Maria describes herself as valuing spending money on her kids, education, and family, as well as exploring the world. As a money manager, she sees herself as both a giver and adventurer who would give her last penny to help others or spend everything to live in the moment. Her culture views money as important for respect and education. Her family and friends only think of today without savings. If she had an extra $10,000, she would spend half and save half for bikes, a laptop, iPad, bills and giving her mom $1,000. To make this a reality, she plans to quit smoking to save money and stop using credit cards to limit uncontrolled spending.

1. Activity Sheet:
Your Relationship With Money
NAME: Maria St. Hilaire
My Relationship with Money
Getting a handle on money anxiety starts with an honest examination of how you relate to it.
BUILD BASIC SKILLS. Analyze yourself as a money manager. Look back to Key 11.1 on page 297
for a description of what influences how people handle money. Make notes about your personal
specifics in the following areas.
I most value spending money on my kids and my education, my family, a place to live and
exploring the world and all of it natural beauty.
As a money manager, I would describe myself as a giver and an adventurer. I would give my
last penny to help someone else. And at times I just spend everything I got to the last penny
because I live for the moment.
My culture tends to view money as very important part of life. Money and respect goes hand in
hand. In my country there is no free education so the value of money is high because without it
one can not go to school.
In handling money, my family and friends tend to only think of today. I don’t think any one in
my family has any savings. That is sad because if we find ourselves in a jam there is no one to
help out.
TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. Generate ideas about what you want to do with your money. If you had
enough money for your expenses and then some, what would you do with the extra? Would you save it,
spend it, or do a little of both? Imagine what you would do if you had an extra $10,000 to spend this
year. Describe your plan here:
__ If I had an extra $10,000 it would be gone in less then 30 minutes. I would probably blow it.
But if I was to do something positive with it, it would be save half and spend $2.000 on 3
bikes, a laptop and an I-pad. Spend a $1.000 on my pass over due bills. And give my mom
$1.000.
MOVE TOWARD MASTERY. Look for practical ways to move toward the scenario you
imagined. Realistically, how can you make that $10,000 a reality? You may need to change how
you operate as a money manager. You may need to make some sacrifices in the short term.
Come up with two specific plans here about changes and sacrifices that will move you toward
your goal.
1. _ For one, quitting smoking would be a good way for me to save money for that an
expensive habit. But I am not sure I could really save the money if I quit. I sometimes wonder

2. how in the word I manage to have or find money to by a pack a day. Therefore I know that
with the kind of determination that an addict has to buy his or her next fix a person can save
money; Then again I am not too sure if that is a noble example.
2. _ Second stop using my credit card and or bank card, because I don’t really realize that I am
spending my money. That way I would know that if I only have a budget for example of $20
dollars I would only take a 20 bill with me to the store. That will limit my spending for I only
have$20 cash on me. When I do go in the store with my bank card on the other hand I tend to
spend more than I planned on spending.
Part II
Answer the Following Questions:
1. Nearly 3 out of 4 people in the U.S. cite money as the top stressor in their lives.
Do you spend now or save for the future?
I too stress a lot about money. I sadly spend now. Even when I try to save I find my
self spending all now, because what little $ I do have can’t even take care of all of my
needs.
2. How good are you at differentiating between needs and wants and on prioritizing needs?
I am very good at knowing the difference between need and want. That is why If I had
an extra ten thousand dollars I would love to blow it on wants for once. I need way
more than $10.000 for my needs. I have been out of work for a year! Therefore my
and my kids needs comes first and only.
3. Everyone has a weak spot; some people like new clothes, others like fancy restaurants.
What can you do to make financial sacrifices seem worth your feelings of deprivation?
Remind myself that that now I have no where to store the clothes and shoes and
capability to up keep them, but if I save and be patient some day I will have my own
house and then I can fill my closet with the best shoes an wardrobes that money can
buy.
When you put these ideas to work, save or invest the money to reach for your goal.

3. CHAPTER 11: Managing Money