Handling Money is a Skill

It’s Not You — Money Management Doesn’t Come Naturally

There are things you instinctively know how to do - breathe, sleep, run away from bears...things your brain will just understand, without you needing to learn or practice how. But what to do with your money? Not so much. I mean - it's a totally made-up concept to begin with, so there sure isn't any built-in DNA in our brains that tell us what to do with it. Instead, we are taught - directly or indirectly - by the people who raised us and surround us.

Why So Many of Us Struggle

For a lot of us, talking about money was a taboo subject growing up. Was it for you? Looking back at my childhood, it felt like talking about money was right up there with politics and religion. Mentioning how much you make or confessing what you spend was either bragging or embarrassing. Look at those negative emotions of secrecy and shame.

Now, to be fair my mother did teach me how to write down my expenses after I spent money. The thing is, she never explained why I should do that. For years, I had an excellent record of where all my money went. But, so what? How did that help me save for goals, or change my behavior? It didn't. I would look back at the month's record and feel shame at spending "so much", guilt for spending on "things I didn't need", and resolve to "do better next month". Except, I had no clue how.

I thought I was doing it right by keeping a mental tally of what I had in my bank account. If I had more than what I was planning to spend, great - I could spend that amount. $300 in the account, and groceries are going to cost $150? I'm good! Except, I wouldn't also account for the cell phone bill, next month's rent or my annual Christmas shopping. Then, when those things arrived, I would be surprised...and have to pull out the credit card. Again. Every time we would make a bit of gains on the debt, another "surprise" would arrive...birthdays, annual vacations, or even the car needing new tires. Sound familiar?

It is not your fault!

Were you born knowing how to fix a car, do downward-facing dog, or make the perfect fried egg? Of course not! You had to be taught, and then practice - over and over again - to get better each time. You probably still don't do it perfectly every time, because I assume you are human. :) We are always learning and improving. Even professionals do not have 100% perfect track records at whatever they do.

And handling your money is exactly the same way - it is a skill! A skill is something you can do well because of practice. It is not the same as a talent, which may also need practice but starts with something that comes naturally to you. Maybe some of you reading this might have a talent for numbers and math, but that's only a part of budgeting and managing money, and that's great! But if you don't even have that talent, it's ok it isn't even a necessary part, when you have a tool (like YNAB) that does the math for you!

Why Advice Alone Doesn’t Work

The internet is overflowing with tips: “Stop buying lattes.” “Use cash envelopes.” “Invest early.” If advice alone worked, we’d all be financial experts by now. But money is emotional. It’s tied up in fear, shame, and old habits. Without context, even the best “tips” can make you feel like you’re failing.

That’s where coaching makes the difference. You don’t just need rules — you need a guide to help you see your patterns and practice new ones until they stick.

When you want to learn a new skill, you need a teacher. Whether that teacher is a person, a book, or a video series, you're going to learn from someone else. Students pay for classes to learn from seasoned professors. Athletes hire coaches to dial in their training to their specific needs, and achieve their goals faster.

You can learn this!

Learning YNAB is exactly the same - you can learn from their many blogs and articles, YouTube series, Podcasts and workshops. They are great resources that teach you the general concepts you need, and over time (with some trial and error), you can hone your skills. Hiring me as a YNAB Coach will add the personal touch to get there faster. Just like a sports coach, I will use my training and 10 years of experience (where I've already done the trial and error) and show you how you can manage your money, with your life circumstances and your goals. I'll be your partner, your cheerleader, and your guide.

Don't wait for money skills to just happen to you...take control today!

Are you ready to get started?

Keep an eye on this blog, I'll be posting useful, helpful skills to learn in future posts. Can't wait that long? Schedule your free intro call with me here: https://calendly.com/jenyourmoneycoach