1: Calculate exactly how much your expenses exceed your income You can't create a plan if you don’t know exactly how much you’re under, right? Well, I guess you could but it would be based on you guessing and that's not something you want to do when it comes to your money. Make a list of all your regular monthly expenses and your income to get this amount. And when I say regular expenses I mean everything you need to live a healthy & productive life including: Rent/mortgage Debt payments Utilities Cell phone payment - It's 2022. Yes a cell phone is important nowadays. Groceries ..read more

If there's one thing we can all bond over right now, it's the fact inflation is literally whooping our ass!   It seems like every time I turn around, life is getting more and more expensive. I mean, in May 2022 inflation rose to 8.6% marking a 40 year high. I mean, what more proof do you need than when you're filling up your gas tank?!   And while I know the internet likes to yell, "Stocks are on sale! Stock up!"...I could honestly care less.   In fact, I've recently gone back to my budget to decrease the contributions going towards investments. Here's why.   Why I Decre ..read more

*This post may contain affiliate links.*   So you're a single mom desperately searching for realistic ways to stop living paycheck to paycheck, right? I understand your frustration, because this was once me.   If you're in this cycle, your money is spandex tight which makes it difficult to: Pay off debt Save money Enjoy life without credit cards Live life to your fullest potential   This  puts you in a vulnerable position because if one thing goes wrong...thassit! The smallest inconvenience causes a big domino effect and it’s extremely difficult to recover.   If ..read more

*This post may contain affiliate links.   So you’re thinking about going on a debt-free journey but you’re wondering: Is it possible to save money and pay off debt at the same time?   We often assume that we have to do one or the other but, as I thought about it, I had always done both! Even with a low income.   Here’s how:   Get organized. No matter what you choose to do financially, organization is key. This is because shifting your finances can easily become overwhelming and when we’re overwhelmed we’re more likely to quit!   Create the dang budget A budget is th ..read more

*This post may contain affiliate links. If you're a parent with a small business, you may be wondering how to hire your kids as an employee. Besides the tax benefits, there are other huge perks to putting your little ones to work (like getting an early start to wealth building!).   I recently hired my 8-year-old and wanted to share what I've learned from the experience:   Benefits of Hiring Your Kids as Employees First, let’s discuss the benefits of hiring your kids. Nurtures an entrepreneurial spirit. We often tell children to dream big. That they're capable of achieving anythin ..read more

It seems like the biggest issue most people have when it comes to managing their money is figuring out how to stick to a budget.   And rightfully so. It's heavily dependent upon your behavior and when you’ve gone your whole adult life without one there are sure to be some mental barriers.   So let’s dive into how to make friends with your spending plan!   Identify your spending triggers Yep, this one is a biggie. And I mean BIG.   Money management is about 20% knowledge and 80% behavior. Our spending is deeply intertwined with our thoughts and feelings, so if you try to ..read more

*This post may contain affiliate links.  When you embark on your own financial journey, you quickly realize you want A LOT more for your kids financially. Personally, I don’t want my kids to know what it feels like to be drowning under a load of debt. A question I get asked a lot is, How do I go about teaching kids about money?! Of course, the answer isn’t so black & white. Factors to consider include: The age of your kids Where you are in your own journey Your level of financial literacy Here are some simple tips to help you teach your kids about money. Simply open the dialogue. I ..read more

*This post may contain affiliate links.*   Since you've landed here I can assume you searched: How to get out of living paycheck to paycheck   If you're in this cycle, your money is spandex tight which makes it difficult to: Pay off debt Save money Enjoy life without credit cards Live life to your fullest potential   This  puts you in a vulnerable position because if one thing goes wrong...thassit! The smallest inconvenience causes a big domino effect and it’s extremely difficult to recover.   If you find yourself in this cycle, here are a few tips to break free ..read more

So you decided you want to start investing and keep seeing "Roth IRA" pop up in every post.   If you're anything like me your first question was: What is a Roth IRA? And how is it different from a 401k?   In this post, I'm breaking down what this account is as well as how it works in terms that any beginner can understand!   What is a Roth IRA? This is an individual retirement account that allows your money to grow tax-free. Unlike your 401k, contributions are made with post-tax money.   Since you’re contributing after-tax money, meaning you’ve already paid taxes, you pa ..read more

*This post may contain affiliate links. FOOD…   It seems like it’s everyone’s guilty pleasure. And if you’re a foodie then you know just how easy it is to eat through your whole paycheck!   Seriously, I would always come over budget because I couldn’t resist the urge to pull into a drive-thru.   Are you feeling the same way?   Here’s how to stop spending so much money on fast food!   ADD UP HOW MUCH YOU’RE SPENDING PER MONTH Yep, this is a good ol shame yourself into taking action tip.   And once you calculate just how much you’re actually spending it’s going ..read more