Improve Your Financial Wellness 🙏

“There are those days when you know you need to look through your bank statements and need to make sure you cancel all those subscriptions, and it can feel really overwhelming, but actually, when you do it, you feel really free.” Madeleine Shaw, wellness expert and guest of The Wallet.

Good morning, dear Vestpoders! I hope you are well.

When we think about wellbeing, we usually think about exercising, spending time outdoors, sleeping, meditating... but what about our financial wellbeing?

Financial worries are closely linked to mental health. In fact, money is one of the leading causes of stress, which can have a long-lasting impact on our work, relationships, and general outlook on life. From debt to mortgage payments to the ever-increasing cost of childcare, money, if not managed correctly, can cause us more pain than joy. This is especially relevant this week as it is Mental Health Awareness Week 🧡 .

And yet, we still spend very little time understanding what money really means to us. Money is a tool that helps us achieve our goals and live the life we want, so here are a few tips to help get you started feeling good about money:

💸 Write down all your money worries, as well as your money achievements. Having it on paper makes it much easier to address your concerns, and celebrate your wins.

💸 Recognise when and if you have FOMO, and understand the role that social media plays in exacerbating the pursuit of wealth and the culture of consumerism (you can check out this excellent article).

💸 Try to shift your mindset to seeing money as something that is abundant, rather than scarce.

💸 Start journaling. This is something a lot of my guests on The Wallet recommend doing. Create a gratitude list each morning and remind yourself of your self-worth - not your net worth.

💸 Try to be more positive when it comes to money. There's a good chance that you may have limiting beliefs and money blocks that you've been carrying for years. It's worth learning how to get rid of them to unleash your full financial potential.

💸 Find an accountability partner or a like-minded support group. Talking about money helps us build confidence to make better financial decisions.

💸 Review your budget and get organised. Write down your income/expenses, and take a hard look at where you can cut down. Remember to review this on a regular basis!

💸 Get some help. Making financial decisions can feel scary and lonely, but it shouldn't be. If you're feeling overwhelmed, whether it's because of debt or because you've no idea how to get started with investing, please reach out to a charity or a professional for help!

🎧 Continuing on the topic of wellness, I'm so pleased that on this week's The Wallet I speak to the lovely Maddy about all her journey into the world of healthy living. Madeleine Shaw is a nutritional therapist, bestselling cookery writer and qualified yoga instructor who is, as you might have guessed, hugely passionate about helping improve people's happiness and health. Please tune in to hear her inspiring lifestyle tips and more!

Have a good week!

🧘 Madeleine Shaw is a leading voice in the wellness industry: a bestselling author, nutritional therapist, and mother. Madeleine is passionate about helping her followers get their glow back through eating well, moving more and making time for what makes them happy.

💸  But since our health is made up of more than just what we eat, Madeleine also believes that finances should be included in our overall wellness. Money is often an afterthought in our lives, yet with the right mindset, we can all build healthier money habits for a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Today on The Wallet:

1️⃣  Madeleine discusses the “wellness toolkit” she uses to reconnect to her body, relax, and feel happy, and why having an outlet can be key to feeling good.

2️⃣  We look at the healthy money habits that Madeleine has adopted, which include reaching her financial goals by avoiding impulse purchases and opting for a slower, more sustainable outlook on life and consumption.

3️⃣  With social media being such an integral part of our lives, it’s harder than ever to stop comparing ourselves or our businesses to others online, so Madeleine offers helpful tips to help us look after our wellbeing online.

Read the episode summary here

🤩 We're featured in Cosmopolitan! Money experts to add to your Instagram feed.

📉 Tech selloff drives broad retreat + UK GDP preview. The Trader

💪 Inside Jessica Alba’s long and turbulent road to taking the Honest company public. Forbes

💭 Having a pregnancy loss policy is not just good for employees – it is good for companies too. The i

👏 Black women are more likely to start a business than white men. Harvard Business Review

💰 We need to talk about the advice gap. FT Adviser

🎧 This week, I have been listening to this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show with the amazing Jacqueline Novogratz on how to change the world and speaking your truth. Highly recommended if you want to understand impact and make good use of your money.