 This article is written by Joel Zaslofsky.
Starting note: I am not a Daily Money Manager, never have been, and never will be. And beyond having you read this article, I have no direct or indirect way of helping you with anything related to Daily Money Managers. ***** This is not Daily Money Manager fiction. It's something that's all too real. Visualize this: You're in your seventies and have been married for decades. You've been together so long that you couldn't imagine life without him or her. Now picture this. Your spouse has suddenly died and chaos sprouts everywhere around you. Your spouse was your world… and everything changed in an instant. Even worse, your spouse's responsibilities are now your responsibilities. Your family – bless their hearts – helps keep you emotionally and mentally stable. And your friends always lend a sympathetic ear. But your daily finances are in tatters. Your spouse took care of everything money wise and you don't even know where the bank accounts or the family budget are (assuming you can confirm there is one). Who's going to manage your daily money needs and coordinate your financial future? This first scenario happens to millions of people every year, and surprisingly, so does this second scenario. Imagine again you're middle aged and have two kids in school. Life's good, but business travel is brutal. When you're at home, you want nothing more than to spend it with family. But you're beyond overwhelmed. One day it's doing maintenance on the house. The next day it's nurturing your career. And the next it's that monthly get together with your best friend. But in life's blur, you forget to pay the credit card bill … again. The late fees and finance charges are as painful as the realization that things just aren't the way you want them (not to mention the bank overdraft fees that are piling up). How can you get your financial ship sailing in the right direction again? Why This is CriticalThis may not come as a surprise, but the American Psychological Association found that money was the biggest cause of stress by far. And this isn't just an American problem. An international Reader's Digest poll asked people in 16 countries what their biggest cause of stress was. The runaway answer? Money. People that assist the elderly and disabled like to cite a statistic to further hammer home the importance. As many as 7 percent of adults receiving Social Security benefits in the U.S. have difficulty managing their finances according to AARP (Hylan 2006). That's approximately 6 million people who struggle with the day-to-day tasks of managing their financial lives! The overwhelming message: getting a better grasp of our daily money management could reduce overall stress levels, debt levels, late fees and a host of other ugly things. Yes, there is someone that can help you do all these things. The Daily Money Manager. What a Daily Money Manager Can Do For YouDaily Money Managers and the profession of Daily Money Management – both commonly referenced by their acronym “DMM” – are not mainstream. So what does a DMM do? This is not an exhaustive list as they take on different roles and tasks depending on their client base, professional certifications, and many other factors. Here's a breakdown of the most common and useful roles. EducatorWhether you're a widow managing money for the first time or an immigrant from a cash economy, you may be unfamiliar with common financial practices. These people need someone to teach them. And any good Daily Money Manager knows how to educate. Just received a credit report and credit score that might as well be in a foreign language? They will translate for you. Need to learn personal finance software like Quicken or Peachtree? There is a good chance they can teach you. The more you share about your needs, the more a Daily Money Manager will educate you and connect you to essential resources. AdvocateMaybe nobody ever took your side in a dispute with a creditor or financial institution. Or maybe just the thought of trying to penetrate the corporate bureaucracy makes your skin crawl. A Daily Money Manager can help. They can also help navigate the labyrinth of medical paperwork and the health care industry on your behalf. Oh, and they'll inform you about services, benefits, and insurance you never knew you were entitled to. Bill Payment and ReviewYou may be terrible at paying the bills on time. Heck, you may rather have someone slowly remove your finger nails rather than paying the bills. A DMM will be your bill payment guru and then some. They will:
Creating and Maintaining a BudgetThere are few practical money skills more important than creating and maintaining a budget. If you even have one, odds are nobody is holding your feet to the fire when you blow up the budget on coffee, clothes, diapers, cars, and groceries. But a Daily Money Manager will be your accountability ally. Well-informed, well planned, and realistic budgets are their bread-and-butter. And if your life situation changes, they can revise the budget to reflect your new reality. Pro Tip: You always retain the right to make crazy or ill-informed financial decisions. A good DMM will never force a decision upon you that you're not comfortable with or that they feel doesn't meet your underlying needs. Expense and Income TrackingDo you understand where your money is coming from and going? A DMM can verify all your income sources, document your household expenses, and put it all into a simple report (and don't forget to check into reconciling financial account activity). They can also monitor bank statements to make sure a Power of Attorney, home healthcare aid, or other key service providers aren't doing anything shady with your money. Document ManagementWhether it's physical mail, email, or that massive filing cabinet, a Daily Money Manager can handle old and new documents. They're way more than a fancy mail sorter and opener. Options could include:
Automating FinancesA Daily Money Manager is at their best when invisible. Most can create a “set it and forget it” environment to automate your daily financial needs. The best part? They can do this for you or empower you to do it for yourself. You get to choose. Taking off on vacation becomes seamless because all your bills are paid automatically. The days of worrying who is picking up your bills and paying them when you're not home are over. Referrals and Coordination with Other ProfessionalsDMMs by nature need to collaborate with other professionals. Most see themselves as an essential part of a team helping you get the most out of life. So when you need a referral for a financial planner, accountant, lawyer, or other professional, you can turn to a DMM to leverage their contacts and resources. Assuming you want them to, some will even attend meetings with other professionals with you. Having a liaison who speaks the language of other professionals can be huge. Risk ManagementMany people do poorly managing their risk with money. That is, if they even realize they are taking a risk. A Daily Money Manager may not have formal training in risk management, but their understanding of risk is inherent. Eventually, we all need to engage in risky financial behavior, so having a neutral professional that knows the ins-and-outs of risk will be even more valuable when this happens. MiscellaneousYes, there are even more tasks a Daily Money Manager may take on. For example:
What a Daily Money Manager Can't Do For YouA DMM is a part of your financial team, but doesn't replace other members. Most aren't also lawyers, accountants, social workers, certified financial planners, medical expense managers, or geriatric care managers. This means they may:
Who Needs a Daily Money ManagerPretty much everyone could use a professional to manage their day-to-day finances. But some people are more likely to benefit from the services and products of a DMM. Credit for part of the information below – some taken verbatim – goes to the National Center on Elder Abuse. The ElderlyProfessionals who work with seniors have long recognized that individuals who are unable to manage their finances are at risk for impoverishment, homelessness, institutionalization and guardianship. Unfortunately, these are not uncommon for seniors:
For example, people may assault or threaten elders to gain access to money. Taken to an extreme, they may withhold food or life sustaining medication to hasten a decline in health or death, thereby gaining access to their assets. A Daily Money Manager can prevent exploitation by shifting control of vulnerable seniors' money to trustworthy third parties. Seniors then become less vulnerable to threats or intimidation and can eliminate other peoples' motives for causing them physical, emotional and financial harm. So avoid unpaid bills that could lead to utilities being forcefully shut off or, even worse, losing a home. The Mentally and Physically DisabledPeople with various disabilities are prime candidates for Daily Money Manager resources. Common scenarios include:
People Who Can't Afford Accountants or AttorneysWhether it's just a one-time thing or on a regular basis, a DMM will cost significantly less than similar services from an accountant or attorney. In other words: Individuals that were able to die at home with full Daily Money Manager or Case Management services in place had substantially lower lifetime costs compared with similar hypothetical individuals placed immediately in a nursing home. – The Brookdale Center for Health and Aging & Longevity The lifetime savings was over $60,000.00! Where a Daily Money Manager Is Going to Look for YouDaily Money Managers have some familiar hang out spots. Here are some people they network with and places they might be looking for you:
So remember that DMM is a developing profession, unlike the long established financial roles of a banker, accountant, or stockbroker. With that in mind, you'll need the appropriate mindset and tools to evaluate a DMM. Here are some things to ask, consider, and communicate when you engage one.
General WebsitesThese are the websites you've heard of and forgot about, didn't know existed, will be amazed to explore, or will otherwise simplify your life:
Here's just a small subset that are worthy of your time:
0 Comments
 Client Wins: I have a great Team of Organizers that love to organize and love to help our clients. We rarely do "before" photos anymore. We have evolved in the 23 years we have been in this business. No one needs to see your before photos!
No judgement with us... just an empathetic ear and tons of energy to tackle your project. Let us transform your chaos & clutter into a place you love. The Hidden Cost of Keeping Too Much Stuff Closets overflowing. Cabinets packed tight. Storage units filled with boxes no one has opened in years. Many people think clutter is simply an inconvenience, but over time it can become something much bigger: stress, overwhelm, wasted money, and lost time. One of the most common things I hear from clients is: “I don’t even know where to start.” The truth is, organizing is not about creating a picture-perfect home. It is about creating space for your current life — not the life you lived 20 years ago. As we age, priorities shift. Children grow up. Interests change. Families evolve. The items that once felt important may no longer serve a purpose. Yet many of us continue holding onto things “just in case.” The problem? Stuff quietly takes over. It takes over:
Too much clutter can even impact decision-making because every pile becomes another unfinished task sitting in the background. I often encourage clients to ask themselves:
Sometimes the biggest obstacle is emotional attachment. A box of old paperwork may represent memories. Furniture may remind us of loved ones. Clothing may represent a different stage of life. But organizing does not mean erasing memories. It means deciding what deserves space in your home and in your life today. When clients begin letting go of excess belongings, they often describe feeling:
Organization also makes life easier for family members in the future. Whether downsizing, moving, or preparing for unexpected life changes, fewer unnecessary items can reduce stress for everyone involved. Progress creates momentum. Small improvements add up. Our clients often mention that they are very motivated during our sessions. We teach Organizing principles via a transference of skills. We provide a new set of eyes and new ideas to consider. Remember the goal is never perfection. Perfection is not obtainable.The goal is creating a home that supports your life instead of overwhelming it. Adele Gross  March/April 2026 Spring is in the air air. This is a great time to clean up and clean out and get organized. Shoes take up a lot of space in our closets. Here are some tips on how to get them organized. Organizing Shoes
Adele Tusson-Gross  Shoe Organizer available at Wayfair.
"Ignorant bliss" works...until it doesn't. What would happen if you died today? Would your spouse, partner, or the person responsible for settling your estate know how to access your financial information? Would they know where to start? It’s a difficult question, but one that every household should ask. In many relationships, one person naturally takes the lead in managing the day-to-day finances. That may include:
This arrangement can work very well—until something unexpected happens. “Ignorant bliss” works… until it doesn’t. Over the years, I have seen significant stress and hardship for spouses who were left behind without access to important financial information. The issue has nothing to do with intelligence. Many of my clients are extremely smart people. The problem is simply a lack of shared knowledge and planning ahead for the unknown. Real Client Experiences A Husband Left in the Dark Simple Solution Organizing was contacted by the son of a man who had lost his wife of 50 years. She had handled all of the household finances. When I began working with him, he did not know where she kept the financial files—either paper or digital. During one of our sessions we discovered that his automobile insurance had lapsed. He had unknowingly been driving for months without coverage because he didn’t know it had lapsed. He also did not know which company they used. Again, this was not a matter of intelligence. It was a matter of information that had never been shared. Locked Out of Accounts In another case, a nephew hired us to help his aunt after the death of her husband. Her husband had managed everything. She did not have access to his passwords, phone, or laptop. She had been in crisis mode for years. The couple owned multiple properties, which only complicated matters. It took considerable time to identify service providers for each property and re-establish access to online accounts. Memory Loss Changes the Equation I worked with a lovely couple for many years. The husband managed all the finances, and his wife preferred it that way. However, when his memory began to decline, critical information that should have been shared was lost. During our sessions we uncovered several financial accounts set to paperless statements—including brokerage and college savings accounts the couple had forgotten existed. We discovered them only by carefully reviewing his email. When both spouses are experiencing memory challenges, even something that sounds simple—like scanning emails—can become extremely difficult. A Hidden Long-Term Care Policy In another situation, I was referred by a Geriatric Care Case Manager at the Athens Community Council on Aging to help a client manage her bills and daily finances. Her nephew, who was her Power of Attorney, hired me. During our work together we discovered a long-term care insurance policy that no one knew existed. That single discovery saved the client’s estate approximately $200,000. The Lesson It’s perfectly normal for one spouse to be more comfortable managing the finances. Many couples prefer it that way. The other spouse may be happy to focus on other aspects of life without the stress of financial management. But the non-financial spouse still needs basic awareness of the full financial picture. Every household should maintain and periodically review:
I am not suggesting that spouses switch roles or divide the work equally. But everyone involved needs to know enough to step in if necessary. Because life can change quickly. And when it does, the last thing a grieving spouse needs is a financial mystery to solve. 💙 We can help you with this very important project. Reach out today! Adele Tusson-Gross 706-714-1314 [email protected]  December 2025
St. Petersburg, Florida has a great beach to ride bikes on. Christmas with Family January/February 2026 2026 Is Too Important to Ignore Your Finances The start of a new year—and even more so the early months of it—is the perfect time to take a clear, honest look at your finances. Not to judge yourself. Not to feel overwhelmed. But to take back control. If you’ve been avoiding your bank statements or credit card transactions, you’re not alone. Many capable, intelligent people do. Life is busy. Finances feel complicated. And sometimes it’s easier not to look. But avoiding your finances doesn’t make problems disappear—it gives them more room to grow. Be Bold. Look Closely. One of the most important steps you can take early in 2026 is simply reviewing your credit card and bank activity—line by line. Why?
Checking Is an Act of Self-CareReviewing statements isn’t about restriction or guilt. It’s about awareness. Knowing where your money is going allows you to make intentional choices instead of reacting after the fact. When you review your accounts regularly, you:
Your Finances Are Too Important Not to Care AboutYour finances touch every part of your life—your independence, your security, your ability to say yes (or no) to opportunities, and your peace of mind. Ignoring them doesn’t make them simpler. Paying attention does. If the idea of reviewing transactions, organizing paperwork, or creating a system feels overwhelming, you don’t have to tackle it alone. We Can Help You Create a Plan, Whether you need help reviewing accounts, setting up a simple system, identifying unnecessary expenses, or creating an ongoing plan to stay organized, we’re here to support you—calmly, confidentially, and without judgment. 2026 deserves your attention. Be bold. Don’t be afraid of your finances. They matter—and so do you! Adele Gross Wishing you your best year yet!!!!  November/December 2025
Client Story: Reclaiming Space and Peace of Mind My Team Member Sabrina and I are working with a lovely woman to help her declutter, organize, and reclaim her home from a mountain of projects. The projects she planned to complete have taken over every room in her home. She made a very important decision recently: she no longer wants to live surrounded by unfinished projects. Over the years, the projects she intended to complete — craft ideas, home improvement tasks, organizing efforts — had slowly taken over every room in her home. Recently, she reached a turning point and called Simple Solution Organizing to help her begin a new chapter. We’re helping her declutter, organize, and sort items by project. Together, we’re identifying which projects are still meaningful — and which ones can be released, donated, or tossed. After just one session, she already feels more in control of her surroundings and has opened her space considerably. Sometimes, the hardest part is deciding it’s time to make a change. The rest becomes possible with the right plan — and a little support. Adele Organizing Projects: From “I Should Do This” to “I’m Doing This!” We all have those projects that linger in the back of our minds — the home office overhaul, the photo album we meant to make, or the financial file cabinet clean-up that’s long overdue. But before you dive in (or talk yourself out of it), it helps to pause and get clear about why you’re doing it, what success looks like, and how to make it manageable. Step 1: Ask Yourself — Do I Really Want to Do This? Not every project deserves your energy. Sometimes we carry “shoulds” that belong to someone else — or to a past version of ourselves. Ask:
Step 2: Define What “Done” Looks Like Projects often feel endless because the finish line is fuzzy. Instead of “organize the house,” try:
Step 3: Break It Down Every big project is a series of small, doable actions. Write out each step, estimate how long it might take, and decide which ones you can delegate or schedule in short bursts. For example:
Step 4: Create Accountability Tell someone your goal — a friend, colleague, or Daily Money Manager/Professional Organizer. Accountability adds structure and motivation. You can even set reminders or weekly check-ins to track progress. Step 5: Celebrate Small Wins When you complete even one step, notice it. That sense of completion fuels your confidence for the next project. Final Thought Organizing projects isn’t just about tidy drawers or neat spreadsheets — it’s about aligning your time and attention with what truly matters. Start small, stay realistic, and give yourself credit for the progress you make. Need Help Getting Started? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by financial papers, bill management, or other organizing projects that affect your daily life, we can help. We work with clients both in-person in Athens, Georgia and Miami, Florida and remotely across the U.S. You don’t have to live nearby for us to work together — we make the process simple and secure. And if you know someone who could benefit from support getting financially or organizationally “unstuck,” please feel free to share this post with them. Sometimes all it takes is a little clarity — and a helping hand — to turn “someday” into “done. Adele |
AuthorAdele Tusson-Gross Categories
All
|
RSS Feed