3 Secrets to a Healthy Relationship with Money

Love and money: Two of the most complicated subjects in existence.

And with February officially upon us, it’s hard not to feel the love in the air. After all, this is the month of spending money on material things like flowers, chocolates and fancy dinners to showcase the love you have for your significant other.

But as much as you spend money this month on your loved ones, also spend time showing your own money how much you love it. After all, money is something that is around our entire life–so why not learn how to love and embrace it in a whole new way this Valentine’s Day?

To help you love your money more this year, here are three simple tips to embrace:

Be grateful

It can be easy to lose focus when it comes to your money. Whether you’re struggling to get your bills paid, stressing over retirement, or worried about your kids paying for college — it’s a lot weighing on you and it can bring you down. So as silly as it may sound, be grateful for what you have, including your money. Mom and dad were right. Money doesn’t grow on trees. So whether it’s dinner out with friends or your first car payment, celebrate what you have and your commitment to be wise with your money.

Practice positive affirmations with your money daily

Many of us walk around with negative thoughts about our money. Thoughts like, “I don’t have enough money,” “Money is so stressful” or “I hate budgeting” plague our financial mindsets and keep us from engaging with our money in a positive, fulfilling way. Shifting to positive affirmations like, “There is more where that came from,” “I’ll be good with my money” and “I’m in control of my spending” is something that can truly transform your money relationship for the better. Commit to practicing these daily positive affirmations and begin the process of engaging with your money in a whole new way.

Commit to weekly money “dates”

Date night for couples is every bit as important as setting a date to make time for money in your life. Set up time to review your budget and manage your finances. During your money date, pay your bills (although most should be set up as auto-pay), update and review your budget, and take care of any other financial concerns. By calling this allocated time with your money a “date,” you can begin to bring fun, exciting elements into your financial life to help you stay committed for the long haul and really show your money some extra TLC.

Remember that money is just a tool, and in order to use it effectively, we need to have a good relationship with it. So take time to nourish your relationship with money and start bringing some more money love into your life.

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Brittney Castro, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, entrepreneur and personal finance expert for women, is the Founder & CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles based financial planning firm for women.  She specializes in working with busy professional and entrepreneurial women who are passionate about life and want to gain clarity around their money.  Brittney’s mission is to help women plan and create the life of their dreams, free from anxiety about money.   She is known for her innovative, non-judgmental, compassionate approach to financial planning.  She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNBC, Financial Planning Magazine, Investment News, and Registered Rep Magazine.  Away from the office, you can find Brittney working out, drinking green juice, reading, playing at the park with her dog Arya and of course dancing.  Sign up to receive your Financially Wise Toolkit jam packed with great tools and resources to help you on your financial journey at www.financiallywisewomen.com.  Follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/brittneycastro.