Many believe that a woman's personality characteristics and her financial habits coincide. Assertiveness, openness to change, and an optimistic outlook are the qualities that tend to lead to smart money choices. Of course, the opposite leads to the opposite.

Some even believe that problems with money are manifestations of problems in our life and relationships. Others think it is the opposite, that money issues cause other issues. Of course, the answer is to work on the money issues and many of the other problems will take care of themselves. So, for women, can you work on the other problems and will the money problems will take care of themselves?

One of the things a woman should do is hire a good financial planner. Why? Why shouldn't you just handle your money yourself? Well, money is an emotionally charged issue. So, hiring someone else to handle your money means giving someone that does not have the emotional burden of your money, the responsibility of your money. Money represents power, or love, or control, especially in relationships, so give someone outside the relationship the power. Did you know that our beliefs about money and our emotional attachments to it strongly influence the way we spend and handle money? Give someone without the emotional attachment the control if you aren't handling it right.

If you aren't where you should be financially, you can do something about it. Women tend to be emotion driven. So, examine what drives you emotionally when it comes to money and try to figure out the psychological stumbling blocks that keep you from becoming financially independent. Start with the following things:

Rely on yourself. Do not rely on someone else, not even a husband or boyfriend. Your financial security should be in your own hands. Take a money management class if you are afraid to do this yourself. Educate yourself about money management and investing and be independent financially.

Next, make sure you are trying to move forward financially. You will want to set goals for future financial freedom.

Next, be sure that you have confidence in yourself. Don't use money to make yourself feel good. Rather, find some other way to fight your urges, and find other ways to satisfy your need to feel good.

Be sure to spend less than you earn. This is basic money smarts, but it is something most Americans do not do very well. Use a cash only budget if you have to.

Get an education. It helps you make more money, but it also helps you be more rational about using your money.

Of course, you want to make sure you have savings in case of an emergency. What are you going to do if you have a medical bill, your car breaks down, or something else? If you do not have an emergency fund you will be forced to use a credit card or go into debt.

If you are married, be apart of the day to day finances, ask your spouse about it, look at bank statements, and know where you are financially at all times.

If you want to be smart about money, as a woman it is always wise to not take on debt of your spouse. Wait to get married until you are both out of debt.

Invest some money. It may be risky, you may be afraid, but investing is part of smart financial management.

Learn from your money mistakes instead of wallowing in them. If you overspend at Christmas, then next Christmas, make homemade gifts.

Being a woman should not be a stumbling block, take your financial future into your own hands, and be proud of doing so.