Jill On Money: Giving thanks to my readers

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is a time when we can give thanks for all of the blessings in our lives but there is no pressure around gifts maybe just a little anxiety about putting the whole meal together and of module managing family drama This Thanksgiving I was feeling especially grateful for you the folks who read this column who along with podcast radio listeners and television viewers send me questions and feedback Related Articles Jill On Money Changes to charitable giving Jill On Money Five stages of job loss Would Trump s -year mortgage have extremely high rates Jill On Money Year end planning Young homebuyers lose more ground in housing industry as states struggle to help Without your input I am writing and speaking into a void Your smart questions keep me on my toes and help me cover topics largest part relevant to you Beyond the personal gratitude I feel for this incredible society we ve built together I want to encourage all of us to take a moment to give thanks for our financial blessings even the ones that might not seem obvious at first glance If you have a steady paycheck that s worth celebrating in an market where uncertainty can strike at any moment If you have cobbled together a inadequate side hustles you are an entrepreneur and should be as proud of your accomplishment Perhaps you have been able to chip away at debt even at a slow pace If so know that you re making progress that deserves recognition If you ve managed to save anything this year even a small amount that s amazing And if you have contributed toward a future goal like retirement or college funding pat yourself on the back because you have earned it Of unit this year has thrown financial curveballs at numerous of us from layoffs to executive furloughs to still-high prices As I have learned after talking to so countless of you these challenges can reveal something central about yourself that you are more resilient than you imagined There was the couple who had to delay retirement but ascertained that working a bit longer brought unexpected fulfillment There was a young -something who tackled the repayment of participant loans with creative budgeting There was the up-to-date widow who wrapped her arms around her family s finances only to learn that she was quite good at managing money If this year has been financially or emotionally brutal for you gratitude doesn t mean ignoring real hardship Illness death divorce can leave you feeling depleted and spent not to mention feeling out of sorts when it comes to your financial stability Throughout there was ostensibly a friend or family member a area store or a professional who demonstrated up and helped you through a dark time Try to celebrate these small anchors of stability in the storm Each financial hurdle forces us to adapt to a new reality one that is guided by our core values and priorities The process can be hard but maybe as you gather around the table this Thanksgiving consider having at least one conversation about gratitude that touches on finances Maybe share one financial goal you achieved this year no matter how small Or talk about a money lesson someone taught you that changed your perspective These conversations normalize talking about money in healthy solutions and can be valuable for all family members who are navigating their own financial journeys This Thanksgiving week I m giving thanks for you for the Jill on Money locality and for the opportunity to talk about money in approaches that hopefully make your lives a little easier and a little less stressful And I m grateful that we can do this together because personal finance isn t really personal at all It s about all of us trying to build better more secure lives for ourselves and the people we love From my table to yours Related Articles Another Bay Area Denny s closes amid sale of national chain UC Santa Cruz review shows emerging brains have inherent structure Turo is accusing me of causing in damage But I didn t do it Trump administration science assault slams major Bay Area economic engine threatens amazing innovations Is Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes angling for a pardon from President Trump Jill Schlesinger CFP is a CBS News business analyst A former options trader and CIO of an stake advisory firm she welcomes comments and questions at askjill jillonmoney com Check her website at www jillonmoney com