8 Things I Wish I Knew About Money When I Graduated College

Written by Barbara Huson

In honor of graduation season, I offer these Words of Wealth as a gift to all college grads (and their parents)

1. If you can’t afford something, don’t buy it. Delayed gratification is the doorway to wealth (and a sign of maturity).

2. Make savings a habit. Every month, have a small amount–say $5 to $10–automatically transferred from your checking account to a savings account.

3. Exploit the miracle of compounding: your money earns interest, then your interest earns interest, and then that interest earns interest. Before you know it, you’ve accumulated wealth.

4. Never, I mean NEVER, get into credit card debt. Mounting credit card bills destroys your peace of mind and your quality of life.

5. Learn about investing. To make sure you don’t outlive your money, put at least some of your cash in long term assets (like stocks & bonds) that will grow faster than inflation and taxes will take it away.

6. Never invest in anything you don’t understand. Otherwise, you won’t know what you’re buying. You won’t know when to sell. And you can’t accurately evaluate the advice you’re given.

7. Don’t put off investing until you’re older. If you start now, regularly investing small amounts (in mutual funds), your money will grow into millions. (See #3)

8. Own and respect your value. Never settle for less than you deserve or desire. Always ask for more than feels comfortable.

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Letting Go is Hard to Do

Written by Barbara Huson

“If better is to come, good must stand aside.” ~~Carl Jung.

I’ll never forget when I first saw the above quote by Carl Jung. I was living in Kansas City, raising two little kids, running a thriving career counseling firm. Business was hopping, but I wasn’t happy.

A ridiculous idea kept tugging at me, and wouldn’t go away. I was longing to live near water and write…which made no sense at all.

I had never written anything. And there was no water in KC (at least none that I’d want to live near!). Why would I give up a flourishing business, uproot my kids, leave behind a network of friends and reliable babysitters?

Then I saw Jung’s quote. I grabbed onto those words and refused to let go.

The moment I decided to give up my business, someone offered to buy it.

Within 6 months I was living on the side of a hill outside San Francisco, overlooking water, and out of the blue, a national magazine hired me to write a monthly career column!!!

I was officially a writer.

Now, 7 books later, I have enormous respect for the power of Letting Go. I also realize: the scarier something is to release, the more magical the results.

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Got Luck?

Written by Barbara Huson

“Everything that happens is for your own best interest.”
A Course In Miracles

Luck is a fascinating and frequently misunderstood phenomenon.

For one thing, luck can only be recognized in hindsight. We actually don’t know, at the time, what anything really means.

What we initially perceive as “bad luck” may, in the long run, be the best thing that could ever happen.

Take my story.

When I got a tax bill for over $1 million dollars, I felt like the unluckiest person on the planet. No one could’ve ever convinced me otherwise.

My ex-husband, who got me in this mess, left the country. My father refused to lend me the money. I had nowhere to turn.

Fast forward 30 years. I now realize that my father’s refusal was a stroke of luck. If he’d bailed me out, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today.

I’m convinced you can amp up your luck by altering your point of view.

When I got the tax bill, my friend gave me an affirmation to say when I’d freak out: “This million is making me millions.”

And it actually did!

The key: instead of bemoaning a “raw deal,” start searching for the potential gift. Luck comes to those who suspend judgment and seek out lessons.

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Those Dreaded Down-Times

Written by Barbara Huson

I love watching nature come to life again, the days growing longer, the daffodils in colorful bloom.

Here in the Northwest, our winters are long, dark, cold and dismal. Yet, I’ve come to appreciate these dark times—be it winter, or my own unproductive periods.

We all have them—those times when nothing seems to be happening. I believe, in our society, fallow times are seriously under-rated.

We get discouraged, frustrated, impatient, eager to rush through them.

We fail to appreciate that the darkness has a purpose. It encourages us to hunker down, go within, reflect, re-evaluate, in preparation for the coming growth spurt, which always follows.

Our challenge is to remember that even when it looks like nothing is happening, there’s a lot going on under the surface.

I challenge you to love and appreciate wherever you find yourself today–whether it be a bountiful spring or a barren winter–for its essential contribution to your personal growth and future success.

Give yourself the gift of 4 Days to clarify your purpose, claim your power and discover your Path to Greatness. Only 2 seats left for Sacred Success!

Learn More!

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Looking for Prince Charming?

Written by Barbara Huson

As I was writing my first book, I saw that there was a pivotal moment, in every woman’s story, when she finally realized—No one will do this for me. Prince Charming isn’t coming.

I’m here to tell you: Dispelling the Prince Charming myth is the most important financial decision you will ever make.

Let me warn you. Prince Charming doesn’t need to be a man. PC could be the lottery, an insurance settlement, or just an amorphous something…anything you imagine will rescue you financially.

Trying to manage money while harboring a rescue fantasy is like driving a car with watered down gas. You’re just not going to get very far.

But rest assured. It’s the myth, not the man, that has to go. You can have your Prince.

You just need to change the job description. He’s no longer your rescuer or your savior. He is your partner.

Want to find out how to become your own Prince Charming? Join me for my LAST Sacred Success Retreat, May 18—21. LEARN MORE

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Let the Truth Be Told

Written by Barbara Huson

I constantly get this question.

“I want to make more money. Where do I begin?”

My response usually comes as a surprise.
“Begin by admitting what’s not working in your life,” I say.

They look puzzled.

“There’s tremendous power in telling the truth,” I explain. “I noticed, in interviews with former underearners, that their financial achievement was often preceded by a financial or personal challenge.”

Problems have a purpose. They are there to get our attention.

Until you stop denying, or diminishing, your difficulties, you can’t possibly do anything differently.

Your first peek at the truth may evoke temporary panic. Rest assured, situations can rapidly improve once you take off the blindfold.

If you’re ready to see the truth, I’d love you to join me at my last LIVE Overcoming Underearning Webinar Course beginning April 4th.

Learn More

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

When Someone Calls You a Bitch, say Thank You!

Written by Barbara Huson

One question I always ask financially successful women: What is your biggest regret?

Almost everyone has the same response. Not speaking up sooner.

As one woman, a 7th grade drop out, told me, “You don’t get what you deserve. You get what you demand.”

But even the most successful found it downright scary to ask for what they wanted, to say no to what they didn’t.

You know why? Studies prove that assertive, forceful men are given high marks by their bosses.

Assertive, forceful women are labeled a bitch.

I’m here to tell you—being a bitch is not a bad thing. That’s where our power is.

I’m not talking about the bitchy part. That’s the co-dependent in us who suppresses her true needs and gets very resentful.

The bitch is the powerful part who refuses to be a doormat, a victim, or tolerate injustices; who has the courage to be who she is and want what she wants.

She’s the Babe In Total Control of Herself.

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Stuck Points Suck…Or Do They?

Written by Barbara Huson

I always hated those times I felt stuck. No matter how long they lasted, or how quickly they passed, these were always very dark, dreaded periods.

But that was before I realized: every Stuck Point has a purpose.

I was in the gym, working out with a new trainer, about to do a chest press with no added weight. I lay flat on my back, grabbed the bar, pushed it high above my body, lowered it to just above my chest, then lifted it back up, repeating the exercise 12 times.

No problem. It was easy.

Then my trainer added 5 pound weights to each end of the bar. I felt the difference immediately.

By the second repetition, my arms were quivering. The third time I lowered the bar to my chest, it wouldn’t budge.

I strained. I struggled. I was clearly stuck. My ego felt deflated. My trainer saw it differently.

“That’s how you build muscles,” he explained, “by getting past the stuck point.”

In the next couple of weeks, I could do 12 reps without flinching. But rather than let me bask in my glory, my trainer added more weight.

And sure enough, I was instantly at a new stuck point.

At that moment, the weights became an obvious metaphor for life.

Getting past my stuck points helped me grow stronger, build confidence and experience higher levels of achievement.

When I got past my stuck points I discovered new possibilities I could never have predicted.

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

The Trinity of Trust

Written by Barbara Huson

Years ago, I lost most of my money because I didn’t trust me to manage it. Instead I trusted a man who wasn’t trustworthy. But after my divorce, I had to take action. I had to start trusting myself. That’s when I created what I’ve come to call the Trinity of Trust.

To build a firm foundation of trust, I spent time connecting with each point on the triangle.

I spent time alone with myself (A) exploring my innermost thoughts, appreciating who I was.
I connected with others (B)who would support, educate and encourage me.
And I made time to commune with (C) my Soul, my Higher Power through prayer and meditation, listening to my intuition.

I found these 3 elements extraordinary helpful. But to sustain my trust, I took one more step. I drew a circle around this Trinity.

This was a sacred circle, an impenetrable boundary. I’d let no one inside the circle that didn’t respect, appreciate and support me. No pessimists, naysayers or worry warts allowed.
Nor would I let myself fall prey to my own anxiety or panic.

Every time life gets out of whack, as it will, I go back inside that circle and connect to each point of the Trinity. No matter how tumultuous life becomes, I am able to experience peace. I know I can trust myself…as long as I honor my boundaries.

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Feel the Fear

Written by Barbara Huson

If I had to point to the most important secret I learned from interviewing six-figure women, it would have to be this. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

These women were supremely confident. But they weren’t fearless. Quite the contrary.

Beneath their confident exteriors lurked layers of insecurity. Every woman admitted grappling with feelings of inadequacy, incompetence, and fear. I was stunned by how many felt like a fraud and were afraid others would find out.

That’s exactly how I felt. The only difference between them and me, I realized, was simply this—they did not let fear stop them. They felt the dread. Had the doubts. And did it anyway.

So guess what I began doing? How about you?

If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbarastanny.com

Life Lessons

8 Things I Wish I Knew About Money When I Graduated College

Letting Go is Hard to Do

Got Luck?

Those Dreaded Down-Times

Give yourself the gift of 4 Days to clarify your purpose, claim your power and discover your Path to Greatness. Only 2 seats left for Sacred Success!

Looking for Prince Charming?

Let the Truth Be Told

When Someone Calls You a Bitch, say Thank You!

Stuck Points Suck…Or Do They?

The Trinity of Trust

Feel the Fear

Meet Barbara Huson

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