What’s Your Money Personality? TAKE the QUIZ

2 Powerful New Year’s Questions to Ask Yourself

Jan 8, 2026 | Mindset, Spending

Here are two powerful questions that I ask all my clients when we put together their annual spending plans for the year:

  1. What would you like more of in your life this year?
  2. What would you like less of in your life this year?

Simple sounding? Perhaps. But when I ask myself those questions, I hear, “more tango lessons, more retirement savings, and less time spent on housework.” All three of those translated into my 2026 annual plan. I increased my IRA contributions, hopped online to find another local tango class, and hired a house cleaner. Ahhhh. Such happiness.

What about you? Grab a pen and a cup of coffee and jot down YOUR answers. What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of? Simple questions can be the most powerful. 

Don’t get stuck in the “how”.

Just be open to wanting or disliking something.

Step into desire. Explore your irritations. 

You may want a material item (more clothes) or a service (more house cleaning) or experiences (like travel).

You may be tired of spending so much time on something. One client of mine immediately said, “I want less time spent helping my kids with math homework after dinner!” After chew on this, she decided to hire a teenager to come over after dinner and supervise math homework for her two elementary aged children. She said it was the best money she ever spent.

Simple questions yield powerful answers.

Happy New Year!

Search

About Mikelann Valterra

Mikelann Valterra, MA, AFC® is a master money coach, published author, and keynote speaker with over 25 years of experience helping women transform their relationship with money.

She’s the author of two influential books: Why Women Earn Less: How to Make What You’re Really Worth and Rise Above the Money Fog: Your Key to Confidence, Clarity, and Control. With a B.A. in Economics and M.A. in Transpersonal Psychology, Mikelann brings both financial expertise and psychological insight to her work.

Mikelann believes that while money isn’t the purpose of life, it’s a powerful tool to shape a life you truly love. Through her coaching, writing, and speaking, she empowers women to rise above financial anxiety and create lives of clarity and confidence.

When she’s not coaching or writing, you’ll find her dancing Argentine Tango with her husband or enjoying coffee in her beloved Pacific Northwest.

Video

Blog Categories