Did you know that savers can still struggle with their finances? They may be good at saving, but how about spending for enjoyment? It can honestly be a struggle.

Simply put, a no-spend month is an entire month when you don’t purchase the extras. You purchase essentials only. So, stopping at the convenience store for a soda is out. Heck, purchasing that candy bar in the checkout lane is out. A lot of our spending is out. From appliances in the kitchen (I need a new food processor) to blankets or crafting stuff, we will not purchase it. I know it sounds like torture.

You need to do a mid-year checkup on your finances to see what is working and what needs improvement. I challenge you to find three things working well and three things that need improvement. Then, devise a plan for those things that need an updated game plan.

I get overwhelmed often, and most of the time, it has to do with decisions to be made. I'm not too fond of the entire decision-making process, from figuring out the pros and cons of each option to having the foresight to predict how each option will play out. It is a challenge, but it’s a necessary skill to have for me to stop being overwhelmed.

Most of my clients come to me with very little in savings. They have a lot of debt, spend every penny, and have no savings. Which is a sad state to be in. When we build the first budget, we realize there is no cushion between them and life, which is a problem.

I know you are scared. You have a bazillion things to accomplish. You’ve tried to-do lists before, and they don’t work. You write everything down and get more overwhelmed. You don’t know which thing you should start with. And cleaning the kitchen is a HUGE task; how do you even accomplish it?

Have you ever stopped and taken time to think about your thoughts around your money? What are your thoughts on spending? How much cash classifies as rich? Do your money or possessions give you status? If the checking account dips below a certain amount, are you anxious? We all have a money story.