I know it may seem, depending on where you look and with whom you speak, that everyone is living a perfect life. Everyone is basking in the after glow of success, happiness, and goodness. And for some, that may be true. But I know that within that season of success, they encountered seasons of doubt, lack, and wandering. If you are in that season of less, here are a few tips … [Read more...]
Sell Your Junk And Get Rid Of Your Debt in 15 Easy Steps
When I was focused on eliminating my graduate school student loans of $40,000, I entered into hustle mode. Hustle mode is when you focus on finding ways to increase your income through sales and entrepreneurship instead of through decreasing your expenditure, getting a second job, or hard-core savings. Don't get me wrong; both strategies (increasing income and decreasing … [Read more...]
How You Feel About Paying Your Bills Can Reveal a Surprising Truth About Your Relationship with Money
Over the last month, I had a number of bills to pay; some were related to my personal life and others were related to The Frugal Feminista. I realized that despite having the money to pay the bills, I felt a sense of tension in my belly when they came. I felt a sense of worry. I even felt a bit upset that I had to pay them. When I caught myself catching an attitude, I … [Read more...]
A Grown Woman’s Guide To Making and Keeping A Budget That Works
I am really going to be honest with you and it may sound shameful….but I don’t keep a budget (bad personal finance coach, bad personal finance coach), well, at least not in the conventional sense with spreadsheets and graphs. But, you better believe, a sister named Kara I. Stevens makes her monthly savings goal every month. Every. Single. Month. Let me tell you … [Read more...]
How to Overcome Emotional Spending in 4 Critical Steps
Life may be beautiful, but we all know it isn’t always easy. When life gets tough, many of us resort to hitting the malls and online sites to help ease the jabs and punches of life. But looking for happiness or relief through spending only brings about temporary happiness and permanent debt. So before you break out your credit card the next time life is not going your … [Read more...]
Want Financial Unity With Your Spouse? Practice These 3 Simple Rules
By: Petrina Turner With nearly half of all American marriages ending in divorce, finances hover at the top of the list as a major cause of separation. Whether feuding about not having enough money or being stressed over spending too much money, relationships are in constant stress and strain from the everyday pressures of marriage and its financial affects. Although … [Read more...]
Money Monday: How to Use Vantage Score to Tackle Your FICO Score Blues
Your credit score is one of the most vital components of your financial life. It holds the key to obtaining a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card. Even the amount you pay for insurance or your ability to get a job can be affected by this little three digit number. Yet, according to a survey by the American Bankers Association, nearly 60% of Americans don’t even know their … [Read more...]
The Art of Impulse Buying: How to Know When It’s Right
I had to be out of the office this week at an off-site training in the City. Normally, I get in, I get out, I get on with my life. But New York City summers are something I marvel and savor. I took the long way to the train and found myself outside a thrift store whose mission is to raise money for the homeless and for AIDS patients. I really had no intention of … [Read more...]
Going to the Chapel? Hash Out These 3 Controversial Topics Before Jumping the Broom!
Couples often decide to get married because they have fallen head over heels in love with each other. They can no longer imagine their life without their best friend, confidant, and lover. The rose colored glasses through which they view their relationship lead them to believe that their marriage will play out like a fairy tale - you know, ride off into the sunset and live … [Read more...]
Money Monday: Five Steps to Kicking Your Bad Financial Habits
When 2015 rolled in, many of us made promises, resolutions even, that this would be our year to finally get our finances in order. We were determined to follow budgets, eliminate debt, and maybe even increase savings. We had good intentions to change our financial situations; but now, halfway through the year, many of those promises are long forgotten and we find ourselves … [Read more...]
What Do You Want Your Money To Look Like 6 Months from Now?
I subscribe to a few blogs that provide trainings and tools to black women live their ideal lives. In one of the newsletters, here was the opening message: “Where do you want to be in the next 6 months?” “Hmmmm,” I thought, “What a great question.” My short-list answer to that question is: 1) I want to finish the two books that I’ve been working on this year. … [Read more...]
How Minimalism Can Solve Your Debt Problems For Good
We all have our Kriptonite when it comes to impulse shopping and buying more than we need or even want. For me, as a self-proclaimed brown girl bibliophile introvert, I can’t pull myself from Amazon without spending at least $50. A sweet circuit of joy courses through me when I come home and find those boxes in my mail box or if they are too big, leaning against my door. But … [Read more...]
Why Every Black Family in America Should Consider Removing Debt from Their Balance Sheet
By Aja McClanahan Recent events in Ferguson and Baltimore have been bitter reminders for Black America: there’s still more work to do for justice and equality for people of all races in our country. Black people are clearly angry, frustrated and demoralized by the quality of life gap that still persists between Black and White America. Without being all political and … [Read more...]
Money Monday: 4 Financial Questions Married Couple’s are Neglecting to Ask Each Other
Quick, how much does your spouse make? If you don’t know the answer you’re not alone. According to a recent Fidelity survey, forty-three percent of couples could not correctly identify how much their significant other earned. This was despite the fact that 72% of the couples thought that they communicated very well or exceptionally well about money. Both men and women were … [Read more...]
4 Tests Every Godly Marriage Has to Go Through
We have already heard the popular phrase, “there isn’t a testimony without first going through a test” This is very true and if you ask anyone with a story what it took to get where they are now, you better pull up a chair because they will keep you for days. Every married couple must face various tests throughout their marriage. Here are 4 tests every Godly … [Read more...]