Lifestyle
How to Measure Financial Well-Being (and Why It’s Worth It)

One of the most challenging aspects of managing money is figuring out where you stand financially. After all, there’s nobody looking over your shoulder telling you whether the decisions you make are right or wrong. It helps to first have a framework for measuring your financial well-being — sort of like a report card.
The point of measuring your financial well-being against benchmarks is to help you get a sense of where you stand — and what actions you could take to bring yourself closer to your goals.
Here’s more on how to evaluate your financial standing and why it’s worth it to do so periodically.
Try the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Well-Being Scale
The CFPB has actually developed a scale to help consumers assess their financial situations. Users answer sets of questions to determine where they fall on the scale, then add up the point values of their responses to get an overall “financial well-being score.” Users can then compare their scores to U.S. averages, as well as access resources on common topics — like tracking expenses, dealing with debt, saving and investing.
From these questions we begin to see some of the categories that define financial well-being, like:
- The ability to cover a large unanticipated expense without going into debt.
- Having money left over at the end of the month.
- The degree to which finances control your life and choices.
- Having room in your budget to cover variable expenses (like gifts for special occasions).
- Staying on top of bills and financial decisions rather than falling behind.
- Planning for the future, as well as managing money in the present.
If you’re short on time, you can fill out an abbreviated version of this scale to get a general feel for where you stand. If you’d like to take a more in-depth look, there’s a standard version with more questions.
According to the CFPB, financial well-being encompasses:
Net Worth: A Broad Look at Financial Well-Being
Perhaps the quickest and most straightforward way to evaluate financial well-being at a glance is calculating your net worth.
1. Tally up the value of your assets — like savings accounts, investments, vehicles, etc.
2. Tally up the total amount of your liabilities — like credit cards, mortgages, other loans, etc.
3. Subtract the liabilities from the assets.
These days, you can even plug these values into a simple net worth calculator rather than doing the math by hand.
Improving Your Financial Well-Being
It can be quite frustrating to find your financial well-being currently falls short of where you’d like it to be. However, getting an honest feel for where you stand today is the first step toward attaining your ideal financial future; it will help you set realistic goals and measure your progress.
Here’s an example: Many people exist in debt denial. They know they owe money, but avoid sitting down and looking at exactly how much — let alone planning how to repay it. Assessing their financial well-being could be the push they need to finally take an honest look at their budget and debts. After figuring out where they stand, someone in this situation may decide to speak with a credit counselor who then helps them get enrolled in debt relief management. Under a debt management plan (DMP), the person is able to consolidate their debts through the agency and pay what they owe over the course of three to five years at reduced interest.
According to Michigan State University, there are four general behaviors which support financial well-being:
- Living within your means by actively managing your money.
- Conducting research and gaining knowledge about financial decisions.
- Setting realistic goals and planning for the future.
- Following through on all three aforementioned behaviors over time.
Measuring financial well-being means checking in across various aspects of money management, which is why it’s a good practice for anyone and everyone. Only by understanding where you stand today can you set goals and make effective decisions for tomorrow.
Lifestyle
How To Combine Astrology With Self-Care Rituals To Enhance Daily Living

Self-care looks different for everyone. And it could look different day by day. Sometimes you just need meditation or journaling or a grounding ritual. Sometimes you need movement. Sometimes you need more rest. Have you ever wondered why it’s different day-by-day and why you can’t seem to “stick” to something?
Most of us know something about Western astrology, but have you ever heard of Vedic astrology (Jyotish)? Vedic astrology focuses on your moon sign (which may differ from your Western astrological chart), planetary transits, and Dasha period. These three areas shape how you feel, act, and process emotions every day.
The time management app align27 doesn’t just focus on your typical horoscope. It gives you a personalized Vedic birth chart and a daily favorability forecast based on planetary influences. It uses a simple yet powerful stoplight system — green for favorable times, yellow for neutral, and red for moments when it’s best to slow down — to help you navigate each day with intention.
Why Vedic astrology and self-care go hand in hand
Ever have days where everything flows effortlessly and others where nothing seems to go right? That’s not random — it’s the influence of the planets at play. Vedic astrology teaches that planetary transits and periods, and the Moon’s placement each day all impact your energy.
By understanding these influences, align27 customizes your self-care rituals to work with the planetary energies rather than against them. The result? A self-care routine that feels more natural, restorative, and in harmony with your personal astrology.
How to align self-care with align27
1. Follow your moon sign for emotional well-being
In Vedic astrology, your Moon sign reveals how you process emotions, handle stress, and recharge. The align27 app provides real-time insights into your Moon sign’s current state, helping you plan self-care that supports your well-being.
- Fire Moons (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): align27 will highlight action-oriented times, which are perfect for movement-based self-care like yoga, walking, or a workout.
- Earth Moons (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Your best self-care moments often fall during grounding planetary periods. The align27 app helps you time activities like cooking, gardening, or Ayurvedic oil massages.
- Air Moons (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Mental stimulation is key for you. Use align27’s favorable green time slots to plan journaling, reading, or creative work.
- Water Moons (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional balance is crucial; align27 suggests introspective yellow periods during which self-care like meditation, breathwork, or music therapy can help you reset.
By checking your daily Moon sign insights in align27, you can sync your self-care with your emotional energy instead of forcing routines that don’t feel right.
2. Sync with planetary transits for daily rituals
Planetary movements in Vedic astrology directly influence your daily energy. Instead of following the same self-care routine every day, use the align27 app to check which planets are strongest and which ones need balancing.
- Green periods: Ideal for action — schedule workouts, deep work, or personal projects.
- Yellow periods: Best for reflection — meditation, light reading, or connecting with loved ones.
- Red periods: Time to pause — prioritize self-care, avoid big decisions, and rest.
For example:
- If align27 shows a red period under Mercury’s influence, it’s a sign to unplug from tech and practice silence (Mauna) instead.
- A green period during a Moon transit suggests a great time for emotional processing through journaling or spiritual rituals.
- If Saturn is active, align27 might recommend structured self-care, like a disciplined yoga practice or fasting.
The daily timing feature of align27 takes the guesswork out of self-care, helping you plan around when the universe is actually working with you, not against you.
3. Use your Venus sign for beauty and self-love rituals
In Vedic astrology, Venus (Shukra) represents luxury, pleasure, and how you experience beauty. But your Venus sign in your birth chart tells you what kind of self-care truly nourishes your soul.
- Venus in Fire Signs: You love bold, energizing self-care. Ayurvedic herbal treatments, bright colors, and invigorating scents like sandalwood or saffron uplift your energy.
- Venus in Earth Signs: You prefer high-quality, natural self-care. Organic skincare, silk bedding, and nourishing food rituals align with your Venus energy.
- Venus in Air Signs: You thrive on social and intellectual beauty. Try mantra recitation, decorating your space with art, or engaging in deep conversations.
- Venus in Water Signs: You need emotionally fulfilling self-care. Essential oil baths, soft textures, and music therapy create a calming atmosphere.
4. Strengthen your planetary weaknesses through rituals
Each planet in your birth chart has strengths and weaknesses based on its placement. You can balance planetary imbalances through specific self-care rituals:
- Weakened moon? Drink warm milk with cardamom, wear white, and meditate under the full Moon.
- Struggling with Rahu energy? Reduce digital distractions, light camphor, and chant “Om Rahave Namah.”
- Mars overactivity? Avoid spicy food, practice slow yoga, and wear cool colors like blue or white.
The align27 app personalizes these remedies based on your birth chart and daily planetary shifts.
Align your self-care with the stars
When you integrate Vedic astrology into your self-care routine, you’re not just following trends but tuning into the ancient wisdom of timing and energy alignment. Instead of forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all self-care plan, you can create rituals that genuinely support you based on the cosmic influences at play.
With tools like align27, you can easily track your best days for rest, action, and reflection — making self-care effortless and aligned with the universe. Because taking care of yourself isn’t just about doing more — it’s about doing what’s right for you, at the right time.
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