Whether you’re setting a new year’s financial resolution or a personal money goal, it’s easy to start with enthusiasm but end up abandoning it too soon. Shockingly, statistics reveal that about 43% of individuals quit within the first month, and only 9% who make resolutions complete them. We explore the reasons behind the demise of early resolutions and discuss practical and smart money strategies for setting and achieving realistic goals.   1. Recognize the Pitfalls of Unrealistic Resolutions We often fail because we attempt too much too soon. Whether it’s paying off debt or limiting spe ..read more

Happy New Year! New beginnings often come with renewed optimism of a better you – whatever that may be. Perhaps you want to build healthy habits, travel more, or learn something new. My sincere hope is that you’ll make 2024 the year that you’ll take financial control of your life… that you’ll slay that debt that’s keeping you up at night, you’ll build wealth so you can achieve your life goals, you’ll create a healthy empowered relationship with money and most of all, you’ll invest in yourself to build the financial skills you need to thrive. And yet I know all about the doubts that creep in, a ..read more

Frugal Living is not a walk in the park. Truth be told, when it comes to tightening the purse strings, most people’s #1 struggle is… You guessed it. Frugal living. The majority are inexperienced about how to do it effectively. This very challenge separates those who live paycheque-to-paycheque from savvy savers. If you can’t figure out how to adopt frugality sustainably, reaching financial freedom will always seem like a distant dream. Making every dollar count is tough stuff. One woman I recently coached knew she needed to save more money but as soon as she started budgeting and cutting ..read more

Divorce financial planning is often like navigating a labyrinth. You think you know the way, but suddenly every turn seems unfamiliar and fraught with potential pitfalls. The path to independence post-divorce can feel just as daunting and scary. Particularly when it relates to your monetary situation. You worry whether you’ll be financially okay, whether you’ll have to severely compromise your lifestyle, and whether you can kiss your retirement dreams goodbye. But here’s what I want you to know – no woman should have to go through this alone. That’s where divorce financial planning can pl ..read more

Finance is indeed personal. Like a fingerprint, every woman has a unique financial blueprint. Women have different resources and starting points, earning capabilities, and money values. And all women have different life goals and circumstances that will shape their priorities. This is why your best friend’s financial plan won’t work for you. It is why at Saij Elle, through our Strictly Money program, we teach women how to create their personalized financial plan based on their life, not someone else’s. Here are my go-to financial planning tips for your personal circumstances. One or more of th ..read more

If you’re running a company that wants to grow their earnings, I have a simple message for you:   Take care of your employees’ financial health. No, I’m not suggesting tossing out blanket raises – unless they’re underpaid of course. Throwing money at your staff won’t necessarily solve underlying financial wellness issues. Ask any lottery winner – 70% of whom lose all their winnings due to poor financial decisions. I am however, suggesting that you help employees help themselves by giving them the support to manage one of their most important asset – their money. You can do this by simpl ..read more

At the time of writing this, most stock markets around the globe have taken a major hit due to fear of higher interest rates, higher inflation, and a looming recession. But as inflation concerns begin to ease, many women are writing me to ask whether now is the time to buy stocks and if so, how they should go about doing it. Here’s my advice on when is the best time to buy stocks: 1. Recognize that you can’t time the market Seriously. No one can. There are thousands of factors that can determine the stock market’s direction. That’s not to say there aren’t “signs” that indicate the worst is ov ..read more

My work requires a lot of reading, research and one-on-one conversations with women of all ages, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. I’ve gained tremendous insight as to what women want to know when it comes to money and their greatest financial regrets. Don’t get me wrong, men make plenty of financial mistakes as well. However, as you’re about to see, men do not face the same challenges women do to build financial security. And they are much more likely to recover from financial mishaps than women. It’s not fair but it’s the reality, at least for now. And until this changes, women will ne ..read more

How do you know the state of your financial health? Personal finance ratios can provide a clearer picture of your financial situation and help you develop better habits so you improve your chances of reaching your goals. Without doing some financial ratio analysis, you risk making assumptions. It’s easy to assume that a person with $1,000,000 in net worth who makes $150,000 a year is financially better off than someone who has $300,000 in net worth and whose annual salary is $75,000. But a number in isolation won’t tell you much. Suppose the person who has $1 million also has $1 million of deb ..read more

We can all use some inspiration and timeless wisdom to help us manage our money. For women who are on a mission to live a financially empowered life, here’s a list of my favourite personal finance and investing quotes – with a few of my own! Finance Motivational Quotes We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action. – Dr. Henry Link Admit it, how many times have you worried about your financial situation? How do you know if those worries are warranted if you haven’t taken the time to learn the tools to course correct? Or do what it takes to be financially well? Maybe you’ll be ..read more