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The Hidden Cost of Financial Avoidance: Why Women Avoid Their Money and How to Stop

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The Statement You Haven't Opened
What Financial Avoidance Actually Is
Why Women Are Especially Vulnerable to Financial Avoidance
What Financial Avoidance Looks Like in Real Life
The Hidden Cost of Not Looking
The Connection Between Mental Health and Financial Avoidance
How to Stop Avoiding Your Money
You Don't Have to Do This Alone
Frequently Asked Questions

The Statement You Haven't Opened

There's a bill sitting in your inbox. It's been there for three weeks.

You know it's there. You think about it more than you'd like, actually. You think about it when you're trying to fall asleep. You think about it when you're in the shower. And still, every day, you find a reason not to open it.

Or maybe it's not a bill. Maybe it's your investment account that you set up three years ago and haven't logged into since. The retirement statement that arrives every quarter and goes straight into a drawer. The email from your divorce attorney that requires you to revie...

The Intentional Money Method: A Values-Based Approach to Building Wealth

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A few years ago, I was sitting across from a client who had done everything "right." She had a solid income. She was contributing to her 401k. She had no credit card debt. On paper, her finances were in great shape.

And she was miserable.

Not because of the numbers. The numbers were fine. She was miserable because none of it felt like hers. Her financial plan had been built by a previous advisor who never asked her what she actually wanted from her life. He asked about her risk tolerance and her time horizon and her tax bracket. He never asked what kept her up at night. He never asked what she would do with her life if money were not a factor. He never asked what mattered to her beyond the spreadsheet.

So she had a plan that looked good on paper and felt hollow in practice. She was saving for a retirement she could not picture. She was investing in a strategy she did not understand. She was following a financial path that someone else had drawn for her.

That conversation, and dozen...

Women's Empowerment Network: Why You Need More Than a Group Chat

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Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me earlier in my career: the women who build real, lasting wealth are almost never doing it alone.

They have a women’s network. They have mentors. They have a community that holds them accountable, celebrates their wins, and tells them the truth when they’re playing small.

I’ve been a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and financial planner for nearly two decades. I’ve sat across from hundreds of women in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, and one pattern shows up again and again: women who are isolated make harder, more expensive, more emotionally draining decisions than women who are connected.

That’s not a knock on anyone. It’s a call to action.

If you’re looking for a women empowerment network that goes beyond surface-level networking and actually helps you build wealth, clarity, and confidence, keep reading. This is for you.

What a Real Women’s Empowerment Network Actually Looks Like

Not all women’s networ...

5 Money Lessons My Mom Taught Me (That Changed How I Think About Wealth)

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A tribute to the woman who showed me what financial intentionality looks like in real life

My mom didn't teach me about money through a course or a textbook. She taught me through how she lived and the lessons she passed down became the foundation of everything I do today.

Today, February 18th, would have been her birthday. And I wanted to honor her the best way I know how: by sharing what she taught me, so you can carry it forward too.

My mom was an accountant, a business owner, a director of operations at a nonprofit, and she retired as a director of financial aid at a college. She had an undergraduate degree in accounting and an MBA. She reinvented herself more times than I can count. And every single time, she did it with intention.

These five lessons are woven into the Intentional Money Method™. They're woven into my book. And today, I'm sharing them with you, along with one thing you can actually do with each one this week.

Lesson One: Reinvention Is Always on the Table

...

When Abundance Mindset Becomes Financial Self-Sabotage

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I need to tell you about a conversation I had that has been sitting heavy on my heart.

A woman came to me $47,000 in credit card debt. She makes good money. She is smart, capable, and successful in her career. And she could not figure out how she got there.

As we dug into her spending patterns, a theme emerged. Every purchase was justified with some version of: "I'm claiming abundance." "The money will show up." "You have to spend money to make money." "I'm investing in myself." "Scarcity mindset is what's really expensive."

She had taken courses she never completed. Bought business coaching programs while her business barely broke even. Purchased a luxury car because "successful people drive nice cars." Invested in a mastermind she could not afford because she was "afraid of staying small."

Every decision made sense in the moment. Every purchase felt like an act of faith in her future self. Every swipe of the card felt like choosing abundance over scarcity.

And now she is drownin...

Setting Financial Boundaries With Adult Children Without Guilt

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You love your kid. You also have a retirement to fund. And somewhere in the middle of those two things, you have been quietly saying yes when you probably should have said something else.

I hear some version of this almost every week.

"I want to help my kid. But I'm starting to feel anxious. Resentful. Like I'm stretched in every direction and there's nothing left for me."

If that lands for you, take a breath. Nothing has gone wrong. That feeling of tension is often where awareness starts. And awareness is where everything changes.

Supporting adult children financially is an expression of love. I truly believe that. But when that support has no shape, no limit, no clarity around it, it stops feeling like generosity and starts feeling like a slow drain. On your finances. On your peace. On your relationship with your kid.

Setting financial boundaries with your adult children is not about loving them less. It is about creating something sustainable for both of you.

Why This Is Esp...

Building a True Money Partnership: How Women Can Create Trust, Transparency, and Confidence with Their Finances

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When it comes to feeling confident with your money, most women aren’t just looking for investment returns. They’re looking for relationship returns.

A true money partnership between a woman and her financial team goes deeper than numbers or market performance. It’s about trust. It’s about being heard and respected. And it’s about having people beside you who help you align your money with your values, your goals, and your bigger vision for your life.

In The Empowered Sisterhood, we talk a lot about reclaiming your financial power. One of the most powerful ways to do that is by building a financial partnership that feels genuine and grounded in mutual respect.

Let’s look at what that kind of partnership really means and how you can start creating it today.

Trust Is the Heart of Financial Empowerment

Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and that includes your relationship with your advisor.

When you trust your financial team, you feel comfortable asking questions...

Why Saving Still Matters: How to Build the Habit That Actually Protects Your Future

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Investing gets all the attention.

Stock market highs make headlines. New investment strategies go viral. Everyone has a hot take on what to do with your money right now. And somewhere in all of that noise, saving quietly gets dismissed as the boring option for people who are not ready to do the exciting stuff yet.

That is exactly backwards.

Saving is not a stepping stone to real financial planning. It is the foundation that makes everything else possible. Without it, your investments are fragile, your options are limited, and every unexpected expense becomes a financial crisis.

I see this play out regularly with the women I work with. The ones who feel genuinely secure in their finances are almost always the ones who have built a consistent saving habit alongside everything else. Not instead of investing. Alongside it.

Here is why saving still deserves your attention and how to build a habit that actually sticks.

The Brain Trick That Works Against You

One of the biggest obstacle...

Navigating Difficult Financial Conversations

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Financial conversations can be tough to navigate in life. Whether it's discussing budgets with your spouse, talking to your children about spending habits, or helping aging parents handle their estate, these discussions require courage and tact. Managing these challenging financial conversations successfully is crucial, and it's understandable if you feel overwhelmed. Rest assured, you're not alone. Many people face similar situations and find it comforting to have guidance and support. If you're looking for help in navigating these conversations, know that there are resources available to assist you on your financial journey.

As a financial planner and mediator, I deeply understand the challenges that conversations about money can bring. We've gathered a few valuable tips along our journey that we'd love to share with you.

We're here to provide support and guidance as you navigate these important discussions. With our compassionate and empathetic approach, we aim to help you achieve...

Charting Your Course: Retirement Planning for Women in Their 50s

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Navigating the complex waters of retirement planning for women can often feel overwhelming and daunting, particularly after experiencing significant life events such as a job loss or divorce. However, it's important to recognize that entering this phase also presents an empowering opportunity to reshape and refocus on a future that is tailored specifically to your needs and aspirations.

As many individuals begin to give retirement planning the gravitas it deserves in their 50s, it becomes increasingly indispensable for single women to approach this phase with both strategy and intention. This comprehensive guide is designed to provide you with invaluable insights, practical steps, and expert advice needed to instill confidence in your journey to a secure retirement. By equipping yourself with the right knowledge and tools, you can navigate the intricacies of retirement planning with ease, ensuring a secure and fulfilling future ahead.

A Guide to Retirement Planning for Women in Their...

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Leah Hadley, AFC, CDFA, MAFF

Leah Hadley, AFC® CDFA® MAFF™, is a bestselling author and financial planner with over 20 years of experience helping women build wealth with intention. She is the founder of Watch Her Thrive and Intentional Wealth Partners, and the author of Intentional Money: The Modern Woman's Guide to Building Wealth, Purpose & Peace.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

Watch Her Thrive is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Investment Advisory Disclosure:

Leah Hadley is a Licensed Investment Adviser Representative and the Founder of Intentional Wealth Partners, a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services are offered exclusively through Intentional Wealth Partners.

Watch Her Thrive is not a Registered Investment Adviser and does not provide individualized investment advice, financial planning, or securities recommendations. All content provided through Watch Her Thrive is for educational and informational purposes only.

Table of Contents

The Statement You Haven't Opened

What a Real Women’s Empowerment Network Actually Looks Like

Lesson One: Reinvention Is Always on the Table

Why This Is Esp...

Trust Is the Heart of Financial Empowerment

The Brain Trick That Works Against You

A Guide to Retirement Planning for Women in Their...

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

Investment Advisory Disclosure: