A mermaid, beautiful and alluring, sings from the top of a rocky point in the most dangerous section of the Rhine River. Like the sirens of the Homer’s Odyssey, she causes sailors to jump overboard and captains to forget about the deadly dangers surrounding them. Is this German legend about a seductive mermaid a parable… Continue reading The Parable of the Lorelei
Category: Money Psychology
3 Doorways: Which One Needs Your Attention Today?
Our relationship with money is complicated. Financial Therapist Bari Tessler Linden talks about her 3 Doorway Method to help think about money. Doorway #1 is Financial Therapy, or “Money Healing.” Paying attention to our financial history, family dynamics and patterns with money can lead to healing and growth. Doorway #2 is Values Based Bookkeeping or… Continue reading 3 Doorways: Which One Needs Your Attention Today?
When Everything is Taken Away, We See Who We Truly Are
Becoming Minimalist blogger Joshua Becker shares the story of Gracia and Martin Burnham, who were kidnapped and taken hostage by terrorists in 2001. The couple spent a year in the jungle, and her husband was killed during the rescue attempt. She talked with Becker about her experience and what became important when they had no… Continue reading When Everything is Taken Away, We See Who We Truly Are
Focus on the Latte Factor? Or Sweat the Big Stuff?
A perennial question in the world of personal finances. While it’s true that cutting back on some of life’s simple pleasures can add up to decent savings, maybe applying the same effort to larger items would have more impact. Some of the “Big Stuff” you might consider: Raising deductibles on insurance premiums, refinancing your mortgage… Continue reading Focus on the Latte Factor? Or Sweat the Big Stuff?
A Quick Question That Could Save You Hundreds
“Do I feel lighter or heavier with the thought of purchasing this item?” This is the question blogger Jill Chivers suggests asking next time you’re tempted to make a purchase. She used this technique on a recent shopping trip when she found a heavily discounted sweater that she fell in love with. As she went… Continue reading A Quick Question That Could Save You Hundreds
Why Do We Enable People to Spend Money While Shopping?
“Former Shopaholic” Erica reflects on her habit of encouraging friends and family to spend money when they’re shopping together. She says, “We end up justifying purchases together…” Trying to analyze why she and her friends do this, she wonders if she’s living vicariously through her friend’s purchases. Or, is she secretly wanting to sabotage them… Continue reading Why Do We Enable People to Spend Money While Shopping?
The Truth About Bargain Shopping
“Remember: it’s only a bargain if you needed it in the first place, otherwise it’s a waste.” Live Simply by Annie’s author reminds shoppers of the pitfalls of sales, which include the marketing professionals who know exactly what it takes to make us whip out our credit cards. She discusses the chemical changes that occur… Continue reading The Truth About Bargain Shopping
Self-Worth to Net Worth: 12 Keys to Creating Wealth Inside and Out
This wise and comprehensive book begs to be read—and digested—very slowly. In it, Cia Ricco and Belinda Rosenblum have managed to make important and highly sophisticated psychological concepts very, very accessible. From the get-go, they emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, going so far as to ask the reader to sign an agreement to further… Continue reading Self-Worth to Net Worth: 12 Keys to Creating Wealth Inside and Out
“If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending it Right”: Part 2
In the earlier posting on this article, we looked at Dunn, Gilbert, and Wilson’s persuasive assertion that “examining the basic scientific facts about happiness” would enable people to significantly increase the happiness their money could bring them. We also looked at the authors’ first three (of eight) principles for doing so: buy experiences rather than… Continue reading “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending it Right”: Part 2
There’s No Sense Chasing the Wind
Joshua Becker suggests that in our search for happiness we often come up against the question, “Is this all that the world has to offer?” Whether we try to find satisfaction in a bigger house or bank account, alcohol, drugs, sex, or a job promotion, we often discover “we’ve only been chasing the wind,” and… Continue reading There’s No Sense Chasing the Wind