The Breaking Financial Chains Podcast

How to Create a Monthly Financial Check-In | Breaking Financial Chains Ep.48

Tanya Ibberson

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0:00 | 21:09

 Financial peace doesn't come from one big "get my life together" moment. It comes from boring, consistent awareness. 

In this episode of Breaking Financial Chains, I walk you through exactly how to set up a monthly financial check-in that actually works. Not a three-hour spreadsheet marathon. Not a guilt trip. Just a regular, manageable appointment with your financial life that builds clarity, calm and confidence over time.

Most people don't have a money problem, they have a money visibility problem. They don't know exactly what's coming in, what's going out or where things are quietly drifting. And that uncertainty is expensive, both emotionally and financially.

This episode gives you a practical checklist you can start using straight away, plus the mindset shifts that make it something you look forward to rather than dread.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

- Why most people avoid financial check-ins (and how to change that)
- The difference between reacting to money and leading it
- What to include: income, spending, upcoming expenses, savings and debt
- Why an emotional check-in matters just as much as the numbers
- How to make your check-in feel like a ritual, not a punishment
- Common mistakes that derail people (overcomplicating it, only checking when things go wrong, using it as a stick)
- Why confidence comes from clarity, not from having more money
- How to turn this into a family habit and strengthen your financial partnership
- Why you don't need to be "good with money" to start

Today's reflective question: If I gave myself 30 minutes this month to check in with my money, what would I most need to look at first?

Breaking Financial Chains is a podcast combining practical money guidance with emotional healing to help you break free from financial limitations. Hosted by Tanya Ibberson, your financial wingwoman.

Chapters
0:00 - Introduction: creating a monthly financial check-in routine
0:29 - Welcome to Breaking Financial Chains
0:36 - Sometimes you just need a checklist
1:20 - Financial calm doesn't come from avoidance
1:44 - You don't have a money problem, you have a visibility problem
2:17 - Reacting to money vs leading it
2:54 - Financial peace comes from consistent action
3:36 - How small steps rewrite your money stories
4:12 - Why do people avoid financial check-ins?
5:26 - A check-in is not a punishment, it's self-respect
5:36 - What a financial check-in actually is
6:41 - What to include: income review
7:23 - Spending review: where did your money actually go?
8:23 - Upcoming expenses and avoiding being blindsided
9:36 - Savings, goals and debt reduction
10:27 - The emotional check-in: how did money feel this month?
11:29 - Making it a ritual (not a chore)
12:11 - If it feels like shame, you'll avoid it
13:06 - Common mistakes: only checking when something is wrong
13:45 - Common mistakes: making it too complicated
14:02 - Common mistakes: using it as a stick to beat yourself with
14:55 - Why this changes confidence
15:38 - Someone with average income and strong awareness vs high income and chaos
16:10 - The monthly check-in builds self-trust
17:10 - Make this a family habit
18:12 - Money should live in communication, not secrecy
19:01 - Key takeaways
19:28 - You become good with money by paying attention
20:08 - Reflective question
20:43 - Outro


Useful Links
Website: www.financialwingwoman.com
Email: tanya@financialwingwoman.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/financialwingwoman
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefinancialwingwoman
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefinancialwingwoman

If this episode brings up difficult feelings, please reach out to appropriate support services in your area.

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