We also created a “What to Expect” document for her to use with her volunteer work at the Ann Arbor Women’s Center:
First, take a deep breath. What’s the money story you’re telling yourself? That you’ll never understand? That you’ll always be in debt? Exhale. You got this. What are the facts? The fact is it’s just numbers. The fact is you are more capable than you think you are. The fact is we will make it all make sense, one small step at a time.
Step 1: Celebrate that you’re taking this first step to untangle your finances. It’s easy to ignore, but you’re facing it head on. You are resilient.
Step 2: We’ll lay out all of your finances in front of us, creating a big picture of where we are now and clearing away all of the cobwebs that have been bothering you.
Step 3: I’ll teach you what to tackle first, so you’ll know exactly where and how to start.
Step 4: We’ll create a plan to manage your budget so you can meet your goals, like paying down debts, saving for a vacation, starting a retirement account, etc.
Step 5: We’ll have regular check-ins to see how things are going. You will not have to do this alone.