Fall is in the air here in Montana. And as the leaves turn, mornings get chilly, and cozy season descends in full force. One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to grab a cup of coffee with a friend. It’s so nice to just catch up and relax in good company. These chats cover just about every topic, big or small. Some of the friends I grab coffee with have been my friends since middle school. So, we’ve seen each other through major life changes from getting married to having kids, and even losing parents. We’ve always been there for each other. And I appreciate just how easy it is to talk about the deep along with the mundane. One thing that has started coming up a bit more often with friends is the subject of money.

While some might find talking money with a friend difficult or even off-putting, I relish it. In my working life I’m a financial coach, an Accredited a Financial Counselor® (AFC®), and a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ (CFEI®). I’ve spent the last seven years talking to people about their money every day. And in my opinion, talking about money should be as easy as grabbing a cup of coffee and chatting with an old friend. So, that’s what I’m setting out to do.

Why Money?

The internet is a vast and wondrous place. There is a place for everything. So, why am I carving out a place to talk about money and make it easy? Put simply – because we need to be having these conversations. Money is one of the longest relationships we have in our lives. Our parents talk about it and worry about it before we’re born. And those we leave behind will sort out the legacy we leave. It touches all aspects of our lives. But for so many, it’s still so hard to talk about. Even though research shows that people feel that money conversations are important, they are still not having them. In fact, 63% of people report not talking about money with their families, 75% aren’t talking about it with their friends. To me, these statistics are crazy and so telling. We all deal with money. And the truth is we all make mistakes with it. By not talking about it and learning from one another, we aren’t moving the needle forward. If instead, we can have the hard conversations we will all find ourselves building towards the life we dream of.

A Bit About Me

I think I’ve always been a bit of a money nerd. I grew up with older parents who were more open than most about our family’s financial situation. My mom managed the money in our house. And from her I learned key lessons like never spend more than you make and always pay off your credit cards in full before the due date. She and my dad also both worked hard outside of the house and from their example I learned that money is something you earn. They gave my brother and me each an allowance starting at a young age. Then they helped us manage it. We learned the importance of saving and the joy that can come from thoughtful spending.

This knowledge gave me a good base to start from. But I think my love for personal finance was set on fire when I started graduate school. I spent my days studying economics and my nights and weekends figuring out how my husband and I could make it on our limited incomes.  From the trial and error, I experienced, I learned that it wasn’t just the decisions I made that mattered. It was also the information behind the decisions.  After receiving my master’s degree in international economics and development, I looked for opportunities to expand my financial knowledge.  This led me to earning a master’s certificate in Family Financial Planning and becoming an Accredited Financial Counselor®. I’ve spent time as a financial coach at the local university, and I run my own coaching business. I love helping people make their money work for them.

When I’m not working, I love to read. I set a reading goal each year and try to round out my list with fiction and nonfiction books. I absolutely hate the question “what’s your favorite book”? But there have been several that have had a big impact on me. A River Runs Through it by Norman Maclean, The Alchemist by Paulo CoeIho, and the Harry Potter series are three that come to mind. I am also a weekend baker. I love baking treats of all kinds and have recently tried my hand at gluten free baking (it’s not going well yet). But I’m excited to keep learning.

Are You Ready?

I’m hoping you’ll join me as I explore all things money. I’ll be drawing on my technical knowledge, personal experience, and my work with my clients to make talking about money easy. If there’s a topic you’d like me to explore, just let me know.

Grab a cup of coffee and join me!