Here’s what she says about saving money for your future:

“We need to give [women] more of an incentive to work, to save, to invest, to create a true future for themselves.” ~ Suze Orman

Are you motivated to create a financially secure future — one that doesn’t revolve around a man? If not, what’s holding you back? If you think fear of success is holding you back — don’t laugh, it’s more common than you think — read The Courage to be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance. And, here are eight tips for basic personal finance for women…

8 Smart Ways Women Can Save Money – Suze Orman

1. Figure out what you’re saving money for. Don’t just save money for your kids’ college education or to pay off your mortgage. Save money for fun stuff! For instance, I save money for my overseas vacations – I want to go on a cruise for my fifth wedding anniversary in October, and a two week vacation to Maui in January. A smart way for women to save money (and — even better — achieve financial independence) is to find compelling reasons to save money! Why do you want to be financially free? What are your goals?

2. Write your money saving goals on your forehead. If you want to stay motivated to save money, you need to go beyond deciding that it’s time to save more money. You need to keep your goals front and center! The beauty of writing your money saving goals on your forehead is that they’ll wash off when you shower. Every time you rewrite your goals, you’ll be newly motivated to achieve them.

3. Make two days a week “No Spend” days. “Unspend,” advise the financial gurus at DailyWorth. “No Spend Days are powerful budget-balancing tools. By simply not spending money one day a week, you give yourself more wiggle room in other areas.” I think one day a week is too easy – I challenge you to make two days a week your “No Spend” days! No fancy lattes, no DVD rentals, no 7-11 slurpees (my personal weakness), and no restaurant meals. This is one of the smartest ways women can save money.

4. Keep a running tally of how much money you save. Every time you choose to take your lunch to work instead of buying it, or choose a regular coffee instead of a fancy frappuccino (this is one of my personal favorite ways to save money because I get a coffee out, but I don’t pay $5), write down how much money you saved. At the end of every week, tally up your savings. I guarantee that you’ll be shocked at how easy it’ll be to save money!

5. Figure out how to make money savings tips stick. You hear money saving tips all the time: cut grocery store coupons, stop eating out at restaurants, shop for second hand clothes, don’t use premium gasoline for your. But, do you actually apply those money saving tips to your life? One of the best ways to save money fast is to learn how to make good money saving tips stick.

6. Figure out why you spend money. You can read about the best ways to save money until the cows, sheep, and pigs come home! But if you don’t understand and perhaps even change your underlying financial beliefs, you’ll never get your personal finances in order. Are you in financial debt for emotional reasons — are you an emotional spender? A compulsive shopper? Do you have faulty money beliefs? You can’t achieve financial independence — or save money — unless you deal with your money issues.

7. Stop buying DVDs and CDs. How many times do you really need to watch your favorite movies or listen to your favorite songs? I own and love the movies Chicago, Mr and Mrs Smith, and Thelma and Louise…but there are only so many times I can watch them! “I know someone with a massive DVD collection,” writes Pat Foran in The Smart Canadian’s Guide to Building Wealth. “He takes the bus because he can’t afford a car, but he does have every episode of The Twilight Zone.”

8. Become a library lizard. My husband and I don’t just borrow books from our library, we take out magazines, CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks. I rent Pilates, Yoga and other workout DVDs – which is a great way to save money on fitness. When was the last time you visited your local library? It’s a great place to save money!

“In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential. It’s no different in the financial realm.” ~ Suze Orman.

To attract wealth and get real about your personal finances, read 6 Steps to Financial Independence for Women.

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Finding the motivation to do what you love — such as be creative or write a book– is a constant struggle. Even artists and writers who earn a living from their creativity struggle with the muse from time to time!

What roadblocks do you face when you’re trying to be creative? Fear, doubt, uncertainty, lack of time, rejection sensitivity, perfectionism, procrastination, self-criticism, impatience?

You’re not alone, my friend.

“Everyone has talent; what is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.” ~ Erica Jong.

Helping writers find “the dark place” is why I wrote 73 Ways to Fire Up (or Just Fire) the Muse: How to Write When You Don’t Wanna, or Think You Can’t. It offers solutions to most obstacles, with practical tips and inspirational wisdom from professional freelance writers, novelists, journalism professors, and other successful scribes. This ebook also offers “quick quips” from published authors (because quips and tips are what I’m all about!).

Here’s what one reader says:

“After reading your ebook I am totally charged! It’s motivational, easy to read, and speaks directly to me and every one of my writing angsts and blocks – your energy vibrates off the page. It’s like having you personally talking to me, telling it like it is and encouraging me on. It spoke to so many of my blocks – and I credit it with firing me up after being on simmer for so long.” ~ Maggie R.

I love it — that’s exactly what I was hoping would happen! If you’re struggling to find the motivation to do what you love, this book will help…

In this ebook, you’ll find:

• 15 obstacles – common to most writers – that block a productive writing life or career.
• 73 tips for overcoming obstacles from freelance writers, published authors, journalism professors, & other successful scribes.
• Dozens of thought-provoking quips from famous authors.

You’ll learn practical ways to bypass various roadblocks: no time to write, fear of rejection, reluctance to waste time on a project that may never get published, not feeling good enough, lack of self-discipline, procrastination, perfectionism, disorganization, work and life commitments, online distractions, offline distractions, internal distractions, external distractions, lions and tigers and bears – oh my!

You’ll learn what works, what doesn’t work, and why.

Each chapter in this ebook can stand alone; you don’t necessarily need to read it from top to bottom. You can choose the obstacle that plagues you from the Table of Contents and dive right in. You can save certain chapters until later in your career (such as Chapter 3.5: “5 Things to Do While You Wait for Publication”).

And the best part is, you can re-read it whenever you need a “booster shot” in one particular area (because obstacles come and go over time).

$9.95 US

If you have any thoughts or questions on ”firing up the muse” or finding the motivation to do what you love to do, please comment below…

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3. Overcoming Shame and Guilt – Erica Jong

The life lesson: even if you love to write, paint, dance, or learn – it’s still a struggle to find the time, energy, and motivation to do what you love! The successful woman: Julia Cameron.

Cameron wrote this funky little book called How to Avoid Making Art (or Anything Else You Enjoy).

It’s a quick read, with drawings that illustrate her point that there are millions of things we do instead of chasing our dreams. The illustrations represent all the stuff we do when we know better, when we should be doing what we love. It’s stuff that steals our energy, time, and life…and our dreams.

I’ve taken Julia Cameron’s tongue-in-cheek advice for avoiding doing you love, and turned each statement around. It’s now motivation to do what you love, my friends!

Finding the Motivation to Do What You Love – Julia Cameron

“Be available to everyone at any time. Do not nurture yourself or set boundaries.” Finding the motivation to do what you love means you have to take care of you. It’ll be hard to do at first – for both you and your people – but once you all get used to it, you’re on your way!

“Acquire a high maintenance relationship.” By this, I think Julia Cameron means hooking up with a partner or friend who needs your constant attention. Some people need more time and energy than others (high maintenance!), if you invite such people into your life, you’re stealing your own time and energy.

“Talk about it so you don’t have to do it.” Finding the motivation to do what you love means stop talking about your longing to be a doctor or writer or mother. Start taking action steps towards small, specific goals.

“Surround yourself with jealous, blocked, negative companions.” Oh man. Julia Cameron must have personal experience with “friends” like this. To find the motivation to do what you love, surround yourself with creative, inspirational people who support, love, and encourage you.

“Let others’ problems become your problems so that your time and energy are depleted.” Instead of taking on other people’s problems and expectations, let them work out their own stuff. That’ll give you the time, energy, and motivation to do you love. Read Letting Go of Other People’s Expectations – Maria Shriver for help letting go!

“If your pets aren’t high maintenance enough, get more of them to take up any extra free time or money you might have.” To find the motivation to do what you love, draw the line at high-maintenance pets (just like high-maintenance friends). Simplify your life, and focus on where you really want to go.

“Tell yourself you can’t afford art supplies. Buy five expensive cappuccinos while you discuss this with friends.” Ha ha ha, Julia Cameron. It’s funny because it’s true! Where do you spend your money? Are you losing the motivation to do what you love because you’re buying too many shoes or hats or cappuccinos? Budget your money so you have the resources to do what you love.

You know when you’re letting life, friends, kids, work, or tv drain your time and energy. You know when you’re not acting in your own best interests, or when you’re ignoring your gut instincts, or when you’ve lost the motivation to do what you love.

You know when you’re wasting your life.

Get to it, my friends. Find your way back to your artist’s easel, school, exercise routine, travel adventures, or writing project.

Get back to your life.

And if you’re not ready to get back to your life yet, read How to Motivate Yourself – Amelia Earhart!

What are your thoughts on these finding the motivation to do what you love? I welcome your comments below!

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“I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams,”  said Madonna.

Who can argue with doing what you believe in and going after your dreams? And the more successful women (Goddesses) you surround yourself with, the more likely you’ll get what you want out of life - whether you want a college degree or freedom from depression!

And that’s what a Goddess party is all about: connecting with women to energize your mind, body, and soul. These tips for throwing a Goddess party will give you ideas. For more on being a Goddess in every day life, click on Goddesses in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women’s Lives by Jean Shinoda Bolen.

5 Tips for Throwing a Goddess Party – Madonna

1. Invite women to dress like Goddesses. Encourage the women you invite to wear clothes that make them feel authentic, real, and Goddess-like. Stress that they don’t have to wear ornate costumes; Goddesses need only adorn themselves with clothes that make them feel happy, spirited, encouraged, or soulful. Feather boas, faux-fur purses, pink cowgirl boots, glittery tiara – anything and everything goes at a Goddess party!

2. Don’t listen to or feel the music; be the music. The last Goddess party I attended involved a musical saw, drums, a guitar, the spoons, a musical egg, and “tap” boots (one Goddess made music by drumming the heel of her boots on the ground). Encourage your friends to bring whatever instruments they have – even if it’s a recorder from their elementary school days or a couple of spoons from the kitchen drawer. You don’t have to sing like Madonna to be the music!

3. Move your Goddess bodies. If you’re throwing a party to celebrate women, consider a short physical activity. For instance, the last Goddess party I went to had a Nia lesson, which was not only fun and invigorating, it taught us a new way to move our bodies. Consider getting a fellow Goddess to lead a short belly dance, hip-hop, or yoga lesson. Anything goes!

4. Invite your Goddesses to share. “Ode to the Female Period” was a deep-yet-funny poem read by a writer at the Goddess party I went to. I admired her writing skills, and also her courage and ease at reading in public. Some women balk at being so vulnerable - I know I do. If you’re throwing a Goddess party, consider asking your friends to bring something that is encouraging, positive, and uplifting to women. 

5. Explore other worlds. One of the Goddesses read our Tarot cards at the party I attended. A spiritual or soulful activity can connect the group as a whole (even with individual readings) and solidify individual hopes and dreams. Not every Goddess has to have her cards, tea leaves, or palm read – but it can be interesting to explore those worlds!

The foundation of any Goddess party is acceptance of self, others, and life.

“I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a b****h, okay.” – Madonna.

Do you have any thoughts about or tips for throwing a Goddess Party? Please share below!

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The life lesson: to succeed at anything, you need to know how to motivate yourself! The successful woman in history: Amelia Earhart. The unexpected twist: even when you’re pursuing your dreams and goals, you still need to find ways to motivate yourself to keep going!

First, a word from our sponsor:

“When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others,” said Earhart.

Other people’s failures could motivate you to succeed where no woman has succeeded before – and no doubt that’s partly what spurred Earhart to achieve her goals. Here’s how to motivate yourself, with life lessons from the most famous female pilot in history…and, click on 20 Hours, 40 Min: Our Flight in the Friendship by Earhart for more info about her record-breaking flight.

How to Motivate Yourself – Amelia Earhart

Thrive on the success of others. Amelia Earhart had her own version of See Jane Soar: a scrapbook of newspaper clippings describing the achievements of successful women in law, engineering, advertising, business, and the film industry. Amelia knew how difficult it was (and is) to forge ahead, especially in male-dominated fields. Those articles improved her confidence, motivation, and passion. They represented the victories of women Amelia didn’t even know – women who nevertheless inspired her to soar.

Don’t compare yourself to others! There will always be successful women who are smarter, stronger, more confident, and even luckier than you. And, there will always be less successful women who aren’t as smart, strong, confident, or lucky as you. To motivate yourself, don’t compare yourself to anyone. You have your life to live, and other women have theirs. Read The Definition of a Successful Woman – Eleanor Roosevelt to learn what success means to different women.

Find – and push – your own buttons. If you really want to motivate yourself, pay attention to what drives you. Me, I like earning money for writing – so I’m motivated to keep writing and keep pitching articles no matter how many rejections I get. The life lesson here is that you can’t rely on others to motivate you…you have to find your own triggers, and you need to keep pulling them.

Do what comes naturally. Amelia Earhart broke records in altitude, speed, distance, and solo flying – partly because she was doing what came naturally to her. She was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and received countless other honors. Do you think she needed to find ways to motivate herself? No. She was a successful woman in history because she did what came naturally to her.

How do you motivate yourself? I welcome your comments below…

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