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.

Related posts:

1. Dealing With Different Money Personalities as a Couple – Suze Orman
2. How to Get Money to Start Your Business – Suze Orman
3. 10 Ways to Save Money on Food – Rachael Ray

“Too much money is as demoralizing as too little, and there’s no such thing as exactly enough.”  ~ Mignon McLaughlin.

I’m hoping there is such a thing as “exactly enough money” — because that’s what this blog post is all about! For instance, if I make my mortgage payment every month, then I have enough money. (The devil on my shoulder whispers, But what if that’s not enough? What if you’re never financially satisfied? And I say Shush shush SHUSH!!).

If you want to create financial abundance, read The Money Coach’s Guide to Your First Million: 7 Smart Habits to Building the Wealth of Your Dreams. And, here are five ways to apply mindfulness to your life, so you get enough money. Be a financially independent woman, be empowered and secure!

5 Mindful Ways to Get Enough Money – Mignon McLaughlin

Financial independence and security isn’t just about getting enough money — but having enough money does put our minds at ease! These money tips for women aren’t just about achieving financial goals, they’re about creating a better relationship with money through mindfulness.

1. Pick two or three money “mentors.” Who do you admire and respect because of their money management skills? Pick at least two money mentors (women who have succeeded financially, even if that “just” means saving $10,000 for a car or down payment on a house). Spend time with them. Pick a money mentor you can rub shoulders with in person, and a money mentor you can learn from online, on TV, or on the radio (Suze Orman, for example).

2. Ride the financial ups and downs with “mindfulness.” Getting enough money — enjoying financial independence – is about riding the financial roller coaster of debt, income, and household bills without losing sight of the big picture. Instead of letting a financial upset (eg, an unexpected car repair bill) throw you off course, stay focused on how wonderful it will feel to be financially secure. This is being mindful!

3. Learn about your money personality. Do you think you don’t know how to handle the bill payments, financial investments, or wealth accumulation?  Negative money beliefs will stop you from getting enough money. To be more mindful about your money, figure out your money personality – which often comes from your childhood. For example, women may spend more money than necessary because of childhood experiences. If you’re addicted to shopping, remember Mignon McLaughlin’s words: ”Money is much more exciting than anything it buys.” Avoid the trap of shopping, consumerism, and emotional spending.

4. Put your money personality to work for you. It’s easier to break bad money habits when you know what comes naturally for you. For instance, some women love to invest in the stock market, while others need to stop emotional spending. Some women need to focus on their household budget, while others are more comfortable pinching pennies (like me!). To apply mindfulness to your money situation, focus on what comes naturally. Delegate other money management tasks to your partner, reliable family member, or financial advisor.

5. Be mindful literally: visualize getting enough money. What does “getting enough money” mean to you? Do you want to pay your mortgage, or start saving for a summer cottage at the lake? Maybe you want to start your own business, or save enough money to be financially independent. Use the law of attraction: visualize what your ideal financial life looks like and stay focused. Using mindfulness to get enough money is especially effective when when you discuss your money goals with your partner, family members, and friends. Talking about your goals can make them more real and tangible. And, talking can keep you accountable!

But, don’t let money rule your life! “When you let money speak for you, it drowns out anything else you meant to say,” said Mignon McLaughlin. Make sure you control your money — don’t let it control you.

If you have any thoughts or questions on these mindful ways to get enough money, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. 8 Smart Ways Women Can Save Money – Suze Orman
2. Is This a Risky Financial Investment? Money Tips for Women
3. 9 Tips for Taking Control of Your Money for Women

“I’d rather be alone than unhappy,” says Houston.

Being in a relationship doesn’t guarantee happiness…or even love. Many women are lonely, frustrated, and sad in their relationships or marriages; it’s far better to be single than stuck in a bad relationship. If you’re struggling with your singleness, read Single: The Art of Being Satisfied, Fulfilled and Independent. And, here are several ways to be happily single…

5 Ways to be Blissfully Happy as a Single Woman – Whitney Houston

1. Figure out the source of your feelings. Do you feel depressed, sad, or lonely because you’re single? Figure out why you want to be in a relationship; is it because your sister is married with three children or you feel like an outsider at work or home? Maybe you feel worthless, and think a relationship will validate you as a woman. To be happily single, you need to figure out why you want to be married.

2. Refuse to dwell on the lack of love in your life. What you focus on expands, my friends. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have (and causing your lack to grow), stay focused on what you bring to all your relationships. For instance, do you wish you were a more successful woman? Make a list of your wonderful qualities and personality traits. The more you love and appreciate yourself, the happier you’ll be – and the more attractive you’ll be to others. Don’t think about what you lack; instead, concentrate on what you want in your life.

3. Connect to your source of power and inspiration. “I had the money, I had the cars,” Houston told Oprah Winfrey in a recent interview. “I had the house. Had the husband. Had the kid. And none of it was really that fulfilling. For a time, I was happy…but I needed that joy. I needed my joy back. I needed that peace that passes all understanding.” No matter how wonderful a boyfriend or husband is, he can’t give you peace, self-acceptance, or happiness. You need to stay connected with your own source of inspiration and fulfillment; you need to protect your sense of self when you’re in love.

4. Stay emotionally, physically, and professionally healthy. What books, people, events, Web sites, or groups help you feel connected to yourself? For instance, I love Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort of Joy – just opening that book up to a random page makes me feel more focused and in touch with who I am as a woman. If you want to be blissfully happy and single – especially if you’re hoping for a new romantic relationship – make sure you’re taking care of all aspects of your health.

5. Don’t wait for a man before you pursue the life of your dreams. Do you want to take a month-long vacation in Bora Bora, start your own business, buy a condo, or move to New York City to be a Rockett at Radio City Music Hall? You don’t need to be in a relationship to pursue your dreams! In fact, being involved with a man can make it more difficult to achieve your goals; women in relationships have to consider their partners’ needs, lifestyle, plans, and family.

Whatever you want to do with your life, do it now.

“I know from whence my help cometh,” says Houston. “I do know that. And I know that it’s strong within me. If ever I get low, I get weak, I know where I can turn to. I love the spirit of God so much that I’m not willing to trade that for anything. Because I feel joy that I can’t even speak about. And peace that passes all understanding.”

If you have any thoughts or questions on being blissfully happy as a single woman, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. 4 Ways to Stop Self-Sabotage and Self-Defeat – Erma Bombeck
2. 5 Steps to Being a Successful Woman – Katherine Hepburn
3. 10 Ways for Women to Get Ahead at Work – Reba McEntire

financial independence for women

Personal finance may not be every woman’s favorite topic – but it’s one of the most important things she’ll ever take care of in her life! Here are six steps to financial independence for women, with inspiration from the strong, successful author Ayn Rand.

“You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.” ~ Ayn Rand.

If you’re not taking control of your money, sooner or later you’ll face the consequences of your inaction (or your irresponsibility – ouch!)…and it won’t be pretty. These steps towards financial freedom for women are from Lois Frankel’s Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich: 75 Avoidable Mistakes Women Make with Money– click for more information. And, read on for six ways to strengthen your sense of personal finance….

6 Steps to Financial Independence for Women – Ayn Rand

1. Schedule your “retire rich” or “find financial freedom” time. Take an hour a month to think about how you can be a financially independent woman. Do you need to learn about basic personal finances, figure out where to invest $100 a month, or learn how to put money towards your retirement or children’s education? Block off an hour a month (or an hour a week, if you’re really motivated!) to pursue your financial goals.

2. Identify the flaws in your personal finance plan. If you’re not financially independent, then figure out where the wheels fell off the bus. Are you charging up your credit card bills and avoiding your student loan or mortgage loan debt? Are you financially supporting a spouse or family member when they should be doing it themselves? If you’re not financially independent, it’s for specific reasons – and the sooner you uncover those reasons, the further along the road to financial independence you’ll be.

3. Attend one personal finance course or investment seminar a month. “You can find these classes at community colleges, extension programs, credit unions, and even online,” writes Frankel in Nice Girls. “Many investment firms offer short evening programs designed for the financial novice.” If you’re going to a seminar at an investment firm, resist their sales pitches…learn as much as you can about investing your money, building your retirement income, and living within your budget. As Ayn Rand said “The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity” – and those opportunities may be right in your back yard!

4. Learn where your money “should” be going. Financial experts say your income or earnings should be divided up in specific ways. For instance, 10% of your income should be going to savings or investments, 25-40% to mortgage or rent, 8-15% to home-related expenses, 10-20% to food, 15-25% to transportation, 8-15% for medical expenses, 3-5% for clothing, 5-10% to personal or miscellaneous, and less than 5% to personal debt such as student or personal loans. If you’re spending more than these suggested amounts, then it may be time to consider shifting your expenses.

5. Take care of your credit rating by balancing your checkbook every month. “If you’re one of those women who make deposits but don’t reconcile their checkbook, then you’re more likely to treat money as dispensable – not something that has to be cared for and looked after,” says Lois Frankel. She encourages women who want to be financially independent to reconcile their accounts every month (or more often!). Your financial activities directly affect your credit score, which affects your ability to get mortgage or business loans. And if you want to be a female entrepreneur or start your own business one day, you’ll need a strong credit rating.

6. Remember that you can control your money – it doesn’t have to control you. Ayn Rand said, “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.” Maybe you were taught to let men manage money when you were growing up, or that money isn’t feminine or ladylike. Banish those thoughts! Remember that money is just a tool to help you enjoy life – it’s doesn’t have to be something to avoid. Use your “financial freedom time” to learn as many money lessons as possible.

Here’s one of my favorite quotations for successful women: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” ~ Ayn Rand.

The only person who can stop you from achieving financial independence is you. Get out of your own way – and See Jane Soar!

If you have any thoughts or questions on these steps to strengthening your sense of personal finance, please comment below…

Related posts:

1. Is This a Risky Financial Investment? Money Tips for Women
2. Signs of a Financially Independent Woman – Quips and Tips
3. Women Considering Divorce – A Quips and Tips Article