Kate Levinson - Emotional Currency: A Womans Guide to Building a Healthy Relationship with Money

I owe a large debt of gratitude to the many people who have taught me about money: my family, my friends, my clients, the women I interviewed for the book, and the women who have attended the Emotional Currency Workshops.

My thanks to Philip Fradkin for his introduction to Carl Brandt, who read my proposal and suggested it to Gail Hochman, his partner at Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents. Gail guided me so wisely through several edits and, in a moment of intense doubt, reassured me by telling me one of her money stories. More than any other words could have, her story showed me that there was value in the idea of this book. Gratitude to Marci Adamski for making the introduction to Julie Bennett, the acquisitions editor at Ten Speed Press, and to Julie who got the book. And my thanks to Veronica Randall, senior editor at Ten Speed, for carrying us steadily, the book and me, through the home stretch.

Many friends and professional editors, over lots of years, have made their marks on the chaos of words and ideas that has now become Emotional Currency. I thank them all, especially Francine Allen, Wendy Earl, Kathryn Frank, Catherine Lucas, Doris Ober, Rachel Remen, Jane Reynolds, Linda Spangler, and Margaret Wrinkle. I am especially indebted to Nancy Addess and Jean Blomquist, editors on the last drafts of the book, who continually asked for clarification, rewording, and reorganization. I truly couldnt have made it without all of you!

And to my beloved husband, Steve Costa, my gratitude for all that he has brought into my life. It was a very good thing that Id discovered that money was emotional currency before he had the idea of buying Point Reyes Books. Without having done some of my inner money work, I would certainly have said, We cant! We dont have the money. And our lives would have been poorer. Instead, our world has been immeasurably expanded and enriched, but of even more value to me has been the deepening of our partnership.

I now have the privilege of being both an author and a bookseller. I thank the independent booksellers for continuing, against all odds, to be a vital part of bookselling in America. I know that this book would never have been published without their existence.

H ERES A LIST OF RESOURCES to help you explore and educate yourself further about money matters. Be sure to search for other titles and websites that speak to your needs as online resources change frequently and sites specifically geared for women are bound to multiply.

Be aware that almost all websites are commercially supported and are marketing tools for a person, company, or profession. Investigate the Internet using the search terms: women, money, finance, or financial literacy to find helpful sites not included here.

I invite you to my website, www.emotionalcurrency.com where you will find an updated resource list along with other materials about women and money and a place for you to share what youve learned about your inner money life.

Smart Women Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Achieving Financial Security and Funding Your Dreams by David Bach

Girl, Get Your Money Straight: A Sisters Guide to Healing Your Bank Account and Funding Your Dreams in 7 Simple Steps by Glinda Bridgforth

The Money Therapist: A Womans Guide to Creating a Healthy Financial Life by Marcia Brixey

Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

Raising Financially Fit Kids by Joline Godfrey

The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Personal Finance by Kenneth M. Morris

Women and Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny by Suze Orman

Prince Charming Isnt Coming: How Women Get Smart About Money by Barbara Stanny

Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life by Barbara Stanny

On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girls Guide to Personal Finance by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar

Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money with Your Honey by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar

The learning center on the Womens Financial Network at Siebert website: www.wfn.com

Emotional Currency: www.emotionalcurrency.com

Your Money or Your Life: www.yourmoneyoryourlife.org

National Endowment for Financial Education: www.smartaboutmoney.com

Suze Orman: www.suzeorman.com

MSN Money: www.moneycentral.msn.com

The Wall Street Journal: www.online.wsj.com/home-page

Debtors Anonymous

The Secret Currency of Love: The Unabashed Truth About Women, Money, and Relationships edited by Hilary Black

Nickled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Money Changes Everything: Twenty-two Writers Tackle the Last Taboo with Tales of Sudden Windfalls, Staggering Debts, and Other Surprising Turns of Fortune edited by Jenny Offill and Elissa Schappell

Money, A Memoir: Women, Emotions, and Cash by Liz Perle

Without A Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class edited by Michelle Tea

Its Not About the Money: Unlock Your Money Type to Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance by Brent Kessel

Seven Stages of Money Maturity: Understanding the Spirit and Value of Money in Your Life by George Kinder

The Way of Woman: Awakening the Perennial Feminine by Helen Luke

Money and the Meaning of Life by Jacob Needleman

The Energy of Money: A Spiritual Guide to Financial and Personal Fulfillment by Maria Nemeth

The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life by Lynne Twist

The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating A Caring Economics by Riane Eisler

The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property by Lewis Hyde

The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Healthand a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard

Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell

Secret History of the Credit Card on the Frontline website: www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/credit/more/rise.html

The Story of Stuff video by Annie Leonard and website: www.storyofstuff.com

What Would Jesus Buy? DVD and Reverend Billys website: www.revbilly.com

Robert Reich: www.robertreich.org

Inspired Philanthropy: Creating Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan and Leaving a Legacy by Tracy Gary and Nancy Addess

Fundraising for Social Change by Kim Klein

To compare your income with the rest of the worlds population: Global Rich List: www.globalrichlist.com

Womens Funding Network website, with 165 worldwide womens foundations: www.womensfundingnetwork.org

Global Fund for Women: www.globalfundforwomen.org

Women for Women International: www.womenforwomen.org

Flow funding: www.flowfunding.org

To assess philanthropic organizations: www.charitynavigator.org and www2.guidestar.org