Choose A Happy Holiday Season

Julie Murphy • November 6, 2013

It’s the beginning of November which means holiday spiced coffees, the excitement of spending time with family and friends and the beginning of that yearly holiday spending spree. From holiday travel plans (those flights aren’t going to pay for themselves) to Secret Santa’s to making sure there are enough gifts under your own tree, this season brings so much joy – and so much stress; especially for those prone to charge now and pay – and stress – later.

Is this you?

As a financial planner, I deal with debt a lot. Like most young people, I came out of college with debt and created more throughout my twenties to just keep up the pace. It’s an overwhelming and sometimes down-right depressing cycle to find yourself in. You want to do all the things your friends and family are doing – especially during this very special time of year – but you don’t want to dig a hole deeper than the one you’ve already created. When the holidays are over and all is said and done, we know what comes next. With overspending always comes the self-imposed guilt.

“I should know better than this.”

“I didn’t have to buy that purse. Why did I do that?”

“No one else would have gotten that if they were in my situation.”

It’s time to stop. All of it. Stop maxing out the credit cards with no plan to soften the financial blow. Stop dipping into your savings to buy “just one more thing.” And, most importantly, stop beating yourself up over doing things that most of us have done at one time or another.

One of the most useless human emotions is guilt. Guilt is saturated in judgement and negativity. Why are you inviting those feelings and thoughts into your being? Just because you’ve made a few mistakes doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you human. There is nothing you’ve done financially that can’t be fixed with some targeted moves in a different direction. A direction that moves towards the financial life you desire. It’s more than possible, and all you have to do is choose to make your financial health a priority.

Action step

It’s never too late to make the financial changes you need to make in order to get that life you desire. Spend time over the next few days looking at your financial habits. Where is your money going? When are you most prone to spend? What feelings are associated with what purchases? Write down the answers to those questions and think about how those answers make you feel. Next, look at what makes you the most nervous about these next two months. Is it maxing out your credit cards? The interest rates? Getting the bill? Or is it dipping into a savings to buy a coworker a gift that – let’s be honest – you’re not even that invested in?

It’s still early enough in the holiday shopping season to set up a good financial plan. Look at the last few months of bank statements and determine where you’re spending your money. Figure out what you can adjust without completely limiting your daily life. Then devote a few hours to laying out a plan of attack; determine how much money you’re comfortable spending this season and start setting aside money from each paycheck to put towards that total. This will allow you to comfortably manage your cash flow while still being able to enjoy the holiday season without maxing out your credit card, depleting your bank account or feeling the full effects of the “holiday hangover.”

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How to End the Year Like the Wealthy Do

By Julie Murphy • December 10, 2025

Reset Your Money Energy for 2026 Every December, we all feel that pull, the desire to “be better with money next year.” But here’s the secret I’ve seen again and again after nearly three decades of walking alongside people from all walks of life: Financially wealthy people don’t just plan their next year — they energetically complete the one they’re leaving. They close loops. They clear emotional residue. They realign their energy field before they set a single goal. And you can absolutely do the same. As I share in The Emotion Behind Money , wealth is never created by logic alone. It comes from managing the emotions behind your money and understanding that money itself is energy. And in Awaken Your Wealth , I remind readers that energetic shifts begin when you consciously picture yourself stepping into a new reality, while compassionately acknowledging the one you’re standing in now. So let’s walk through the simple year-end process I teach my clients — one that spiritually, emotionally, and financially resets your money field for a powerful 2026. 1. Review Your 2025 Wins & Losses With Compassion Before you step into the new year, look back with the most loving, nonjudgmental eyes possible. I call it neutral observation . Wealthy people don’t spiral into shame when something didn’t go perfectly. They get curious. Ask yourself: Where did I expand financially this year? Where did I contract emotionally or economically? What choices were truly aligned with my values? Which ones came from fear, scarcity, or old patterns? In Awaken Your Wealth , the “Accepting Reality and Awakening” step of PACT teaches that awareness without judgment is how we break old money patterns for good. So breathe. Notice. Write it down. No shame. No spiral. Just truth. 2. Forgive Any Money Mistakes Here’s a truth most people never consider: Every financial mistake carries emotional weight and emotional weight blocks money flow. From my work in The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money , we know that your heart’s energy is more powerful than your brain’s logic, and intention is what redirects energy back into alignment. Forgiveness, of yourself, your past self, or others involved, releases stagnant money energy. Try this: Write down any money decisions from 2025 that still feel heavy. Place your hand on your heart. Say: "I forgive the version of me who made this choice. She/he did the best they could with what they knew at the time.” Forgiveness isn’t about letting mistakes slide. It’s about resetting your emotional money field so you can co-create something new. 3. Create an Energetic Closing Ceremony for the Year This is where wealthy people truly separate themselves; they honor the transition. You can create your own year-end ceremony using whatever resonates from your spiritual toolkit. Here are a few ideas inspired by the intention-setting and clearing practices throughout my work: Light a candle Symbolize releasing the old year and calling in the new. Write a “completion list” Include everything you’re ready to release: debts you’re no longer carrying shame over, relationships you’re energetically cutting cords from, patterns you’re finished reenacting. Burn or bury the list This physical act tells the Universe: “I’m done living from this version of myself.” In The Emotion Behind Money , we explore how inherited beliefs and emotional patterns repeat until they are consciously released. This ceremony is your line in the sand. End with intention Close with one powerful intention for 2026, aligned from your heart: “I choose a new flow of abundance.” “I trust that money comes to me with ease.” “I allow myself to receive the wealth I’ve been working toward.” As The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money reminds us: “The Universe responds to action.” Your ceremony is your spiritual action. Ready to Step Into 2026 Aligned, Clear & Empowered? If you’re craving deeper support with your financial reset, join me for my Emotions Behind Money Workshop in January. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to recalibrate your relationship with money, this is your moment. Let’s make 2026 the year your inner wealth and your financial reality finally match. You deserve abundance and you’re closer than you think. With love, alignment & a whole lot of possibility, Julie ✨