And, these money saving hints are peppered with inspirational quotations from Marianne Williamson – one of my most favorite strong successful women in history!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,” said Williamson. “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.”

You are a powerful woman. You can become financially independent. Don’t let your anxieties or fears hold you back – most of them are groundless! If you struggle with debt and money problems, read On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance.

And, here are my five hints for women and money…

5 Money Saving Hints for Women – Marianne Williamson

1. Activate two money saving hints a month. There are smart ways to save money everywhere – the internet, budget books, your rich old aunt, on placemats at funky restaurants. Don’t try to implement every money hint you find; instead pick two a month. Focus on making those two money saving tips a habit. In a month or six weeks, find two more money saving hints to work on. This way, you’re not overwhelmed with a million ways to save money – and you’re steadily progressing towards your goal of financial independence.

2. Pay twice – it teaches you how much money you can save! Here’s a great hint for women who want to be financially independent, from a blog about money from the BHM Financial Group: “Every time you buy a cup of coffee, lunch, or a newspaper, magazine, DVD or other entertainment material, put the same amount of money into an account intended for saving or bill payments,” writes Cassandra in Better Attitude, Bigger Income. “See how much money you’ve saved at the end of the month. Now you know how much money you spent (but could’ve saved) this month. This money saving hint will also show you how much those items really cost, since most of us only take home about one-half what we earn. So, buying that $5 DVD is really costing you $10, that coffee is really about $7.50, and going to the movies? Whoa . . . but, you get the picture.”

3. Turn price tags into hours worked. This is a brilliant hint for saving money for women, from the founder of Mint.com: “So you don’t really need another pair of jeans, but you eyed one that costs just $40,” says Aaron Patzer. “Inexpensive, right?  That depends on how you think of it, Patzer said. Say you earn $7 an hour at your part-time job (not uncommon for high school or college students who work after school and on the weekends). You’d need to work almost 6 hours to pay for those jeans. If you work 10 hours a week, that’s 60% of your work time. Think of it this way, and that pair of jeans doesn’t look that cheap, after all.” Make it a habit to look at the things you want in terms of how long it takes to earn them.

4. Combine money saving hints with your personality traits. Pay attention to your likes and dislikes, characteristics, and lifestyle. What’s your money personality – what are your money beliefs? Are you a saver or a spender? Do you associate with people who have good financial habits, or are you always on a spending spree with friends? To save money and get rid of the debt that holds you back, you need to “ride the horse in the direction its going” – which means not trying to change who you are. Instead, find ways to fit these money saving hints into your lifestyle and personality.

If you wonder if your personality is “good enough”, remember Marianne Williamson’s words: “We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you.”

5. Find meaning in experiences, not stuff. “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are,” said Marianne Williamson. I don’t think she’s talking about shoes, clothes, or other material possessions! Sure, I know how fun it can be to buy new things – I’m not a shopper, but I’ve experienced that “shopper’s high.” But, I also know that spending money isn’t the only way to feel good. In fact, spending money may one of the least satisfactory ways to be happy because it requires a constant outflow of money. If you’re an emotional spender (you shop to avoid stress or sadness), then you might think about finding meaning in your life without spending money. This won’t just help you become a financially independent woman, it’ll help you get emotionally healthy!  

And, solving your money problems will help you let your light shine…

“As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~ Marianne Williamson.

Do you wonder if you can stand on your own two feet? Read 5 Signs of a Financially Independent Woman – Suze Orman.

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“You have endless energy only when you are working for the good of the whole – you have to stop working for your little selfish interests,” says the Peace Pilgrim. “That’s the secret of it. In this world you are given as you give.”

Do you want the endless energy, optimism, and peace that she had? It can be yours – it just requires a little focus and effort! Click Peace Pilgrim’s Wisdom: A Very Simple Guide for more info, and read on for signs of inner peace.

How to Find Inner Peace – 7 Signs of Peaceful Women

A peaceful woman has no interest in interpreting the actions of others. This is my favorite way to find inner peace: let go of the need to decipher what others meant when they did this or said that. I also need to practice letting go of the need to ruminate on what I said to others, and what they think of me. Letting go of the habit of interpreting others’ actions can help stop self-sabotage and self-defeat.

A peaceful woman has lost the ability to worry. Worrying about the future and things we can’t control isn’t peaceful for us, or those around us. Why worry about things we can’t control? Why not take control over the things we can control?

A peaceful woman can enjoy every moment in life – even the difficult ones. A key to developing inner peace is to learn to flow with events and people instead of fighting them. Flowing with even the most difficult moments in life involves not taking things so seriously, letting go of critical or negative thoughts, accepting that there is no one right way for life to unfold, and believing in yourself as a creative, strong woman.

A peaceful woman has lost interest in conflict with others. Do you know someone who lights to pick fights, or who sees flaws and weaknesses everywhere? Are you that woman? Instead of finding fault, practice seeing things and people without judging them.

A peaceful woman feels connected to others and nature. The more love you give and receive, the more connected you feel…and the more inner peace you’ll enjoy. To connect with others, initiate heart-to-heart conversations. Ask people what they think and how they feel – and listen to their answers. Spend time in nature, even if it’s in the arboretum in your office building at lunch! 

A peaceful woman smiles often – both with her lips and with her eyes. Ashley Turner is my yoga instructor on DVD (Yoga for Weight Loss – I love it!), and she says to “smile with your eyes” during certain poses. Now I smile with my eyes even when I’m not doing yoga…because it brightens my face and makes me feel happy. You don’t need to put on a huge monkey grin to find inner peace…you need only smile with your eyes (and your lips sometimes, too!).

A peaceful woman acts spontaneously, and isn’t paralyzed by fears from the past. I love this tip for finding inner peace: don’t let the past stop you from being authentic and real right now. Dr Wayne Dyer calls your past “the wake”, and says it can’t pull you forward…it can only hold you back. Of course you need to deal with problems from your past, but you can’t let those problems paralyze you.

“There is a criterion by which you can judge whether the thoughts you are thinking and the things you are doing are right for you,” says The Peace Pilgrim. “That criterion is, Have they brought you inner peace? If they have not, there is something wrong with them…so keep trying.” 

How do you find inner peace, and do you know any peaceful women? I welcome your thoughts below!

Source: Wayne Dyer’s You’ll See It When You Believe It: The Way to Your Personal Transformation.

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“Men were designed for short, nasty, brutal lives,” said Ramey. “Women are designed for long, miserable ones.”

She was kidding, of course…wasn’t she? Women do live longer, and maybe we are more miserable. We’re certainly subject to the whims of PMS and perimenopause, and fits of jealousy and insecurity. We hold grudges and compare ourselves to other women (both successful and not). Are we miserable? More importantly: are YOU miserable?

Here are few facts about the late, great Dr Estelle Ramey, with a special emphasis on her wittiness, sense of humor, and ability to lighten heavy topics. Plus, how lightening up makes you more productive and effective! And, if you’re serious about lightening up, click on Simple Happiness: 52 Easy Ways to Lighten Up by James Ryan.

How to Lighten Up and Get More Done – Dr Estelle Ramey

My sister always told me, “Lighten up – don’t take everything so seriously!” The older I get, the more I agree with her. This life lesson of lightening up and getting more done is important because I’ve spent far too much time being grim. Life’s too short to be mad or bitter! Or jealousy — read Making Envy Work for You – Helen Gurley Brown.

Dr Estelle Ramey earned her master’s degree in chemistry at Columbia University in 1940 and a doctorate in physiology at the University of Chicago in 1950. Ramey was a teacher, speaker, researcher, and writer. One of the founders and the second president of the American Women in Science, Ramey wrote an article called “Men’s Cycles – They Have Them Too” for the first issue of Ms. magazine.

Definitely not your typical well-behaved woman!

Lightening Up and Achieving More

There’s nothing less healthy, less attractive, or less appealing than a woman with a grim face and stone cold sober personality. Lightening up reduces stress and draws people to you, which can help you get what you want out of life (if you learn to delegate and accept that people do things differently than you).

Whether you’re aggravated at your boss or disappointed in your partner, “grimming and bearing it” doesn’t help. I’ve gritted my teeth through work meetings, bad situations, and traffic jams – and in hindsight, I wish I would’ve lightened up because I had to experience it anyway.

Irritability or a grim attitude isn’t going to make the situation easier or more tolerable – so we might as well tap into our senses of humor, wit, and cheer. For an immediate laugh, read Funny Quotations and Sayings by Women – Paula Poundstone.

Lightening up helps you get more done by:

• Making others feel more comfortable and relaxed – and more open to cooperating with you.
• Keeping your stress levels low, so you can see new solutions and opportunities.
• Making you appealing to be around, which means you’re less likely to be left shouldering the burden!
• Keeping your thoughts clear and focused, so you can work more quickly and efficiently.
• Making you more memorable to others…in a good way.

Developing a sense of lightness, wit, and humor is a habit that can take you further in your career and personal life!

One last quotation from Dr Ramey:

“Now, I like testosterone. Every home should have some,” she said. “But it becomes damaging as a man gets older. I’m trying to help men live longer, although I’m not sure all of them deserve it.” See how she is honest, light-hearted, and authentic? Now that’s a life lesson from a successful woman: how to be real and assertive.

Do you think women are more serious – grim, even – than men? I do, and I think it’s because we take on more responsibilities and burdens. By the way, Ramey said the female of every species is stronger in terms of stamina, longevity and performance under stress.

To learn more about this woman who wasn’t well-behaved, go to The Washington Post’s Estelle R. Ramey: Used Wit in Women’s Advocacy by Patricia Sullivan.

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