Are you stuck in patterns that keep you from the life you want, but can't pinpoint what's holding you back? In this eye-opening episode, host Kelley Long explores how the unconscious stories we tell ourselves—especially about money—become the invisible barriers to our dreams. Drawing from the pioneering work of financial therapy experts, she reveals how childhood beliefs about money can sabotage our adult success, even when our circumstances have dramatically changed.

Through a powerful interactive exercise featuring 30 thought-provoking prompts, you'll uncover your hidden "money scripts" and learn to identify which beliefs are keeping you trapped in outdated narratives. Whether you're the person who still feels "poor" despite financial success, or someone who can't enjoy their money even with substantial savings, this episode offers practical tools to rewrite your story. Kelley shares real-world examples of how these unconscious beliefs play out—from missing once-in-a-lifetime experiences to making automatic decisions that conflict with our true goals. Ready to break free from the stories that no longer serve you and create space for the future you actually want?

Based on her work with numerous new and hopeful parents, Kelley Long, CPA financial planner and unbiased money coach shares the top 3 financial considerations for new parents she hears about the most. In this episode, she covers how to think about making decisions around the best way to save for a child's future, what estate planning things you need to figure out ASAP and the new expenses that tend to cause the most challenges with growing families.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

www.savingforcollege.com

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2023/mar/saving-college-new-529-to-roth-irs-transfer-rule/

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/oct/the-ins-outs-roth-iras-for-children/

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/aug/strategic-uses-roth-iras-beyond-retirement/

https://www.financialblisscoach.com/post/want-surprisingly-flexible-savings-options-the-one-account-that-can-help

The term "self-care" has come to mean everything from taking a bubble bath to getting your bikini line waxed and is an area of spending that tends to get a free pass when modern women examine their cash flow.

The truth is that self-care has nothing to do with appearance and has everything to do with building resilience as an act of political defiance.

In this episode, Kelley Long, financial coach and money activist, gets into the nuance of this growing multi-billion dollar industry, with gentle thoughts on where we might be able to strengthen our emotional and financial resistance, by calling this spending what it really is: personal grooming and maintenance.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• The Gospel of Wellness, by Rina Raphael
• Outwitting the Devil, by Napoleon Hill, annotated by Sharon Lechter

Unpacking the mysteries of credit scores, CPA financial planner and money coach Kelley Long reveals the truth behind those three-digit numbers that can have such an impact on our financial lives. This episode explores common misconceptions, practical strategies, and insider insights about credit reporting that every listener should know.

Discover how credit scores really work, what factors truly matter, and how to navigate the complex world of financial reporting. Kelley breaks down the system in a way that's both informative and actionable.

This episode offers valuable perspectives that could transform your approach to personal finance, including answering the questions:

• Why did my credit score drop when I paid off a debt and should I be worried?
• What should I do with a credit card once I've paid it off? Shouldn't I keep a balance on it for the best score?
• What's the best way to build a long credit history that keeps my credit score up but also serves my financial wellness?
• Should I be worried about the drop to my credit score from the hard inquiry of opening a balance transfer card?
• And more

Tune in to gain the knowledge that could save you money and stress.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• www.annualcreditreport.com
• FICO Score versions

In this episode of Financial Bliss with Kelley Long, we dive into one of the most powerful productivity tools out there: the Eisenhower Matrix. Named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, this simple yet transformative framework helps you prioritize tasks by urgency and importance, ensuring you focus on what truly drives your goals forward. Whether you're overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list or struggling to decide where to direct your energy, the Eisenhower Matrix provides a clear roadmap for making better decisions and staying on track.

Tune in as host Kelley Long breaks down each quadrant of the Matrix and shows you how to use it to streamline your workflow, cut through distractions, and supercharge your goal-setting process. Learn practical strategies to tackle high-priority tasks, delegate what doesn’t require your immediate attention, and finally, say goodbye to procrastination. If you’re ready to take control of your time and achieve more with less stress, this episode is for you!

Mentioned in this podcast:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

In this episode, Kelley Long opens up about the emotional and personal journey of navigating a major life transition—choosing to remain child-free after years of pursuing parenthood. Through this vulnerable storytelling, she reflects on the process of grieving an imagined future and finding peace with a new direction. Kelley explores how this personal experience has shaped her understanding of self-discovery, acceptance, and how these themes apply not only to life’s emotional decisions but also to the emotional side of managing money. She encourages listeners to embrace uncertainty, letting go of rigid timelines and expectations, and instead exploring new possibilities with curiosity and flexibility.

Kelley shares insights into how she and her husband reimagined their life together after realizing that having children wasn’t in the cards. This required confronting their financial and lifestyle decisions—many of which were made with parenthood in mind—and shifting their focus toward new, unexpected opportunities. From making decisions about spending and saving to trying out new ventures like buying a second home or pursuing hobbies, Kelley discusses the importance of small steps and mindful exploration. She emphasizes that it’s okay to take time to adjust and to allow yourself to explore without pressure, helping you find a path that aligns with your values and goals.

Ultimately, Kelley ties this personal journey back to the financial realm by illustrating how emotional clarity can drive better financial decisions. Whether it’s overcoming impulse spending, shifting from scarcity to abundance, or overcoming fears around money, the key is aligning your financial habits with a larger sense of purpose. Through self-awareness and a mindset shift, Kelley helps listeners move from financial stress to financial bliss by making decisions that reflect their true desires, both emotionally and financially.

In this episode, Kelley Long shares valuable insights about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and the lessons she learned about health insurance that changed everything about her choices and, really, her whole life. Reflecting on her early experiences, she highlights common misconceptions around high-deductible healthcare plans and the potential benefits that many people overlook, particularly those in good health. This is super important to better understand because getting this right could make early retirement or at least a mini-retirement or career sabbatical possible.

Kelley introduces eight key facts about HSAs that most people don't know, including their portability, rollover options, and tax advantages. She also discusses how HSAs can be a strategic tool for managing future healthcare costs, de-coupling health insurance coverage from a job and maximizing savings for retirement.

Tune in to discover how to make the most of your HSA and why it might be worth re-evaluating your health insurance options during open enrollment!

Followup resources to support this episode:

The ins and outs of IRA-to-HSA rollovers

3 Common HSA Mistakes to Avoid

Schedule a coaching session with Kelley

This episode is all about that sticky area of money where we try to separate out our wants versus needs when making decisions around how we want to spend our dollars.

The themes include:

Understanding Wants vs. Needs: Distinguishing between wants and needs can be complex, especially when personal values and societal judgments come into play. It’s essential to recognize that our choices around spending—like gym memberships or shopping for groceries—often straddle this line, and reflecting on these choices can help clarify what truly matters to us.

Owning Your Financial Choices: It’s essential to own your spending decisions without guilt or judgment. Whether you're choosing to join a high-end health club for the social aspect or choosing food delivery services for convenience, understanding the underlying motivations can empower you to make choices that align with your values. And when you're not comfortable with the choice, that's an area to dig into.

Evaluating the Trade-offs: Spending money is often a trade-off between time and energy. By assessing whether your expenses are intentional and truly beneficial to your life, you can better balance your finances and maintain alignment with your values, allowing for a more fulfilling financial life.

Resources to support this episode:

• To find a financial therapist, visit the Financial Therapy Association directory
• To schedule a financial coaching session with Kelley Long, visit www.financialblisscoach.com/services