What participants say:
“Although I am in debt and unemployed right now…. This gives me a whole different context in which to live my life… peace and power.”
The Wealth Skills workshops I attended this past winter has provided a sense of peace and power – two characteristics that were not present before I took the two classes. We were taken through several exercises that had me see that my thoughts and patterns were based on the past – and although I had done some of this type work before, this workshop had me see things I had not seen before. The Financial Decision Making page gave me a framework to make decisions in other areas of my life as well. And the most valuable piece and the piece I resisted the most was doing the net worth statement – and setting a ten year goal of what I want my net worth to look like. Although I am in debt and unemployed right now, I got to see that my net worth goal is easily attainable. This gives me a whole different context in which to live my life. Thank you, Ilona for sharing your knowledge and insights.
— Mary C.“THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for so generously allowing me to be in your practice of the workshop, and for giving me such invaluable skills.”
My relationship to my finances in the last two weeks has been unrecognizable to me. I can actually manage my money now! And it is both the little things and the no-longer-existing conversations that have made the difference. For the longest time, I kept track of every penny I spent, because that's what my mom taught me to do. But at some point, I began to be resentful of this practice, because I knew it stemmed from her desire to never be poor again, and I didn't want to be like that. So I stopped tracking my expenses, and stopped managing what I had and what I was spending. Now that I've broken up so many of my conversations around money and wealth, I can track my expenses again in service of what I want, and what is important to me. AND I can confidently adjust my financial plan when circumstances change. Not only that, but my dad and I can now have a conversation about money without me crying!! Seriously, this was not possible before. 95% of our conversations before involved me crying in frustration. I hated talking about money. Now, I have so much confidence with my current financial situation, I can talk about the future without freaking out about the present. It's just amazing. The other day, we had a calm, rational conversation about taking the next steps to start investing my money. And we both left the conversation happy and complete, in full partnership with each other. Lastly, I'm now excited about having a conversation with any potential employer about how much salary I require, because I know that I can, based on what is important to me, sort out how much money I require in order to have the quality of life that I want to have.
Most importantly, and especially because you both showed me so much compassion during the entire workshop, I know for certain that I can do this with any amount of money I have. And to me, right now as I'm starting out on my own, financially, that truly is priceless. Because I know that no matter what happens in life, no matter where life takes me, I have the skills and the confidence to take care of myself financially, in service of whatever is important to me at that point in my life. And I am just so, so grateful for that peace of mind.
I couldn't think of two people better suited for transforming people's conversations about money, and making this kind of difference for people. Your compassion, your generosity, your love, and your commitment is truly inspiring. Thank you so much for giving me such a wonderful gift.
— Christie“...it is never too late to be financially free!”
Ilona is a wonderful teacher in the world of personal finance. At her workshop, I learned how important it is to understand where I am financially with tools like the net worth statement and the cash flow worksheet. It has really made a difference. Also, Ilona made me feel better about where I am at financially at 40 and that it is never too late to be financiallyfree and ready for my golden years. Thanks, Ilona!
— Laura C of Marietta, GA“I got... a new relationship to money!”
What I got from the workshop was a new relationship to money and how my old relationship was really holding me down from having what I want. There is a new freedom with money for me.
— Wendy Stricker“Before meeting with Wealth Skills I was resigned to the idea that I would never retire or own my own home.”
It seemed that those things were a trade off to my freedom somehow. It was easier to live in denial avoiding what was so about finances. I was sure there was nothing I could do about my debt and that this was just a way of life. I would live in the now and at some point acquire a grocery cart for my final belongings.
Once I met Ilona, I quickly realized she had a very different outlook. One that was not attached to the story I had about my situation. She coached me to dream again. I created a list of where I wanted to be and how that would look completely separate from my present ideas and limitations. What fun that was!
Next we did a really honest assessment of my finances and I realized that even though I had quite a lot of debt, there were ways to build something new. I had good structures in place and a strong sense of responsibility.
I never dreamed I could put simple things in place to keep me on track. We built a 2 year plan of action and then a 20 year plan. I was amazed that I could actually see myself abundant, secure, and still free from my shopping cart.
The week after meeting with Ilona I got a $1,300 bonus and got confirmation of double bookings with a key massage client. From a space of believing in myself, I was living into something abundant, expansive and new. Just before meeting with Ilona for the second time I was given a $7K raise! Paying off my debt was getting easier and easier and I couldn’t believe what was happening.
Since meeting with Wealth Skills in June I’ve paid off two major credit cards and have reduced my debt by $5,600. This was done in less than 9 months. I just transferred my highest interest loan to a Zero percent plan until January of 2010.
I am amazed and inspired to say the least. I feel very blessed and full of abundance! I thank the coaching I’ve received from Wealth Skills and feel with this alliance I will truly find the freedom and love I deserve!
Thank you so much.
— Theresa N.“Thank you again for your workshop.”
As you know, I completed the workshop in January with my girlfriend. We consider ourselves to be professionals and consider ourselves to be doing "everything right" with respect to day-to-day money management and saving for financial prosperity.
Prior to the workshop, I asked myself the following questions:
- “Is this workshop going to be time well spent?”
- “Is the workshop worth the price of admission?”
- “Will I learn anything new?”
The workshop helped me examine my day-to-day budget and showed me where my expenses were going. With the help your workshop, I learned that I had a number of ways that I could reduce my "cost of living" expenses. I realized this in the budgeting exercises. I've never been asked to write down my monthly budget.
My immediate goals leaving the workshop were to do the following:
- disconnect my home phone line - I use my cell phone for all personal phone calls and haven't had a phone plugged into the phone-jack for years. $25.00 per month
- discontinue my high-speed data with Comcast. I'm embarrassed to admit, I have two internet services at home and have NEVER used the Comcast service. Last Saturday, I returned the unopened box to Comcast. $60.00 per month.
- discontinue my Verizon Wireless internet card. This is a business expense that I pay for and have never used as well. $65.00 per month
As you can see, it took me a few months to accomplish my immediate goals; however, I'm now saving $150.00 per month EVERY MONTH! These funds will help me pay off unnecessary debt and build savings. My questions have been answered! The time and money was well spent. The workshop was worth every penny and I will use your material to revisit my income statement to see where I can save money monthly an annually.
Thanks again!
— Jim“I am a senior in college and I attended the workshop in June ’09.”
During the exercises I was able to uncover the patterns of thought that I have about money. I have been doing a lot of work with the law of attraction and out of your workshop I really got for the first time that two things can’t coexist in the same space. It's just plain physics. I can't have a negative view about money and expect to attract an abundance of money! It's just not possible. Out of changing my attitude about money I was able to accept that I am where I am and it's okay. I got clarity on how make my dreams a reality. Out of the workshop I am becoming a math tutor! I just ordered some business cards a couple days ago! I saw that I have been being a victim of the amount of business that comes into the restaurant that I work at. I would have thoughts like, "I can't help what comes in, there's just no money to be made here, everyone knows servers aren't rich, and I just need to accept that working college students are poor." By being a math tutor I am in the driver’s seat. I get to say when I work, where I work, and I get to set my own price. I am committed to changing the way our youth and society view mathematics. By being in action and tutoring I get to have my dreams fulfilled today and not wait until I get my degree. I can have joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction right now. It's so great because out of changing the way I think about money, I see new actions to take that I didn't even about before. Since the course, I have found affordable health insurance, I have a source from which to get the medication I need at an affordable price, and I found out that the university approved me for a $2,000 loan for the summer semester! It didn't even occur to me to check my financial aid award page!
Before the workshop I was stressed out because I was not going to be able to work as much in my senior year and would be substantially short on money every month. My parents were unable to help me financially so it was up to me to come up with the money I needed. I looked and looked for other sources of funding for my education and was stuck. I just couldn’t come up with money I needed. After the workshop I saw that I was driven to graduate in the spring of 2010 to prove to my parents that I was good enough. Now I realize it doesn’t mean anything. About a week after the course ended I found a way to continue my education at a comfortable rate. I will graduate college without credit card debt and will have my student loans paid back within a year.
In short, what I got out of this course is power, purpose, and inspiration. I forgave myself for selling out and living a mediocre life and then put my ass on the line. I'm never turning back.
~ Kelly :-)