Whether you are brand new to financial counseling or have already taken steps toward financial wellness, knowing how to get the most out of your sessions can make a world of difference. I believe that every session should feel purposeful, empowering, and focused on helping you reach your unique goals. 

Here are a few key ways to maximize your counseling experience:

1. Come with a clear goal: 

You don’t have to have everything figured out before your session, but it helps to think about what is weighting on your mind. Ask yourself, “What keeps me up at night financially?”

2. Be honest, even when it’s uncomfortable: 

There is zero judgement in our conversations. If you are behind on bills, overwhelmed by credit card debt, or just don’t know where to start, you are in the right place! Honesty helps us build a plan with your real numbers so we don’t waste time on strategies that don’t serve you!

3. Track your wins and setbacks: 

Small progress is still progress. Did you say no to a purchase you didn’t need? Have an unexpected expense?

4. Use the tools we provide: 

clients who engage with the financial counseling resources between the sessions, tend to see faster results. If something overwhelms you, we will change strategy.

5. Stay consistent and committed: 

one counseling session won’t fix everything. It’s not meant to! Just like physical wellness, financial wellness takes time. Showing up, even when it’s hard or progress feels slow, is then true growth happens.

6. Celebrate progress, not perfection: 

Sometimes progress looks like paying off a credit card. Other times, it looks like facing your real numbers, without shame.

Your money can feel easier, more peaceful, and more powerful

Let’s make that happen, together! Schedule a financial counseling session today!

Discussing finances with your partner doesn’t have to be full of drama

Talking about money with your partner can feel awkward, emotional, or stressful, especially if you grew up with different money habits. But, avoiding money conversations can quietly erode trust and increase anxiety. That is why I recommend a simple, judgement-free money conversation: the money meeting. When done consistently, money meetings help couples:

• Feel more connected and supported
• Stay on the same financial page
• Catch small issues before they become big ones

Why money meetings matter

Money isn’t just math, it’s emotional, personal, and tied to identity, safety, and self-worth. Regular money meetings help you:

• Reduce financial surprises that cause tension
• Create space for honest conversation
• Align your money habits with your shared values and goals

Think of them as maintenance for both your relationship and budget.

Step one: schedule it like a real date

Pick a time that works consistently for both of you, whether weekly or bi-weekly. It doesn’t have to take much time. 15-30 minutes is great! Keep it light and low-pressure.

Tip: Have snacks or do it somewhere comfortable, to create a calm vibe.

Step two: use a simple agenda

Here is a format I recommend to clients:

1. Check in emotionally to create a safe zone
2. Review the past week. Don’t forget to celebrate small wins!
3. Plan the week ahead
4. Talk about goals- Have they changed?

Step three: keep the vibe supportive, not stressful

Here are a few helpful ground rule:

• Stay curious, not critical (i.e., “Why did we go over in groceries?”)
• Avoid blame or shame
• Focus on the plan, not the past- Remember that you are building a better future together!

Need more help?

Schedule an appointment with Walters Financial Wellness today!

There is no need for guilt, guesswork, or broken budgets

If the word “budget” makes your stomach tighten, you’re not alone! Most of us were never taught how to manage money in a way that feels both doable and empowering. That is why I often use a different term: spending plan. It may seem like a simple change of vocabulary, but it is actually a transformative way to view your finances. Deciding where your money goes begins to feel like intention rather than restriction. You are choosing where and how to spend your money, based on your goals and what you value.

What is a spending plan?

A spending plan is a monthly outline of your income, expenses, and goals. It helps you know where you are headed and how to get there. Unlike a traditional budget, a spending plan:

• Focuses on values and priorities
• Includes flexibility for the unexpected
• Helps you spend without guilt

Step One: know your numbers

1. Income: include take-home pay, VA benefits, child support, side hustles, etc.
2. Fixed expenses: rent/mortgage, car payments, insurance, etc.
3. Variable expenses: groceries, gas, dining out, household supplies, etc.
4. Periodic expenses: birthdays, holidays, school fees, travel, etc.
5. Savings & debt payments: include emergency fund, sinking fund, credit card payments, etc.

Tip: Use your bank statements or a budgeting app to track 1-2 months of spending

Step Two: identify your priorities

Ask yourself:

• What financial goal do I care most about right now? (i.e., paying off debt, saving for a move, building an emergency fund)
• What is not working in my current spending?

This step is about aligning your money with your values. If family time is a priority, maybe that means cutting back on eating out so you can go to the movies every month as a family.

Step Three: build a plan

Plug in your numbers into a spending plan format. You can use:

• A spreadsheet
• A budgeting app
• A spending plan worksheet

Tip: Include a “buffer” category to prevent small overages wrecking your spending plan

Step Four: adjust weekly

You don’t stop after one month. Your spending plan is yours to interact with and change as your goals change.

• Do a weekly check-in
• See what went over, what you forgot, and what needs adjusting
• The goal is progress, not perfection!

Bonus Tips:

• Give every dollar a purpose, even if that purpose is fun!
• When mistakes happen, don’t beat yourself up. Ask, “What can I learn from this?”
• Remember to celebrate small wins! Wins don’t have to be monetary, they can also be behavioral. Tracking every expense in a week and sticking to your grocery goal are both equally big wins!

Want help creating yours?

I work with individuals and families to build spending plans that feel realistic, flexible, and shame-free. Let’s create your first spending plan together. You don’t have to do it alone!

Have you ever wondered why you feel anxious checking your bank account? Or, guilty spending money on yourself? Maybe you feel like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to get ahead?

You’re not alone. Most of us are walking around with old money stories that were written before we ever even began to earn money.

Financial confidence starts with self-awareness. That means we need to take a look at where your money beliefs came from.

Your money mindset was formed in childhood

As children, we absorb everything, including what is modeled for us by our caregivers. You may have heard:

• “We can’t afford that”
• “Money doesn’t grow on trees”
• “We don’t talk about money, it’s rude”
• “People with money are rude”
• “We always find a way, even when times are tough”

These phrases might seem small, but they create emotional blueprints that shape your adult money habits. Today, they may show up as:

• You hoard money and feel guilty about spending it
• You avoid financial conversations in relationships
• You undercharge for your work or resist earning more
• You’re a disciplined saver, but feel constantly on-edge about your finances

These beliefs aren’t bad. They are survival strategies. But, what protected you as a child, may be limiting as an adult.

A common story

I have worked with many individuals who find it hard to spend money on themselves, no matter the cost or occasion. They feel that they are doing something wrong. After a little exploration, it is usually discovered that they grew up in a household where money was tight and spending on anything extra was considered selfish. Once a client understands where the belief comes from, they are able to rewrite it. They learn that they can take care of their needs and still be responsible. 

How to identify your money beliefs

Here are some reflection prompts to journal on or talk about with a financial counselor:

• What messages did I hear about money growing up?
• How did my family talk (or not talk) about finances?
• What were “good” or “bad” money behaviors in my home? How do I see those patterns showing up in my life today?
• What beliefs do I want to keep and which do I want to change?

Rewriting the script

There’s good news! You’re not stuck with the beliefs you inherited! Awareness is the first step to rewriting your money story. You can:

• Replace scarcity thoughts with affirmations rooting in sufficiency
• Practice new habits that align with your current goals, not your childhood fears
• Work with a financial counselor to build tools and confidence

Ready for your money story?

If you are realizing that your money habits are tied to deeper roots, I invite you to take the next step. Schedule a consultation, today. Let’s talk about how your early experiences might be influencing your financial life, today. Let’s rewrite your story!

Lasting financial change starts in the mind

The way you think, feel, and talk about money shapes every financial decision that you make. That internal voice that you hear when you swipe your card or look at your account balance is your money mindset talking. Let’s dive into what that really means and how you can identify your money mindset and shift it toward growth, clarity, and confidence.

What is a money mindset?

Your money mindset is your core belief system about money, including what it is, how it works, and what role it plays in your life. It’s formed early on by:

• Childhood experiences
• Family habits and attitudes
• Cultural or community norms
• Personal financial wins or setbacks

Your mindset may be empowering (i.e. “Money is a tool I can use to build a secure future”) or limiting (i.e. “I’ll never get ahead, no matter what I do”).

Why it matters

Your money mindset directly affects how you:

• Budget (or avoid budgeting)
• Handle debt  (whether you feel shame or strategy)
• Talk to your partner about money
• Set or avoid financial goals 
• Respond to unexpected expenses

Without even realizing it, your beliefs might be running the show and keeping you stuck.

Take the free quiz- Click the quiz at the bottom

You’ll discover if you’re primarily:

• The Saver
• The Spender
• The Avoider
• The Strategist
• The Giver

No mindset is bad. The goal is awareness, so you can grow!

How to shift your mindset (if you want to)

Your money mindset isn’t fixed. Like any habit, it can change with small intentional steps:

1. Start with compassion- You learned what you know for a reason
2. Try money journaling- Write down your beliefs, fears, or patterns when you notice them.
3. Surround yourself with positive financial influences (i.e. podcasts, books, a coach 🙂 )
4. Celebrate progress, not perfection!
5. Get support. Sometimes talking through these beliefs with a trusted financial counselor can help you unlock what’s holding you back.

Let’s talk about it

You’re not alone on your journey. I work with individuals and their families who are ready to shift their money story, without shame or stress.

What to talk about your results or dig deeper into your money mindset?

Schedule a 30 minute consultation today!

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