I need some retail therapy in my life :)



February was such a rough month...I'm in desperate need of a get-away! I really need of some retail therapy in my life! I'm going out of town next week...and one of my main goals is to visit my favorite store H & M! I'm sooooo excited :) I am very aware of my budget and my money diet will be challenged on this trip however I am ready to put my self control to the test......think i can do it?  I keep telling myself I WILL NOT OVER SPEND, I WILL NOT OVER SPEND.....lol! J/K
My plan is to take a certain amount of spending money and that's all that I can spend :( I'm really not feeling this but I know this is what I have to do to stick with my goals :) Pray for me...I'm definitely going to need it!

H & M...Here i come :)

Saving money & Meal Planning



Soooo..... Ive been planning my meals to save money on buying fast food....and so far so good! I work a couple of jobs during the week & go to school so grabbing something quick & easy was ideal, but it was hurting my pockets. I believe its nearly impossible not to purchase fast food at all, with a hectic schedule like mine....but purchasing food multiple times a day was ridiculous. Every week I start my week off by meal planning meals for the first few days of the week....For example

Monday: Breakfast: at home

                                             Lunch: off-site lunch with team-purchase

       Dinner: at home

Tuesday: Breakfast at home

Lunch: bring from home

Dinner: At home

Wednesday: Breakfast at home

Lunch: Purchase

Dinner: at home

On the days that I have to purchase food, I always search for the most in-expensive way to eat. Here are some ways that help me...

 coupons (KC Star sunday's paper), dollar menus, microwaveable lean Cuisine meals, subway's $5 sandwich, HY-Vee salad bar

I hope this helps!

Hope for the best & prepare for the worst!

"Life is what happens to you, while you are busy making plans"-John Lennon



Hello All,

Ive been away for a while due to terrible circumstances, but all will be well in due time :)
 Any who,  I wanted talk about the importance of having life insurance! When I was kid I thought life insurance was only for older people....#epicfail! Life insurance is for EVERYONE!  Sometimes you never really know the importance of having something until it is desperately needed. Here is 3 reasons why life insurance is so important: 

1) Income Replacement

• If you are a working spouse, chances are your family relies on your income to pay bills. A life insurance policy can help to replace that income when you're gone.

2) Debt Payoff

• When you die, your family will still owe the debt you have. A life insurance policy can help them pay off that debt.

3) Funeral Expenses

• Funerals are expensive. Life insurance policies give your family a means of paying for your funeral that won't affect their budget.

PLEASE, if you are reading this and don't have life insurance set a goal this year to get some. There are some very in-expensive policies out there created for every one's income bracket so there is really no excuse not to have you & your family covered. Life is so un-predictable so its best to Hope for the best & prepare for the worst!

 

Not motivated? well here's a reason to grind....

Oprah Makes

385 million a year

32 million a month

1.05 million a day

43,000 an hour

7,427 a minute



Me: Why aren't you pursing your dreams?
Anonymous woman:  I don't have the money

That has to be my biggest pet peeve with people! (EXCUSES ON NOT PURSUING A DREAM) Why is it that we make excuses for the things we lack in life? The person that I asked this question to has money to buy cigarettes, weed, liquor, money for the club and any other thing that she WANTS! things that make you go hmmmmmmm.......

OK Ladies, I am not a supporter of Oprah, but I do believe there is something to to learn from her like
 the fact that she is the wealthiest African American Woman.  LESSON TO LEARN: ..Oprah wasn't always wealthy, she had a starting point of pursuing her dreams and clearly made no excuses along the way.
        We are all over comers of extreme life stressors like (Oprah) but lets not make our present circumstances a reason to not pursue our dreams. Lets stop making excuses..... God has a plan & purpose for us all. Lets seek God for it :)

#Empire state of mind! Let's go


"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share".- 1Timothy 6:18

what's your net worth???

Article Posted by Black Enterprise...PLEASE READ

Growing The Net Worth of Black Women

Don't just be alarmed that the median net worth of black women is only $100—do something about it.

Don't be alarmed by the recent news that African American women only have a median net worth of $100. I'm actually glad to see that it wasn't in the negative. The reality of the situation is that too many people define themselves based on income. Many say "I make six-figures," or "I need to be in a two-income family." This is senseless talk. If you are not saving or investing that income in a place that will create true wealth, you are headed for a three-figure-net-worth future.
When I discuss what it means to be rich at seminars, I explain that the vision is different for everyone. But the one constant is that you will need to have wealth to achieve that rich vision. There is a simple formula for net worth; it's assets minus liabilities. Please note, INCOME is nowhere in this equation.
I commend the Insight Center for Community Economic Development for conducting a study of the wealth gap between women of color and white women. Perhaps, now more women will get a wake up call and start to do the following to change the picture and focus on building wealth:
A) Find Out Where You Stand
Knowing and accepting your situation is the first step to overcoming any situation.
Add up all your assets, i.e. everything you own or are borrowing-to-own (like a house, car, jewelry that's paid for on a Zales credit card, etc.)
Subtract everything you owe, i.e. credit card balances, car loans, mortgages, student loans, etc. Do not include utilities because that is not a debt, you can turn that off and the bill goes away. Unless of course, you have to still pay for months that have already passed (as in overdue bills).
Get your outcome number from applying steps 1 and 2. This number is your net worth. Don't panic or be alarmed if your number is in the negative. This is very common for the first time you apply this exercise.  My  number was like minus-$30,000 or something the first time I calculated my net worth.
I once interviewed a woman for a magazine story who said she actually got diarrhea after she realized her financial situation was so bleak. But imagine what she would have gotten if she didn't correct the situation. She was about $20,000 short every year for her basic living expenses, which was making her credit card debt mount and continue to ruin her net worth. But after she realized it, she got a job making more money and she is now living quite pretty. She actually lives close by me and she is doing quite well for herself with her million dollar home.

The Power of a Renewed Mind::Speak Like

How you start your day usually determines the flow of your day.
Every morning, I sow my first seeds by having daily devotion.....as a part of that devotion 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.

You should try it and watch things shift! :)

"Be  transformed by the renewing of your mind."-Romans 12:2



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!