Make sure that when you create your financial goals they are S.M.A.R.T!
Specific: Make sure to be as specific as possible. Include the who, what, where, when why, and how in this step. Write this down and post it somewhere you will see it everyday.
Read MoreThe Most Common Budget Busters & Tips for Avoiding Them
Creating a budget is no small task. In fact, it’s hard work and takes consistent dedication. This is why it’s important for me to educate my clients (and you!) on the kinds of distractions that can derail all that hard work.
Let’s be honest, it’s easier than ever to spend money these days. You don’t even have to carry a wallet! While technology has provided a more convenient way to shop, it can also be detrimental to our financial behavior. I’ve compiled a short list of common things to avoid when you’re creating and sticking to a budget. My hope is that you can find some room in your budget to save towards your bigger goals. You’ve got this!
True or False: When I started my business, I knew all the business items I would need to pay for.
If you would’ve asked me this on day one, I would’ve said a matter-of-fact, shoulder-shrugging yes. Ask me today, years later, and I can say with full confidence that this statement is false. I had no idea! If you’re new to business ownership, take comfort in the fact that no one has all the answers in the beginning. Which, I think, is part of the fun of entrepreneurship.
Read MoreI know you’ve heard... and, you’ve probably already done some research… Well, Amazon Prime Day is coming! This year Amazon Prime will begin at midnight PST and run for a full 48 hours on July 16th through July 17th. If you have been saving up for gifts, or even for some Amazon-specific items - wait no longer. Now is the time to put that money to good use.
Read MoreIf you’ve read some of my other blog posts about creating a budget, then you know that I can’t stress enough the importance of maintaining your budget. Too often I see people spending valuable time creating their budget, and then going about their month and completely forgetting about it. It’s not surprising when they look at their final numbers for the month and realize they’ve overspent.
A comment I received in direct messages recently reminded me just how scary finances can be for a lot of people. This particular message said that it’s just too much of a commitment to develop and create a budget. In fact, this person went so far as to say, “Why can’t I just continue to live in financial ignorance?” I think a lot of people feel this same way! Many people would rather not know how much they’re spending every month because it’s easier than knowing.
Read MoreDebit cards. Credit cards. Prepaid cards. Apple pay. Google wallet. Paypal. Venmo. Bank transfers. Phone and mobile payments. Checks. Money orders. Has money taken on too many forms that the value of cash is diminishing? The idea that the next generation is losing the sense of what the true value of cash really is could very well be true. This theory is called financial abstraction, coined by Adam Carroll in a Tedx Talk.
Read MoreRich Dad Poor Dad, written by Robert T. Kiyosaki, is one of those personal finance books that I truly believe everyone should read at least once in their lives.
Here’s the deal...If you are an individual who is neutral about personal finances, in that maybe you are able to control your spending, but not able to save as much as you would like. Or, maybe you have a budget, but are essentially breaking even each month. Or, maybe you are on a different side of the spectrum, in that you are struggling financially and are worried about not making ends meet day-to-day. Well, this book is for all of you! I do not think it will single out any class of people, because the concepts, themes, frames of thought, can at any point in time affect any one of us. Not only will this book be enlightening, it may also enrich your life in ways you never thought imaginable, while instilling in you the desire to take charge of your personal finances.
Read MoreWhen I first started this business I was unsure of which way to truly start. I felt like I knew my endgame, but was unsure of which path to move forward with. I know there may be some of you out there thinking the same thing. Perhaps you even toyed with the idea of starting your own business as well, but just unsure of exactly how to get started. In this blog post I reflect on my first year in business and then I breakdown the path I took to that brought me where I am today. I hope this provides insight and encouragement that it is possible to start a business alongside working a full-time job.
Read MoreI asked my friend Taylor, who blogs over at Tay-Coff to Adventure!, if she would write-up an article for all of us interested in traveling, but are not really sure how to do it on a budget. Just in time for holiday travels, Taylor packs this blog post full of tips and tricks from a seasoned traveler, like herself. Grab a notepad and pen, you are going to want to take notes during this post!
Read MoreNovember tends to set the tone for the holiday season for me. You bet I already started watching Christmas movies! Some of my favorite Christmas movies include Elf, The Polar Express, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and any other Holiday movie available on Netflix! Enjoying a cozy night in during the Holiday season helps with budget relief too. I do not have to worry about spending money going out to the movies, or eating out, because all of that can be done in the comfort of my home. I started my holiday baking too; by finding ingredients in my cupboard, searching those ingredients into Google, and making it my own by adjusting according to what I have on-hand.
Read MoreIf you have ever walked down Lake Avenue, or entered the Vons parking lot off the corner of California and Lake Avenue in Pasadena, you may have noticed a quaint retail store selling artisanal arts and crafts from around the world. Typically, you may find Pasadenians drawn to this store near the holidays. This retail space is truly the best place you can go to find the most unique gifts for holidays, birthdays or baby showers. Ten Thousand Villages has such a wide variety of items!
Read MoreWould you know the answer to the question: Do you live below your means?
Earlier this week I was listening to a podcast where they were talking about how it is culturally acceptable to spend, spend, spend! Buy that new widescreen/flat screen/3D Screen TV! Buy the newest car! Buy that new piece of electronics! Buy the latest and greatest fashion line! Living within this culture where we are conditioned to overspend beyond our means, will allow us to do just that with seemingly no repercussions.
Read MoreRedeeming Love was established just a few short years ago, and is going strong today. Even though they are a young organization they have a huge heart to make an impact on Southern California for the better. They are a refuge for trafficked survivors. Unfortunately, trafficking is a form of slavery still in existence today. It is surprisingly close to home too. Read this blog post to learn more about how even in Irvine California there are still trafficked survivors today.
Read MoreIn the frugal spirit of the upcoming holidays, I wanted to interrupt nonprofit blog series, to bring you insights from my one and only mother! Around the holidays I just absolutely love love love all of the deals and discounts available. In my thoughtful nature, I am already thinking of my family when I am shopping, but, I can't help but get heart eyes when I walk past the new styles and wonderful store sales. I have been known to buy myself a Christmas present (or two) every year as it seems that I convince myself that another discount or offer will not arise! Which, by the way, is absolutely not true. Deals and discounts come around OFTEN!
Read MoreElizabeth House exists to provide shelter, hope and support to homeless, pregnant women and their children by addressing their physical, emotional, spiritual, and economic needs in a nurturing atmosphere. Elizabeth House has been serving women and children in the Los Angeles area for more than 20 years.
Read MoreA few years ago, I had the pleasure of working with the Pasadena Museum of History (PMH). Through a meetup group for Pasadena Social Media Group, I was able to connect with a few of the lovely folks from PMH! Before I started my accounting and bookkeeping business I was involved with a few other production companies (in theatre and film). One of those production companies was Skycraft Studios where we produced a short film in tandem with one of the exhibits at PMH. The Batchelder exhibit showcased rare Batchelder tile.
Read MoreExcel is so versatile I use it almost every minute of every day. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration.... If you have been shying away from using excel this is your chance to learn the most basic formulas! Today I want to share with you my very favorite excel formulas that I use in everyday life! Excel is very simple and straightforward, there may be some hidden features that you may not know about just by opening up excel. However you do not need to use those features in order to take advantage of the many benefits excel does have to offer. I want to prove just how very simple it can be!
Read MoreIn last week’s blog post I talk about how I organize and plan out certain details in my life. If you have not read that you can do so here. The reason why I think it is important to have a basis of understanding of planning is so that we can move to our next topic at hand. I believe planning is an essential part of life! However, when it comes to financial planning I get the sense from many people that they are going through certain phases in life without a plan.
Read MoreIf you have seen some of my Instagram Stories recently then you are probably already aware of the fact that I have been thinking of how I can set myself up for success! One of the ways I accomplish this is by simply planning things out. I know how easy it is to go through life mindlessly and without a plan. And by that I really mean thinking that everything is under control, but you have not taken the time to think through and put pen-to-paper to plan things out.
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