{"id":346,"date":"2026-02-10T20:07:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:07:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/?p=346"},"modified":"2026-02-12T16:12:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:12:57","slug":"financial-literacy-as-personal-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Conversation with Stacey Zrihen<\/em><\/p>\n

You know you are speaking to someone who accomplishes a lot when they start their conversation with, \u201cI have 37 minutes to talk as my car drives me to my next meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stacey Zrihen is the senior director of coaching for the Orthodox Union\u2019s Living Smarter Jewish and Achiezer\u2019s Westwood Management Program. She oversees LSJ\u2019s many financial coaches and usually takes on the most difficult cases. Unflappable and passionate, she describes teaching financial literacy as a calling that started at a very young age.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore walking into a store, my father would ask me to try to think of how much our purchases would cost.\u201d They\u2019d shop and then on the way home discuss what the actual costs were. Sometimes she was right and sometimes she was way off, but the lesson stuck \u2013 finances do not have to be a mystery, it\u2019s something you can control.<\/p>\n

Listening to her speak, I start to see how budgeting doesn\u2019t have to be a tedious task, but rather a means to take ownership of a most fundamental part of who we are. Our Sages use the term damim to describe finances, the same term used for our lifeblood, and for good reason. Inasmuch as we aspire to a spiritual life, our finances and our relationship with them are a fundamental part of who we are. Taking control of how we spend, or simply developing a deeper awareness of how we spend without even making any changes, is one of the many ways we can take control of our lives.<\/p>\n

Some people turn to LSJ because they are overwhelmed by the costs of Orthodox Jewish life, others are drowning in debt, but financial literacy is for everyone. \u201cThink of financial health no different than you think about your physical wellbeing,\u201d she tells me as she sits in traffic. Physical wellness is trending. People are more conscientious about the food they eat, and more Orthodox men and women are hitting the gym than ever. LSJ\u2019s growing popularity is a sign that financial wellness is taking off as well.<\/p>\n

The focus of our conversation is financial planning for men and women who are single. A study by the Orthodox Union on divorced women highlighted the financial vulnerability of single mothers. While all the women in the study were employed, half of them were making less than $35,000 a year. Anecdotally, we know that many single men are struggling as well. Speaking to a knowledgeable coach can help shave off some costs by being connected to resources or learning valuable tips.<\/p>\n

I wondered if there were unique challenges beyond making ends meet that single men and women may face. \u201cYES!\u201d Stacey exclaims. \u201cThe loneliness of having no one to speak to exacerbates the issue.\u201d Studies have shown how valuable having a partner can be in overcoming a challenge. Someone who is married has a partner with whom to share the fear of a monthly deficit; someone on their own must face the unknown without that valuable emotional support. This is where a financial coach can make all the difference. A financial coach acts as a confidante, a partner to discuss the fears and concerns of financial planning, who is always well-equipped to recommend potential solutions.<\/p>\n

Having a financial coach is not a panacea, sometimes no matter what is done, the individual or family may still be left with a monthly deficit, but there is still immense value in having a coach. A financial coach cannot solve everyone\u2019s issues but even letting someone know that they are doing everything they can is very reassuring. \u201cI have almost never met with anyone who felt like it was a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

We spoke about many single men and women who feel like they are in limbo, waiting to get married. Some who are blessed to take home a nice paycheck never spend it as they want to save it for their married life. I wondered if this was the right approach. Stacey once again brought it back to physical wellbeing. \u201cImagine a person dieting who decides to only eat 600 calories a day. They\u2019ll lose a lot of weight, but they\u2019ll be miserable. You could put away all your money and have a real nice nest egg, but at what cost to your overall wellbeing?\u201d In other words, singlehood, for some, may be a great opportunity to save, but it\u2019s also valuable to live right now. If a single man or woman is not in debt and has reasonable savings set aside, using the excess to enjoy themselves is more than fine, it\u2019s important. Being that this stage in life can be especially challenging, taking time for oneself or even buying something a little more luxurious, can provide a much-needed respite.<\/p>\n

As Stacey pulls into her parking spot, she reiterates how everyone, regardless of their marital or financial status, can benefit from a financial coach. LSJ, a project of the Orthodox Union, provides free financial coaching to meet each person\u2019s unique life circumstance. Singlehood, with its inherent loneliness and potential financial challenges, is certainly no exception. 37 minutes is all we needed; Stacey had me sold. Gaining financial literacy is not a task, it\u2019s an incredible opportunity to take control of one\u2019s life and face life\u2019s inevitable challenges with confidence.<\/p>\n

To find a no-charge financial coach suitable to your needs, please email info@livingsmarterjewish.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To sign up for the Kol Echad Limited Series E-Magazine, click here: https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kolechademail\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Conversation with Stacey Zrihen You know you are speaking to someone who accomplishes a lot when they start their conversation with, \u201cI have 37 minutes to talk as my car drives me to my next meeting.\u201d Stacey Zrihen is the senior director of coaching for the Orthodox Union\u2019s Living Smarter Jewish and Achiezer\u2019s Westwood […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134185,"featured_media":365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personalities-and-perspectives"],"yoast_head":"\nFinancial Literacy as Personal Growth - Kol Echad<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth - Kol Echad\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A Conversation with Stacey Zrihen You know you are speaking to someone who accomplishes a lot when they start their conversation with, \u201cI have 37 minutes to talk as my car drives me to my next meeting.\u201d Stacey Zrihen is the senior director of coaching for the Orthodox Union\u2019s Living Smarter Jewish and Achiezer\u2019s Westwood […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kol Echad\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-10T20:07:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-12T16:12:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"382\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"383\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"motzeny\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"motzeny\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/\",\"name\":\"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth - Kol Echad\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-10T20:07:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-12T16:12:57+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#\/schema\/person\/dbade4b8934070acd7697d4270c0e06e\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png\",\"width\":382,\"height\":383},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/\",\"name\":\"Kol Echad\",\"description\":\"Creating communities where every single person matters.\u00a0\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#\/schema\/person\/dbade4b8934070acd7697d4270c0e06e\",\"name\":\"motzeny\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a69ad90ee37e4b0e4da1c7214fe277bf331be9c04f8a50675b091c82a7d5f8e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a69ad90ee37e4b0e4da1c7214fe277bf331be9c04f8a50675b091c82a7d5f8e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"motzeny\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/author\/motzeny\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth - Kol Echad","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth - Kol Echad","og_description":"A Conversation with Stacey Zrihen You know you are speaking to someone who accomplishes a lot when they start their conversation with, \u201cI have 37 minutes to talk as my car drives me to my next meeting.\u201d Stacey Zrihen is the senior director of coaching for the Orthodox Union\u2019s Living Smarter Jewish and Achiezer\u2019s Westwood […]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/","og_site_name":"Kol Echad","article_published_time":"2026-02-10T20:07:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-12T16:12:57+00:00","og_image":[{"width":382,"height":383,"url":"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"motzeny","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"motzeny","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/","name":"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth - Kol Echad","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png","datePublished":"2026-02-10T20:07:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-12T16:12:57+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#\/schema\/person\/dbade4b8934070acd7697d4270c0e06e"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/files\/2026\/02\/Stacy-Zrihen-attemp-3-1.png","width":382,"height":383},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/financial-literacy-as-personal-growth\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Financial Literacy as Personal Growth"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/","name":"Kol Echad","description":"Creating communities where every single person matters.\u00a0","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#\/schema\/person\/dbade4b8934070acd7697d4270c0e06e","name":"motzeny","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a69ad90ee37e4b0e4da1c7214fe277bf331be9c04f8a50675b091c82a7d5f8e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a69ad90ee37e4b0e4da1c7214fe277bf331be9c04f8a50675b091c82a7d5f8e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"motzeny"},"url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/author\/motzeny\/"}]}},"acf":[],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/134185"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":385,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346\/revisions\/385"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/kol-echad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}