensive chunks of time are also scheduled ahead of time. They are 3 hour intensives and most folks do 2-4 blocks (i.e. 6-12 hours), depending on the complexity and scale or your goals. 

• For either Sprint Days or Hourly Coaching sessions, the actual time together is very similar. I have our coaching notes doc prepped with the agenda, links to custom made spreadsheets and tools and the plan of action for the session. Most sessions focus on one or two of your coaching goals (i.e. “Revenue Plan & Debt Elimination” or “Business Runway and Emergency Saving”). We work through the plan together with me asking lots of questions, running different financial scenarios and discussing pros and cons of next steps. Sometimes we do action steps together (I actually mailed someone’s s-corp filing docs for them the other day!) and sometimes action steps are homework (i.e. we decide which high yield savings account you’ll get during the session, but you actually open it on your own). 

• I always follow up after sessions with a list of action items, any relevant links (to our coaching notes doc or videos), and reminders about our next sessions. 

• In between sessions you and I both have homework to complete (i.e. opening accounts, answering questions, moving money). I also reach out to check in on your progress, answer any questions you may have, and give you encouragement on next steps. 

Step 4 = The Maintenance Phase (also my fav Podcast)

THE GOAL of this phase is to make sure you maintain new habits, have all on-going questions answered, and help you navigate new financial situations with ease. 

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE →

• Most folks schedule quarterly or bi-annual check-ins after they complete their original coaching series. The sessions look largely like normal hourly coaching sessions. We work through ongoing challenges, answer new financial questions, and help you complete long-term goals. 

Whew. That’s a lot! If you’d like to learn more, schedule a call with me or email me at caroline@verdiadvising.com. If you’re not interested - no worries! It is definitely not for everyone. 

As always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO,

P.S. This is how a recent Sprint Day client described our time together: 

“What you helped me do is take the stuff that is a chronic level of stress that I’m thinking about everyday, but not doing anything about and saying, ‘We’re going to take that chronic stress away. It is not going to be on your mind everyday, it doesn’t need to be on your mind everyday. The time you need to think about it is during this three hour block. During that time we will address those worries. I will help you with a plan and I will set up the plan with you. I’ll hold your hand for as much or as little as you want’” 

Sounds dreamy, right? 💁‍♀️

Private School vs. Public School…

This is a topic of conversation that comes up pretty frequently in my day to day life. I am a parent of young children, have a lot of friends with school-age children, and used to work in public education. I’m not going to get into all of the complications related to this topic in this post (there are many!), but I just want to flag two things that I think are really powerful to think about when/if you are trying to decide between paying for private school or sending your child(ren) to public school. 

1. If you own property where you are sending your child(ren) to school then you pay for public school via property taxes. If you rent then you indirectly pay these too (I’m sure your landlord took those costs into account when determining the monthly rental price for your place!). That may not mean that you want to send your kids to those schools, but it is important to keep in mind that if you choose private school then you are actually paying for both options. If you choose public school, then you are only paying for public school. 

2. Many folks feel overwhelmed by the prospect of paying private school tuition on top of all of the other costs of raising children. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something along the lines of…”well so-and-so does it and they seem to manage okay”; “This is just what is done in my circle of friends and peers”; “It doesn’t really feel like an option, but I also don’t understand how everyone is paying for this plus the (fill in the blank here -- i.e. new car, vacation, fitness classes, etc)”. 

The answer is that many people probably aren’t paying for everything on their own, or at least not with their earned income alone. Many grandparents pay for private school tuition. Many trusts or inheritance payments cover tuition. I say this a lot and I’ll say it many more times -- the comparison game doesn’t work when you don’t know all of the inputs. 

Maybe these facts don’t change anything about the calculus for you -- maybe sending your kid to that specific school is the most important thing you want to do with your income. If that’s the case, no judgment here! But, if you add in property taxes to the private school tuition and all of a sudden public school feels a lot more valuable, that’s probably telling. 

If you do the math and you realize that paying tuition means that you’ll have to forgo other things that you want from life, then it is a question of priorities -- is that education worth those vacations?

As always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO, 

P.S. In one of my most recent Sprint Days I worked with a client to create and implement a new account optimization system (hellloooo modified profit first!) and designed a tracking system so that tax time will feel easy next year. Wins all around!

My job is to make them Empowering

Many of my clients can be put in one of two buckets: 

1 - The “I’ve tried to do this for ages on my own and I just keep getting stuck/overwhelmed/frustrated/off course” bucket

OR

2 - The “I’ve never even tried because numbers and math feel so overwhelming to me” bucket

There is no moral superiority to either bucket. They both are honest places to be starting from and, quite frankly, very understandable places to be. Very few of us are taught about money in ways that are productive or helpful, either from a personal or business finance perspective. Many of us, especially women and those who consider themselves in creative fields, have been told and tell ourselves that we’re not good at math and therefore can’t be good with money. The financial and banking industries have historically benefitted from consumers being in the dark and therefore haven’t tried to make things easier. There are direct and ripple effects from systemic racism, sexism, and classism that mean that some folks are at an extreme advantage and some are at an extreme disadvantage. 

All of that is true and I still firmly believe that everyone can gain confidence with making financial decisions. No one is inherently “bad with money”. Every business owner or nonprofit Executive Director can learn the skills and facts they need to make critical financial decisions for their organization. Every individual can learn the skills and facts they need to make income, spending, saving, and investing decisions that enable them to work towards their goals. Sometimes the answer might be, “that isn’t possible yet or on the timeline you want”. Sometimes the answer is “that isn’t possible at all”, but questions can and should be asked and answered because otherwise we are flying blind and anytime we do that we are much more likely to crash. 

That’s where I come in. Or rather, that’s why my profession exists. I work with folks to first identify their goals, then determine which challenges (whether emotionally based or numbers based, or both!) are creating roadblocks, and, finally, create projections, toolkits, and plans for how to work through the challenges. Basically, I help you look at the numbers in a way that feels empowering and not overwhelming. I structure the numbers so that they tell a story that is actionable and manageable. I narrow in on what inputs impact the goals and work so that we don’t waste our time on things that simply distract us. 

This might look like: 

• Projecting out expenses and income over the next year to create a savings plan for a business runway

• Analyzing inventory and sales trends to create buying and pricing plans that maximize highly profitable sales 

• Creating a debt elimination plan that minimizes emotional stress and interest payments 

• Determining account and bookkeeping systems that enable you to minimize work time related to your administrative tasks while keeping on top of your financial realities 

If you’re interested in becoming a client - and I hope you are! - I have several spots opening up this month and several more opening up next month and I’d love to help you reach your financial goals! To learn more about my coaching services and pricing go here. To schedule a free consultation call with me go here and to chat via email, shoot me a message at caroline@verdiadvising.com. I can’t wait to help you find the joy and empowerment in the numbers! 

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO, 

P.S. Curious how people feel about working with me? Here’s a recent testimonial from one client: 

Working with Caroline was exactly what I was looking for: Someone who understood my financial needs & goals - and was willing to take into account my own values and perspectives on money - to help me build solutions that worked for me and my family. With Caroline, I felt like I could be honest and open around a touchy subject and could confide in her without judgment. After several sessions with Caroline, I'm feeling much more in control of my financial system, set up to head out on mat leave, and have a good sense of what my budget will look like over the course of the next few years. I have not hesitated to recommend Caroline to others and am planning to work with her again if I'm coming across another next big life stage change. Thank you so much, Caroline!

- Emma

This is the first summer since 2019 that I’ve traveled for fun. The last few years it just didn’t feel possible: 

• 2020 was 2020, plus I was pregnant

• 2021 still felt dicey, plus I had a young baby and was pregnant 🤯

• 2022 I had two young kids (2 under 2!)

But now I feel the itch to get out and do! I want to see people, give my kids the opportunities to explore new places, and enjoy life after a few very challenging years. 

Here’s what’s on the list:

• I took my kids to the beach with friends a couple weekends ago

• This past weekend we visited my sister and her family in Minneapolis

• We go to Florida with my husband’s family in a few weeks

• I go to California to see friends at the beginning of July

• My sister, cousin and I have a mini trip planned later in July

• And then we have plans in the works for another beach trip in July and for a family trip to Montana in August

Even if the last two plans fall through, this is more travel than I’ve done in years and way more travel than my kids have ever experienced. It feels both comforting to be back to what feels like a more normal summer schedule for me and, simultaneously, it feels pretty overwhelming. 

Financially it feels overwhelming because I’m used to paying for one or two adults, not a family of four. On top of that, flights, gas, and most related travel costs are higher than they were in 2019. The numbers add up quickly and even though I’m not doing anything that I can’t afford, I’m not used to seeing these costs on my statements or Money Diary (curious about Money Diaries? Book a free consultation call with me or email me at caroline@verdiadvising.com).

When my anxiety started creeping up around travel I assumed that it was just because of the money, but after the beach trip with friends where I ended up forgetting half of the clothes I thought I packed I realized that another factor - potentially a larger factor - is the fact that each of these trips takes an immense amount of time for me to plan well.  

I have always been a fan of packing lists. I keep ones on my phone so that all I need to do for the next trip is modify it for the number of nights away or weather. I like making these lists days or even weeks in advance (depending on the scale of the trip) so that if I need to get anything new to bring with me I have plenty of time to find the right deal. 

As a mother my love of lists has only grown, but the level of detail I need to get to in order to make sure we all have all of our bits and pieces is pretty obnoxious. My son has a lot of allergies and therefore needs to travel with several medications at all times. He also is still in diapers and diapers take up a crazy amount of space in a suitcase. Kids go through a lot of clothes. Kids have accoutrement (!!) that seems necessary (bibs, favorite toys, sound machines, etc). Some of that I could probably skip, but it all feels easier once we are away if I don’t. Life is easier if kids have some of the same things they are used to having -- they feel safer and therefore can have more fun. That feels worth it. 

And so, I spend a lot of time thinking about what they need and end up leaving myself as a deep afterthought. Hence, I showed up at the beach without shorts or either of the dresses I felt sure I had packed. I forgot my allergy medicine, but had every type of medicine under the sun for my kids. 

Thankfully I have several upcoming trips where I can try again. I’m giving myself even more time to make the list so that I can complete it without feeling rushed. I’m letting myself mull over the list over the course of a week+ so I have plenty of time for those middle of the night, “Oh yeah!” thoughts. I’m learning what I feel comfortable skimping on and what I feel better overpacking with. It feels like a lot of growth and learning in a really short period of time, but isn’t that true of so many things in life when you’re actually out there in the world interacting and experiencing? 

Overall, what I’m learning is that the more information I have and the more planning I do, the less stressed and anxious I become. I can’t control everything - or even most things, but I can make sure the Epipen is packed (lol) and that I have shorts to wear.

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO,

P.S. You know what happened last week? I helped one of my clients finalize her business runway so that she can comfortably leave her 9-5 and work full-time for herself starting in the fall! Woohoo!!

A few years ago I noticed that a lot of folks in the coaching and advising space were offering intensive coaching options, often called VIP Days. These were usually full day (or days) long coaching sessions where the promise was that you would walk away completely finished with the work. At the time I thought, “that makes sense for their work, but doesn’t work for my work” and moved on pretty quickly. I had spent so much time creating systems for coaching that were anathema to the quick financial “fixes” that get people into financial trouble that the idea that moving quickly could work did not compute with my brain. 

In a lot of ways I don’t think I was wrong. For many folks, one of the biggest benefits of working with me over the course of several months is the long-term accountability and support. By the time we wrap up our work together new habits have been fully developed and are integrated into their lives. The skills have been practiced and honed. The knowledge has become fully ingrained. I know that for many clients if we had done everything over the course of a couple days they would likely not have been able to maintain those new systems over the long term and therefore would not be successful at reaching their financial goals  

All of that said, I have finally come to the conclusion that there are times when ripping the proverbial band aid is actually a better fit than the slow-and-steady-wins-the-race approach. 

And thus, Verdi Sprint Days were born…

Verdi Sprint Days are Two 3-hour coaching sessions split up over the course of a couple weeks in which we tackle one big financial goal. 

For example, I’ve worked with clients to: 

• Determine and set up business structures & systems

• Update financial plans and systems to better fit business goals and working styles 

• Analyze current financials (i.e. net worth, spending habits, investments) and create an investment plan to meet long-term goals

After the Sprint Days are over I’m offering clients the option of quarterly or semiannual check-ins so that we can make sure that the work is continuing and all challenges are addressed. 

So far, so good! 

I like this structure a lot -- I get to help someone move forward really quickly and productively and I still get to offer the long-term support that I think is necessary for lasting change. I still don’t think this approach is good for everyone or for every financial goal, but I’m glad I gave the idea a second look. I didn’t think I was throwing the baby out with the bath water when I dismissed it years ago, but I think in reality that is exactly what I was doing. 

Y’all - owning a small business is alllll about course correction. I’m in the middle of a course correction now with this new offerings and I’m sure there will be many more to come. They are necessary, but not the most comfortable thing in the world to do. 

Maybe you’re in a similar boat? 

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO,

A few weeks ago I wrote about how our bank accounts (i.e. our transactions) can say a lot about us and our values. I shared that although I feel good about what my transactions say now, I didn’t always feel that way. Today, I want to share a little bit more about my personal journey. 

Spoiler Alert: It feels a little uncomfortable to publish this post because my past relationship with money is not at all what you would want from a financial coach but, I think, like teachers who are particularly good at teaching subjects they struggled with in school, my past financial struggles help me better empathize and strategize with my clients. 

And, if nothing else, maybe my embarrassing story will bring you a little joy. That’s worth it in my book! 

Let’s go back to the mid-2000s…

You know, when this song was cool. And these looks (check out slide 15). And this movie. 

I was in undergrad and once I moved off campus my parents started giving me a monthly allowance that I could use as I saw fit. I truthfully do not remember how much it was (I wish I had written this all down!), but I remember that it felt like almost enough most of the time. I always paid my rent first and then would willy nilly make it through the rest of the month. I have vague memories of “budgeting”, but I did it in the exact way that I teach clients not to do now. I wrote down how much money I “made” and then came up with what felt like reasonable guesses for my expenses. I finished the exercise, realized that if my guesses were right that it would be a really tight fit to do everything, promptly closed my notebook, and then never looked at the exercise again. 

But, of course, my guesses weren’t right. No one’s guesses are right. 

And that meant that sometimes, especially at the end of the month, I was having to make difficult decisions about what to pay for (thankfully, I did not have a credit card until I graduated or I would have started my credit-card-debt-rack-up-journey multiple years earlier than I did). 

I have one particularly embarrassing memory of this decision making process: 

As a kid I was allergic to bee stings. I had five years of allergy shots, so am likely not allergic anymore, but haven’t ever been tested again to confirm (**pauses to make Allergist appointment**). I had always carried an Epipen, but didn’t realize how expensive they were until it was time to refill the prescription. I have a strong memory of getting to the pharmacy, realizing that if I paid for the Epipen I wouldn’t have enough money to go here ⬇️

Aaaannndd…I have never owned an Epipen since 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ 

If nothing else will convince you that 22 year olds do not have fully formed brains, then I don’t know what will. 

Anyway…long story short - I don’t have my old bank records, but if I did I can guarantee that my “bank account values” list would look something like this: 

1. Partying

2. Rent

3. Clothes 

4. Restaurants

I don’t actually think I would have been embarrassed by that order when I was 22. In fact, I bet I would have been proud of it. And, truthfully, the real problems didn’t come for me until I got credit cards and started living beyond my means, but that’ll be a story for a different day.

The point is that our values and priorities can, and should, shift over time. What this means in reality is that sometimes our values shift faster than our financial habits and in order to catch up with ourselves we need to take the time to check in with our spending and our action plans. Because, if we aren’t analyzing, reflecting, and learning, then we can end up drinking our Epipen money away.

Okay. I think I’ve aired enough dirty laundry for the day. 

As always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO,

I love this question because our spending habits, whether as individual human beings, or as companies, say a lot about our priorities. Or, rather, they say a lot about what our priorities actually are, but not necessarily what we want them to be. Whew - that’s confusing. Let me break it down. 

If you look at my family’s spending over the last three months the four categories with the highest expenditures are: 

1. Home (i.e. mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities)

2. Kids (i.e. childcare, clothing, activities) 

3. Food (groceries & restaurants)

4. Financial (taxes and retirement saving) 

If you look at my business’s spending over the last three months the four categories with the highest expenditures are: 

1. Payroll (by FAR the highest expense)

2. Software (Zoom, Quickbooks, etc.)

3. Office expenses (mostly tech equipment) 

4. Meals 

I feel good about both of these lists. My business expenses are largely related to my personal expenses (i.e. payroll) and my personal expenses are aligned with my values. That isn’t to say there aren’t things I’d like to change. I’d love if travel was a more common personal expense and I look forward to sending my two young children to public school in a few years, but I’m happy to pay for a home I love (and spend a LOT of time in!) and for childcare that is safe, loving, and nurturing. I’m glad I am able to spend on food the way I do and I’m glad my family is paying our taxes and saving for retirement. 

All of that being said, when I first started unpacking my finances (I’ll get more into the nitty gritty of this another time!) I did not at all feel good about the lists. I spent a lot of money on clothes that I didn’t necessarily need or even wear. I spent a lot of money on debt repayments that I knew weren’t strategic. I spent money on food that I didn’t really enjoy because I wouldn’t plan far enough ahead to have groceries at my house. I spent money in a way that reflected my lack of clarity and connection with my finances. 

And I felt SO. MUCH. GUILT. I felt guilty that I wasn’t trying harder. That I didn’t know what to do. That I didn’t understand how to fix the problems because I didn’t even know what the problems were. I felt guilty that I had just stuck my head in the sand. 

I wish I could say that I figured out this perfect, easy system for getting rid of that guilt, but truth be told, it just took time, reflection, a lot of hard work, and reminders to be kind to myself. I may not have always made financial decisions that made me proud, but I worked hard to change that. I learned a lot on my own and then, eventually, I went back to graduate school and switched careers to focus on helping others expel that guilt I once felt and to create systems and structures that mean that when they open their bank accounts they can feel proud too. 

If you’re in the sticking-your-head-in-the-sand phase, I feel you. It can get better. I promise. 

If you’re in the midst of figuring it out -- keep going! You got this!

If you’re in the proud-of-my-spending bucket -- yay! Keep it up my friend!

No matter what, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO,

HOT TIP CORNER

The annual option for subscriptions is often significantly cheaper than the monthly subscription option. The trick is making sure you are ready for that larger lump sum transaction when it comes along! Put in a calendar alert so you don’t forget about upcoming expenses and check here in the next newsletter for a trick on making sure your account is prepared for annual costs!

I recently had a conversation with my business coach, Mel, about the word “empowerment”. I was complaining to her that I really want to use the word because the actual definition is exactly what I strive for in my coaching practice, but it feels overused, or, at least was overused for a period of time and now feels a little passé. She encouraged me to let those worries go and use the word that I actually mean and want to use. 

So, here goes! 

As a coach my ultimate goal is to cultivate financial empowerment for my clients. I want my clients to walk away feeling in complete control of their money and their financial decisions. I want them to feel confident and secure. I want them to feel so confident that they are able to approach financial work with a sense of ease. THAT is success for me! 

The way we get there (and I do mean we -- this is work that I do with my clients, not for them) is multifaceted: 

• We cultivate awareness in financial decision making 

• We uncover the root causes of positive and negative emotional reactions to money experiences 

• We identify skill deficits and fill those gaps with knowledge 

• We use tools (that I make) to compare options and make sound decisions 

And we do all this while keeping track of the big goals that my clients identify at the start of our work together. Sometimes the details of those goals shift over time, but the north stars remain. 

So it IS empowerment. The word might be past its prime, but the meaning is amazing and I’m going to use the term despite my “I-feel-kind-of-lame” misgivings. 

As always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO

HOT TIP CORNER

Don’t let old credit cards close automatically! Keeping old cards, even ones you never use, is great for your credit score. Some companies will shut down accounts after a period of no use. Either make sure to use all of your cards at least once a year or call all of the companies and find out their policy.

The majority of my clients come to me thinking they have no (or almost no) financial skills. They often feel like they’re missing crucial information that everyone else has. With these two personal narratives intact, they come to me feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and, often, a little bit ashamed. 

While the financial knowledge and skills that I teach in my coaching sessions are incredibly important, what folks often tell me is that the kindness, support, and lack of judgment I show is even more meaningful. When I first started coaching I was always surprised by this reaction -- I mean, all I’m doing is being kind and honest! Kind, because I have always strongly believed that we learn best and grow the most when we are being patient with ourselves and others (and because I honest to goodness just like all of my clients!). And honest because I know that this lack of knowledge or skills isn’t a personal failing. 

Very few of us are taught about money growing up. Less than half of US states require some sort of financial literacy be taught in schools and only 57% of American adults are considered financially literate (for more sobering stats, check out this article). And, for some reason, once we are adults, society tells us that we should all just know this stuff and should have our financial lives in order. 

We should be investing! We should have our business systems running perfectly! We should never have debt! We should have at least 3 months of living expenses in savings! We should be able to take off work and go on multi-week vacations! We should, we should, we should…

It drives me bonkers. 

In my opinion, what we should actually be doing is being kind to ourselves, inquisitive about what we want and need, and then seek out resources (free or paid) that will help us fill those gaps. We don’t have do it all at once and we don’t have to do it the way other people expect us to. We just need to do it in a way that feels right and is aligned to our needs and goals. 

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO

P.S. And, let’s be honest. Those people who totally seem to have their financial ducks in order may be just really good at faking it, either with debt or additional money that you don’t realize they have. What seems to be true, isn’t always true.

For those of you who do not know me personally, it is important for you to know that I am not known for my patience. Or rather, not known for the patience I direct towards myself. I am usually very patient with other people. 

But, when it comes to me, I have no interest in letting things sit. When I feel unsettled in some area of my life I quickly figure out a potential solution and act on it. This happens in both small and big ways: 

Small: I was curious about The Class a month or so ago so I immediately signed up for the free trial. My review? It would have been nice to not get sick right after starting the trial because I ended up only doing one workout “for free”, but now I’m about two weeks into regular use of the on-demand videos and really loving it! 

Big: I’ve lived in 12 different places since 2009. Every time I moved there was a good reason (landlord refused to fix the algae filled water in the taps; roommate was moving out of state and I wanted a one bedroom for just myself; the first place in L.A. felt too small to be working from home in…) AND every time I moved I didn’t sit on the decision for long. I knew in my gut I wanted the change and I made it happen. 

This has generally served me well over the years. I’ve built a life I love and am surrounded by people I love. It can also be an incredibly annoying trait to live with because - spoiler alert - plenty of things in life can’t be changed immediately. As a result, I tend to feel a lot of frustration when I’m working on something that, by its very nature, needs to take time. 

It is a bit ironic -- basically everything to do with money management and goal achievement takes time. And, what do I choose to spend every day working on? Helping folks with their money. 🤦‍♀️ 

I think my work acts a bit like exposure therapy for me. I know I need to slow down in order to appreciate the present and make thoughtful decisions. Therefore I have chosen to work in a field where I help others slow down (or sometimes speed up). I feel immense patience and grace for my clients. Making changes in your financial life is extraordinarily difficult and my role is to act as a kind, thoughtful, deeply knowledgeable partner in the process. I find that hat easy to put on and practicing it with others helps me remember that I need to practice it with myself as well. Basically, through the work I have a chance to better reflect and regulate my own actions. 

If you’ve been feeling frustrated that you haven’t been able to change your money habits overnight or fix your processes to better suit your needs within the week, don’t fret. You are SO not alone. No one can “fix” their habits at the drop of a hat. 

Instead of beating yourself up, I encourage you to ask yourself the following question: 

Am I not reaching my goals because I need more time to work on them and should therefore try to be more patient with myself OR am I not reaching my goals because I need outside support (knowledge, accountability, emotional support, etc.)? 

If your answer is the latter, reply to this email or set up a free consultation call with me! I may be able to quickly point you in the right direction for some helpful resources or refer you to a service that would help. Or maybe I can help through individual coaching or the Verdi Money Club. Who knows? No one…until you ask :) 

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO

I’ll be honest - I’ve been a little stressed about money over the last few weeks. My husband and I recently decided that daycare is not a good fit for our youngest child at this time (if you want to know alllll about the saga of a million childhood illnesses and nap drama hit reply to this email - I won’t bore those of you who aren’t interested). What that has meant is that I have spent a lot of time vetting potential nannies, becoming an ad-hoc scheduling pro, and attempting to balance work with unexpected childcare duties. 

Part of my stress is based on reality: I’ve worked less than normal (and therefore made less money than normal) and having a nanny costs more than daycare. Those are facts and shouldn’t be ignored! But, and this is actually more important in a lot of ways, part of my stress is based on personal money narratives that aren’t serving me: 

• I can always make work WORK. I am a go-getter. 

• I don’t need help to run a happy, safe, comfortable household. 

• I didn’t have babysitters or nannies growing up so I shouldn’t need that for my kids.

When I reframe to be more loving and accurate here’s what I get: 

• Work is part of my life, not my life.

• Everyone needs help. The world works better when we work together.

• Everyone’s experiences are different and what works for one family doesn’t necessarily work for another. 

None of these statements are money specific, but they’re the underlying beliefs and thought processes that impact my money values. We all have them and identifying yours can help you understand what is causing emotional responses to financial situations. For me and this specific situation, the real problem is not the money - we can handle the shift, but the problem is that I wasn’t fully emotionally ready for the change. That’s okay! Now that I know the issue I can move forward with more patience and kindness towards myself and my emotions. 

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO

My business coach commented to me the other day (oh, 👋 Mel!) that as I was explaining aspects of my work with clients I kept using the phrase, “It doesn’t have to be terrible”. Let me repeat that…

It doesn’t have to be terrible. 

It is something I said offhand multiple times, but once it was pointed out to me it has been rattling around in my brain and I just want to shout it from the rooftops. 

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE TERRIBLE!!!

Finances are hard. Money is emotional, whether we are talking about our personal or business finances. Money skills are not taught in school and rarely taught in our homes. We are expected to be good with money, but don’t even know what that means. What “good with” means for one person is not the same as what it means for another and on and on and on we go with the complexities, the emotional baggage, and the societal pressure for perfection (and, again, perfection means what?!).

All of that is true. 

And it still doesn’t have to be terrible. 

If you want to get your financial life in order you can go about in a way that feels manageable and full of joy. You can have support to make the decisions and action plans you need to get on track. You can discover what “on track” means for you (and ONLY you!). You don’t have to be in it alone. I’m here for you! The Verdi Money Club is here for you! The club officially (🥳🥳🥳) starts on May 1, but doors to sign up start now. You can learn more here, book a call to chat with me about the details, or get on the waiting list here (if you are interested in joining, but not quite ready to commit). 

If this go around isn’t for you, that’s fine! If you want to do 1:1 coaching, that’s fine! If you just want to stick around for the tid bits in emails, but have no interest in working with me, that’s fine! If you want to unsubscribe, that’s fine too! It is ALL fine. 

And…

It doesn’t have to be terrible. 

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO

I work with a lot of sole proprietors and small business owners. I love my clients, but sometimes I just want to reach through the screen and lovingly hold their shoulders while I shout, “STOP BEING SO MEAN TO YOURSELF!”. It breaks my heart to hear these creative, kind, interesting, values-driven women continually put themselves last. 

Basically they give and they give and they give and what ends up happening is that they burnout. 

Sound familiar? 

In the spirit of this very strange Hallmark driven holiday that we are celebrating (or not) today, I’d like to send out a little love note reminding all of you incredible small business owners to be a good Valentine to yourself. You know -- the kind that brings you a surprise croissant and cup of coffee right when you need it the most or the one who gifts you a spa day or takes some crucial work off your plate. 

A few ideas on how to be a good Valentine (aka a loving friend): 

• Schedule time off and stick to the plan 

• Pay yourself! 

• Turn off your phone/notifications for at least several hours a day

• Take the time to review your offerings and pricing and make sure they support your goals

• Figure out work boundaries that work for you and hold yourself to them

• Review your finances on a regular basis

• Get help if you need it!

I hope some of these ideas speak to you! If you have other thoughts, please hit reply and tell me all about them. 

And, as always, I’m rooting for you.

XOXO

The other day on Insta I posted a story about my personal progression with shopping on Amazon. As some of you might know, for a very long time I purposefully did not buy from Amazon. I was disgusted with their labor practices (still am) and wanted to give myself guardrails to help me make purchases at more local stores. This worked great! 

Until it didn’t. 

Over the past year I noticed that every other month or so my husband or I would need to buy something that we couldn’t find anywhere other than Amazon and, because we didn’t have a Prime membership, we would end up paying for shipping. After tracking for a couple of months it became really clear that even if we said we weren’t shopping at Amazon, we still were and annoyingly, we were spending more money by not having Prime. Yuck! So, we caved and got a Prime membership. And you know what? Usually when I do the math, reflect, and determine that making a financial habit change is the right thing to do I feel really good about that decision. This time is different. I don’t feel bad - I know the math wasn’t lying, but I definitely don’t feel good. Instead I just feel kind of icky. 

I believe that in order for Amazon (or any other large company) to change its labor practices it will need more incentive than a few Carolines here and there not getting a Prime subscription. It will need massive government intervention. And, for now, I’m not in a position where I have the capacity or expertise to push for that except through my vote and periodic calls to my representatives. Instead I’m going to work on accepting that I don’t love Amazon, but I do love make smart financial decisions for myself and my family and sometimes those things just don’t jive together super well. 

I’m curious if you’ve had similar experiences or are trying figure out how to spend money in a values-aligned way! 

As always, I’m rooting for you. 

XOXO

Hi All,

In my last newsletter I wrote that I’m not much of a resolutions person, and I’m not, but I have been thinking a lot about how I want this year to feel and what I want to spend my time on. The last few years have been a whirlwind and, to be honest, often incredibly hard. My husband and I moved across the country, had two kids, underwent professional transitions, and have experienced deep personal loss. Throw in the pandemic and a global changing economic landscape and I’m pretty exhausted just thinking about it! I know 2023 won’t be easy and I’m sure there will be many challenges that I don’t foresee yet, but I do feel ready to plan for a less tumultuous time. Maybe by planning for some calm I’ll be more able to find the calm in the midst of the inevitable storms? That’s what I’m telling myself anyway. 

So, as a business owner, here’s what I’m hoping and planning for in 2023: 

1. Marketing that feels energizing, not draining

2. Client work that enables me to work on a variety of projects and with a variety of people without becoming overwhelming

What this actually means: 

• Taking regular stock of my marketing actions to make sure that they FEEL good

• Analyze marketing efforts to make sure they are contributing to the bottom line

• Maintaining a solid mixture of coaching and consulting clients

• Pausing and reviewing before saying yes to new opportunities 

• Staying aware of my progress to revenue goals, but not obsessing over them

I’m curious - does any of this resonate with you? Are you planning for 2023 in a similar way? 

XOXO