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What is Your Emotional Money Score, The Highlights · Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen)

• 0:08
  Robert: January 1st, 2026. Happy New Year and welcome to the
• 0:11
  Robert: Women and Money podcast as well as everyone smart enough
• 0:14
  Robert: to listen. Robert, the producer back here with you. As
• 0:17
  Robert: you know, Suze and KT have just changed their whole life.
• 0:21
  Robert: So they thought it was a good idea to start
• 0:23
  Robert: anew this Sunday, January 4th. Plus, today's New Year's Day
• 0:28
  Robert: and hopefully, you had a wonderful time last night and
• 0:31
  Robert: were safe. Maybe you're a little tired today, Lord knows
• 0:34
  Robert: I am.
• 0:35
  Robert: Maybe you're reflecting and planning this new year. So what
• 0:39
  Robert: we're gonna do is play for you highlights from an
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  Robert: episode that can help you set your money mind as
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  Robert: we start 2026. Enjoy.
• 0:51
  Suze: Today is Suze School, and it's a different kind of
• 0:55
  Suze: Suze School today, although we've had a few like this
• 0:58
  Suze: in the past.
• 1:00
  Suze: Today is a day where it is essential that you
• 1:04
  Suze: take out either your Suze notebooks, or if you happen
• 1:08
  Suze: to be walking, if you're jogging, if you're driving, just
• 1:11
  Suze: put this podcast on pause right now.
• 1:14
  Suze: Because I only want you to listen to this podcast
• 1:18
  Suze: if you have a piece of paper and a pencil
• 1:22
  Suze: in front of you, so that you can record your
• 1:25
  Suze: answer to the 20 questions that I am about to
• 1:30
  Suze: ask you. Now, I know, I get it. A lot
• 1:35
  Suze: of you just love when I talk about the stock
• 1:38
  Suze: market and this and that. I get that.
• 1:41
  Suze: But this podcast, this particular one, may be 10 times
• 1:47
  Suze: more important than any prediction or recommendation or whatever I
• 1:53
  Suze: could ever give you, cause here's the bottom line when
• 1:57
  Suze: it comes to your money. How many times have I
• 2:01
  Suze: said to you, number one, you and your money are one.
• 2:06
  Suze: We know that you've heard that. You're tired of me
• 2:09
  Suze: even saying it.
• 2:11
  Suze: How many times have you heard me say that the
• 2:14
  Suze: internal obstacles to wealth are fear, shame, and anger? Those
• 2:21
  Suze: are the three emotions that rule you. You buy when
• 2:26
  Suze: you should be selling. You sell when you should be buying.
• 2:29
  Suze: You go out and buy a new car when you
• 2:31
  Suze: know you can't afford a new car. You go to
• 2:33
  Suze: the store and you see things and you see a
• 2:36
  Suze: white turtleneck and you buy it even though you already
• 2:38
  Suze: have five because it's on sale.
• 2:41
  Suze: Over the 40 years that I've been doing this, everybody,
• 2:46
  Suze: I can tell you that until you understand what I
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  Suze: just said, until you understand and feel it.
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  Suze: Feel the truth of it.
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  Suze: That fear, shame, and anger are the internal obstacles to wealth.
• 3:04
  Suze: Until you get that and you then recognize, oh...
• 3:09
  Suze: those are my emotions, but they don't have to control me.
• 3:13
  Suze: I can control them.
• 3:18
  Suze: That I don't think you'll ever have what I call
• 3:22
  Suze: true wealth.
• 3:24
  Suze: I just don't. That is a truth that I need
• 3:29
  Suze: you to face. So today we are going to have
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  Suze: a podcast where you're gonna find out what is your
• 3:40
  Suze: emotional money score.
• 3:43
  Suze: And it's important to really know, are you in control
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  Suze: of your emotions or are your emotions still currently in
• 3:52
  Suze: control of you, because you have to get that money
• 3:56
  Suze: alone isn't the key to true financial freedom it's just
• 4:00
  Suze: not it's your mindset, your emotions, and your willingness to
• 4:06
  Suze: face the truth.
• 4:09
  Suze: The truth that really everybody can unlock the power for
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  Suze: you to control your money, and when you control your
• 4:17
  Suze: money versus your emotions controlling your money, you also own
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  Suze: the power to control your destiny.
• 4:26
  Suze: So here's how this is gonna work. I am going
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  Suze: to ask you 20 questions, and there will be four
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  Suze: answers A, B, C, or D. All you have to
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  Suze: do is write down which letter corresponds to the answer
• 4:45
  Suze: that you most relate to. That's it.
• 4:48
  Suze: And then I'll tell you how we go from there.
• 4:53
  Suze: So are you ready to begin?
• 4:56
  Suze: All right, let's start.
• 4:59
  Suze: When you think about your finances, which emotion do you
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  Suze: feel most often?
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  Suze: A: calm and in control. B: anxious or fearful. C:
• 5:12
  Suze: indifferent or avoidant, or D: excited but sometimes impulsive. Write
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  Suze: down which letter corresponds to your answer.
• 5:25
  Suze: Now, I know a lot of you are, can you
• 5:27
  Suze: repeat that, Suze? I want you, as soon as you
• 5:31
  Suze: hear the response that you really relate to, just write
• 5:34
  Suze: down the letter. Don't go so deep into this, all right?
• 5:39
  Suze: Just because that was the very first question, I will
• 5:42
  Suze: read it again. Ready? When you think about your finances,
• 5:47
  Suze: which emotion do you feel most often?
• 5:50
  Suze: Right, listen carefully now. A: calm and in control. B:
• 5:56
  Suze: anxious or fearful. C: indifferent or avoidant. D: excited but
• 6:03
  Suze: sometimes impulsive. Just write down the letter.
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  Suze: Two: If the stock market drops or the economy is
• 6:13
  Suze: about to implode.
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  Suze: How do you react? A: I stick to my plan
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  Suze: and I don't panic. B: I worry and consider making
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  Suze: rash changes. C: I ignore it and hope for the best.
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  Suze: Or D: I feel a rush and want to act quickly.
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  Suze: Number three: When you want to make a big purchase,
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  Suze: what's your process?
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  Suze: A: I evaluate if it's a need or a want
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  Suze: and act accordingly. B: I often buy it just to
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  Suze: feel better, then regret it.
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  Suze: C: I avoid thinking about it until the last minute.
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  Suze: Or D: I buy first and figure out the consequences later.
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  Suze: Four: Do you have an emergency fund? A: Yes, and
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  Suze: I contribute to it regularly.
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  Suze: B: I do, but it falls far short of what
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  Suze: I know I need. C: No, I keep putting it off,
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  Suze: and D: I save only when I am financially afraid.
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  Suze: Five: How do you feel about discussing money with loved ones?
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  Suze: A: Comfortable and open. B: nervous or ashamed. C: I
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  Suze: avoid it. D: I dominate the conversation or use money
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  Suze: to impress others.
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  Suze: Six: If you experience a financial setback, what is your
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  Suze: first response?
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  Suze: A: I assess the situation calmly and make a plan.
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  Suze: B: I panic and feel overwhelmed.
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  Suze: C: I ignore it, hoping it will resolve itself, and D:
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  Suze: I blame myself or others and act impulsively.
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  Suze: Seven: Do you believe having more money would solve your problems?
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  Suze: A: No, I know happiness and security come from within.
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  Suze: B: Yes, I often think more money would fix everything. C:
• 8:37
  Suze: I don't know. I avoid thinking about it.
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  Suze: D: Sometimes, but I also know I need to change
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  Suze: my habits.
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  Suze: Eight: How do you feel when you see others spending
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  Suze: money on things that you want but can't afford?
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  Suze: A: I'm happy for them and content with my own choices. B:
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  Suze: I'm jealous or resentful.
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  Suze: C: I try not to think about it. D: I
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  Suze: sometimes overspend just to keep up.
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  Suze: Nine: When you receive unexpected money like a bonus or
• 9:18
  Suze: a gift or a tax refund, what is your first instinct?
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  Suze: A: You save or invest it. B: You spend it quickly. C:
• 9:31
  Suze: You let it sit, unsure what to do. And D:
• 9:35
  Suze: You treat yourself, then worry about the rest.
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  Suze: 10: How do you approach setting financial goals?
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  Suze: A: I set clear realistic goals and track my progress. B:
• 9:51
  Suze: I set goals but rarely follow through.
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  Suze: C: I avoid setting goals because it feels overwhelming.
• 10:00
  Suze: D: I set ambitious goals but get distracted by new desires. OK,
• 10:06
  Suze: you're halfway there. How you doing, everybody? Are you writing
• 10:09
  Suze: down the letter, just the letter that corresponds to your answer?
• 10:14
  Suze: You should know the answer immediately when you hear it.
• 10:18
  Suze: Do not give it a lot of thought. Just know
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  Suze: what you respond to and write it down, all right.
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  Suze: 11: If you make a financial mistake, how do you
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  Suze: handle it?
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  Suze: A: I learn from it and I adjust my behavior. B:
• 10:37
  Suze: I dwell on it and feel guilty. C: I ignore
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  Suze: it and hope it goes away. And D: I blame
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  Suze: myself harshly or repeat the mistake.
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  Suze: 12: What's your attitude towards debt?
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  Suze: A: I avoid it or pay it off quickly. B:
• 11:01
  Suze: I feel anxious or ashamed about it.
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  Suze: C: I ignore it and hope it won't catch up
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  Suze: to me. Or D: I use debt to get what
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  Suze: I want now, then worry later.
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  Suze: 13: How often do you check your bank accounts or
• 11:19
  Suze: your credit union accounts or your money account balances?
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  Suze: A: regularly as part of my routine. B: only when
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  Suze: I'm worried. C: rarely or never. Or D: when I
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  Suze: feel like spending or after a splurge.
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  Suze: 14: how do you feel about your current savings for retirement?
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  Suze: A: I'm confident and on track. B: I'm worried cause
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  Suze: I'm falling behind. C: I don't know how much I have. D:
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  Suze: I keep meaning to start but haven't.
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  Suze: 15: When you receive a bill or a financial statement, what's
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  Suze: your reaction?
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  Suze: A: I open and review it right away.
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  Suze: B: I feel anxious but open it eventually.
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  Suze: C: I avoid opening it as long as possible. D:
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  Suze: I ignore it until there's a problem.
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  Suze: 16: How do you make decisions about lending or giving
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  Suze: money to a friend or family member?
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  Suze: A: I set clear boundaries and stick to them.
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  Suze: B: I feel guilty saying no. C: I avoid the conversation.
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  Suze: D: I often say yes even when I shouldn't.
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  Suze: 17: How do you feel about negotiating your salary?
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  Suze: A: Comfortable and assertive.
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  Suze: B: Nervous but try anyway.
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  Suze: C, I avoid it, or D: I get aggressive or emotional.
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  Suze: 18: If you lost your job tomorrow, how would you cope
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  Suze: financially and emotionally?
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  Suze: A: I have a plan and would stay calm.
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  Suze: B: I'd panic but try to figure it out.
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  Suze: C: I'd feel lost and overwhelmed, and D: I'd blame
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  Suze: myself or others and act impulsively.
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  Suze: 19: How do you react when someone offers you financial advice?
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  Suze: A: Open minded and willing to learn. B: Defensive or embarrassed. C:
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  Suze: I tune out or avoid the conversation. And D: I
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  Suze: get argumentative or dismissive.
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  Suze: And the very last question is: What's your overall feeling
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  Suze: about your financial future?
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  Suze: A: Hopeful and proactive.
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  Suze: B: Worried but trying to improve.
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  Suze: C: Uncertain and avoidant.
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  Suze: And D: Optimistic but sometimes unrealistic.
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  Suze: All right, that was all 20 questions. Take a breath.
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  Suze: Do you know who Iyanla Vanzant is? She used to
• 14:29
  Suze: be on the Oprah show all the time. She used
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  Suze: to look in the camera and say, "just take a breath."
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  Suze: All right.
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  Suze: Next, here is what I want you to do. You
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  Suze: should have 20 letters in front of you.
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  Suze: For every A that you have, I want you to
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  Suze: give it three points.
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  Suze: For every B that you have, I want you to
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  Suze: give it one point. For every C that you have,
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  Suze: I want you to give it zero points. And for
• 15:01
  Suze: every D that you have, I want you to give
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  Suze: it two points. So for instance, if you happen to
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  Suze: have 20 A's.
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  Suze: The maximum score would be obviously 60 points. Right now
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  Suze: I want you to look at your answers, and I
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  Suze: want you to total up what your score happens to be,
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  Suze: because you now are about to find out what your
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  Suze: emotional money score is.
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  Suze: Are you ready? Here we go. If you happen to
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  Suze: have scored between 50 and 60 points, you are what
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  Suze: I call emotionally empowered, for really you have mastered your
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  Suze: emotions because you're making wise, confident financial decisions, so you
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  Suze: should feel so good about yourself it's not even funny.
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  Suze: Anywhere from 30 to 49, you're what I call emotionally aware.
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  Suze: Now you're aware
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  Suze: about your emotions, so you're growing in that self-awareness. You're
• 16:22
  Suze: making some progress, but you still are learning to manage
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  Suze: your emotions around money.
• 16:30
  Suze: So even though you're aware, you're not yet emotionally empowered.
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  Suze: Am I making sense?
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  Suze: Between 15 and 29...
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  Suze: You're what I call emotionally reactive. You're somebody whose financial
• 16:48
  Suze: decisions usually are driven by fear, anxiety, maybe you're impulsive,
• 16:55
  Suze: but you are reactive to how you are feeling at
• 16:59
  Suze: the moment. Chances are if you're angry, you'll probably go
• 17:02
  Suze: out and buy something you don't even need or want.
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  Suze: And between zero or 14.
• 17:10
  Suze: You're what I call emotionally overwhelmed.
• 17:14
  Suze: You feel overwhelmed, you absolutely lack confidence or hope about
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  Suze: your finances, your emotions are overwhelming you and ruling your life,
• 17:27
  Suze: and I'm sure it's not just ruling your life when
• 17:29
  Suze: it comes to your money. I'm sure it's ruling your
• 17:32
  Suze: life with your children, with your relationships, with everything around you.
• 17:38
  Suze: Now you know your emotional money score. So you're like, well,
• 17:44
  Suze: now what do I do, Suze? So what good does
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  Suze: that do me?
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  Suze: This should serve as a wake up call, seriously.
• 17:53
  Suze: A wake up call, especially if you're in the bottom
• 17:57
  Suze: two categories here.
• 17:59
  Suze: Every decision you make, every action that you take, especially
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  Suze: when it comes to your money.
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  Suze: Just stop. Just stop for one second before you do it,
• 18:11
  Suze: and I want you to take note.
• 18:14
  Suze: In terms of how you are feeling, why you are
• 18:18
  Suze: about to do what you are about to do.
• 18:21
  Suze: I want you to ask yourself that question. I also
• 18:26
  Suze: want you to postpone doing it for that day.
• 18:30
  Suze: If you're going shopping and you're about to buy something,
• 18:35
  Suze: rather than buying it at that moment, can you just
• 18:38
  Suze: ask the person to hold it for you and you'll
• 18:40
  Suze: be back tomorrow and see if you have a desire
• 18:44
  Suze: to go back the next day.
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  Suze: If you want to do something, I don't care what
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  Suze: it is, let's go out to eat, let's do this,
• 18:52
  Suze: let's do that. I just want you to stop for
• 18:54
  Suze: a second and just see if you can tune in
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  Suze: to how you are feeling at that moment in time.
• 19:02
  Suze: If you are feeling like you're ashamed, if you feel
• 19:06
  Suze: like you're angry, if you feel like you're afraid, any
• 19:09
  Suze: of those emotions or any other emotion you may be feeling,
• 19:13
  Suze: can you just stop?
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  Suze: And just postpone it for a few hours or a day,
• 19:21
  Suze: but at least be aware of where that impulse to
• 19:26
  Suze: do something is coming from. Once you start to see it,
• 19:32
  Suze: recognize it, now you're like, oh, that's why I did that.
• 19:37
  Suze: Oh, I get it now. And little by little you
• 19:42
  Suze: start to have control over your emotions versus your emotions
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  Suze: having control over you. That brings us to the conclusion
• 19:53
  Suze: of another Suze School.
• 19:55
  Suze: There's only one thing that I want you to remember
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  Suze: when it comes to your money, and it is this
• 20:00
  Suze: people first. Then money, then things now you stay safe.