Most of the beliefs we carry about money didn't come from our own experiences. They came from what we watched and heard growing up. Maybe we had a parent who regularly stressed about bills, lived in a household where money was never discussed, or regularly heard the message wanting more was somehow selfish. Those early impressions shaped the way we think and feel about money today more than most of us realize. The good news is awareness of where those beliefs came from is the first step to deciding whether you still want to carry them. Do you remember anything specific from childhood that shaped your feelings about finances?

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It recently dawned on me that determining the best way to use this community might not be very clear! I'm hoping this post will help direct you on the best way to take advantage of everything here. I know it's a little long, but I think taking a few minutes to read it will pay off and help you make the most of MMS. Of course, I'm always here if you have questions, aren't sure where to start, or need anything at all! Money Made Simple is a community built to support women developing financial literacy skills. We're here to keep you thinking about money and focused on supporting you as you work to hit your financial goals, whatever they may be. MMS offers tips, information, lessons, resources, and asks questions to keep you thinking. Content can be found in two places. First, in the community feed. You'll find a weekly newsletter shared most Mondays full of ideas, information, questions, and tips focused on different elements of your finances. There are typically daily follow-up posts focused on the same topic as the newsletter. Second, you'll find content in the classroom. Because the feed can be long and overwhelming to search, all important posts and videos are in the classroom under the appropriate category. You also want to be sure to check the calendar. All calls, challenges, workshops, etc. can be found there. I'm working to get events calendared a month in advance so you can add things you're interested in to your own schedules. First Steps 1️⃣ When you join, I highly recommend hitting the classroom tab and working through the Start Here section. We have made some changes around here in the last few months, and this section will get some updates in July, but it's still a good spot to get basic details and an introduction to the community. 2️⃣ Next, determine what you need to work on when it comes to your money. If you know it's time to familiarize yourself with your finances, set up a budget, etc., move to Phase One. In Phase One, you'll find four categories of learning walking you through everything you need to do to understand where you are now and steps to get you where you want to be. You can work through this phase at your own pace, one step at a time.

As promised in my Making the Most of MMS post last week (pinned at the top of your feed), I've updated our calendar not only for July, but for August, too. My goal is to have September's calendar updated on August 1st, and continue working one month ahead. My hope is we'll be able to use these events to build community! The goal of Money Made Simple was never just for me to just talk at you, but for us to work together as a community. I'd love to know your questions, suggestions, and ideas for helping others. I'd love feedback on the courses, workshops, and newsletters. By joining an event, whether it's the Q&A or the weekly Money Moment, you'll not only be learning, but connecting with others. The power here is in connection and support of other women with similar experiences. Here are our July events. You can find them on the calendar, which is where you'll click the link to join live, but I thought it might be handy if I have them listed here for you, too. I'm challenging you to join at least one this month, and if you can't make it live, the replay will always be here afterward. 💚 July 7th - Challenge Kickoff (premium members) July 9th - Money Moment (a quick video with tips or info related to the weekly newsletter) July 10th - Coffee & Connection (hop on and just introduce yourself) July 14th - Monthly Workshop (premium members) July 16th - Money Moment July 21st - Q&A (bring your questions and I'll do my best to answer) July 23rd - Money Moment July 27th - Challenge Kickoff (premium members) July 29th - Co-Working Session July 30th - Money Moment

There’s a good chance some of the beliefs you carry about money were learned through the way your family talked about money, the things you heard growing up, and the way they managed the finances. I know I learned some things this way, and it certainly impacted how I managed my money when I was first getting started. That’s where this series begins. Not with a budget or a spreadsheet, but with a couple of questions. Where did your money story come from? Is it still the story you want to be living? ➡️ What is a money story? Your money story is the collection of beliefs, feelings, and patterns you’ve developed around money over your lifetime. It’s the voice that tells you money is stressful, or that you’re not good with numbers, or that people like you don’t get to have financial freedom. It’s also the habits you default to without thinking…the way you spend when you’re stressed, the way you avoid checking your account when things feel tight. ➡️ Most of these beliefs formed long before you were old enough to question them. A parent who worried constantly about bills. A household where money was never discussed. A message that wanting more was somehow greedy or unrealistic. You didn’t have any influence over the story you were taught, but deciding what to carry forward is worth paying attention to. ➡️ Why this matters for your debt payoff If you’ve been working through your debt payoff plan, this is the piece that runs underneath all of it. The practical steps matter so much…knowing your numbers, building your snowball, keeping money flowing in the right direction. But the beliefs you hold about money are what will determine how you continue moving forward. Understanding your money story doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it. It means you get to thoughtfully shape the next chapters. ➡️ This week’s action step I want you to write down three beliefs about money that you grew up with. They might sound like “there’s never enough,” or “talking about money is rude,” or “rich people are greedy.” Write them down without filtering or editing.