Money Loves You – Open The Door And Invite It In

By Linda Franklin The Real Cougar Woman

Money is energy. Money loves you and wants to be a part of your life.  If you want to attract it – stop sending out those negative vibes. Worrying about money doesn't help.  

Women tend to worry more about money than men.  We are also less confident in making our own investment decisions. Men enjoy learning about investments while we would rather go shopping.  

Only 53% women in a recent survey said they have a handle on their cash flow and spend less than they make each month. By contrast, 71% of men made that claim. Only 36% of women say they regularly pay off their credit card balances in full, compared with 61% of men.

Women, Love and Money According to Forbes Woman And Your Tango

According to a new survey conducted by ForbesWoman and YourTango.com 75 percent of women would not marry someone who was unemployed, and 65 percent said they would not feel comfortable getting married if they themselves were unemployed. 

“With the recent unemployment rate up to 9.1 percent, joblessness is an increasingly pervasive issue—especially for women as they consider the fiscal and emotional stability of their romantic future,” said Andrea Miller, founder and CEO, YourTango.com. “From money woes to resentment, joblessness can create great strain on relationships.  Before women enter into a lifetime commitment, they want to feel secure in what their partner can bring to the table.” 

Financial Infidelity – It’s Always About Money

Cougars, Money & Men

Cougar women know this. One of the most difficult conversations they can have with a significant other is not about love or commitment – it's about money.  How they save it, invest it and respect it. Recently I was interviewed for a story in the New York Times that focused on “money talk” for couples.  I received so much great feedback on the story that I felt compelled to address it here.

Almost every time I talk to women about their money I get lots of questions that sound something like this:  How do I start a conversation with my husband about money?  How do I ask my partner to see our finances without having him feel like I don’t trust him?  How do I get my questions answered without ending up in a huge fight? 

Three words here…. communicate, communicate, communicate.  I know you hear that all the time and know it's not that simple, especially when it comes to money.  You’d be surprised (or perhaps you wouldn’t be) by how many people don’t even know how much their spouse is making.  Generally, the problem is due to the highly emotional feelings (self worth, self esteem, power, control etc) and unresolved issues with money each partner brings to the table.

Money & Spirit – Crossing The Great Divide

Money and Spirit is there really a connection between the two?  Many who might not have thought so in the past are beginning to change their minds.  After you have experienced extreme economic stress it can cause you to revamp your thinking around money. 

During times of financial challenge it is very easy to fall out of alignment with your true spirit.  That's where Diamond Alignment comes in.  When you are in "Diamond Alignment" consciousness everything is part of the Divine Energy … including money.  When you think about it, how can money – the most powerful physical influence on the plant not be Divine Energy? 

I talk about the effects of this financial downturn from firsthand experience. For the past past 2 1/2 years I have been in the trenches with everyone else – my own home has been in foreclosure. I know that my Soul is experiencing this challenge because I, through the use of the Diamond Technology, am called to bring light and truth into this challenging time. My mission, as I see it, is to mend the split in consciousness between Spiritual and Material Wealth.

Smart Cougars Who Are Stupid With Money

Susan is buried in credit card debt approaching $100,000.  Alice lives in fear of answering the phone and opening the mail.  They feel trapped.  Unfortunately, these women are not isolated cases.  The truth is, too many women let their finances fall into disarray.

These women aren't stupid. They are successful, intelligent, independent women but when it comes to matters of finance they feel helpfless.  They became the victims of  failed marriages, redundancy, the recession, red tape or unfair interest rates.  And, the harder they try to free themselves of their debt, the deeper they sink into the quicksand.

How can so many smart women be so naive when it comes to their money?  What makes them push their heads into the sand in a way that men don't do?  And, the big question is why don't their learn from their mistakes?

Cougar Women Need Cohabitation Agreements

Cougar Women aren't rushing to the altar and they are not alone.. According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in association with Time Magazine, four out of ten Americans believe marriage is becoming obsolete. Conversely, the Pew Research survey reports, cohabitation–where couples live together as unmarried partners–is on the rise.

You may deliberately fore go the formalities of marriage, but depending on where you live, or where you move to, the legal obligations you owe your partner are all too familiar. The rights and obligations of unmarried partners vary significantly from state to state, and in some cases, mirror the rights and obligations of married spouses.

If you are living with a partner, or thinking about living with a partner, you should seriously consider entering into a cohabitation agreement (a.k.a. a "living together" agreement) designating the extent to which each partner is responsible for joint expenses and ultimately to each other.

This is a delicate subject I know.  When you're in love you don't want to think of all the what if's.  But this piece of paper can protect you and I suggest you look into it.   For more information read this article by Roberts S.Cohen one of New York's best divorce lawyers.

Women’s Love Hate Relationship With Money

Money or lack of it is a trigger for emotional sabotage.  Women turn to spending money as a way of numbing out when they are not feeling good about themselves. They use it as a quick fix. but that quick fix soon becomes  a long term nightmare.  Everytime the credit card bill comes or they receive those "where's my money" phone calls, stress levels go through the roof.  And, instead of dealing with the problem, they run out to do more shopping to feel better. A viscious circle.  

It's really unfortunate that women haven't been raised to be responsible about money. It's always been easier to leave the management of their finances to a man.  It's strange because in every part of their lives women can be so independent, but when it comes to money they throw up their hands in frustration.  We have been conditioned by society to believe we should be taken care of financially. That old paradigm has got to change. 

It's crazy but there are women who are so afraid of money that they don't know their bank balance or how much they owe on their credit cards.  Hiding your head in the sand only makes things worse.

The first step to taking back your power is to get a grip on your financial scenario – face facts. Then make a conscious decision to make friends with money - it's not the enemy, it's not the root of all evil. Learn to respect money - it can make your life a whole lot easier.

Real Cougars Attract Prosperity

Real Cougars have learned to attract prosperity into their lives because they understand money is just money. They know that having money can make life less stressful and don't feel guilty about earning it, saving it, and growing it. Your attitude towards money is a major factor in attracting abundance into your life. Money is and has always been a hot bed for controversy. That's because it's not just a commodity it's been touted as the root of all evil.  It elicits deep-seeded feelings about love, power, happiness, security, control, dependency, independence, freedom and lots more. Money reaches deep into the human psyche.  Money becomes the trigger for so many deeper emotional issues.  As far as women have come money is still a taboo topic. We rarely talk about it, even with our closest friends. The silence is a shield that protects us from the shame, guilt and anxiety we feel over how we are dealing with our financial affairs.

Women are typically the givers and always putting others before themselves. Financial guru Sue Orman says, “I simply want you to give TO yourself as much as you give OF yourself. By taking care of yourself financially, you will truly be able to take care of those you love.” So don't you think that women have had a dysfunctional relationship with money far too long? Don't you think the time has has come to assume responsibility for your own financial future.  To make that happen you have to get rid of your psychological blocks and create a new paradigm that invites prosperity into your life. 

In September, our new financial expert, Susan Hirschman will be giving you tips on how to start building your financial future.  Remember, it's never too late to start attracting abundance into your life. 

Cougars Are The Role Model For Financial Freedom

Did you know that 31% of women today would rather clean their bathrooms than plan for their financial future?  That's pretty discouraging  and just plain dumb don't you think?

The alarm bell is sounding, but apparently not too many women are listening.  To remain the independent souls we cherish so much we need a steady income stream.  To make that happen we have to take care of business.

Gone are the days when you could hand over all the money concerns to the man in your life.  Today, it's your responsibility to take care of yourself and your future.  The one thing I know for sure is that when you feel comfortable with your finances it enables you to make very different decisions.  Decisions that will ultimately determine the level of your happiness. 

A Real Cougar Woman is not one who prowls after younger men that's so ridiculous.  She is a fabulous female who is financially independent and knows the importance of being self sufficient.

I feel so strongly about women embracing their financial freedom that I am making arrangements with an experienced financial expert to teach and write on this blog.  She wants to share with you how not to be afraid of money and she does that in a way you are sure to easily understand.  No mumbo jumbo just the essentials that you need.  We are both very excited for the opportunity to help you start establishing your own financial freedom plan.