Understanding money, one blog at a time

Greetings and money blessings to you my friends! Oh how quickly time flies.  Tax season has approached us yet again.  For those of us who pay taxes annually, it's a somber time and also a procrastination to stretch the dreadful filing out to April 15th. However, for those of us who receive refunds from our Federal government and state agencies it is a wonderful and stimulating time 😉😉😉.  I have a few tips to make that money stretch possibly until the following tax season. Choose a 'Don't Touch Me Amount' Have a pre-determined amount in your mind that you will set aside upon immediate receipt of your refund.  This could be a start to your savings account or an addition.  My recommended amount would be 50% of your refund or more. That sounds like a lot, however this is additional income.  If you have been able to survive without it the last 11 months, then you will be able to survive with out it again! Budget the Remaining Money Let's say your to...

Hello all of my beautiful people.  I hope that this blog reaches you in limitless spirits! So I have a friend (whom shall remain nameless) that is in a hurry to purchase a house that she has been renting.  The owners of the house are ready to sell as the entire area has increased in property value. She's a veteran and has access to a VA Home Loan but there is only one problem; her credit score.  This is a really close friend of mine, almost like a sister. So, she came to me asking how she can bump up her credit score in a hurry.  I said, "oh that's easy, I'll add you as an authorized user to a few of my credit cards". What does this mean you may ask?  Real life example: I have credit cards with high limits that I do not use (because I'm fabulously frugal right ❤) .  By holding credit cards with high limits and zero balances, it contributes to my modestly high credit score due to low utilization.  Credit Utilization is you having access to...

It's April 20th, 2017.  I get an email from my attorney requesting a meeting.  The prosecution wants to offer me a deal. Probation. The chance to ensure that I stay home with my kids, and the fact that I can avoid another $10-15 thousand in lawyer fee's in exchange for representation at trial?  An offer so tempting, I could not refuse. Regardless of how innocent I felt, I just couldn't pass.  But with my offer came my husband's offer:  Ten years in prison. I had been upset with my husband while we were separated. For so many reasons, I was just angry.  But ten years in prison, without our children? That hurt more than anything. I hurt for my kids and I hurt for my husband. He had never been to prison and for this sentence to be so long. The truth is that he had done some bad things that were very wrong and very illegal. But He was a great dad. Always was a great father. May 22nd 2017 we woke up, got the kids ready for school and daycare and dropped t...

Once the smoke cleared, one of the very first things I had to do was take accountability.  Although I had not done a huge portion of the things I was charged with, I did have to take responsibility for whatever role I played: knowingly or unknowingly. Life was a whirlwind adjusting to life as a single parent.  I had to move fast enrolling the kids in daycare so that I could continue to work. I had to be mom and dad during the week.  My husband made bond and would have the kids on the weekend.  Which was a huge relief for me. One Saturday in June 2016 while the kids were with their dad,  I sat down in bed and wrote ‘$10,000 by July 24th” (no year) on an orange sticky note and posted it on my wall. I saw it every time I woke up and every time I went to sleep. This sticky note was now my accountability partner.  I couldn't let it, or myself down :). BTW, I’m here to tell you that $10,000 is not a lot of money. But to me, it was. I had $48.00 in the bank a...

This past year and a half has completely turned my life upside down.  I am now ready to share my story in hopes that I can be an inspiration. Life is full of ups and downs.  But we always have a choice.  I am bringing my story in 3 parts. This is part one: It was May 10th 2016.  I had a dream the previous night. One of those lucid dreams that felt so real it stayed with me throughout the day.  The dream was that my husband set me up.  He shot me 5 times and instead of getting to the hospital, I was trying to get to the courthouse to file a divorce.  Those words divorce kept ringing louder and louder in the dream.  I woke up that morning and everything was normal.  I got dressed, kissed my husband and 9 month old daughter, dropped my 7 year old off at school then went on in to work.  I was self employed running by business full time.  Life was good. That evening, I came home and relieved my husband from daddy duty. He didn't work...

Are you desperate? Hopeless? Wondering why you can not get out of the financial rat race?  Well worry no more!  My 10 day money challenge will begin to set good money habits in your life now and forever! Day one: Why do you want financial stability (set money goals) First things first. Sitting down and being honest with yourself about why you want a change in the first place will put everything into perspective. Write your goals down on paper and read them everyday! By doing this you keep yourself motivated to do exactly what you set out to do. Save $3.00 on this day. You can toss it in an existing savings account, old shoe box, piggy bank etc. just put it away. Remember this, if you don't save it, you will spend it. Day two: Self observation Some folks call it a budget, I call it money watching. Today, take a look into your bank account.  Out line expenses that are 'unusual and unnecessary'.  These are the expenses you need to cut completely out of your life...

Hello there 👀 Believe it, or do, I didn't gain the concept of saving money until I was about 20. I was pregnant with my son at the time and my reality was that I was broke. I knew that I would need money for a baby, so I just made saving a priority.  I want to share with you a few tips that may help you put some * rainy day money up. Set an Attainable Savings Goal Trust me when I say, any amount put away is a start!  You have to really become conscious of your budget (how much make vs. your living expenses).  Sacrifice is essential in this process! Start out small and plan to work your way up.  As you see your savings account grow, it will encourage you to get more aggressive.  Don't set a total savings limit; instead set daily, weekly or monthly goals. Watch your money grow! Keep the money separate How difficult is it to save money when you can't see it grow?  Whether you use an old shoe-box, or open a new savings or money market account, keep...