Talking Money with Melissa Meagher
Money is one of those taboo subjects we’re conditioned from a very young age to avoid talking about. In fact, we form our opinions and attitudes towards money during this time.
Some familiar hits of your childhood might include “money doesn’t grow on trees” or “I’m not made of money”. While both statements are accurate, it’s possible a fear of money and how we manage it has set in early. Despite our best efforts, this fear can influence our everyday transactions and financial security.
Trailblazer Melissa Meagher is helping to change this. She wants us all to become comfortable with having conversations about money. Her business, ‘Talking Money’, creates a safe space to have real conversations about money. She supports women to clear their money blocks to become empowered and in control of managing their money, so they can live a life of ease and grace.
In episode nine of the WNA Trailblazers podcast supported by Davies Chocolates, we hear from this forward-thinking woman as she shares how we can heal our relationship with money and make decisions that support our financial security and wellbeing.
Our relationship with money begins with our mindset
Melissa believes that our relationship with money begins with our mindset. It’s connected to our self-worth and the prejudices that influence our attitude to money and financial situations.
Our relationship with money, our money stories, programming and beliefs are vitally important as they come to the surface in our adult life. How you directly relate to money and how you spend money could be showing up in your personal relationships or your professional lives.
Melissa explains that reprogramming your mindset around money involves gaining clarity, awareness, efficiency and understanding around what’s going on with your finances, and flexing your ‘financial capability muscle.’
“It’s clearing out aspects like our conditioning, programming that is layered up inside of us. It’s important we clear through this and get the gold nuggets and the essence of who we are and how we’re showing up. Once we can do that, everything else falls into place,” says Melissa.
Normalise having conversations about money
Fundamentally, the most important thing is to have honest and real conversations about money and it’s value.
Melissa explains that many of clients now in their 30s, 40s and 50s weren’t educated about money and didn’t have these conversations when they were younger. When they were growing up, they were told things like “money is a taboo subject” and “it’s not polite to talk about money.”
“Different conversations can be had based on the age of your children, but it’s all about having this conversation and normalising it. I did many different things with my children to create a healthy money mindset for them from a young age. This included them physically handling money instead of just tapping a card and taking them to the supermarket to look at what things cost per kilo”, says Melissa.
Understanding the lay of the land
Melissa explains the first thing she does with a new client is a financial snapshot/health check.
This involves listing out assets, understanding what they are, listing out debts, understanding how they’re structured, what you’re paying, what your repayments are, what your interest rates are etc.
In most cases, this involves women having these conversations with their partners so they understand what’s going on and can make decisions together.
Melissa is creating a safe space to have these difficult conversations
‘Talking Money’ pulls the curtain back and shines a light on individuals’ finances. There’s no judgement; no should’ve, could’ve, would’ve; it’s simply about having a chat about what’s going on right here, right now. Once Melissa understands her client’s situation, she educates them so they can start moving forward and clear their money blocks.
Melissa’s clients walk away feeling empowered and liberated with clear financial goals.
You can apply for a FREE “Clear your money blocks” session with Melissa here.
To hear more insights into all things money and finance, connect with WNA Trailblazers. LISTEN TO EPISODE 9 AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
WNA Trailblazers is proudly brought to you by Davies Chocolates. Makers of handcrafted Australian chocolates since 1932. Now gluten and palm oil free. Visit daviesschocolates.com.au and order your selection online for speedy delivery to your door.