For a lot of people, money is scary.
If you start to think about it, it’s like a swarm of bees descends on your head.
- There’s a lot of buzzing
- It’s dangerous
- You can’t think
- And it’s probably best that you run away.
This is totally normal.
We don’t get taught about money and how to handle it. We may think working with money is hard and unknowable. We aren’t allowed to talk about it in polite company, and it can be dangerous not to have enough (or to have too much.). Money is important, but we don’t know what to do with it. It’s unknowable.
Money makes us panic. It doesn’t feel safe. We drop into flight or flight.
So, for our brains, money = bees. (or wolves, etc., but we’re going with bees for now because of that distracting BUZZ).
Run away.
But bees aren’t only something to fear. They create honey, pollinate our crops, and sustain life.
With the right approach, money can do the same: it can nourish, sustain, and enrich our lives. The key is learning how to work with it rather than against it.
1. The Buzz of Financial Anxiety
The background noise of money stress is familiar to many of us. According to the American Psychological Association, 72% of Americans feel stressed about money at least some of the time. That hum of worry can cloud judgment and drive reactive decisions.
Practical step: Begin to look at your transactions without judgement. There are tools for this, and I’m happy to help, as well. Just looking helps calm the bees, if you can let the panic pass and keep looking.
2. The Sting of Debt
Debt can feel like a bee sting: sharp, painful, sometimes paralysing. Yet stings can be treated, and debt can be too. Facing it directly brings relief and clarity.
Why it matters: A Northwestern Mutual study found that 40% of Americans spend up to half of their monthly income on debt repayment. That’s a heavy burden, but one that can be lifted with a plan. (Goals and resultant plans are fab. I’m a big fan. Plans without goals- less so.)
3. The Sweetness of Savings
Savings are the honey in your hive: sweet, sustaining, and protective. And yet, many people struggle to save consistently.
Practical step: automate it. Set up a standing order to move money into savings each payday, even a small amount. Increase gradually as it becomes part of your rhythm.
Warren Buffett put it simply: “Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” If you don’t know where to start, I get it. Just let the idea germinate, or drop me a line and let’s talk.
4. Pollinating Your Investments
Investing is like pollination: it helps your resources grow and multiply. But for many, the investment world feels intimidating or out of reach.
According to Gallup, only 55% of Americans own stocks. That means nearly half are missing out on one of the main ways to grow wealth over time.
There are a lot of ways to approach this, and it can be a great part of a full financial plan, and, it needs to be done in the context of your real life. First, it helps to understand investments and their roles (even loosely), then how to identify money for investing, and how to invest.
5. The Hive Mind: Building Support Around You
Bees thrive in hives, and we thrive when we don’t try to manage money alone. Yet so many people do—carrying quiet worry or shame instead of reaching out for support.
That’s where checking in with family and friends, as well as potential coaching comes in. Who can you really talk to about money, including all the nitty gritty to get it out of your head? Having a safe, encouraging space to talk about money, without jargon or judgment, can shift everything. When you share your goals, your challenges, and your habits with someone who’s on your side, the buzz quiets and clarity emerges.
As Helen Keller said: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
6. The Beekeeper’s Guide: Professional Help
It is not a great idea to start beekeeping without any training (and yet, annoyingly, that’s what a lot of us seem to be expected to do with money). So, if you’re feeling lost, get some help. There are a lot of good books and resources out there, and I’m here if you want someone to dive in with you. That’s my role as a financial coach. I help you understand your money patterns, build strategies that fit your life, and create a calm, confident relationship with your finances.
Embrace the Buzz
Money doesn’t have to be something you fear. Like bees, it can feel chaotic up close, but when you step back and see the whole hive, there’s beauty, order, and incredible potential.
By calming financial anxiety, tackling debt, building savings, investing with confidence, finding community, and seeking the right guidance, you can transform your relationship with money.
Remember the Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”