Category: Behavioral Cents

If we think back a few centuries, the word Need had pretty specific connotations. People needed a cow for milk. Farmers needed a good growth season to survive. And kids needed a bath once a week. They didn’t need matching dishes, or anything beyond a dirt floor. Wow have we changed. As a society, we… Continue reading The New Definition of Need

As a marketer, I spend hours reflecting on how the fashion industry so masterfully molds our minds to think we always need to be wearing the latest trend. They introduce a new dress length, or new colors, or wider pants each season. Have you ever been arrested by the fashion police for not wearing the… Continue reading Ever Been Arrested By the Fashion Police?

It might be fair to say that if some major tragedy hit us, a lot of our everyday activities would pale in comparison. They would lose priority, and relevance. After September 11, 2001 I was shut out of my office on Wall Street for 3 weeks. Upon return, everything on my desk just didn’t seem… Continue reading If The World Stopped, How Important Would All of Your Appointments Be?

Budgeting is so rational. You merely have to calculate how much you want to have at retirement, look at the number of working years, and save a certain amount per year. Voila! Financial brochures make it look so darned simple – you must be the only one not doing it. Unfortunately, life, and the human… Continue reading Since When is Saving Money Rational?

A Matter of Trust is a theme we will revisit over and over again, because it is part of the core of human nature. We all want to trust each other – help each other – get along. If we couldn’t trust people to stop at red lights, how could our traffic operate at all?… Continue reading A Matter of Trust…

I’ve been a fan of Neuroscience for a few years now. It not only appeals to my inner geek, but it assists me in being the best coach possible for my clients. Did you know that our Amygdala, that has served us well since the dawn of time when it helped us decide on fight… Continue reading Your Money Neuro Track

“Surely, consumers argue, tanning salons wouldn’t be allowed if they were harmful – would they?”  This is an example of social validation that Margaret Heffernan covers in her book Willful Blindness.  Even though both The U.S Department of Health and Human Service, plus the International Agency for Research on Cancer both state that tanning beds have… Continue reading Willful Money Blindness & Social Pressures

Many couples don’t want to talk about money. The reasons run from “It will ruin the romance” to “I don’t want to rock the boat”. Love and marriage are perceived as pure, hopeful, and precious – and money is often considered dirty, callous, or controversial. Here is why this thinking is completely wrong, and how… Continue reading The Raw Effect Of Money Secrets On Love & Marriage

Many of us think saving means deprivation, so we balk or rebel. For most of you, I can guarantee it won’t be deprivation. How can I be so sure you ask? It’s because of these 3 reasons: Auto-Pilot Expenses That No Longer Serve You Over our lifetime, we build spending patterns. They often form during milestones like… Continue reading Saving: 3 Reasons It Won’t Be Deprivation

Wow!  Out of all the things women think about when they’re pregnant, have you ever considered yourself to be a money target for retailers? Here’s why they target women & money, and how to stay grounded with disciplined money behaviors during this new phase of life. It’s hard enough to manage money throughout our busy,… Continue reading Pregnant Women are Money Gold Mines