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Talking about and handling money is one of the most complicated aspects of being an adult. And for many of us, the conversation can get uncomfortable fast. Whether that’s parsing through finances with your partner or negotiating salary at work, the issue can be a source of anxiety and discomfort. And while it’s normal to be a bit reluctant when it comes to cash talk, sometimes your negative feelings toward money come from past financial trauma. A condition you may not even be aware of. So, what is financial trauma? “Financial trauma is a financial wound or injury that can cause disruptive behaviors with money,” explains Stephanie Genkin, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Financial Therapist (CFT-1) and founder of My Financial Planner, LLC. “We tend to think of trauma as something extreme, but it’s not limited to dramatic events.” That means even the smallest incident can forever affect how you deal with money. In the same way that emotional o...

A woman has shared her top money-saving tips after paying off her £20,000 debt – without giving up frivolous treats. Shaurna Cameron, 29, first experienced issues with her finances when she graduated from university in May 2013. The money troubles began after she secured her first full-time job with a salary of £17,000. At the time, Shaurna felt “rich", which spurred her on into spending money on clothes, bags and "useless items", as well as expensive trips. If she couldn't afford it on her monthly earnings, she would put herself into debt by using a credit card. It wasn't long before Shaurna was buried in debt. “When I couldn't afford to pay for my flights outright, I wouldn't hesitate to put this money onto a credit card,” said Shaurna, a compliance specialist. “This meant that by June 2016 [three years later], I had accrued around £20,000 of credit card and loan debt. “Initially I didn't really take it seriously – I was 24, living at h...

People have lots of questions about saving for retirement. “Am I saving enough?” is a really common one. As my colleague Amy Arnott explored in “Do You Really Need to Save That Much for Retirement?” the hardest part for many people may simply be scraping together enough of their paycheck to make regular contributions. Many planners recommend investing 15% of your pretax salary, which is no easy feat. (But remember that any employer contributions also count toward that number, so if your employer matches up to a certain amount, contribute enough to get the full match!) Beyond your savings rate, though, you also have some control over how much you will need to save. That’s because, to some extent, your choices determine how expensive your lifestyle is. In effect, by being mindful of how much you spend and ratcheting up your savings/investing rate as needed, you will be able to save more--and you will ultimately need less--money for retirement. Fred and Sarah Here’s the tale of t...

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, consumer debt was at an all-time high according to the Federal Reserve. So if you have credit card debt, you’re not alone. What may surprise you is that you are uniquely situated to negotiate your credit card debt on your own. We tend to rely on professionals to address challenges—car mechanics, lawyers, trainers. But it doesn’t take a finance degree to successfully develop a payment plan with your credit card provider. Being proactive about your debt can help you avoid a charge off and protect your current credit score. More importantly, taking control of your debt could reduce the stress you feel without a plan. By contacting your creditors you could create a plan that puts you in the know. Why Should You Negotiate Your Credit Card Debt? If you carry a high credit card balance or have missed payments, you may have heard from a debt settlement company. Often these organizations promise to resolve your debt for pennies on the dollar. It ca...