Includes index.

Machine generated contents note: Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Introduction: When it comes to money, we've all got issues Chapter 2 Money Messages We Don't Talk About Money We Talk About Money Constantly From Freud to Frodo: The stories we tell each other Kathy's Story The Stories We Tell Ourselves Stories can help or Hurt Heuristics and Biases Shape Our Stories Identifying Core Beliefs Challenging Core Beliefs Using Science to Our Advantage Chapter 3 Poverty, Privilege, and Prejudice: A crash course in the science of money psychology Money and Social Psychology: How poverty, privilege, and comparisons affect our minds and behavior Money and Cognitive Psychology: How specific thinking patterns affect financial decisions Making Change Chapter 4 The LOADED Budget: Creating a human-centered money management plan What's Wrong With Your Budget? Where Does Your Money Come From? Assets and Resources Where Does Your Money Go? Putting it All Together: MEconomics The Power of Perspective Keeping Yourself on Track Enjoying a Loaded Life: Living in harmony with your money and your values APPENDIX A: Self-Assessments 1. Write Your Personal Financial Narrative 2. Define Your Core Beliefs 3. Financial Management & Behaviors Scale 4. Emotions and Money 5. Mental Imagery 6. Behavior Identification Form 7. How Impulsive Are You? 8. Big 5 Financial Literacy Questions APPENDIX B: Exercises & Worksheets 1. Change the narrative 2. Find a counter-example 3. Age-progression 4. Future Visualization Exercises 5. Exercises to Combat MoneyThink 6. Affirm core values 7. Cash Flow Sheet 8. Resources Worksheet 9. Needs Worksheet 10. Your Meconomy About the Author Index.

"Research studies over the past few decades reveal an interesting paradox: Lack of money is linked to depression, relationship problems, lower performance on difficult tasks, and even shorter life expectancy, yet just thinking about money can lead to antisocial behavior and reduce compassion. It would appear that money creates a lose-lose scenario: If you don’t have it, your performance suffers, your relationships suffer, and you may die sooner. But, if you have great wealth, you may be more likely to engage in victim blaming, and less likely to help others by choice. How do we solve this conflict? Do we have to choose between caring about people and caring about money? How do we create lives of great value, without compromising our own deep values? We do it by working with our psychology. By mindfully developing a healthy relationship with money and learning some simple new ways of thinking, we can avoid the psychological dangers that can accompany both poverty and wealth"--

"A majority (62%) of American adults are losing sleep over their finances, leading to stress-related health problems and lower life satisfaction. The common phrase, "Money is the root of all evil," exposes a deep cultural distrust for money itself, as if currency has the power to corrupt otherwise good people. The belief that money is a necessary but corrupting force is sprinkled heavily throughout our cultural stories and public conversations. Feelings of personal desperation combined with negative beliefs about wealth can lead to a complex emotional relationship with money. Financial psychologists have observed for decades that the way that we think and feel about money has a powerful effect on how we handle -- or mishandle -- this resource in our own lives. It takes more than financial advice to reach people who have a difficult relationship with money. It takes understanding and a validation of their experience and perspective. This book approaches money management from a fresh angle, beginning with the recognition that our experiences with money can often run counter to our core values. Deeply researched, yet written in an approachable, conversational tone, this book offers insight into how the reader's personal experiences have shaped their financial attitudes, and how they can have a healthier relationship with their own money. The book will first examine the roots and consequences of core money beliefs and then use a unique and personalized Values-Based approach to budgeting and money management. Worksheets and personal money psychology assessments supplement the text. "--