7 Signs You are in Financial Denial

Our guest blogger is Eric Dammann, clinical psychologist and financial coach in NYC.  Financial denial can be so harmful to my clients. It works in the background, and often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. What is denial? It’s a defense mechanism we use to protect ourselves from unpleasant emotions and thoughts. Defense mechanisms are… Continue reading 7 Signs You are in Financial Denial

3 Simple Behaviors to Take the Pain out of Tax Season

Yep, it’s that season again.  And it’s stressful.  Often the paperwork is more daunting than the actual check we may have to write; and psychologically the agitation we imagine is often much greater than reality.  It’s natural to bristle at “administrivia” and avoid submitting our taxes until the very last minute.  So before you read further, STOP.  Once you… Continue reading 3 Simple Behaviors to Take the Pain out of Tax Season

Are You Committing Financial Infidelity? You May be Surprised

Infidelity is a sizzling topic, and Financial Infidelity is new on the scenes. According to the research Financial Infidelity in Couple Relationships 2018 by Jeanfreau, Noguchi, Mong and Stadthagen, 27% of people admit to keeping a secret from their partner but 53% do keep a secret from their partner. Are they lying? OR, is what they’re doing just not considered infidelity… Continue reading Are You Committing Financial Infidelity? You May be Surprised

Are You Making Payments Too Quickly?

Forward​ ​movement,​ ​if​ ​we​ ​want​ ​to​ ​call​ ​it​ ​that,​ ​in​ ​Industry​ ​and​ ​technology​ ​has​ ​made​ ​monetary transactions​ ​faster​ ​than​ ​a​ ​speeding​ ​bullet.​ ​​ ​Today​ ​it’s​ ​common​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​make​ ​and​ ​pay​ ​for​ ​a purchase​ ​simply​ ​by​ ​tapping​ ​your​ ​cell​ ​phone. Efficient​ ​and​ ​convenient?​ ​Yes. Risky​ ​and​ ​problematic?​ ​If​ ​you’re​ ​reading​ ​this​ ​soundbite,​ ​the​… Continue reading Are You Making Payments Too Quickly?

Council Clerk’s Shopping Addiction Lands Her in Jail

An A U.K. council clerk has been jailed for forging checks worth nearly $200,000 to feed her shopping addiction. Her scheme, getting legitimate checks signed by the council, then heating them up to wipe off the payee’s name, which she’d written in a special ink, and substitute in her own, was pretty clever. She managed… Continue reading Council Clerk’s Shopping Addiction Lands Her in Jail

We Did It! Debt Free!

It is so wonderful the hear the stories of people who have taken control of their spending habits and climbed their mountain of debt to plant a flag of success on the top. This is the story of a couple who started their journey with over $100,000 of debt to surmount in the form of… Continue reading We Did It! Debt Free!

Credit Cards: Clearing, but with a Strong Probability of Curveballs

As we noted in the last newsletter (see “Credit Card Act of 2009,” June 2009), new legislation now curtails several egregious practices that credit card companies have been using to gouge their customers. Now, with some sectors of the economy—though certainly not others!—beginning to move in the direction of recovery, it’s the right moment to… Continue reading Credit Cards: Clearing, but with a Strong Probability of Curveballs

Financial Education in the Workplace

On August 16th, a persuasive online article appeared about the harmful effects that financial stress has in the workplace. Jeffrey Strain, who authors this website, cites research that shows greatly decreased efficiency and effectiveness in financially stressed workers. He argues that companies would do well to promote healthier lifestyles in their employees by offering financial… Continue reading Financial Education in the Workplace