Lessons Learned From This Recession

Julie Murphy • November 17, 2010

There’s no doubt that many of us were financially strapped these past few years. We can thank the Great Recession for that. As the three-year anniversary approaches, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the financial lessons this recession has taught us.
1. Start saving for both short- and long-term early. If and when we face another hard time, it’s important to have something stashed away for it. Six months worth of living expenses in your savings account is a good start.

And put as much as you can into a retirement account now. If you start saving $12,000 a year at age 25, you’ll have over $3 million by age 65 (assuming an 8 percent rate of return). If you start saving the same amount at age 40, you’ll collect just under $1 million. Projections show the average person may need anywhere between $850,000 to $1.5 million to retire comfortably.

2. Ignorance is not bliss. Don’t be blindsided by another recession. Take control of your finances and know exactly your money is going. Keep the dialog with your financial planner open and also know what’s happening with your investments.

3. When purchasing a home, only buy what you can afford. With the crash of housing bubble and the resulting mortgage crisis, low mortgage rates got people excited about achieving their dream of home ownership. Even if they weren’t yet ready for it.

With incredibly low interest rates came ambitious buyers. People were getting approved for bigger mortgages which meant bigger homes. Once mortgages adjusted, so did the financial realities of the eager home buyers. Enter the credit crisis and, subsequently, a recession. The lesson in all of this is to avoid adjustable-rate mortgages. Only buy what you can afford.

4. Be prepared to look for a new job. Recession or not, you should always be prepared for a lay-off. The easiest way to do this is to have a plan. Update your resume monthly. Participate in professional development seminars to keep your skill set fresh. And don’t be afraid to put yourself out there at some local networking events. Finding a new job is a lot easier when you know somebody.

5. Don’t let fear make decisions for you. Being financially alert is important, but don’t let your finances scare you into submission. Maintain a positive attitude about them, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. By choosing to think and speak positively, you invite more positive people and events into your life.

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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 ✨