Ellen Rogin

BOOK ELLEN

Feel Good Resources

What you think about and what you put your attention on grows in your life. Clearly it’s easy these days to put attention on challenges, problems, and money concerns. It’s actually hard not to. And, too much focus on your problems or the problems in the world will not help you find creative solutions, ways to grow from this, or ways to help.

If you want to feel better about your money, to truly create prosperity on purpose, it’s about finding ways to shift your attention to what’s working and ways to grow … yes, even during really challenging times – actually, especially during really challenging times.

There are so many good news stories, supportive resources, and feel-good opportunities to help you boost your mood. Here are a few I think you’ll enjoy.

A quick hit of feel better:

If you want to boost your mood watch this short video of Italians getting together to sing HELPLESSLY HOPING – il coro che non c’è. I promise this will make you smile and feel good.

 

Learn an easy and powerful way to connect with friends:

BJ Fogg, the author of Tiny Habits (which I haven’t read yet, but heard is great) leads a super engaging virtual training on setting a tiny habit for friendship. I loved watching this – and put it into action right away.

BONUS: If you are leading virtual programs yourself these day you must watch BJ in action. He’s masterful at running a zoom meeting, and keeping engagement and learning flowing throughout.

Looking for a source of good news?

Karuna means compassion in Sanskrit.

There’s a great website, karunavirus.org  that will fill you up with great, heartwarming stories.

 

 

 

You’ve heard me talk about this before …

It’s crucial you have strong self-calming skills when it comes to money worries.

Here’s an article I was quoted in on CNBC’s Growing Acorns site about how creating more calm can lead to better financial decision making.

Be happy and well,

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Have You Looked at Gratitude this Way Before?

Selfish gratitude? What’s that about?

Okay this isn’t just another post on being thankful. I know you know how beneficial focusing on what you are thankful for is for your well-being. You’ve likely heard that a gratitude practice can boost your mood, increase your happiness, and maybe even your wealth. Now more than ever focusing on what’s working is important. Hopefully you’ve tried this yourself.

I recently learned something really new for me about gratitude. It made me rethink if the way I was practicing gratitude was selfish and that there might be a better way.

About a week ago I was in a really crappy mood. We all have these days, maybe more so lately. Feeling anxious, annoyed, and lethargic (not my typical, often annoying to others, cheery self.) Yes, I’m learning to sit with these feelings, knowing they will eventually pass. (Thank you Michael Singer and his amazing book The Untethered Soul to remind me about this – which by the way I’ve read at least 4 times.) But still it feels like sh*t.

Then as I’m avoiding doing something more productive I notice a LinkedIn message I hadn’t seen from the night before. I had been chatting with a financial advisor, Barry Shapiro, about a virtual session I had lead for advisors on how to Detox from Panic so advisors can be there for their clients. Now, I don’t know Barry. He just reached out to me. Here’s what he wrote:

Maybe you haven’t focused on how sharing your gratitude impacts the other person. I hadn’t until someone shared their gratitude with me. Reading Barry’s message immediately shifted my state of mind and being. I went from Eeyore to Tigger in less than 30 seconds. Barry made my day.

Is your gratitude practice a little selfish?

This makes me think that I’ve been selfish in my gratitude practice. It has been all about how it makes me feel better. What I realize now is that I can make this regular practice even better to include sharing my gratitude with the people who have a positive impact on me.

I’ve decided to pay this forward and reached out to share my gratitude with someone I don’t really know – Sallie Krawcheck. She’s a rock stock in the financial services industry and runs Ellevest. I told her about how the content they create around finances for women is the best I’ve seen – smart, edgy, and never condescending (which sadly is not always the case in the financial services industry.) She emailed back that she was going to share this with her team and that I “made her day.”

There are three ways to be focusing your gratitude:

  1. Think about what you are grateful for – This is great. You should be doing it daily for sure. Think (or journal) about what is working in your life and what you are grateful for. Over time you’ll be happier.
  2. Share with others what you are grateful for – This might be as my friend Dr. Shawne Duperon calls it good gossip. Talk well about someone behind their back. This might be in an actual conversation, or by writing a LinkedIn testimonial, sharing or commenting on a post. This feels great when you’re the recipient. It also feels good when you’re the person sharing about someone else.
  3. Express your gratitude directly to the person you are grateful for – This is so fun to do. It’s really appreciated and wonderful when it is totally unexpected. Who has made a big difference in your life you’d like to thank? Maybe a teacher, someone who helped you early in your career, a doctor, healer, or coach? Maybe it’s someone in your family. One family tradition we’ve recently brought back into our Friday night dinners is to share what we love and appreciate about each other. You can do this in whatever way feels right. In a call, in person (or video call), via a handwritten note or an email. You will make someone’s day by sharing your heartfelt gratitude.

Question to you … Whose day will you make today?

Give this a try and let me know how you feel and the reaction you receive from the recipient of your gratitude. It’s a beautiful way to create a virtuous cycle of great feelings.

Be happy and well,

 

The World Needs Your Superpower

Now, more than ever, people need your special powers. There is something that very few others do as well as you. You are uniquely gifted in an area that makes a big difference for others. Sometimes we are blind to our greatest gifts because they come so naturally. Whether you have your own business or work for someone else – you have something special that no one else has to contribute.

Why is identifying your Superpower important?

One of Ellen’s social distancing Garage greetings

Being able to articulate what you are uniquely awesome at will help you to sell more effectively, promote yourself more clearly and serve others more deeply.

Here’s an example. Pre-social distancing I had coffee with my long-time friend Bess Gallanis. We hadn’t connected in some time and as she was filling me in on her work she said, “My Superpower is ‘getting smart fast.’  I’m in corporate communications and generally face some kind of a learning curve at the beginning of each new project. I may be knowledgeable about the industry, but not the topic. Or, it could be the reverse. I’m knowledgeable about a topic, and new to the industry.”

We all need to get smart fast on lots of things now (uhhmm, Zoom, mask making, working from home just to name a few areas.) Imagine Bess going into a sales situation and telling her prospect that her Superpower is getting smart fast. Right away this addresses any potential concerns about bringing in someone from the outside to help with corporate communications who doesn’t know their business. It infers she’ll be efficient in getting work done for them. And, it also communicates she’s bright and experienced without her having to say any of these things directly.

Your Superpower is at the intersection of your unique awesomeness and being of service to others.

 

 

Superpower is all about being a force for good. If you’re great at something, but it doesn’t serve others it’s a gift not a Superpower. And if you serve others the way lots of other people do that’s great, but it’s not a Superpower.

 

How do you identify your Superpower?

Start by asking and listening. Ask your clients, friends, family, and co-workers questions like:

  • What do you think I’m really good at that’s rare to find?
  • If you were to tell someone else about me, what would you say is one-of-a-kind about me?
  • After we have a really great conversation, how do you feel?

Listen carefully when you get compliments and when people tell you what they appreciate about you. Is there something you hear over and over when people meet with you? I clarified my superpower (making people feel more calm about their money) when I heard over and over from people “I feel so much better” after we talked about their finances. I heard this not just once, but over and over.

I’m excited for you to do your best work in the world. Being clear on your Superpower is a great step along the way.

Please let me know what your Superpower is – and how you use it for good!

Be happy and well,

Feel Good Resources for Mindfulness and Resilience

It’s more important than ever to support your wellbeing with positive messages and tools to deal with uncertainty. Doing so will not only help you to build your resilience, but also support you to be there for others and help you think more clearly. For me, I know my mindfulness practice has been the most important tool to help me to process what’s happening in the world.

I’ve been on the lookout for resources to share with you. The ones I’ve found really supportive, fun and informative have made the cut. Here are some podcasts, articles, virtual sessions and one fun app I’ve really enjoyed. Let me know what you’ve found to be supportive during this time.

I just love listening to Krista Tippett’s interviews. This super short podcast is actually Krista sharing her views on just “being” during this time. I love the way she’s using this unusual time for all of us as a way to question how we typically do our lives. She asks … At home, frustrated and stressed? — is ‘just being’ worthy right now?  CLICK HERE to Listen to On Being with Krista Tippett on Apple Podcasts

In Guatemala children share their troubles with worry dolls before they go to bed, putting the small dolls under their pillows. When they wake in the morning the dolls have given them wisdom to handle their worries. Well, there’s an app for that!  The WorryDoll app – If you give your worry to the WorryDoll… the WorryDoll will worry it for you. I’ve been having so much fun with this. Your dolls can even put on masks if you’re worried about that. You can later look at your worries and tell the doll she can stop worrying and also note if your worry actually happened. As we all know, most of the time what we worry about never actually comes to be. CLICK HERE to Download the App.

5 Ways Gig Workers can Prepare for a Change in Income This is an article I helped with for CNBC – Growing Acorns. It’s more practical than necessarily feel good. But sometimes getting into action is the best thing you can do to feel better.

CLICK HERE to Read

One of my favorite books ever is The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist. This book changed the way I view money for ever. I was lucky enough to travel to the Amazon rainforest with Lynne and her business partner Sara Vetter a few years back. I took our daughter, Amy, and it was a life-changing experience. Lynne and Sara have been leading virtual sessions every Saturday to talk about our current situations. I have so enjoyed hearing her wisdom. Here’s a link to last week’s session Navigating These Challenging Times 2 The purpose of this episode is to empower us to access the wisdom of our hearts. To listen deeply, to embrace the possibility of profound transformation and expand our capacity for resilience. CLICK HERE to Watch.

For more of my favorites on mindfulness, both new resources and those I’ve been using for years. 

CLICK HERE for More

 

Be happy and well,

Make Sure Your Kids Aren’t Freaking Out About Money

Are your kids scared about money?

During volatile times like these it’s easy to worry about your money, question what the right next move should be, and wonder what the future will bring. As I wrote about in my last blog post, worry is about the worst thing you can do in uncertain times.  It leads to bad decisions among other issues. If you have children, it’s even more important to be very deliberate when it comes to your response.

I know you know this … your kids learn from what they see you do and hear you say. Money is no exception. They are picking up your cues. If you are fighting with your partner, they pick that up. If you’re wringing your hands, making comments about how scary things are, they pick that up. They are smart. Even if you say everything will be fine, but you don’t actually believe that it will be, they pick that up too.

All the time, but especially in times of uncertainty, be conscious of money messages you communicate with your children.

Here are some ideas of how to support your kids to be financially resilient:

  • Be discerning with your media consumption – If you have the financial news playing in the background all day long not only will this likely make you more anxious and confused, it will send a message to your kids that investments are scary, money problems are coming, and that this will somehow negatively affect them. Now it very well may affect them based upon your individual situation, but better you communicate this in an age appropriate way. If you want to check in on the markets, or research an area of concern, consider doing this in a room away from your kids or online.  This doesn’t just help your kids. Limiting your exposure to the news can help you as well. Think of too much news like sugar. A little bit is okay, but too much will make you cranky, lose sleep and bark at people you love.
  • Be age appropriately honest – If your family needs to be making changes based upon a financial setback, talk about it. People are weirdly secretive about money and it’s not always helpful. Sometimes we all need to cut back based upon our financial reality. That’s a great financially responsible lesson to teach your kids. If you do need to make some cut backs, this may be an opportunity to find fun and engaging free ways to spend time together. Bring family board game night back (or start it for the first time!)
  • Give to others – whether your family is relatively unscathed through this period, or if you are more directly affected it is a beautiful opportunity to exemplify generosity. Find ways to help others during this time. Perhaps you have an elderly neighbor that needs you to run errands for her – have your kids join in. Here’s an example of what one group is doing in the Chicago area. Got extra toilet paper stock piled? Maybe someone near you is freaking out about this! And you can help.

Going forward here are some other resources for bring up money smart and prosperous kids –

Here’s my Tedx Talk on the surprising way to teach your kids about money:   

 

 

 

And here’s an article covering when to start allowance and how Steven and I worked with our kids. By all accounts they are financially responsible and generous young adults now, so something worked!

From ages earlier than you can imagine your kids are picking up money messages. Set them up for a healthy money mindset!

Every good wish,

The One Thing You Should NOT Do with Your Money Now

I know the markets feel crazy now. We’re seeing big stock market swings, scary health news, and economic uncertainty. There hasn’t been this much volatility in many, many years. Is this the beginning of another dramatic recession? Will there be a global health crisis like one we haven’t seen in our lifetimes?

I don’t know.  But, here is what I do know…

The worst financial move you can make now is to worry. You might be saying, “yah Ellen, that’s a little Pollyanna-ish given what’s going on don’t you think?” Yup. That’s right. Maybe it is all sunshine and rainbows. But here’s why it’s sound financial advice.

Worry is a weak response.

At best maybe you’ll just lose a few nights sleep. On the other hand, worry can also lead to really bad decision making which can cause expensive mistakes. 

What kind of decisions do you make when you are freaked out (and sleep deprived)? Think back on a time when you were really filled with fear and jumped to react. Was this your finest hour? Did you act in ways that you later regretted? I know for me whenever I’ve taken action from a place of fear it was a bad move.

When you are in deep worry and fear, you likely can’t access the higher thinking parts of your brain to come up with good solutions.  Calming down your thoughts and emotions will not only feel better, but also allow you to find solutions that make sense.

If worry is a weak reaction, what is a resilient response? How do you create more calm around your finances?

Here are 5 quick ideas:

  1. Start with quieting your ohhhhh so chatty mind. Take a walk in nature, watch your breath, work out, or do whatever you need to create some mental space for clear thinking. Also, turn off the friggin’ news. Whether you watch TV or ingest news online. Turn it off. It is guaranteed to make you feel worse. If you must watch something, here are a few of my favorite feel better shows:
      • Jane The Virgin – this is my current addiction. So good and – a warning here – there are a lot of seasons, so it’s an investment in time.
      • Younger – so light and funny.
      • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – of course you know this is entertaining. Here’s my brush with fame – a picture with me and Steven when we met Rachel Brosnahan.
  1. Do a reality check. Will market fluctuations actually make a difference in the short run for you? If you have enough cushion for short to medium term needs you likely don’t need to be concerned. Markets go up and markets go down. You’ve likely been through this before. Need some help with this? Call your advisor. Talk to a trusted friend.
  2. Focus on what is working. Okay I know this is so “Oprah-ish” but it works. Focusing on what you are grateful for is a proven way to increase happiness and reduce stress. You are likely very far from really not being okay. Here’s a short video with more on this.
  3.  Up the velocity of your generosity. Sounds backwards, right? If you’re worried about money, why would you give some away? I promise you when you loosen your grip on money and help those less fortunate you will feel better and for many people they see a boomerang effect with money flowing back to them.
  4.  Focus on what you can control. You can control (eventually) your thoughts, your feelings and your actions. You can’t control the stock market, the economy as a whole or the media. Maybe you’ll feel better if you cut back on spending, up your marketing efforts, or get more organized. You decide. But getting into action will move you ahead much more quickly than a worry-fest.

If you want a bit more on this, here’s a video that I shot a while back – but it still holds true today.

 

 

Inhale, exhale, remember to control what you can and let go of the rest.

Every good wish,

 

 

Why Mindfulness Might be Your Best Business Strategy

Do you ever worry about growing your business, or your job, or the economy? At some point … of course you do! We live in a constantly changing, and evolving world. For most people at some point this causes some level of worry or stress.

Being freaked out is not only terrible for your health and your relationships, but it is also really bad for business.

Here’s the thing – these stresses aren’t going away.

Some stress a good thing, right?

But do you think it drives your success? You might want to reconsider this. Experts report that slow burning stress, anger and other negative emotions can actually kill you. It can also be toxic for your relationships with clients, your team and at home.

When you’re experiencing fear and anxiety others can feel this as well. You emit a “fear pheromone” when you’re anxious and it’s contagious. Your stress can act like an infectious plague affecting those around you.

Okay, if the stressors don’t go away then the only thing that you can control is how you deal with them. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could do something that not only cushions the stress but also helps you grow your business? Ta-dah! Here’s what’s worked for me and many, many others … incorporating a mindfulness practice into your daily schedule might just be your secret weapon.

What is mindfulness anyway? 

A simple definition is: Being aware. We are often running on autopilot. It’s estimated that 47% of the time our minds are wandering. That means that almost half of the time you’re thinking about something other than what’s happening in the present moment. This bears the question: what might you be missing? Is it an important cue a client is giving you? Maybe a comment from a disgruntled employee? Or, how about really being present with your kids or partner?

Here’s a more expansive definition from The Mindful Nation UK Report: “Mindfulness means paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment in the mind, body and external environment, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness.”

Practicing mindfulness

A great way to practice mindfulness is through meditation. Just like with exercise, there are many different styles of meditation. Whether you like Zumba, kickboxing, or cycling it’s important to find the exercise practice that you enjoy… it’s the same with meditation. For many years I practiced Transcendental Meditation, more recently my practice has shifted to mindfulness meditation typically focusing my attention on my breath.

I know that my meditation practice helped me be more successful in business. Clients and staff felt more comfortable and calm. I think it helped me read my clients more effectively and this had a direct positive impact on the bottom line. I know it helped me be a better wife and mom too.

Research backs up the benefits. Meditation can change the structure and functioning of your brain to allow you to not only be less stressed, but less reactive and with a greater ability to control mind wandering. Perhaps it’s not the latest time management strategy that will help you be more productive but actually spending time daily meditating.

Here’s a quick and fun video on why meditation is the new superpower by news anchor Dan Harris. He came to meditation after having a panic attack on live TV while doing the news on Good Morning America.

Companies like Google, SAP, and Aetna know the importance of these skills and have implemented training for their teams. Google started their Search Inside Yourself program and it was so incredibly successful they had thousands on the waiting list to get into the course. They have since spun off this initiative to a separate non-profit and the workshop is now being given around the world. A great book to get you started is based on their program: Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace.)

Simple ways to start meditating

Starting a meditation practice doesn’t have to mean sitting cross legged like a pretzel on the floor for an extended period of time. You can begin with a few conscious breaths; just noticing your in-breath and noticing your out-breath. As your attention drifts off with your thoughts (which for just about everyone it will) simply and gently bring your attention back to your breath. Inhale and exhale.

You might consider taking a class to start your practice or using one of the many apps available with guided meditations. Here are a few to consider:

  • Insight Timer – this is my personal favorite and I’ve used it for years. It is free (although there is an upgraded version I purchased). There are thousands of guided meditations, courses and music.
  • Headspace and Calm – two additional very popular apps with much content to choose from.
  • 10% Happier – this is Dan Harris’ app (the news anchor mentioned above.)

When I work with teams to incorporate more mindfulness into their daily lives and their leadership practices I often say “sometimes you need to slow down to speed up.” Your ability to be more present in every aspect of your life can be one of the most important, foundational skills to master for your success and happiness.

Every good wish, 

Adding Kindness to Your Daily Schedule

In case you missed it, or if you didn’t know, Random Acts of Kindness Day was last Sunday. It’s weird that we need to be reminded to be kind, right? Most of us were taught as little kids that it’s good to be kind to your friends, the kid in class who doesn’t seem to have friends, your annoying little brother, your dog, and your parents.

But in our polarized, chaotic, and often uncertain world it can be helpful to keep kindness in mind. Not just because we know we should and it will help the person who’s the target of your goodness, but because kindness will benefit us as well.

Did you know that kindness can improve your health? 

Here are a few ways kindness helps:

  • Boosts the feel-good hormone serotonin
  • Eases anxiety
  • You live longer and healthier

In just a few minutes a day you can shift your energy and make a positive impact on others.

Here’s a few ways you can spread kindness toward others:

  • Look up from your phone and smile at the person in the elevator with you. You don’t have to pretend they aren’t there.
  • Leave a surprise note for a friend. My friend Nicole left this for me in my fridge!           
  • Call a friend you haven’t talked to in too long and tell them how much you miss them.
  • Send a note of thanks to a person who’s made a huge, positive difference in your life
  • Pick up trash you see in the park. This makes it more pleasant for everyone who passes by.
  • Want more ideas? Here you go.

Here’s a video guaranteed to make you happy and quite possibly motivate you to boost your kindness quotient:

Interested in the science of kindness? Check out this short video:  

So in recognition of Random Acts of Kindness Day, and more kindness every day, to you I send wishes of kindness, love, and lavish abundance.

You are awesome!

8 Ways to Romance Your Money

Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday. My mom and dad always made a big deal about getting me fun Valentine’s Day cards and sometimes even a little gift. For me it’s a holiday about all types of love and caring – not solely about romantic love as many see it.

What if this Valentine’s Day you could throw a little love and caring toward your money? Play with this idea a little bit with me, and imagine what it would take to build your relationship with money by romancing it. What might that look like for you? Keep your imagination cap on as I share an interview I had with “Money.”

I asked Money: ‘What it would look like if people romanced you?’ Here’s what I learned:

  1. Show Your Money You Care – What would it look like if you to paid more attention to your money? Relationships flounder if one party feels ignored. Showing more care might include:
    • Spend some time with your money. Some people go out of their way to avoid dealing with their money. The thought of it makes them anxious, confused and maybe even ashamed. If “Money” were a person how do you think this would make them feel? Would they want to hang around you if you avoided them?
    • Know what you’ve got. Reviewing at least quarterly what you actually own and owe.
    • Know where it goes. Track your spending to make sure you’re spending money on things you value. Creating a values based spending plan can help. Oh, and budgets don’t really work for most people. Here’s what you should do instead.
  2. Don’t be controlling – Money doesn’t like to be used as a weapon or a way to control others.
    • Talk to your partner about money. Money disagreements can be a driver of division for couples. A big dose of honesty can help. If you keep things secret from your honey about spending it’s time to come clean. Understanding your partner’s money upbringing can help as well. Here are some more suggestions……..
    • You’re not better than others just because you have more money. This one may take some personal reflection. I don’t think that most people will admit that they think they are better than others in their life because they have more, but do a check-in on this one. Do you ever silently judge people based upon where they live, their job title, or the car they drive?
    • You’re not better than others because you have less money. This is the other side of the same coin. Do you judge people with a lot of money? Have you made assumptions about their honesty, morals, and priorities just because they have more money?
  3. Have some fun with your money!  For some people they are so afraid of not having enough money they hang on too tightly. Clinging is bad for all relationships.  Money likes to have fun with you.  Go on that trip, enjoy that dinner out with friends, buy those tickets to see Hamilton!  Money also likes balance – so remember to enjoy your money responsibly.
  1.  
  1. Let’s grow together – All relationships flourish when each partner grows. How are you helping your money to grow?
    • Money hates being left in a low (or no) interest bearing bank account. Bankrate can give you some ideas to boost the earnings on your cash.
    • Money loves when you save it! Putting your savings on automatic pilot is fabulous. If you have a retirement plan at work you know that having savings taken out of your paycheck every time makes savings easier. Why not show your money some love and boost the amount you’re contributing to your retirement plan. Money promises you won’t be sorry.
    • Money appreciates you reviewing where you’ve invested it. Have your reviewed your portfolio lately? How’s it doing? Is your allocation still in line with your risk tolerance and goals? Not sure? Maybe it’s time to visit with your financial advisor or get one.
  2. Don’t take your money for granted – Everyone, including your money, wants to feel appreciated. Saying thank you and focusing on financial gratitude will make you and your money feel good. Here are some easy ways to do this:
    • Write “Thank You” on your checks – In the memo or under your signature write (or type) thank you as a way to acknowledge your gratitude for having money to cover the check.
    • Take 5 minutes each day to note what you are grateful for – This will reduce stress and boost feelings of abundance.
    • Need more ideas? Check out this video on how gratitude can make you rich.
  3. Communicate with kindness and caring – Relationships need healthy communication. How are you talking about money? Do you catch yourself saying critical comments (to yourself or out loud) such as: There’s never enough. I’m so stressed dealing with money. I wish I didn’t have to deal with money. Or, instead are you more often saying: I’m so grateful for what money provides. I’m really good with money. It’s important to me to be a good steward with my money. You get the idea. Which do you think Money would like more? This makes a big impact on how often Money will show up for you. It really doesn’t like hanging around people who talk disparagingly about it.
  1. Be a good sharer – Money loves when you use it to make things better for not just you, but others too. Nothing would make money happier than you using it as a force for good in the world. What if you decided to give like a billionaire even if you aren’t one? Money’s willing to bet that you’d not only feel great, but maybe even see your prosperity grow.
  1. Build a future together – Creating a clear vision of your future gives your money something to work towards. Dream a little. Add yummy details to your vision. Create a Prosperity Picture and you’ll be giving money a goal to help you achieve.

So this Valentine’s Day, and all during the year, consider being more caring, loving and generous in your relationship with money.

I suspect you’ll see money wanting to hang around you more in the process!

 

 

11 Quick Money Tips – Are you doing these?

Okay maybe you have thought of some of these, but are you actually doing them? It’s easy to get busy with life and blow off taking simple steps that can make you some dough in the long run.

Making Your Money Make Money

  1. Set savings on auto pilot and increase it each year –

This is an ol’ time favorite suggestion. You’ve likely already done this for your retirement savings at work. But, have you set up automatic savings outside of work? Whether you’re saving for a sunny day (I hate the thought of savings being just for rainy days,) for a real estate purchase, or just investing for the future – having money come from your paycheck or checking account on an automatic basis will make things so much easier.  If you already have this set up, when was the last time you increased the amounts you’re saving?

Estimated time to set up: 30 minutes max.Quick Money Tips

  1. Move your cash to a higher yielding savings account –

There’s no excuse for having your savings and money market balances not earning money for you. Typically (but not always) the big banks where you might have your checking account aren’t going to pay you as good a rate on your savings or money market account balances as you can get with an online bank. Check out www.Bankrate.com to compare rates and bank quality. If you have your accounts held in a living trust you’ll want to make sure that the bank you choose will be able to set up the account in your trust name. Most will, some won’t.

Estimated time to set up: 15 minutes if not titled in a trust, 25 minutes if you have a trust.

Stop Wasting Money

  1. Pay all bills on auto debit –

I’ll fess up – I used to periodically get dinged for late payments on bills if I was traveling a lot or just busy. I almost always got these fees waived by calling the company, but that took time that could have been spent more efficiently. Perhaps you’re already doing this, but if not get your bills set up on auto pay. You’ll still need to check your bills to make sure they are correct (see Tip #7) but bye-bye late fees.

Estimated time to set up: Depends on how many bills – average 5 minutes a bill.

  1. Don’t waste money on things you can get for free –

On one of our trips to Ghana I was working with Global Mamas and they said the mamas love seeing U.S. fashion magazines. So while I was getting my hair done I asked the shop owner if I could take some old magazines. She was thrilled to give them to me. What else can you get that someone else is very happy to get rid of? Check out the free stuff listings on Craigslist, Freecycle or other sites. Many people have stuff they’d love to get into the hands of someone who can use it.

Which leads to…

  1. Get rid of stuff you no longer need –

Yes, I first mean your clutter, stuff, belongings etc. In a recent podcast with Sharon McRill founder of the Betty Brigade an organizing and relocation firm, and author of Downsizing the Silver Tsunami: Who to Call and Where Does All the Stuff Go? she said, “start now!” As the baby boomers continue to downsize – donation centers will eventually start to charge you for taking your stuff.  Less clutter means more spaciousness in every part of your life.  When I mentioned the two huge bins of Lego toys in my basement Sharon told me that many things have value that you wouldn’t expect. Apparently there are lots of people who buy bins of Legos to round out their projects! So, you might even make some extra cash in the process.

Maybe you’re paying for a storage unit that you really don’t need. Ask, would you really care if everything in there was mistakenly sold on Storage Wars? So save the fees – sell or donate your stuff.

Next, clean up your investment portfolio. If you have small accounts hanging out there that you’ve never consolidated now’s the time to do so. If you’re hanging on to old investments that no longer fit your goals, make those changes too.

Estimated time for stuff and clutter: Sharon suggests one hour a week is doable.

Estimated time for consolidating accounts: 15-20 minutes per account. This may take more time if you have to contact a former employer to get paperwork.

  1. Don’t wait for a big tax refund to get the use of your money –

I’ve been giving this advice for decades, yet people still need to hear it. If you think it’s fabulous to get a big tax refund you’re wrong. It means that the government used your money for an entire year. Fix your withholdings or work with your accountant on your tax estimates. The IRS has a tax withholding calculator you can use (programs like TurboTax® do as well.)

Estimated time: Between calculating and doing a new W4 form with your employer – about 40 minutes.

  1. Really scrutinize your credit card statements –

Are there small charges on your credit card bill that you might be ignoring? I recently realized that on the card that Steven (my husband) uses there was an ongoing Amazon charge. It was small, I hadn’t noticed it. One day when I was reconciling our accounts it occurred to me that he rarely buys anything on Amazon. For ten months I’d been paying this charge and it wasn’t legit. I called the credit card company, they took it off and credited me the amounts.

Similarly, do you have subscriptions that you no longer use or didn’t realize you signed up for? We had one of those last month – $89 for some company and I didn’t know what it was. Turns out when our son bought something it came with an annual subscription (must have been in the fine print.) Again, the credit card company got rid of it and credited the money back to my account.

Estimated time: About 10 minutes a month.

The next two tips I got from our son Benjy. Living in New York he’s gotten very wise about how to stretch his income, have fun in NYC, and still be able to save in his 401k and build up a cushion.

  1. Pre-game –

Benjy and his friends will meet at someone’s apartment for cocktails before they go out. Apparently it’s still called “pre-gaming” even when there is no sporting event attached. Saves lots of money and is fun too.

Similarly, avoid wasting money on soft drinks when you go out. I was really strict with our kids growing up about drinking pop (that’s Midwest for Coke, Pepsi, etc.) We always had water with our meals. I realize that not only was this so much better for our health, but saved us lots of money. I never really tracked this, but if the four of us went out, let’s say once a week for twelve years and didn’t spend $12 a meal on drinks (a conservative estimate) and we added that to a savings account we’d have about $8,500. Where could we be going with that money?!

  1. Maximize the points on your credit cards –

If you like to travel there’s a card for that. If you dine out a lot there’s a card for that. Assuming you don’t keep balances on your credit cards (we know that is a waste of money) consider doing a bit of research on what card best fits your needs. Points = money, free trips, etc. down the road. Check out The Points Guy for some guidance.

Estimated time: To research 15 minutes, to apply for a new card add another 15 minutes. To use your extra points for travel – one to two weeks!

Increase the Velocity of Your Generosity

If you’ve been following me for any period of time you know that I see generosity as one of the biggest drivers to prosperity. Here are some tips to do this.

  1. Writing thank you on your checks –

Generosity is a physical manifestation of your gratitude. So start with the gratitude. For many, many years I’ve been writing “thank you” under my signature on my checks. I do it so automatically that I barely think about it. Why do I do this? To acknowledge my gratitude that I have the money to pay the bill or donate or for whatever reason I’m writing the check. If you don’t write checks any longer, you can add this to the memo box on a virtual payment or simply say it out loud as you hit enter. Be grateful for what flows in and what flows out – this is an easy practice to move your mindset from scarcity to abundance and prosperity.

Estimated time: 2 seconds per check or payment.

  1. Put your giving on auto-pilot –

This is another all-time favorite of mine. Just like Tip #1, systematizing the money you are allocating to charity will allow you to be more deliberate and generous in your giving. You can do this by taking a percentage of your income each week, month, or quarter and putting it into a separate account earmarked for giving. Where do you give it? Where ever you are called to do so. A qualified charity, a family member or friend in need, a cause you believe in … you decide. If you choose a qualified charity you might get a tax deduction which is awesome, but that shouldn’t be the driving motivation.

Estimated time: 20 minutes to set up an account and schedule regular contributions.

Congratulations if you are already doing all of these things!

And let me know your tips for being better with money.

 

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