When the time came for me to brainstorm a giant rebrand (back in 2016 when I went from L Bee and the Money Tree to Financial Best Life), I went back to my own side hustle worksheet set. I went through the exercises, but also had to really sit down and think – What do I want this site to stand for? What do I want to accomplish with the content? I kept coming back to my own (personal) money beliefs.

These money beliefs are (in my opinion) a little bit different than what you'll find on any other money outlet on the web. I find them so powerful, and I consistently use these beliefs/mantras as my “north star” to guide what I create here, but also what I repeat to myself when things (with life, money, work) get hard.

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My 5 core money beliefs and how they generate abundance in my own life

#1 – The primary way to live your best life is by taking control of your money

I'll admit it. I am somewhat of a spooky bae. I do believe in ghosts and the power of astrology and manifestation. On the other hand, (personal feelings about unchecked capitalism aside) I also believe that (like it or not) money runs the world. I’m not being callous or shrewd, it’s a fact: we all have to use money and we can’t get anywhere without it.

So, everyone has to use money to live in our society, but everyone also has dreams; those things they want to accomplish or achieve or possess or feel. And yet for some reason, there’s this huge disconnect between the realization that money is the way to achieve those dreams. Even if the dream isn’t specifically money-related, money can help you get there.  

This site is about what your best life looks like – first, articulating what that “best life” looks like for you, and then figuring out how to make the money right so you can get there.

And just to be clear – It’s not about living a life where you’re so perfect with your finances or doing your “best” with your money. Best is relative in life and in finance, and it varies from person to person. No one really cares if you're doing your “best” with your money. I don't.

It matters if you’re happy. I care if you are moving and shaking your way to living your best life. The advice I have to offer on this subject (which is why we're all here) is how I was only able to pursue my dreams after I stopped being such a money mess. I realized this early on and you should too. 

#2 – You don't have to be an expert to manage your money well.

I'm probably about to evoke the ire of my financial planner and advisor friends but hear me out. I don't think you have to be an “expert” in finance to get started, and I especially think that if you're a beginner, you should know how the money basics work before seeking any additional help. Here's why:

Because money is something everyone has to use (see #1 above), it doesn’t make sense that current financial lore suggests that you need financial advisors or money “experts” to tell you what to do with your money.

Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely believe financial advisors/planners have a place in this world. 

But the myth that in order for you to sit up and pay attention to your money and manage it well you need an expert or someone telling you what to do is a fallacy. The good news is that you can educate yourself, learn what you need to know, and take control of your own destiny no matter how much money you make. Isn’t that liberating?

#3 – You will never coupon your way to wealth.

Even though coupons also have a time and place, I’m a little so-so on the coupons, (Less so lately in a time of high inflation) but here’s why I typically don't talk about couponing on this website.

Your time is worth a certain amount and unless you are on a super-duper shoestring budget or an absolute coupon mama wiz, you will never earn what an hour of your time is worth in coupons. You just won’t.

Coupons can work for those on budgets and absolutely make a dollar stretch further, but couponing will never grow those dollars into something more. 

#4 – My personal #1 money belief: money is a renewable resource.

Over the years, this is the mantra I come back to over and over again. Because we all know that we can replace money, we can't replace time, but really let that sink in.

This quote gives me peace when money is tight. When I need to evaluate when and how much to invest in myself and my businesses, or when I need to part with a significant amount of cash for an emergency. (Like this year, after I got laid off).

They're literally printing new money every day. Go out and get it.

#5 – Give yourself grace when it comes to your money

Remember how I said you didn't have to be a money expert to get started? That’s okay. But that lack of expertise also means you aren’t going to get it right all of the time. I know it's hard when there is money on the line because it's money and emotional and totally finite in quantity. However, if you beat yourself up over the money mistakes, you're just going to make things worse. Just ask the recovering shopping addict….

#6 – Money is a lifelong journey.

If you are a long-time reader of this site, (nearly twelve years now!) you'll know that my story from actress in NYC – to financial blogger- to self-employed solopreneur to working in real estate – is well-tread territory. Honestly, I love telling my story because a) I am always a sucker for a good second/third/fourth act and b) it makes me feel all warm and tingly on the inside because I know just how far I've come.

I didn't become a finance blogger and then decide to take control of my finances. Quite the opposite actually. Two years before I started blogging, I was in NYC working a terrible desk job when I decided to never let my bad financial decisions affect what I could and could not do in life.

Over the last five years, it's been a long and winding journey full of successes: I've changed careers, increased my income, bought a home.  There have also been “failures” too: like my runaway renovation, failing to save for retirement, going back into credit card debt again,  and my divorce. But to me, being financially empowered simply means that you sit up and pay attention to your finances. 

Life changes. We use money all our lives, so our money will fluctuate and our relationship with it will change and the way we manage it will veer in all kinds of different directions. It is impossible to be perfect or bad with your money 100% of the time. As I tell everyone: money is a lifelong process.

Money is a lifelong process – The TL:DR

Think about it. From the age of 18 to when you die you're going to be dealing with money (yours, your spouse's, your parents, and your children's all at different points in the journey) for the rest of your life.

And you don't know what is going to happen.

You could have a medical emergency. Even if you have an emergency fund and savings and prepare, you could end up in debt again. You could unexpectedly lose your job. Or unexpectedly win the lottery and start spending like crazy and go bankrupt. My point is that life changes, and you'll change too. Because of this, inevitably, your money will change.

So, what can we do? Saddle up our money beliefs, be gentle with ourselves when it comes to money, and remember that life is (actually) quite long. We have time to master our finances, so long as we take baby steps each day.