Your Money or Your Life-Study Guide

YOUR MONEY
or YOUR LIFE
A Study Guide for Groups
To be used with the book
Your Money or Your Life

by
Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

A Penguin paperback
Created by the New Road Map Foundation

www.newroadmap.org
Produced and Distributed by The Simple Living Network
www.simpleliving.net
A Special Note To Users Of This PDF Edition

If you downloaded this special, free PDF edition of the Study Guide and find it
useful, your financial contribution in any amount to the New Road Map
Foundation and/or The Simple Living Network will be greatly appreciated.
Your Money or Your Life: A Study Guide for Groups, to be used with the book Your Money or Your Life by Joe
Dominguez and Vicki Robin
Copyright New Road Map Foundation 1996
This Study Guide is available from The Simple Living Network (ordering information is provided in the back of this
volume). If the need arises, however, permission to reproduce this Study Guide is granted, provided it is done in its
entirety and presented as a complete unit, and that credit is given to The New Road Map Foundation and The Simple
Living Network.
It is our hope that this Study Guide will serve you well. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to
contact us.
New Road Map Foundation

P.O. Box 15981
Seattle, WA 98115
www.newroadmap.org
The Simple Living Network

P.O. Box 233
Trout Lake, WA 98650
www.simpleliving.net
Can you soar like an eagle
if you spend like a turkey?*

*One of New Road Map Foundations founders grew up on a turkey farm, and she attests to the fact that
domesticated turkeys do drown themselves by running around with their mouths open when it rains. They dont know
how much is enough. Is it any wonder that the biggest shopping day of the year is the day after Thanksgiving?!
3
Foreword
What you have in your hands represents an important step in a long
process. For you, its the choice to transform your lifelong relationship with
money, with all its ups and downs, fears and hopes, successes and sorrows.
For the New Road Map Foundation, this Group Study Guide is a new step in
our commitment to transform the way Americans think about, spend and
save money.
Since the publication of Your Money or Your Life in 1992, the New Road
Map Foundation has received countless requests from educators,
corporations, unions, health-care providers, credit counselors and just plain
folks for a tool to guide groups who want to study and implement!
the program.
We developed and pilot tested this Study Guide in a corporate setting.
What better location than the workplace to learn how to keep more of your
paycheck! With the success of this pilot project behind us, weve developed
this expanded version that is great for any setting where people gather to
learn community centers, adult education programs, high schools and
colleges, libraries and living rooms. (Weve also developed a "Group Study
Guide for Contemporary Christians" and a "Group Study Guide on Money
and Spirit." Appendix B.)
Everything you need to know to get a group going is explained in the
Introduction. If you would like to see a video of our introductory
presentation (taped at the pilot site, Weyerhaeuser Corporation in Federal
Way, Washington), see page 49 for ordering information.
Many valued colleagues added their genius to this Study Guide.
Liesbeth Trappenburg gave invaluable input on content, as did Jane Hunt on
graphics. Readers of early versions include Paul Wilson, Dave Ellis, Peter
Moore, Karen Nims, Barb Clagett, Dick Roy, Mike and Linda Lenich, Enid
Terhune, David Heitmiller and Jacque Blix. To them our gratitude.
Thanks also go to Susan Mersereau, Chris Wooten, Debra Hansen, Steve Hill,
Joy Troche and Tom Oswald of Weyerhaeuser for supporting the
test phase.
We wish you well on your journey to a transformed relationship
with money.
Monica Wood, Editor
Contents
Foreword ........................................................................................................ 4
Introduction .................................................................................................... 6
Facilitator List .............................................................................................. 10
Kick-off Session .......................................................................................... 11
Decide how your study group will operate; get to know each other. Begin Step 1.
Session 1: Getting Started ......................................................................... 17

Begin Step 2: Learn about your money behavior keep track of every cent you spend.
Session 2: Getting Out of the Money Trap .............................................. 21

What do you have to show for what youve earned? Continue Step 1: Inventory your stuff.
Session 3: What Is Money?........................................................................ 27

Find out what money is and what it costs you. Continue Step 2: Track your life energy.
Session 4: Knowing Where Your Money Goes ....................................... 31

Begin Step 3: Develop categories for your spending; create a Monthly Tabulation.
Session 5: Fulfillment and Purpose ......................................................... 35

Look at your life purpose. Begin Step 4: Ask questions that can change your life.
Session 6: Making Life Energy Visible ..................................................... 39

Begin Step 5: Plot your income and expenses on a chart; put it where you will see it every day.
Follow-up Session: Looking at Your Progress ....................................... 43

Reflect on your experiences and celebrate your progress.
Appendix A: Additional Discussion Questions....................................... 46

Appendix B: Resources .............................................................................. 48
Appendix C: Feedback Form ..................................................................... 49
Introduction
Welcome!
Youve made an important choice: to transform your relationship with money.
This Study Guide will help you start implementing the program in Your Money or Your
Life. Using both this Guide and Your Money or Your Life, your group sessions will be fastpaced, provocative and enjoyable.
What Is Your Money or Your Life?

Your Money or Your Life is the best-selling book by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin
(New York: Viking Penguin, 1992). It presents a simple, nine-step plan that will transform the way you think about, earn and spend money. This plan, a whole-systems
approach based on simple record-keeping and your own unique life situation, works
for anyone who earns or spends money. Singles and couples (with and without children), retirees and students, big earners and those below the poverty line have all
been successful in doing the program.
What Are the Results of the Nine-Step Program?

After following the steps for six months, people report that they have reduced
their expenses an average of 20 percent, are paying off debt and building savings
and are enjoying a higher quality of life. Couples and families also gain a way to talk
about money and make new decisions. There is a sense of discovery and aliveness as
habits are questioned and old dreams are renewed. All of this can happen for you.
This Study Guide is designed to give you the best start possible in understanding and
using the steps.
Why Group Study?

This Study Guide harnesses the creative energy and effectiveness of group
learning to help you improve your relationship with money. It will guide your group
through a process using exercises, reflection, discussion, and homework
assignments that will launch you on your journey.
Note, however, that most people who have implemented this program have done
so on their own. The added support of a group can help you get started, but the real
work on the program happens as you continue doing the steps on your own, or with
your family.
Introduction
Purpose of the Study Guide

By following this Study Guide, reading Your Money or Your Life and doing the
homework assignments, you will begin to implement the first five steps in the nine-step
program and anchor these key steps in your life.
In the process you will:
explore your relationship with money
understand better the relationship between money and work
begin to discover what is enough for you
change habits, and possibly begin making major life changes
Here are two keys to making this system work for you:
1. Start.
2. Keep going.
The objective of these sessions is not to finish. The objective is to begin.
Planning Your Group

This Study Guide takes you through the following sessions:
Kick-off session (one hour)
Six weekly, one-hour sessions
Follow-up session after youve completed a second month of implementing the steps
If possible, schedule your Kick-off session in the middle of the month so you can
start the new month with one of the basic steps of the program: tracking your expenses. This will give you time to generate the data you will be using in later
sessions.
This Study Guide can be adapted to accommodate other meeting schedules:
Two-hour weekly sessions
Sessions every other week
For groups choosing to have longer sessions, we have included additional topics
for discussion at the end of the Study Guide (see Appendix A, page 47). Meeting every
other week allows participants more time to complete homework assignments.
Group Size: Optimal group size is about twelve people. If you have fewer than
five, you might want to invite more to join. If you have more than twenty, consider
dividing into two groups.
Tools Needed: Each group member needs a copy of Your Money or Your Life and
this Study Guide. The person who convenes the group will bring the Study Guides to
the Kick-off session (see ordering information on page 49).
Introduction
For Individuals Too?

Though the primary purpose of this Study Guide is to facilitate group learning, it
can be used for individual study. Simply respond to all group discussion questions in a
notebook. If you wish, reflect on the supplementary questions in Appendix A.
Facilitation
The Kick-off session is facilitated by the person who brings the group together.
For subsequent sessions, facilitation rotates among other group members. The Study
Guide is designed to make facilitation easy and enjoyable, even for people who have
never led groups. The facilitators specific tasks will be reviewed during the Kick-off
session (see page 12), at which time volunteers will sign up.
Format
Each session includes:
Overview of the session
Group Check-in: a chance to talk about your experience of doing the previous sessions assignments
Individual exercise(s)
Group discussion (Note: Discussions may be done in subgroups if your study

group is large.)
Assignments for the next session
A suggested length of time is given for each activity.

The Kick-off and Follow-up sessions have slightly different formats.
How to Make Your Study Group a Success

A list of helpful guidelines will be reviewed by participants during the Kick-off
session (see page 13).
Introduction
Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do this program without my spouse or partner?
You can use this study group to get started. If you are part of a larger household, treat
yourself, for now, as an individual entity. You will probably want to engage the rest of
your family over time. As you do the assignments, consider your own finances separately to the extent that you can. Simply do what makes the most sense to you. There
is no right way.
What if I fall behind the rest of the group?

Continue coming to the meetings. You can gain a lot by participating in the exercises
and discussions and by doing assignments at home as you have time.
Introduction
Facilitator List
At your Kick-off session, have different group members volunteer to facilitate each session.
Note that the Follow-up session takes place one month after Session 6.
Session
1
2
3
4
5
6
Follow-up
(one month later)
10
Name
Date
Kick-off Session
Decide how your study group will operate; get to know
each other. Begin Step 1.
Tools You Need for this Session

A copy of Your Money or Your Life, this Study Guide, pen or pencil
Group Introductions (5 minutes)

Facilitator asks participants to introduce themselves by name and say
one word that describes their relationship with money.
Group Check-in (10 minutes)

Facilitator reads the following question aloud; go around the circle until everyone has
had a chance to respond. (Please ask participants to avoid commenting on what
others say during each sessions opening Check-in.)
What do you want to gain or change by joining this study group and following the steps in Your Money or Your Life?
(Suggestion: Set your sights high and be specific regarding your goals.)
Kick-off Session
11
Launching Your Group (20 minutes)

Facilitator guides the group through the following:
Schedule Meeting Times
This Study Guide is designed to be used in six one-hour weekly sessions,
plus this Kick-off session and a Follow-up session one month later. If possible, schedule your next session during the last week of the month so you
can start the new month with one of the basic steps of the program: tracking your monthly expenses. Set meeting dates accordingly and write them
on page 10. (As reviewed in the Introduction on page 7, this Study Guide
can be adapted for different schedules. If decisions need to be made regarding these options, do so now.)
Facilitation
This is a self-facilitated program with rotating leadership, and volunteers for
the remaining sessions are needed at this time. When you facilitate, your
jobs are to:
Introduce exercises as directed in this Study Guide.
Make sure everyone understands the information presented.
Keep the discussion focused on the topic; if people get off track, gently
help the group refocus. (For example, say, Thats an interesting idea, but
its taking us off the topic. Perhaps you could talk further with someone
about it after the meeting.)
Make sure everyone has a chance to participate as a speaker and as a

listener. Conduct group discussions by going around the circle, giving
each participant the option to speak or pass. Or simply open the floor to
whoever wishes to speak; as conversation winds down ask if anyone else
wishes to speak.
Keep track of time, letting everyone know when there is only one minute
left for a given exercise.
Step out of your facilitator role when its your turn to respond to a
discussion question.
Write names of volunteer facilitators on page 10.
12
Kick-off Session
Guidelines for Making Your Group a Success

Facilitator asks group members to read these guidelines silently. Ask for each group
members agreement on the guidelines before proceeding.
Attend each meeting

Each session builds on previous sessions, so your presence is important.
Furthermore, each person brings a unique and valuable perspective, so
your participation will affect the outcome for all. If you are unable to
attend a meeting, inform that sessions facilitator.
Do the homework assignments

You will benefit from doing the assignments and the group will benefit
from your full participation. If you cannot complete the reading and
assignments before the next session, at least read the key pages that are
indicated, and come to the next group meeting anyway.
Do the steps
Do the steps as they are presented in Your Money or Your Life. While other
methods may work, your purpose here is to learn this method, which has a
proven track record for producing significant results. The steps reinforce
each other and work best when you do all of them.
Offer each other absolute confidentiality

Money is one of the most intimate and difficult topics to discuss. You may
reveal more about your personal relationship with money here than you ever
have before. Let nothing that is said in this group go beyond those present.
Participate openly
Be as open and honest as possible, while always respecting any group
members choice not to speak. Note: At no point are group members
required to reveal any personal financial data.
Participate actively
Feel free to speak up, while ensuring that others also have opportunities
to speak. Every question and comment is important, and every contribution is appreciated. Both speaking and listening enliven the group.
Support your facilitator

Groups can get waylaid by people who wander away from the topic, interrupt, complain or talk too much. Support your facilitator in keeping the
group focused on the topic.
Start and end on time

By beginning and ending at your agreed-upon time you demonstrate
respect for all participants.
Have fun!
Kick-off Session
13
Begin Step 1: Find Out How Much Money You Have

Earned in Your Lifetime
14
Goal
Make peace with your past in the area of money.
Why?
Taking a look at your past relationship with money clears the slate for
building a healthier relationship in the present and sheds light on your
earning power.
How?
Start looking at how much money youve made in your life.
Kick-off Session
Exercise: Making Peace with Your Past (10 minutes) (individual)

Your homework assignment includes contacting Social Security to find out
how much money you have made in your lifetime. Use the space below to
begin listing past employment that would not have been reported to Social
Security, such as jobs you had as a youth (e.g., delivering newspapers, babysitting, bagging groceries).
Write down how much money you think youve made in your lifetime:
Facilitator: When time is up for this exercise, direct group members attention to the
assignments on the next page.
Kick-off Session
15
Looking Ahead
Reading Assignment for the next session
Study Guide Introduction (pp. 6-9)
From Your Money or Your Life:
Prologue
From Chapter 1:
pp. 30-33: How Much Have You Earned in Your Life?
Action Assignment for the next session
To begin Step 1, write to Social Security for your Statement of Lifetime
Earnings (see p. 30 of Your Money or Your Life) or call 1-800-772-1213.
See page 10 of this Study Guide to check the date and facilitator of the
next session.
Bring Next Session

Pen or pencil, Your Money or Your Life, Study Guide
This program has been, in a word, profound. It has now

started to impact every facet of our life. Our life has become
not only much richer but more deliberate, as we become
more aware of our values and choose to live by them. The
program has opened up many options for our life. We have
become more at peace with money.
Couple from Ohio
16
Kick-off Session
Session 1: Getting Started

Begin Step 2: Learn about your money behavior keep track of every cent
you spend.
Overview of the Session
Goal
Begin gathering the information youll need to make the changes you
desire in your financial attitudes and behavior.
Why?
To transform your relationship with money, it is important to observe
both your attitudes and your behavior. By beginning Step 2, Tracking Your
Expenses, you will generate the records youll need for later assignments.
One key to the nine-step program is understanding that you sell your most
precious resource, your time, for money. Spending your money well begins with
knowing where its going. How can you make ends meet if you dont know
where the ends are?
How?
Begin keeping a record of every cent you spend.
Tools to Bring
Instructions for the Facilitator
Remind everyone to:

Keep what is said in confidence
Respect anyones choice not to respond to any particular question
Keep track of time, letting everyone know when there is only one minute
left for a given exercise.
17

Facilitator reads aloud: (Please ask participants to avoid commenting on what others
say during each sessions opening Check-in.)
Tell about one item you bought recently that you feel good about, and why.
Exercise: Tracking Your Expenses (15 minutes) (individual)

Facilitator: Make sure everyone understands this step.
In order to start a new relationship with money and enjoy the benefits
promised by Your Money or Your Life, it is essential to gather information
about your current spending patterns. One of your homework assignments
is to begin recording every cent that comes into and goes out of your life.
Later you will organize these expenses into categories and compute a
monthly total.
On the next page is a list of typical expenses. Beside each item write how
you normally pay for it and how you intend to keep track of it (e.g., check
register, pocket or purse notebook, collect receipts). This list is to get you
thinking; it is not intended to be complete. Also, note that over time you may
refine your method of tracking expenses.
Facilitator: When there are 5 minutes left, ask if there was any type of expense that
any group member couldnt imagine tracking. Allow others to suggest solutions.
18
How I normally pay
How I will track this expense
Rent/House payment
Utilities
Phone
Health insurance
Auto insurance
Groceries
Clothes
Gas for car
Bus/Parking
Dry cleaning
Day care
Movies/Theater
Restaurant meals
Charitable contributions
Gifts
Other
Group Discussion (10 minutes)

Note: If there are more than eight in your study group, you may wish to
divide into subgroups for each sessions Group Discussion. We recommend
that these small groups remain the same for the duration of the course.
Facilitator reads the questions one at a time, allowing time for discussion after each
question.
How do you think keeping track of your expenses might affect your
buying habits?
What strengths (personal and other) can you draw on to help you keep
track of every cent?
If you divided into small groups, regroup and report on your discussions to
everyone.
19
Looking Ahead
Note: All page numbers in the assignments refer to Your Money or Your Life
unless otherwise indicated.
Reading Assignments
Chapter 1
If you are short on time, at least read pp. 12-13 and pp. 23-28.
From Chapter 2:
pp. 55-56: Your Life Energy
pp. 69-74: Keep Track of Every Cent
Action Assignments
To begin Step 2, decide how you are going to track your expenses and get
that system ready to go.
Start tracking your expenses.
Begin this step as soon as possible so you can have a complete month of expenses to work with by Session 5.
Bring Next Session
The system you are using to track expenses
Your journey has begun! Youre setting up systems that can bring measurable changes in how you spend your most precious resource, your life
energy. Reminder: The key to success lies in doing the steps.
I have a handle on how much money I have, how I spend it

and where it is. No more money worries based on nebulous
fears. My savings have increased from $4,815 to $10,550.
And I have a whole new attitude! Ive transformed my
relationship with money.
Woman from Hawaii, decreased expenses $335/month
20
Session 2: Getting Out

of the Money Trap
What do you have to show for what youve earned?
Continue Step 1: Inventory your stuff.
Goal
Take stock of what you have and what it has cost you to have it.
Why?
Full accountability to yourself for your possessions, your savings and your
debts opens up the opportunity for improvement in how you earn, spend
and save money. The first exercise of this session will get you going in the
assessment process.
How?
Begin observing and reflecting on your possessions.
Tools to Bring
Instruction for the Facilitator

This session is a full one, and it will be especially important to stay on track
and on time.
Session 2: Getting Out of the Money Trap
21

Facilitator reads aloud:
What was most exciting or eye-opening for you in tracking your expenses?
Exercise: Fulfillment Curve (10 minutes) (individual)

In the chart below, write down some of your possessions and evaluate them
according to the following categories: Survival, Comfort, Luxury or Clutter
(if needed, see pp. 23-27 of Your Money or Your Life for a review of the Fulfillment Curve). You may continue this exercise at home if you wish.
Item
22
Survival
Comfort
Luxury
Clutter
Exercise: A Walk Through Your House (10 minutes)

Facilitator: Have everyone sit comfortably, with eyes closed if they wish, and lead them
on an imaginary walk through their homes. Read the following slowly, pausing after
each sentence. (Hint for facilitator: pause long enough for each image to come to your
mind.)
Picture your house or apartment building from the street or outside.
Enter your home through the door you normally use. What room are you
in? If you are not already there, go to your living room or front room.
What furniture is in it? Can you remember acquiring each piece? Do
you need all of it? Put a price tag on each piece. Whats on the walls?
What values does this room reflect? What items do you enjoy? Whats
clutter?
Now go to your kitchen. How do you feel when you enter this room?
Are there things on the counters or are they clear? Whats visible?
Open the cupboards. What do you see? What appliances do you
own? How often do you use each one? What items could you do
without?
Go into your bedroom. What do you notice first? Open your closet.
What do you see? How often do you wear each piece of clothing? Are
there items you could do without? Think about your entire house. Are
there too many things? Not enough? What does your house represent
to you?
Open your eyes and continue with the next exercise.
23
Exercise: Reflection (3 minutes) (individual)

In the More column list what you would like more of; in the Less column list
what you would like less of.
More
24
Less
Group Discussion (10 minutes) (small groups if desired)

Facilitator (or someone in each small group) reads the questions one at a time,
allowing time for discussion after each question.
Which items would you like to see more of and which would you like to
see less of?
Is one persons more another persons less?
(Regroup and report on your discussions to everyone.)
25
Looking Ahead
Reading Assignments
Chapter 2
If you are short on time, at least read pp. 41-42; pp. 44-48 (including
Money as Social Acceptance); pp. 54-56 (start with bold text) and pp.
59-67 (start with How Much).
Action Assignments
Continue Step 1.
Develop a method to inventory your possessions (see pp. 33-35).
Begin your inventory. You may inventory one drawer, a closet, or even a
whole room. (Your inventory does not have to be completed now but
do begin it.)
Continue tracking your expenses.
Bring Next Session
The inventory youve begun to take
Congratulations! You have completed Session 2 of your journey toward

transforming your relationship with money.
By keeping focused on what really matters, Ive eliminated many inessentials in my life. Ive achieved remarkable financial clarity and confidence. The steps
and ideas presented in the program have helped me to
build a life of love and fulfillment in the present.
Woman from California
26
Session 3: What Is Money?
Find out what money is and what it costs you. Continue Step 2: Track your life energy.
Goal
Find out what you are trading your life energy for.
Why?
This process puts paid employment into real perspective and enables you
to see how much you are actually making at your job.
How?
Calculate your real hourly wage.
Tools to Bring
The inventory you have begun to take

Tell about what you inventoried a drawer, a closet, a room and what
insights you gained.
27

Read the questions silently and take 5 minutes to think about them. Spend
the next 15 minutes in group discussion.
Facilitator: Let all groups know when there are 3 minutes of discussion time left.
What did you learn about money as a child?
Did your mother and father have different ideas about money?
If so, which one did you tend to believe?
Exercise: Developing a Life Energy vs. Salary Checklist

(10 minutes) (individual)
Because we trade our life energy for money, establishing the actual costs in
time and money to maintain our jobs is a critical piece in evaluating our
relationship to money.
Using pp. 67-68 of Your Money or Your Life as your guide, begin filling out
your Life Energy vs. Salary Checklist on the next page. This will assist you in
your homework assignment: calculating your real hourly wage.
Write down job-related spending categories that apply to your life.
Fill in estimates of your time and money expenditures in each category.
Note: If you are not currently employed, either estimate the job-related
time and money expenditures of the main breadwinner in your family or
estimate from a period of time when you were employed. Future exercises
and assignments related to employment can be handled in the same way.
The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is
required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.
Henry David Thoreau
28
Checklist: Life Energy vs. Salary
Spending Category
Time
hrs/week more
Money
$/week less

Facilitator (or someone in each small group) reads aloud:
As you became aware of hidden job-related costs, can you
see areas where you could reduce or even eliminate expenses immediately?
29
Looking Ahead
Reading Assignments
Chapter 3
If you are short on time, at least read pp. 76-79 (start with
Budgets); pp. 81-87 and pp. 90-93 (start with Making).
Action Assignments
Continue Step 2.
Complete your Life Energy vs. Salary Checklist.
Calculate your real hourly wage (see p. 64-65).
Add to your work week the hours spent in work-related activities.
Deduct from your weekly income all work-related expenses.
Inventory another drawer, closet or room.
Continue tracking your expenses.
Bring Next Session
Your real hourly wage calculation (Note: you are not expected to reveal
personal financial data, but the factors you considered in your calculation
will be valuable to the group.)
Keep up the good work! Your insights about life energy will help you transform your relationship with money.
After I analyzed our spending patterns, it became clear that

nearly half of what I made was spent on the job; that is,
spent on gas, oil, repairs, lunches, a little here, a little
there, and most of it unrecoverable. In short, I could stay
home, work where I live part-time and actually save money
by making half of what I formerly made.
Man in his 50s, California
30
Session 4: Knowing Where

Your Money Goes
Begin Step 3: Develop categories for your spending; create a
Monthly Tabulation.
Goal
Become aware of your patterns of spending.
Why?
The spending categories you will develop arent the standard budget book
entries of Food, Clothing and Shelter, but are based on your observation of
how you actually use your life energy. This action is a process of self-discovery
and awareness - and awareness is the beginning of change.
How?
Develop categories generated by your own unique spending patterns.
Tools to Bring
Your real hourly wage calculation

Facilitator reads the questions one at a time, allowing time for responses after each
question.
What are you learning through the practice of keeping track of your
expenses?
When you calculated your real hourly wage, what was your biggest insight?
Session 4: Knowing Where Your Money Goes
31
Exercise: Monthly Tabulation Form (20 minutes) (individual)

Facilitator: At the end of the 20 minutes, ask for one or two volunteers to read their
lists aloud.
Use the space below to begin listing your own unique spending categories
that you want to track on your Monthly Tabulation form. Refer to your
expense records (see pp. 103-08 of Your Money or Your Life for suggestions).
You will be refining these categories as you work with them, so dont worry
about getting it right the first time.
32
One of your homework assignments is to create your own expense categories for your Monthly Tabulation. This tabulation will help you to see where
your money goes and to calculate the cost in hours of your life
energy for each category.

Facilitator (or someone in each small group) reads aloud:
If, in tracking your expenses, you discovered a gazingus pin, tell the group
about it.
(Dont remember what a gazingus pin is? See p. 27 of Your Money or Your
Life.)
33
Looking Ahead
Reading Assignments
Chapter 4
If you are short on time, at least read p. 112; pp. 116-17; pp. 121-22;
p. 128 (bold type only) and pp. 134-35 (start with Valuing).
Action Assignments
Step 3 of the program in Your Money or Your Life: Set up your Monthly
Tabulation form (use pp. 94-96 as guidelines).
Continue tracking expenses.
Inventory another drawer, closet or room.
Bring Next Session
Your Monthly Tabulation form
Congratulations! Youre doing some challenging work. The benefits to you

will be increased clarity, insight and motivation.
I used to own two trucks, a boat, and a motorcycle and spent a

good deal of my time and money maintaining them. I now own
one truck, a bicycle and a kayak and find that Ive tripled my
free time, decreased my expenses of ownership considerably,
increased my enjoyment of use, have a built-in exercise program that didnt exist with the motorized possessions and am
much further down the road to financial independence.
Man from Washington state, decreased expenses
$570/month; reduced debt $12,100 in one year
34
Session 5: Fulfillment and Purpose

Look at your life purpose.
Begin Step 4: Ask questions that can change your life.
Goal
See how your spending relates to your purpose, values and experience of
fulfillment.
Why?
Applying consciousness to your spending brings about a natural decrease
in expenses and an increased sense of control over money. Aligning your
spending with your life purpose a unique feature of the Your Money or
Your Life program provides an ongoing feedback mechanism that will
help you continue to improve.
How?
Begin to methodically evaluate your expenses by asking:
Did I receive fulfillment, satisfaction and value in proportion to life
energy spent?
Is this expenditure of life energy in alignment with my values and life
purpose?
Tools to Bring
Your Monthly Tabulation form
35

Facilitator reads the following instructions one at a time, allowing time for responses
after each one.
If you havent yet talked about calculating your real hourly wage, talk
about that experience now.
Tell about any insights you had while designing your Monthly Tabulation
form.
Exercise: Discovering Purpose (10 minutes) (individual)

Facilitator, remember to watch the clock.
Take 2 minutes to remember:
A time you experienced joy
A time you had a sense of accomplishment
A person who inspired you to explore your purpose
Take 8 minutes to write a list of the most fulfilling times of your life, when
you knew you were doing just what you most wanted to be doing.
36

Share your lists and memories.

Facilitator (or someone in each small group) reads the questions one at a time,
allowing time for discussion after each question.
If you had an extra day each week to do those things you never get around
to, what would you do?
If you were suddenly given a year to use in any way you wanted, knowing
that at the end you could return to your current life, what would you do?
Looking Ahead
37
Reading Assignments
Chapter 5
If you are short on time, at least read pp. 148-51 and pp. 157-65.
Action Assignments
Fill out your month-end tabulation form:
Step 3: List total expenses in each category; convert dollars into hours of
life energy (see example on p. 96). Note: If you dont yet have a full
month of expense records, do these calculations with what you have.
Step 4: Ask yourself the questions for each of your spending categories
and put in your Up and Down arrows (see pp. 113 and 118).
When you go shopping, ask yourself the questions with at least some of
your purchases. Notice your responses. (Remember: no shame, no
blame.)
Bring Next Session
Your month-end tabulations
Now you are into the heart of this program. Aligning your earning and
spending with what is truly fulfilling for you and with your values can be a
real eye-opener. Keep watching and tracking!
After only 3 months on the program my spouse and I are out of debt
and have tripled our savings (on a grad student salary, no less!!). But
more importantly, we finally feel like the world makes more sense. As
20-somethings we had a hunch that everything wed been taught
growing up in the 80s was wrong. Your book finally explained why, and
showed us a way out. The process of financial integrity has helped
us to begin to clarify our dreams and values. We feel as if weve
been given a second chance at life real LIFE.
Couple in their 20s from Oregon
38
Session 6: Making Life Energy Visible

Begin Step 5: Plot your income and expenses on a chart;
put it where you will see it every day.
Goal
Plot a course from where you are to where you want to be.
Why?
Over time, a moving picture of your progress toward your financial
goals will show trends as your relationship with money changes. This
picture will provide ongoing visual feedback and encouragement.
How?
Make a chart for recording your monthly income and expenses.
Tools to Bring

Facilitator reads the questions one at a time, allowing time for responses after each
question.
Where were some of your Up arrows on your month-end tabulation form?

Down arrows? Any surprises?
What was your experience of asking the questions at the time of making
purchases?
39

One of your homework assignments will be to create a chart for your
income and expenses.
Facilitator (or someone in each small group) reads the questions one at a time, allowing time for discussion after each question.
How would you feel about hanging your chart in your bedroom?
How would you feel about hanging your chart in your living room?
(Regroup and report on your discussions with everyone.)
Exercise: Making a Commitment (15 minutes total) (individual and

whole group)
Reflect
Take a few minutes to think about:
What changes do you want to make in how you handle your money? Make
a commitment to implement these changes.
What will your challenges be? How can you meet them?
What strengths do you have that can assist you in keeping your commitments?
Share with a Partner

Turn to the person next to you and share your commitments, challenges
and strengths with each other.
40
Write
Write down the change that you are most committed to making in how you
handle money.
I am committed to:
Share with the Group

Those who wish to may share their commitment with the whole group.
Congratulations!
You have taken the first steps toward financial intelligence, integrity
and independence.
Share a highlight from your group sessions so far.
41
Looking Ahead
Planning for Your Follow-up Session
In a month, come back together as a group. Continue doing the steps so
you can share your progress.
Note the date for the next session (p. 10 of this Study Guide). Write it in
the space provided on the next page.
Facilitator of the Follow-up session: Make reminder calls if your group
wants them or if the location is changed.
Reading Assignments
Finish reading Chapters 1-5 if you havent already. You may want to review
some sections for inspiration and clarification.
Action Assignments
Step 5: Get graph paper (18" by 22" or 24" by 36") and make your chart,
using pp. 146-48 as a guideline. Enter your monthly income and expenses
(see example on p. 162). Hang the chart on your wall.
Continue your inventory (Step 1). You may complete Step 1 by creating
a balance sheet of everything you owe and everything you own
(see pp. 33-39 of Your Money or Your Life).
Continue tracking expenses (Step 2).
Do your monthly tabulations and ask the questions at the end of your
second month (Steps 3 and 4).
Bring Next Session
Your inventory to date
Your wall chart (You need not reveal any personal financial data.)
If you would like to be on the mailing list for our free occasional newsletter, write to:
New Road Map Foundation, Dept GSG, PO Box 15981, Seattle, WA 98115.
You may also register on-line at: www.newroadmap.org
42
Follow-up Session:
Looking at Your Progress
Reflect on your experiences and celebrate your progress.
Date
Tools to Bring
Your inventory to date
Your wall chart

Tell about your experience of creating and hanging your wall chart.

Facilitator (or small group member) reads aloud:
Remind yourself of the commitment you wrote last session on page 41 of

this Study Guide. Did you keep your commitment? If not, do you wish to
recommit?
What support can the group give you?
Follow-up Session: Looking at Your Progress
43
Group Exercise: Wrapping It Up (30 minutes) (small groups if desired)

First, take 5 minutes to read the questions below silently and think about
your answers.
Facilitator (or small group member) then reads the questions one at a time, allowing
time for discussion after each question. (25 minutes)
What is your most significant insight from doing this program?
How have your spending and saving patterns changed?
Has the quality of your life changed? If so, how?
Do you have any plans for the future youd like to share?

Facilitator: Guide the group members in discussing whether they would like to
meet again at some point in the future. If so, set a date and ask for a volunteer to
initiate reminder calls and a volunteer to facilitate. Ask if anyone would like to help
another study group get started.
Looking Ahead
Please fill out the Feedback Form (Appendix C, page 51).
Continue implementing Steps 1-5 of the nine-step program.
Read Chapters 6-9 and begin putting those steps into practice.
Remember, the steps work if you do them!
You have begun a journey that will bring you many benefits in the months
and years to come. Continue with the steps, and your relationship with
money will be ever more clear, relaxed and powerful. Our best wishes to you.
We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
44
Follow-up Session: Looking at Your Progress
Are you soaring

like an eagle
now
that youre not

spending like a turkey?
45
Appendix A:
Additional Discussion Questions
Following are some additional questions for Sessions 1-6, for use by groups meeting for two-hour
sessions. Use the questions to extend your Group Discussions. You may use any or all of the suggested questions. Your group may choose to take a little reflective time after the facilitator reads
each question aloud.

Additional questions for the Group Discussion on page 19:
What was one item you bought recently that you knew you didnt need? What motivated you
to buy it?
When asked, most Americans say that money does not bring happiness, yet people often act
as if buying something will make them happier. Has this ever been true for you?
How can you use this group to help you keep your commitment to tracking every penny?
How might your fulfillment increase if you decreased your spending?

Additional questions for the Group Discussion on page 25:
Turn to the Fulfillment Curve exercise on page 22 of this Study Guide.

Share one of your items from each of the four categories.
Did other members of your group put similar items in the same categories? Or in different
categories? What can you learn from that?
What images, thoughts or feelings came up as you walked through your house?
What personal values does your house reflect? What does your house represent to you?
What makes something clutter?

Additional questions for the first Group Discussion, page 28:
46
Share an early memory having to do with money. How does it affect your life now?
What does money mean to you? What are some of your personal beliefs about money?
What does our culture tell us about how and why to spend money?
Appendix A: Additional Discussion Questions
Additional questions for the second Group Discussion, page 29:
Look at your checklist on page 29 of this Study Guide. Are there any money or time expenditures that surprise you? How do you feel about them?
What does money = life energy mean to you? How is this awareness useful to you?

Additional questions for Group Discussion on page 33:
Some people tend to be tightwads while others tend to be spendthrifts. What about you?
What about other members of your family?
How do you distinguish a need from a want?
Whats the last item you used until it actually wore out?
Have you encountered any road blocks that keep you from recording expenses or doing your
monthly tabulations? If yes, how can you overcome them?

Additional questions for the second Group Discussion on page 37:
What sort of expenses do you pay for with your credit card? Why?
What is its interest rate? How does the interest rate affect the real price of an item or a meal?
What have you always wanted to do that you havent yet done?
Whats the work you would do, even if you werent paid to do it?

Additional questions for Group Discussion on page 40:
Did your total in any expense category surprise you? What category? Was the total higher or
lower than you expected?
How many other people know how big your paycheck is? How many other peoples incomes
do you know?
How important is it to you to have savings, and why?
Have you used the mantra no shame, no blame during the past few weeks? When? Did it
help?
What are you looking forward to in the years to come from following this program?
Appendix A: Additional Discussion Questions
47
Appendix B: Resources
Available from The Simple Living Network
Order on-line at www.simpleliving.net or call 800-318-5725
Group Study Guide: Additional copies of this Study Guide are available. $5 + s&h.
Church Study Guide: A Group Study Guide for Contemporary Christians. $5 + s&h.
Study Guide on Money and Spirit. $5 + s&h.
All Study Guides are for use with the book Your Money or Your Life.
Video introducing the above Study Guides and the study-group process, taped in a corporate setting. Features
Vicki Robin. VHS, 33 minutes. $20 + s&h.
Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence:
Audiocassette/Workbook Course. The same nine-step program youve been working with. Six one-hour
audiocassettes keyed to a 120-page workbook. $60 + s&h.
Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (Penguin paperback). $13.95 + s&h.
Quantity prices:
2-4
5-9
10-24
25+
$13.26 each + s&h

$12.56 each + s&h
$11.16 each + s&h
$10.46 each + s&h
YOUR
MONEY
or YOUR LIFE
Joe Dominguez & Vicki
Robin
All-Consuming Passion: Waking Up from the American Dream. This illustrated booklet of statistics tells the story of
our consumption patterns and how they affect both our personal lives and the planetary whole. $1 (free s&h).
Quantity discount available.
How Earth-Friendly Are You? A Lifestyle Self-Assessment Questionnaire. A tool for examining lifestyle choices in
the context of personal values and planetary sustainability. $1 (free s&h). Quantity discount available.
Getting A Life: Real Lives Transformed by Your Money or Your Life by Jacqueline Blix and David
Heitmiller, introduction by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (Viking, 1997). Jacque and Dave weave
together case studies of over two dozen individuals and families who find practical and creative ways to
implement each step. $13.95 plus s&h.
Order from The Simple Living Network, P.O. Box 233, Trout Lake, WA 98650, phone 800-318-5725 or
509-395-2323. Make checks payable to The Simple Living Network.
Shipping & Handling
$0.01-$19.99 .................. $3.50
$20.00-$39.99 .................. 4.20
$40.00-$59.99 .................. 5.30
$60.00-$79.99 .................. 6.40
$80.00-$99.99 .................. 7.50
$100.00+ .......................... 9.25
(WA residents add 7% sales tax after adding s&h.)

Prices and availability subject to change without notice. For current information, please visit us on-line.
Visit The Simple Living Network on-line at www.simpleliving.net

Visit the New Road Map Foundation on-line at www.newroadmap.org
48
Appendix B: Resources
Appendix C: Feedback Form

1. How did your group form? Check all that apply:
__ Book club
__ Follow-up to a public talk
__ In the workplace
__ Adult education class
__ Religious or spiritual group
__ Informal group of friends
__ Family members
__ Follow-up to another group or class. What group/class?
__ Other:
2. __ Check here if you used this Study Guide as an individual working alone.
3. What format did your group use? Check all that apply:
__ Six one-hour sessions (plus Kick-off and Follow-up)
__ Six two-hour sessions (plus Kick-off and Follow-up)
__ Sessions every week
__ Sessions every other week
__ Other:
4. How many people were in your group at the beginning?
How many at Session 6?
5. If your group formed at work:
What business or organization do you work for?
What is your position?
Did your employer sponsor the group?
Did your employer donate time?
How was the group initiated? (e.g., Human Resources, Employee Assistance, Work/Family Life,
Continuing Education, department head, employee)
Did any problems arise related to meeting in the workplace?
space?
materials?
If yes, what?
How did you deal with them?
6. How valuable was the study group process to you?

7. Please rate the Study Guide:
Great
Best features:
Features that need improvement:
Very
Good
Somewhat
Fair
Not at all
Poor
49
8. Were the homework assignments clear?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
Explain:
9. Please rate the value of the Kick-off Session:
Great
Did you have enough time?
Did it get people engaged in the process?
Suggestions for improvement:
Did your group use the introductory video?

If yes, was it useful?
Good
Fair
Too much?
Why?
10. When/if you facilitated a session, were the guidelines and instructions adequate? Yes
Suggestions for improvement:
11. Please note any particular exercises or discussions where you ran short of time:
12. Were you able to complete the homework assignments?
Yes
No
If no, what problems arose?
13. What is the greatest value to you of the nine-step Your Money or Your Life program?
14. Are you motivated to continue working with this program? Yes
No
If yes, why?
If no, why not?
15. Other comments about your experience with the study group and/or Study Guide:
Optional: Name
Address
Phone
Todays Date
Send to: NRM, Dept GSG, P.O. Box 15981, Seattle, WA 98115
You may send this individually or your group may send all of its forms together. Thank You!
50
Poor
No

Your Money or Your Life-Study Guide

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Your Money or Your Life-Study Guide

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Your Money or Your Life-Study Guide

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What is the purpose of this study guide?

What is the purpose of this study guide?

What resources are available from the New Road Map Foundation and Simple Living Network?

What resources are available from the New Road Map Foundation and Simple Living Network?

YOUR MONEY

To be used with the book

Your Money or Your Life

Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

Created by the New Road Map Foundation

A Special Note To Users Of This PDF Edition

New Road Map Foundation

The Simple Living Network

Can you soar like an eagle

if you spend like a turkey?*

Monica Wood, Editor

Session 1: Getting Started ......................................................................... 17

Session 2: Getting Out of the Money Trap .............................................. 21

Session 3: What Is Money?........................................................................ 27

Session 4: Knowing Where Your Money Goes ....................................... 31

Session 5: Fulfillment and Purpose ......................................................... 35

Session 6: Making Life Energy Visible ..................................................... 39

Follow-up Session: Looking at Your Progress ....................................... 43

Appendix A: Additional Discussion Questions....................................... 46

What Is Your Money or Your Life?

What Are the Results of the Nine-Step Program?

Why Group Study?

Purpose of the Study Guide

Planning Your Group

For Individuals Too?

Overview of the session

Group discussion (Note: Discussions may be done in subgroups if your study

Assignments for the next session

A suggested length of time is given for each activity.

How to Make Your Study Group a Success

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I fall behind the rest of the group?

Tools You Need for this Session

Group Introductions (5 minutes)

Group Check-in (10 minutes)

Launching Your Group (20 minutes)

Introduce exercises as directed in this Study Guide.

Make sure everyone understands the information presented.

Make sure everyone has a chance to participate as a speaker and as a

Write names of volunteer facilitators on page 10.

Guidelines for Making Your Group a Success

Attend each meeting

Do the homework assignments

Offer each other absolute confidentiality

Support your facilitator

Start and end on time

Begin Step 1: Find Out How Much Money You Have

Exercise: Making Peace with Your Past (10 minutes) (individual)

Bring Next Session

This program has been, in a word, profound. It has now

Session 1: Getting Started

Overview of the Session

Instructions for the Facilitator

Remind everyone to:

Session 1: Getting Started

Group Check-in (20 minutes)