It’s been a day… 🙃 Your email inbox looks like a battlefield, there are socks on the living room floor that definitely aren’t yours, and the idea of chopping onions feels about as appealing as filing taxes. What do you do? You tap your favorite restaurant on DoorDash, of course. Twenty minutes later, the goods arrive. Delicious. But while you’re dipping your sourdough into burrata, there’s a nagging thought in the back of your mind. How much is this actually costing me? Oh, it’s costing a lot more than burrata should, my friend. 🫠 Why Do We Keep Eating Out? Because it feels so good. It’s not just about the food; it’s about the moment. The joy of having someone else do the work. The escape from the monotony of cooking and dishes. The giddy pleasure of opening a beautifully plated meal that actually looks picture-worthy. Dining out feeds more than your hunger. It feeds your soul. It makes you feel cared for, even if only for 45 minutes while your server refills your wine glass. And yes, that convenience? Pure gold on a weeknight when meal prep feels as overwhelming as assembling Ikea furniture. But here’s where we need some tough love. […]
Ever catch yourself saying, “If I could just make $20,000 more a year, I’d finally be set?” 💭 Maybe it wasn’t $20,000. Maybe it was $30,000, or even $50,000. Whatever the number, you believed it. You thought your money problems would magically evaporate once that “more” landed in your bank account. Spoiler alert: It didn’t, did it? And guess what? You’re not alone. The Mirage of “More Money” Here’s the thing about money. It’s like water on a hot day in the desert. No matter how much you drink, you’re still thirsty. And that mirage on the horizon? The one where you’re rolling in cash, sipping mojitos 🍹 on some beach while your problems take a vacation? That’s all it is. A mirage. Don’t get me wrong, making more money sounds like the fix-all solution. But here’s the kicker—more often than not, “more” doesn’t fix the problem. It can even make it worse. Shocking, right? Stay with me here. Lifestyle Inflation, The Silent Killer of Wealth Here’s how it happens. When you earn more, you spend more. It’s called lifestyle inflation, and it’s an uninvited guest that moves in every time your paycheck gets bigger. You get a raise. Woohoo! 🎉 Suddenly, the car you’re […]
Woohoo! You paid off your credit card debt! That’s a HUGE win. 🎉 HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND. But now, you might be staring at those old credit cards thinking, “Should I keep these just in case?” Listen, I get it. It’s tempting. But spoiler alert: those cards? T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Kind of like keeping a box of Twinkies in your pantry when you’re trying to eat clean. Sure, they’re there “in case,” but we all know how that ends. (Hint: It’s not with kale. 🥬) The Truth About Credit Cards After You Slay Your Debt First, a reality check. Keeping old credit cards doesn’t scream “responsible adult.” It whispers, “Swipe me! Swipe me!” And before you know it, you’re back in the debt rabbit hole. Not cute. 🐇 Here’s why ditching them is the glow-up your wallet deserves: For Your Finances For Your Future Why This Matters Here’s the thing. Keeping credit cards is risky business. One swipe, and suddenly, you’re drowning in debt waters all over again. It’s like “just having one cookie.” Next thing you know, it’s crumbs everywhere, and you’re crying into an empty box. 🍪 Don’t do it. When you ditch those cards, you’re saying, “I’ve got goals. […]
A scarcity mindset can be suffocating. Life’s too short to pinch your pennies so tight you’re scared to enjoy it. Sure, budgeting matters (don’t start hyperventilating yet), but living like your wallet is in witness protection? Not it. Here are 4 ways to boldly spend on what fuels your soul (without going broke). 1. Shift Your Mindset Alright, first things first. If you’ve got a death grip on your wallet, it’s time to relax those fingers. What’s eating at you? Fear of running out of money? Guilt for splurging? Whatever it is, remember this: money is a tool, not a prison guard. Start thinking about spending as an investment in your happiness, not as a reckless indulgence. Buy the comfy running shoes that make you actually want to work out. Book the weekend getaway that’s been calling your name. Kick guilt to the curb and focus on what makes your heart skip a beat. 2. Prioritize Your Passions If your budget is tighter than your favorite pair of old skinny jeans, here’s the tip of your dreams: spend smart. No, I don’t mean cutting out coffee like every personal finance guru loves to preach (we’re civilized humans here, coffee stays […]
Are you a “spreadsheet and logic” type 🖋 or a “follow your heart, trust your gut” type? 💖 The way you approach money likely has a lot to do with whether you’re more of a thinker or a feeler. Spoiler alert: You’re probably not just one or the other. But understanding which one drives your financial decisions can be a complete GAME CHANGER. Are You a Thinker or a Feeler? 🤔 Here’s a quick litmus test. Ask yourself this question and pay attention to how you answer it. Thinkers? They lean on logic. Every decision gets weighed, sifted, and maybe thrown into a color-coded spreadsheet. Feelers are more intuitive. They picture outcomes and connect with how a choice resonates emotionally 🤗. Neither is “better.” If anything, we’re all a mix. No one’s 100% thinker unless you’re a Vulcan 🖖, and no one’s purely a feeler unless Disney wrote your life story 🎬. But knowing where you lean most heavily can shine some light 💡 on how you treat your hard-earned cash. Now, let’s break it down. How Thinkers Handle Their Finances 🙇♂️ Thinkers view money analytically. They focus on data, logic, and measurable outcomes. Need to convince a thinker to buy something? Feel free to […]
Let’s Flip the Script on Budgeting 🤔 Usually, budgeting is all about what you have to cut out—no to that extra slice of pizza, no to spontaneous trips to Aruba (bummer, right?). But what if budgeting was more about what you get to say “YES” to? Enter the magical world of the “Yes List.” Picture This: A World of Yeses 📝 Instead of dwelling on those pesky no’s, start your budgeting journey by jotting down all the things you’re thrilled to say “YES” to. Yes, to your cozy home that feels like a warm hug every time you step in. Yes, to those two cars that make you feel like a king or queen of the road. Yes, to dinner out twice a month—go ahead, call it ‘date night’ and make it a thing. Yes to the kids’ tutors because education is priceless, and yes to that yoga class because, let’s face it, inner peace is worth every cent. But wait—before you start dreaming up new yeses, have you taken stock of the yeses you already have in your life? Take a moment to look around. Your Yes List doesn’t have to be all about adding more to your plate. You’re likely already saying YES to things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Your favorite coffee subscription? That’s […]
Eight years ago, I dropped an article on reducing debt, breaking down the debt snowball vs. the debt avalanche approach. It blew up—big time. It happened to be one of my most popular articles ever. In a nutshell, the debt avalanche has you tackle the highest interest rates first, while the debt snowball says to start with the smallest balances. The idea? Knock out the little ones to build momentum and confidence for the bigger beasts. Beyond debt repayment methodologies, there’s a slew of software that can show fancy graphs and track your debt load. However, all these tools ultimately don’t make a difference without one key ingredient. Paying off debt isn’t just about these methods, apps, or fancy graphs. They’re tools, like the icing on the cake. The real secret sauce? Understanding your priorities and fortifying your willpower. Writing down goals sounds great, right? But without strong willpower, it’s like having a plan with no action. True progress happens when you actively build up your determination. It’s about taking actionable steps to strengthen your willpower, which is crucial for financial success. The Power of Speech What you say massively impacts your thoughts, especially the stuff you tell yourself. Athletes use mantras to […]
We’re knee-deep in our series on mastering cash flow (a.k.a. your guide to tracking down where your hard-earned dough is taking off to). Let’s hit pause and do a quick refresher. Cash flow, what’s that again? Here’s the 411—it’s a nifty tool that shows you exactly where your money is flying off to each month. It’s your income minus your expenses, all lined up nice and neat. Ever feel like your money pulls a Houdini act by month-end? It’s time to get your geek on and master the cash flow. The secret sauce? Getting started! So, let me share my method with you. Here are three steps to kickstart your journey: Step 1: Round up your financial papers Start by collecting or printing your bank and credit card statements for the past 3 months. I usually don’t venture further back because, let’s be real, recalling what I had for breakfast is a challenge, let alone remembering that $84.93 Amazon impulse buy six months ago. Sure, you could dig through your Amazon history, but that’s not the point here. While accuracy is a biggie, the real goal is to get your spreadsheet up and running ASAP. Small victories are the MVPs here. Remember, budgeting is 80% behavior, 20% crunching […]
Well, well, well, here we go again… Last week we started getting into the thrilling world of cash flow and spreadsheets. I know, I know, you’re thinking, “Whoa there, slow down with the excitement!” But stick with me here. Let’s say you’re not a spreadsheet enthusiast. You’re more of a creative doodler than a data analyst. Maybe those little cells and formulas give you the heebie-jeebies (I mean, come on, who even knows what =SUM((B2:B10>=A2:A10) * (B2:B10>0)) means? 🤯). Or perhaps you bought some fancy schmancy Google spreadsheet templates, but they don’t tickle your pickle. Don’t worry, I gotcha. What if I told you that you can tackle cash flow without spreadsheets? Yeah, you heard me right. Shout it from the rooftops: NO MORE SPREADSHEETS! Maybe you’re a creative soul who loves the feel of pen against paper, the freedom to doodle and sketch your financial dreams. Or perhaps you’re a spreadsheet savant, getting a kick out of crafting complex formulas so slick they’d make Bill Gates green with envy. Whichever way you swing, the aim of the game is to get the job done. So, what’s it gonna be? Spreadsheet or Sketchpad? If you’re a rookie in this financial rodeo, give both a spin. You […]
Today, we’re kicking off a topic that might seem as appealing as a pair of wool socks in a heatwave: cash flow & spreadsheets. Now, I know some of you out there just love getting all up in Excel’s business. You’re the type who gets a thrill from seeing numbers line up like well-behaved children on a field trip. And that’s cool. More power to you! But then, there are those like me who’d rather chug a cup of sheep eyeball juice than a sea of cells and formulas. I mean, it’s not quite THAT bad, but you catch my drift. Whether you’re a number nerd or an eyeball juice enthusiast, understanding your cash flow is as crucial as knowing which end of the toothbrush to use. As a self-confessed ‘creative,’ my relationship with spreadsheets was, for a long time, similar to my childhood feelings toward broccoli (and trust me, my mom would attest to the theatrics involved). But as I soon discovered, just like broccoli, spreadsheets – when prepared right – can be surprisingly tasty (and good for you!). Unearthing the Art in Spreadsheets Much like a painter’s canvas or a sculptor’s stone, a blank spreadsheet holds endless possibilities. […]