Today we’d like to introduce you to Anita Dombovari
Hi Anita, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My parents immigrated to the U.S. 6 years before I was born. They didn’t know the language and they didn’t have any money. As a child I witnessed them start businesses and side hustles one after the other. They wanted the American Dream, and while their hard work paid off, I also saw a lot of sacrifice, frustration, and fear around spending money. I grew to resent money because to me it represented what I couldn’t have, as well as the reason my parents were unavailable.
When I moved out I figured out how to pay my bills through trial and error. I made just enough money to get by, but never enough for the extras I so desperately wanted. I felt like I was always on the brink of financial ruin. Truthfully I didn’t have much to ruin, but I also wasn’t getting anywhere either. It became a running joke that my friends knew if I needed to put gas in my car I would only put in $7 at a time. That’s how close to the edge I was! Putting any more gas into my car felt like I wouldn’t be able to pay a bill.
I had a credit card but it scared me. As much as I tried to pay cash for everything, I’d find myself opening a bill that I hadn’t expected and it would throw me into an emotional tailspin. I had no choice but to rely on credit to get me through until the next paycheck.
There I was, following the unconscious messages I received as a kid. The result was clinging to money just trying not to spend it. Living this way made me feel like a slave to money. I would avoid my friends because I couldn’t afford to go out with them and I felt miserable. I lived this way for years, hustling and hanging on tightly to my dollars. As I made more money it became clear that this would not solve my problems either. I traded in my financial stress for hustle stress, working nonstop, not stopping to smell the roses.
Thanks to my hustling I was able to purchase my first home at 21. I knew nothing about homeownership and just signed the mountain of papers, pretending to know what was going on. It was after purchasing that house that it became clear I would need to find a system to manage my money. I tried multiple systems, spreadsheets, recording all my spending, and different software to help. Nothing seemed to click or give me any more confidence with money.
I continued this financial chaos, working and working so I wouldn’t accidentally fall behind on a bill. It wasn’t until 5 years later that I would finally find and implement a system that solved my financial worries. I no longer was scared to look at my bank account, I could now make spending decisions clearly and guilt-free, and I could systematically work toward and cross off my goals.
Using this system I was able to purchase more properties and gain peace around my money.
In addition, I was able to understand how my previous mindset impacted how I was making decisions and supported a story of lack. I discovered that if I could work on a mindset of abundance and build trust in myself I could turn the ship around and actually become great with money!
Whether we have positive or negative thoughts about it, money rules most of our lives. I wanted to help people feel peace and confidence around money too because I knew how impactful it could be. I became a certified life coach to understand what it really takes to make a change in one’s life. In addition, I have multiple financial certifications to further help my clients with their specific needs.
Today I serve about 10 clients at a time on a one-on-one basis. We work together to understand their motivations, fears, and priorities around money and create a sustainable system to bring them peace of mind. Most of us were not taught healthy money management in school or by our parents. To top it off, talking about money feels taboo. I love being a safe place for clients to explore money in their lives so that they can master it and achieve their goals.
The changes and wins I get to be a part of in my clients’ lives feel amazing. Seeing their faces light up telling me they paid off another credit card, can pay for the family vacation in full, or finally understand how to run the numbers on their business has been the greatest gift.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been the smoothest journey to get to this place, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. What I know is that everything I have been through has created the person I am today.
There were times I could only afford to put $7 of gas into my car.
There was a time when I had racked up thousands in credit card debt with no idea how to pay it off.
I have shed many tears over how I would pay a bill.
I tried multiple times to learn to budget or create a system for my money, becoming more demoralized every time it didn’t work.
When I moved to Denver for a new job in 2015 I ran out of money and had to borrow $500 from my mom to cover my bills until my next paycheck.
Re-wiring my brain for success was a challenge that took years.
I had to overcome my deeply ingrained beliefs from childhood that money is difficult and scary, and you must work tirelessly to get ahead.
2 years ago I lost two friends back to back in traumatic ways. I drained my emergency savings in order to take care of my mental health (this would not have been an option without the method I use. I would have either had to power through or rack up credit card debt).
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I operate under my own name, Anita Dombovari (my LLC is High Level Coaching, but I’m most searchable with my name). I specialize in financial coaching for individuals, couples, and businesses that make a good income, but don’t know where all their money is going. Many of my clients are entrepreneurs and business owners who need help managing their personal finances as well as creating a sustainable system for managing their business finances. Most people are familiar with financial advisors; however, there is a great need for help on the fundamentals of finance so that someone can make the day-to-day decisions with a sense of clarity.
Financial coaching creates lasting positive change in clients so they can move forward with confidence in their own ability to manage money. What sets me apart from others is my ability to break down otherwise confusing concepts into bite-sized pieces that a client can easily understand and implement. We don’t take ourselves too seriously while doing this work either. I believe creating lasting change must involve fun and a sense of humor.
I also work on mindset with my clients which is the other piece of the puzzle. I consult with them on potential strategies and business practices in tandem with financial education. I am known for my ability to problem solve and co-create a system with clients that reflects their unique set of circumstances and challenges.
I am most proud of creating a brand that reflects my values of authenticity, leadership, courage, freedom, humor, optimism, and agency. The business I have created is a reflection of me and my experiences and I carefully consider future opportunities through the lens of these values.
I love offering a unique service that most people never knew existed!
I offer one-on-one confidential coaching, offering a safe place to explore financial topics, challenges, and wins. You can book a complimentary intro call at https://anitadombovari.as.me/budgetcoachingintro.
If you’d like to get a clearer picture of what it costs to be you, you can utilize my FREE Confident Money Calculator https://www.confidentcalculator.com/
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice for anyone starting a new business is to understand where your passion lies. Starting a business can be really hard, take up long hours for little to no pay in the beginning, and have an impact on your relationships. It’s important to find the passion within what you are setting out to do. Without passion, the business quickly doesn’t feel worth it, and you need that fuel to keep you going through the tough times. When I started my coaching business I told myself, “This is it. I am becoming a coach no matter what. I don’t care how long it takes, this is what I’m meant to do and I refuse to let this dream die.” I believe if you can find that kind of resolve, you will be successful.
When I was starting out I wish I knew not to take myself so seriously and that comparison is the killer of creativity. I would see all these successful business owners and compare myself to where they were at. This only distracted me from who I was and what I had to offer the world. When you are trying to measure up to people who have been in business for 10+ years, you set yourself up for a lot of negative self-talk. The best thing to do is to stay in your lane and focus on your unique gifts. The rest you will learn along the way. Don’t expect perfection on Day 1.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anitadombovari.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anitathecoach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anita.dombovari
- Other: https://www.confidentcalculator.com/
