Melissa Jeffcott Certified life coach, writer, and workshop facilitator

"Like many people, I have had an up and down relationship with money over the years. When I was in primary school, my dad left his job at IBM, and starting his own computer programming business, which ended up being highly successful, but also meant he was absent from the family a lot. I think in my young mind, I associated the increase in wealth in our family with not seeing as much of my dad, so I never felt comfortable with spending money he gave us even though I now see that was his way of showing us love.

Fast forward a few years, and in a sad twist of fate by the time I was 18 both my mum and dad had died of cancer, and my sister and I were left without parents, but with quite a lot of money. So even though we had a nice house to live in, and could travel and have material things, to me it was no substitute for not having my parents around. Once again, I had associated money with absence, so I didn’t really like it (well, I did like being able to travel!) I think this unusual start to adulthood, removed me from really having to take responsibility for money, so I saw it as sort of a necessary evil, but something I left to accountants and other people to take care of for me.

I feel like it is only in the past few years in my forties, since I started running my life coaching business that I have had to really look at my finances and change my relationship with money. I now see the value in having a healthy attitude to money, which is definitely something I want to instil in my 3 children. I am currently reading ‘The Barefoot Investor for Families’ and want them to grow up knowing the value in working hard and saving for what you want (eg. that expensive electric guitar my teenage son simply has to have!)

I have realised that you are never too old to become more financially literate: you can always ask questions, and become more educated about your finances, it is simply a conscious decision that you make.

However, what hasn’t changed over time, is my definition of true wealth: being healthy and able to spend quality time with my family while still making time to do the things that give me purpose and joy. If I consistently achieve that, then I have all that I need."