Today we are going to talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder or you may know it better as SAD, a serious condition if it affects you or a loved one. And with the pandemic still raging, doctors and therapists are worried more people than ever may be impacted by this mood disorder this Fall and Winter. But by knowing the symptoms, taking some proactive steps and looking out for each other, we can keep the next 6 months happy instead of getting SAD. --- Send in a voice message:...

Today we are covering something that can be pretty awkward, talking to your spouse or partner about money. Let’s call it the Money Talk. But with a little bit of planning and an understanding of why it matters to you and your loved ones, you can get through it and make it a regular part of relationship conversations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

There’s been a lot of talk recently about self care and how important it is that we take seriously our physical and mental health with everything going on. There are tons of articles about mindfulness and how to have a yoga practice at home and eat right but, in my opinion, there hasn’t been enough conversation about some key areas of self-care: going to the doctor and getting screenings when necessary. So today let’s look at some of the data and insights on where things stand with getting...

Ok, answer this question for me. It is 3 o’clock on a Monday afternoon…how are you feeling? Do you have energy? Are you crushing your to-do list? Or are you dragging through your afternoon? Most of us struggle with a mid-day swoon and that is totally normal. But with a little bit of know how and some tips and tricks, you can boost your energy and get back on track.  Learn how on this episode of Calm Cash!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

Picking a healthcare plan can be confusing and stressful but Ben has a plan you can execute in just 30 minutes to assess your options and find the right fit.  He will talk through how to allocate your time, some simple math you can do to understand the potential cost impacts and how to make sure your doctors are in-network, a critical aspect of staying mentally, physically, emotionally and financially healthy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

Fall is here which means it’s time for pumpkin spice everything and picking a healthcare plan. This can be a stressful decision but with some planning and a little bit of info, you can find the right fit for you and your family. On this episode, Ben discusses the most common decision making biases people make when choosing a plan. The. He covers some key information to gather to setup choosing the right plan for you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

The news is full of all kinds of stats about how different groups, like women and people of color, save less or have fewer assets than white men. And those stories are true but they are just symptoms of the actual problem and not enough people talk about what is really going on. They get paid less than white men and the pay gap for women and people of color is alive and well today. So let’s talk about what the pay gap is and how we can all do our part to make it better. Instead of minding...

You’ve probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat”. And everywhere you look there is science or research that confirms that. Our food intake has been linked to cardiovascular disease and some cancers but there hasn’t been too much discussion until recently about how food affects our emotions and mental health. But the research and science in this space is emerging and showing us some incredibly compelling links between the food we eat and our feelings. So today, let’s go deeper into how...

You’ve probably heard the quote “laughter is the best medicine”. That seems like a nice sentiment and something that can’t possibly be true. But it turns out that laughter is an essential part of our physical health and mental health and something we shouldn’t ignore. And while modern science is proving this with research and data, people as far back as the 1300s knew the importance of humor and health. Henri de Mondeville, a French surgeon, helped aid recovery from surgeries by prescribing...

While many parts of American life aren’t going the way we want in 2020 between the pandemic, social unrest that continues to rage because of racial inequality and millions still unemployed, there is one thing that couldn’t be going better: the stock market. We just had the best returns for the month of August since 1984. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 7.6% and the S&P 500 rose 7% too…its highest gain in August since 1986. But the markets have stalled to start September and some...

Proper breathing is critical to physical and mental well-being but few people prioritize their breath or have a regular practice. On this episode, Ben covers the importance of proper breathing and covers 5 breathing techniques you can employ to regulate your blood pressure, reduce heart rate and calm your emotions. Check it out! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

Gratitude isn’t something that gets talked about very much. And with everything going on in the world today, it can be really hard to find things to be grateful for. This week was especially hard with the raging wildfires in California, not one but two hurricanes in the Gulf, the political season kicking into full gear and the Coronavirus continuing to surge and disrupt our lives. But the fact is good things are still happening. We just have to look for them. And thanks to science, we know...

Looking for ways to simplify your day, set boundaries but also boost your productivity?  On this episode Ben talks about 8 strategies to prioritize your Most Important Tasks (MITs), enhance your focus and ultimately get more done.   For the full written transcript, check out https://www.calm.cash/post/simplify --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

This is the fifth and final episode dedicated to the 50/30/20 spending plan (aka budget). Hear why personal savings is now more important than ever because of changes no one bothered to tell you. Topics covered include emergency savings, retirement accounts and HSA’s. Most importantly, Ben discusses the balance between paying down debt and starting to save. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

Debt can be a stressful part of our financial picture, but with some basic understanding and a solid plan, you can drain your debt and its impact on your well-being. In this episode, Ben explores 5 strategies to help you pay down your debt by using your 50/30/20 spending plan. Check it out! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

I fully embrace that there are things or experiences that I want to buy. And I fully allocate my 30% Wants bucket of my spending plan to fund these things I love or passions I want to pursue with my time AND my money. And I firmly believe you should spend money on your wants too. Just a quick refresher that Wants are going to include things like vacations, gifts, entertainment, clothes, eating out, most memberships and subscription services and the money spent towards our hobbies and...

50% of your spending plan will go towards your Needs...the basic necessities to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy.  Those basic necessities include things like housing, utilities, reliable transportation, food, healthcare and making our minimum debt payments.  We are going to spend money on these things, but it doesn’t mean we should spend wildly or not find ways to save a buck or two where it makes sense. These small wins can add up quick and be used to fund other parts of our...

There aren’t too many words that I hate because it is kind of weird to hate a word. But I hate the word budget. For most people they hear that word and just shut down. I know that is the way I feel when I hear it. It just sounds boring and complicated and about the last thing I want to do with any minute of free time I get. Maybe that is why only about 1 out of every 3 Americans actively keep a budget. I think I have a better term. We all spend money, some of us more than others, and I think...

Ben discusses where we've been and where we are going with our mental health and money health in 2020. Topics include the latest information on how coronavirus and social change is impacting the economy and our emotions as a country as well as strategies to navigate these trying times. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

On average we spend about a third of our entire lives sleeping and we know that adults need on average about 7 hours of sleep every night to function effectively throughout the day. Now we are all different physiologically and some people will need a little more and some a little less. Also, at different developmental stages of our lives or during different life events our sleep needs will change. For example, kids and teens need 9 or more hours of sleep for proper brain development and life...

Times continue to be really tough and stressful and right now we need grit and persistence more than ever.  Today we are going to talk about the characteristic of grit, the combination of passion and perseverance over extended periods of time.  It is a skill that we are born with but researches and psychologists have now proved that we can improve our grit even in the face of rising adversity. We will talk about the 4 characteristics of people with high levels of grit to better understand the...

Empathy is an essential skill that is in short supply in 2020. Our collective empathy is diminishing and we need it now more than ever. On this week's episode we discuss what IS empathy and ways we can cultivate more of it to better connect and advocate for others. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/calmcash/message

Hi and welcome to Calm Cash. A lot has happened since last week. While our country continues to be plagued by the coronavirus pandemic, an old, insidious plague that has existed since the founding of our country has taken center stage this past week. Of course I’m talking about racial inequality and all the fear, hate, violence, death and unfortunately silence and inactivity that go along with it. The wounds re-open frequently and never heal mainly because most of us do nothing. Maybe out of...

May is an important month to me. I got married in May, I started the job I’ve been in for over 10 years now in May but May is also important because it is Mental Health Awareness month. I usually release new episodes of the podcast on Sundays and this episode is dropping on May 31st, the last day of Mental Health Awareness month. That is very intentional because we still have a problem as a country when it comes to talking about mental health and we need to think about and discuss mental...

Our economy is going through lots of change right now as this virus creates significant disruption for people and businesses. Small businesses are really hurting as forced closures and stay at home orders have made it hard for them to stay afloat. This same thing is happening to really large companies. Bankruptcy filings by companies like JCrew, Neiman Marcus, JC Penny, Hertz Rental Cars and Gold’s Gym show that well known brands are not immune to the impacts of the virus and show how our...