Money Isn’t Scary - Money Mindset, Money Anxiety, Intentional Spending, Saving Money, Money Management

What Happens When Women Stop Competing with Ruchika Malhotra

Why does it feel like we’re always trying to keep up?

In this episode, I sit down with Ruchika Malhotra, author of Uncompete, to talk about how competition shows up for women—and how it can quietly create a sense of scarcity, impact our confidence, and shape the way we think about success and money.

We also explore what shifts when we move toward a more collaborative mindset, and how that can change the way we show up in our work and lives.

In this episode, we cover:

• Competition, comparison, and scarcity
• The link between self-worth and success
• How this impacts money decisions
• Moving from competition to collaboration

Connect with Ruchika:
Book: Uncompete – Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success
Website: https://uncompetebook.com
LinkedIn: Search “Ruchika Malhotra” for her latest work and newsletter

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

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Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

 

 

It’s Not Just Taxes: What This Season Is Actually Triggering

Tax season isn’t just about forms, deadlines, and numbers — it brings up a lot more than we expect.

In this episode, I talk about the psychology of tax season — why it can feel so heavy, why so many of us avoid it, and what’s really going on underneath the surface. From procrastination and fear of getting it wrong, to deeper feelings of financial shame, this time of year can quietly stir up a lot.

If you’ve been putting off your taxes or feeling overwhelmed just thinking about them, you’re not alone — and there’s nothing wrong with you.

This episode will help you understand what’s coming up, so you can move through it with more awareness, less judgment, and a little more ease.

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

 

Midlife, Money & Coming Home to Yourself with Courtney Townley

This week, I'm talking with Courtney Townley, host of the Grace & Grit podcast and a leading voice in helping women navigate health, hormones, and reinvention with intention. Courtney’s work is all about helping women stop self-abandoning, regulate their nervous systems, and build lives rooted in power instead of pressure.

We talk about what it really looks like to live in alignment—and how to recognize when you’re stuck in what Courtney calls “integrity pain.” We get into the difference between the kind of stress that drains you versus the kind that actually helps you grow, the subtle hiding habits that keep us stuck, and how self-leadership and consistency shape not just our lives—but our relationship with money, too.

 

Connect with Courtney:

• Book: The Consistency Code (available at theconsistencycode.com and major online retailers)
• Website: graceandgrit.com
• Podcast: Grace & Grit

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

 

 

What Your Spending Says About What You’re Avoiding

In today's episode, I explore a deeper layer of our spending habits—looking not at what our money is helping us move toward, but what it may be helping us avoid.

Building on the idea of the “upgraded self,” I share personal patterns I've noticed in her own life, from spending during moments of mental overwhelm to purchasing things that feel productive but actually delay decision-making. I also touch on the social side of spending—like over-giving or saying yes to things we don’t want—as a way to avoid discomfort in relationships.

At the core of the episode is a powerful shift: instead of focusing on discipline or restriction, I invite listeners to get curious. What if your spending isn’t random—but patterned? What if it’s helping you avoid something you already know you need to face?

This episode is a reminder that awareness—not perfection—is what creates real change. When you understand the “why” behind your spending, you give yourself the opportunity to choose differently.

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

The Root of Anxiety (and What It Means for Your Relationship with Money) with Ellen Vora

Today I’m really excited to share my conversation with psychiatrist and author, Dr. Ellen Vora. We dive into one of my favorite topics—anxiety—and explore it in a way that feels both grounding and empowering.

Dr. Vora takes a holistic, mind-body approach to anxiety, focusing on getting to the root rather than just managing symptoms. As you’ll hear throughout the conversation, there’s a powerful parallel to how we experience anxiety around money—so often, it’s not just about the numbers, but what’s happening beneath the surface.

 

About Dr. Ellen Vora:
Dr. Ellen Vora is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and the author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. She is known for her integrative approach to mental health, combining conventional psychiatry with functional medicine, mindfulness, and lifestyle-based interventions.

Rather than viewing anxiety as something to suppress, her work helps people understand it as meaningful information—often pointing to imbalances in the body, mind, or environment. Her approach challenges the traditional medicalization of stress and offers a more empowering, human-centered way to think about mental health.

 

Connect with Dr. Ellen Vora:

• Website: https://ellenvora.com/

• Instagram: @ellenvoramd

• Book: The Anatomy of Anxiety

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

 

The Upgraded Version of you: Who Are You Trying to Become When You Spend?

In this week's episode, I explore the idea of the “upgraded version” of ourselves—the elevated identity we imagine when we think about who we want to become. Inspired by a simple desire to buy a J.Crew sweater, I unpack the deeper psychology behind why certain purchases feel like they’re bringing us closer to a more confident, composed, and secure version of ourselves.

I discuss how many of us quietly try to spend our way into becoming the person we believe we’re meant to be. But often, what we’re really seeking isn’t better clothes, a nicer home, or a bigger paycheck—it’s emotional safety, self-trust, and a sense of internal stability.

This episode invites you to look beyond the aesthetic upgrades and consider the deeper shifts that actually create lasting change.

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

 

Rewiring Your Brain to Break Through Limiting Patterns with Amanda Foust

In today's episode, I'm talking with Amanda Foust, a high-performance neuro coach trained in neuroscience and trauma-informed care. Amanda works with leaders and high performers to help them understand how their brains work, shift the patterns that keep them stuck, and create the lives they truly want.

Amanda and I talk about how neuroscience and self-awareness can help us better understand our triggers, break out of old patterns, and show up more intentionally in our lives — whether that’s in leadership, parenting, or the way we approach success and personal growth.

Find more from Amanda: 

https://www.wakeuptoyourlife.co/resources

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

 

What We Learned About Money From Our Mothers

In honor of Women’s History Month, today I’m reflecting on the subtle, unspoken money lessons I absorbed from my mom — and how those early patterns shaped my relationship with money in ways I didn’t fully understand until adulthood.

In this episode, I talk about how inherited money beliefs often live in our nervous systems, how survival strategies get passed down generationally, and why awareness isn’t the same thing as blame.

I also walk you through a few reflection exercises to help you:

• Identify a money belief you may have inherited

• Notice how it shows up in your day-to-day decisions

• Separate yourself from the belief so you can consciously choose something new

And I share what rewriting my story has looked like — moving from silence to conversation, from scarcity to sufficiency, and from overwork to enoughness.

This episode is about honoring the women who shaped us — seeing their strength and humanity clearly — while giving ourselves permission to build on their foundation instead of unconsciously repeating their patterns.

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

The Role of Delayed Gratification in a Hyper-Immediate World

In this week’s episode, I share a relatable story about almost buying a $178 sweater — and then hitting pause. That moment got me thinking about delayed gratification, impulse spending, and why it’s so hard to wait in a world built for instant rewards.

I talk about the psychology behind impulse buying, money habits, and self-control, what the marshmallow test teaches us about trust and patience, and how tools like Buy Now, Pay Later affect the way we experience spending. I also share practical tips for pausing before purchases, saving effectively, and practicing financial patience without feeling deprived.

Whether you struggle with impulse spending, budgeting, or long-term financial goals, this episode will help you build confidence and trust in your money decisions — one small pause at a time

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want! 

 

When Everything Is Fine But Money Still Feels Heavy

In this episode, we’re talking about the money anxiety that shows up even when nothing is technically wrong. Bills are paid. There’s no emergency. And yet, you still feel tense, on edge, or like you can’t fully relax around money.

I talk through why this happens, how past financial stress can linger in your nervous system, and why quiet seasons can make money anxiety feel louder. We also explore the difference between financial facts and financial feelings, and why anxiety isn’t always asking for a new plan — sometimes it’s asking for safety.

This episode is for anyone who feels anxious about money even when they’re “doing everything right,” and wants reassurance without budgeting rules or financial shame.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations.

You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.

You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program. 

I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!