happiness

Strategies to Increase Your Savings Percentage

Strategies to Increase Your Savings Percentage 1024 881 Donna Skeels Cygan
If you didn’t save anything last year, strive to save at least 10 percent this year. If you saved 10 percent, strive to increase it to 15 percent or 20 percent this year. Increasing your savings usually comes from two sources. Either you increase your income (possibly by taking on a second part-time job if [...]read more

Neuroscience and “How Your Brain is Wired”, Part 2

Neuroscience and “How Your Brain is Wired”, Part 2 0 0 Donna Skeels Cygan
This is the second part in a series on Neuroscience. The first blog entry discussed that the two major parts of our brain that are involved in financial decisions are the amygdala (where emotions such as fear, greed, and impulsive behavior originate) and the prefrontal cortex (where rational decision making and logical thinking reside). So [...]read more

Neuroscience and “How Your Brain is Wired” Part 1

Neuroscience and “How Your Brain is Wired” Part 1 620 388 Donna Skeels Cygan
Neuroscience is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a branch of the life sciences that deals with the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, or molecular biology of nerves and nervous tissue and especially with their relation to behavior and learning.” A much shorter definition is simply the study of the brain. Although neuroscience originally resided within the field of [...]read more

Big Ticket Items to “Fast Forward” Your Savings Percentage

Big Ticket Items to “Fast Forward” Your Savings Percentage 1024 710 Donna Skeels Cygan
Although money does not buy happiness, it does impact our happiness. Having money can provide us with the freedom to live our lives the way we choose. Once we determine what makes us happy, we can then design our money to support our personal goals. In my book, many topics are discussed that can increase [...]read more
Money Messages Learned as a Child

Money Messages You Learned as a Child

Money Messages You Learned as a Child 1024 683 Donna Skeels Cygan
What did you learn about money? During our childhoods we received messages about money, and they are deeply ingrained in our behavior as adults. Taking the time to reflect on the money messages you learned as a child will help provide perspective on how you manage your money now. Money is often considered to be [...]read more
giver yourself permission to be human

Give Yourself Permission to Be Human

Give Yourself Permission to Be Human 500 332 Donna Skeels Cygan
In our lifetimes, we experience a multitude of emotions: happiness, sadness, excitement, anxiety, concern, fear, anger, grief and many more. Society dictates which emotions are acceptable in different situations. For example, showing extreme anger, grief or anxiety is generally not acceptable in a work environment. In an effort to “fit in.” we often “stuff down [...]read more