Mixing a little Suze w/ a Little Dave :)

Ladies I cant express this enough ------>Research, Read & the Research some more about your finances! 

Find a book to read to help enhance your knowledge about money. 

I read Suze Orman's book Women & Money back in 2009, and the book was really good. Her principles were very practical and the book was an easy read :) Suze Orman took a human psychology approach to financial freedom, excluding the math and getting in touch with the power of the mind!

I Love It

1. Seeing how your past holds the key to your financial future
2. Facing your fears and creating new truths
3. Being honest with yourself
4. Being responsible to those you love
5. Being respectful of yourself and your money
6. Trusting yourself more than you trust others
7. Being open to receive all that you are meant to have
8. Understanding the ebb and flow of the money cycle
9. Recognizing true wealth
If you haven't already....check out her TV show on CNBC every Saturday night....good stuff!

.I am now reading Dave Ramsey's Book "The Total Money Makeover"...and so far so good :)

 I like Dave Ramsey because he is a christian and he teaches financial freedom using biblical principles :)  At the core of Dave Ramsey's Advice is his "baby steps" to financial freedom

1. Save $1,000 cash a starter emergency fund

My Goal: $1,500

2. Start the debt snowball

My Goal: Start paying down student loans (smallest to largest) & Pay $150.00 more a month on car payment

3. Finish the emergency fund-accumulate 3-6 months of expenses

My Goal: 6-8 months of expenses (Suze Orman's advice)

4. Invest 15% of your income in retirement

My Goal: Max out my 403b by Feb 2012

5. Save for college

My Goal: Save $10.00 a month for doctorate degree pursuit/start date goal: 08/2013

6. Pay off Home Mortgage

My Goal: Continue to Save for down payment for my 1st home purchase (so excited:)

7. Build Wealth- Invest, donate, enjoy life (without going into debt)

My goal: To embrace Investing, donating & enjoying life, increasing my income this year, decrease frivolous spending significantly

Honestly ladies we can read books all day long, go to seminars, take finance classes, etc....but t means nothing if our mindset doesn't change :) Its 2011 Ladies let's go!

24 days strong...Challenging my Wants vs. Needs :)

OK guys so I haven't been shopping alot these past few months. The last two things I purchased was a bag from Charming Charlie's (want)  and a black dress coat (need) ....... but I'm happy to announce that I  haven't been to the mall in 24 days! LOL! Anybody who knows me knows that's major.  Just did my budget and I'm sooooo proud of myself...I was able to save over $300.00 in the month of January simply because I challenged my wants and only purchased what I needed! Keep me in your prayers....I'm on a mission!

Empire State of Mind: Part 2:

  

OK guys here is the strategy that was given to me to help me re-evaluate my finances...hopefully this will help you
     
Step 1: Examine your bank statements (thoroughly). Create an itemized list of everything you spend your money on. Creating categories for each item keeps it organized.

Step 2: Examine & Evaluate the money you spend on bills, clothes, food, entertainment,...etc

Step 3: Examine how much you give to give to God (tithes, offering, charity)

Step 4: Then simply ask yourself, where is my money going? Then compare how much you are giving to God as compared with your frivolous spending.

Step 5: Evaluate your spending and make the appropriate changes.

Step 6: TITHE! TITHE! TITHE!- 10% of all that you receive from God, it belongs to him! i don't think i can express this enough.
Step 7: Be a Giver of your time, money, and other resources :) When you give of yourself freely without expecting anything in return, that's when you will recognize the power of sowing good seed.


Definition of Prosperity- is the state of flourishing, thriving, success, or good fortune. It also includes happiness & health!
Every one deserves Prosperity & wealth, so lets make it happen in 2011!

"Every woman needs to go read an article that black Enterprise put out called..."A Black Woman's Net Worth"--It will blow your mind

Blog 4 will cover this article :)

Behind the Blog:" Empire State of Mind" Part 1

Hello All,


       As I sit here trying to find the words to describe the reasons behind this blog i can only come up with one word...GOD! (let me explain)

     Within the last few years, God took me through many humbling experiences to get me where I am today. Through those experiences he gave me the assignment to empower people...specifically women of my generation. My desire has always been to become a psychologist specializing in Marriage & Family Therapy...but God quickly showed me that my destiny was not to pursue my doctorate degree at this time. I mean think about it....I want to Specialize in a field that requires personal & job-related experience in working with families, mending relationships between spouses, and restoring & empowering families...and ummmmm...I cant counsel married couples in a single season, nor can I give sound Godly advice to families without any hands on experience of having a family of my own. SO!  Eventually a doctor in PSYCHOLOGY I will become, but right now that's on hold........ Hmmmmm.... So back to the drawing board i went!    
     Here I am in hair school, pursuing a vision that he gave me! Wow if only i could go into great detail about what that vision entails I would, but trust me its major and I'm totally trusting & believing him for it! As God allows me to go to new heights in my career, I came to realize that i had to change the way i was handling the blessings he was giving me like.....MY MONEY!!
       My prayer for 2011, was for God to make me a better steward over my money. I'm about to be transparent so don't judge me...lol! "Hi My mane is Tonesia, I am a past Shop-A-Holic"...lol! I used the word past because I strongly believe in the saying..."How a man thinketh, so is he." I don't think this way anymore, so i'm no longer a shop-a-holic! I've run out of ways to justify my poor habits, and i really have no more excuses...I just had to admit it and make the change. I started speaking life into my future  (words have power)...I started saying things like  "I am a Good Steward over my finances" "I am a business woman" "MY finances are blessed" " I am blessed to be a blessing"...etc. I make this a daily routine and I can honestly say things have shifted...but most of all my Mind-set has changed :)   #EmpireStateofMind   

**Disclaimer***Lets be clear before we get started :)

This is my blog! And that means that these are my thoughts, opinions, my testimony, & my experiences :)  I am a professional but I am not claiming to be financial expert, relationship activist, or a psychologist SN:(doctorate degree pursuit coming soon..lol!) or anything of that sort....I simply know GOD (understand my purpose) and Im on an assignment to help others while helping myself ! Welcome and Enjoy to those that choose to read this Blog, I truly appreciate you.....Annnnnd...to you  Naysayers, Haters, & Critics please be advised that your ignorance will not receive an audience from me :) so with that being said....Let's get it going :)