If you want to increase your income and feel confident advocating for yourself financially, your mindset is the very first place to start. While we cannot control everything around us, we do have influence over the most powerful piece of the puzzle: our thoughts, our reactions, and the beliefs that shape how we approach money. When you take ownership of that inner voice, you put yourself in a strong position to attract and earn more.

And it begins with a simple act: asking for what you want.

Kids have this mastered. My kids ask for McDonald’s constantly and they do it with zero hesitation. Even though they hear “no” almost every time, they keep asking. They have not yet learned the fear that so many adults feel around money, rejection, or being seen as “too much.” There is a lot we can learn from that confidence.

Wanting something does not guarantee it will happen. But believing you have agency and actively participating in your money journey opens the door to more opportunities. Yo...

Often, as a woman is entering a life transition, she experiences this feeling of “I can do it!” mixed with a hefty dose of “What am I going to do?” Our mission at Watch Her Thrive is to provide support for women to thrive through these transitions.” 

The goal behind Watch Her Thrive is to be a beacon. It’s more than just writing helpful blog articles to show you how something is done. It’s to empower you and show you that, Yes, you can do it!

From my early career days, I’ve always been an educator. I've used my experiences to provide support for women to thrive, regardless of circumstances. Sometimes in the traditional sense, like when I taught third grade in inner-city Baltimore; and sometimes in the non-traditional sense, like when I became a published senior equity research analyst. And sometimes in the very non-traditional sense as my ex-husband and I navigated the adoption system.

No matter what I did, my mom was always my rock. She was non-judgemental, full of support and enco...

If you’ve ever wondered how to improve your financial situation, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common goals I hear from women in every stage of life.

Whether you’re navigating a career transition, rebuilding after divorce, or simply trying to create more stability and confidence with money, improving your finances often feels both incredibly important and incredibly overwhelming.

The good news? Improving your financial situation doesn’t require perfection, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it happens through intentional choices, consistent actions, and a commitment to your financial wellness.

In many ways, learning personal finance for women is less about complicated strategies and more about creating sustainable habits that support your life and your values.

Think of it as financial self care. Just like physical health or emotional wellness, your financial well-being improves when you consistently make choices that support your long-term stability and peace of min...

The holidays stir up a complex mix of emotions — whether you're newly separated, recently divorced, or somewhere in the middle of the process. It's no coincidence that divorce filing rates spike in January and February, right after the holiday season. If you're contemplating divorce right now, you are not alone.

Below I've pulled together resources spanning my two areas of focus — Intentional Divorce Solutions and Intentional Wealth Partners — to help you not just survive this season, but truly thrive after divorce. If you want to go deeper on any topic, I have much more on both blogs than I could link to here.

How to Increase Your Income After Divorce

One of the first things I hear from clients at Intentional Divorce Solutions is that one spouse managed the finances, leaving the other feeling uncertain about where to start and how to maintain their lifestyle. Rebuilding begins with income.

If you're currently employed, there's no better time to advocate for yourself — here are pra...

The holidays can be joyful, but they can also stir up financial stress, especially for women who often balance family expectations, caregiving responsibilities, and the desire to make the season meaningful. This is exactly why holiday budgeting for women deserves its own conversation.

If this year looks different for you emotionally, financially, or simply in how you want to celebrate, you’re not alone. The holidays can be one of the easiest times to overspend, drift away from your budget, or feel pressure to give in ways that do not align with your current financial goals.

The good news is that you can create a holiday season that feels financially grounded and emotionally rich. With a mindful approach to holiday budgeting for women, you can stay on budget without sacrificing the heart of the season. Here’s how to do it.

1. Set Holiday Spending Limits That Align with Your Values

Setting a clear spending limit is the simplest way to protect your peace and your finances. Decide in...

When you’re starting to invest, it can be overwhelming. There’s a lot of information, industry jargon, and things you can’t control. People talk about the market as a shorthand. If you aren’t in this world day in and day out, you may be missing some things that could help you in the long run. There’s no need to panic or worry, though, because with a little knowledge to get your investment life off on the right foot, it isn’t so scary. 

First of all, let’s give you a round of applause! To some people, investing is such a big concept that they can’t wrap their brain around. They kick the can down the road and avoid the subject. But that isn’t you! You are capable, you can learn, and you’re ready to go for it. Here are a few tips for when you’re just starting to invest that will help you sort through some questions and give you a foundation of knowledge.

Prioritize Your Goals

Prioritizing goals is a big one that’s challenging for a lot of people. Investing is a balance of funding yo...

People like to make a lot of proclamations about what to “always” or “never” do with your money. However, these are quite often total financial myths. And, when it’s coming from a source you trust, you tend to take these financial myths at face value rather than exploring the truth of the situation for yourself.

These five financial myths can negatively impact your mental wellbeing as well as that of your budget and financial security. So let’s play MythBusters and talk through some of the things we always hear about finances and the reality of the matter instead.

Financial Myth #1: You don’t need an emergency savings fund if you have a credit card.

The Reality: This is a very costly (and not always assured) way to cover emergencies.

This is one of the financial myths that always gets me going! There are so many things that could get you into trouble around credit cards and the way people use them is one of them.

The reality is that you may have credit today, but not tomorrow. ...

Starting or maintaining a budgeting system can be a daunting task. Trying different methods until you find one that works is not uncommon. But, having the right attitude toward money, savings, and budgeting plays a crucial role. In this post, we explore five essential mindset shifts - strategies to get your finances in order.

Strategy #1: Embrace Money Transparency

Neglecting your financial situation can be incredibly stressful, particularly when unexpected expenses arise. That's why it's crucial to establish a budget that encourages you to address your finances proactively before a crisis strikes, enabling you to have a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of your financial standing.

By embracing the habit of checking your bank account on a daily basis, you can easily track your progress, make adjustments when necessary, and ultimately feel more empowered and in control of your financial well-being.

Strategy #2: Understand that Budgeting is a Process

When it comes to fi...

Budgeting and spending is always evolving, so having a plan in place to manage your money is a very powerful tool. A spending plan allows you to pivot quickly and make changes on a dime should things suddenly go awry (or, on the flip side, you find yourself with a windfall of good fortune).

Having a plan that gives you a quick overview of what’s coming in and how much you can allocate to spend in which categories will make money management stress-free. As a bonus, when you look at it more often, you can start to spend less time “dealing with” your finances and feeling guilty for treating yourself to a fancy coffee because it’s been a hell of a week and you want to feel good for a moment.

The reality is that when you stop avoiding your finances, you no longer have to fear them and blow it up into a more challenging situation than it really is. A spending plan is simply an evolving relationship with your money and a guide to direct your spending. It will be your best money friend the l...

It’s no secret that many Americans have very little knowledge of their credit score or general knowledge about keeping credit scores healthy. For example, VantageScore reported in their 2019 annual survey about consumer understanding of credit scores the following:

• 78% of respondents in 2012, but only 62% in 2019, correctly indicated that people have more than one credit score. [That is down 16% from 2012]
• 85% in 2012, but only 66% in 2019, correctly answered that keeping a low credit card balance helps raise a low credit score or maintain a high one. [That’s down 19% from 2012.]

The study found that the people who responded thought they had excellent or good knowledge. In fact, more people in 2019 said that they were confident in their knowledge than they were in 2018. But, as you can see, people actually know less about their credit scores. They just think they have a very firm grasp on the subject.

Understanding these numbers and the impact they will make in your life is par...