Staying Grounded While Climbing Money Mountain

Written By Tara Hackel

Many Adopt a Debtor (AAD) clients want to feel more grounded about money... more financially well... more secure... more in tune with self (and spirit and community and and and…) 

AAD helps you build your capacity to sit with money and the feelings that come up when you do. 

I recommend having pretty regular money check-in meetings with yourself.

Money check-ins are basically any time you set aside to think about money or do money related action(s).

Paco de Leon from Finance for the People suggests having a money check-in once a week.

These check-ins can be fun! Or grow to be fun. Or at least no longer painful. It’s okay if it takes time. 

Examples money check-ins include:

  1. choose a pump up song and dance in the mirror, telling yourself that you want to make a change #financeforthepeople

  2. message your insurance company that's been charging you incorrectly to get a refund

  3. make a vacation budget and figure out how much you can save each month until you've saved enough for vacay

  4. look at how much of your monthly restaurant budget you have left before going out to eat

  5. here's a whole financial checklist for Sunday night from Dasha (@thebrokeblackgirl)

Remember, the best type of money check-in meeting is the one that you have.

Sometimes money check-ins involve others, such as partners, roommates, family, friends, bosses, money coaches, etc.

Example money check-ins with others include: 

  1. tell your partner you want to be mindful of birthday expenses, and you want to host a potluck instead of dining out

  2. tell your dad how many more months you need help with rent money

  3. share your debt numbers with anyone you trust #deepbreath

  4. attend a financial literacy course #bratfinance

Hiking to Tsoodził, a Diné Sacred Mountain

White supremacy culture would have us feeling urgent about addressing our debt and building savings. But, the truth is that we can move at the pace that is right for us.

I prefer steady, grounded, and possible pacing over an urgent, burnout-inducing pace any day.

You don’t need to run to the top of your money mountain. Nobody jumps out of bed and sprints up La Luz without training.

Be patient with yourself as you start to flex these money muscles - all you have to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Money work can be emotional and sometimes dysregulating.

During money meetings, watch for signs that you're feeling overwhelmed as a clue that you need to slooowww down. There's always next week's money check in. You can always try again.

Meghan Watson (@thrive_withmeg) says, in addition to the moments of overwhelm, we can also be curious about what it could be like to experience groundedness and feeling resourced. Some examples from her are to the right.

Let's apply that curiosity to money check-ins! 

For reflection:

When you have a money check-in with yourself or others, how do you know if you're grounded, regulated, curious, held, etc?

  1. What are signs that you are grounded? 

  2. What are signs that you need to take a break?

Holler about money check-in meetings in the comments: Thoughts, questions, concerns, smart remarks? 

Love ya,

Tara

Tara Hackel