Girl Gets RICH

When you’re new to investing, the hardest part is knowing where to start. It can be kind of like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions 🤣 A simple approach: use your 401(k) if your company offers one. If not, an IRA (traditional or Roth) is often the next best step.
Honestly, you don't need to be a financial genius to get started 💸🎉

This is one of those 'once in a while' money checks.
Assets minus liabilities = net worth (aka how much can you really treat yo' self? 😉)
Knowing the number makes it easier to automate, relax and worry less.

Two common debt payoff strategies, same goal. The snowball method focuses on quick wins to build motivation. The avalanche method focuses on interest rates to save more over time.
The best plan is the one that feels sustainable for you. Either way you choose, seeing debt go down is a great feeling and the wins will keep you motivated ... you've got this! 🎉

This is one of those “easy but overlooked” money habits.
If something constantly nudges you to buy, compare or consume, it’s costing you more than you think.
Awareness alone changes things. Less 'you need to buy this' content and more cat videos already! 🙌

Appliances are EXPENSIVE! These numbers are important to review, especially if you’re a homeowner or planning to buy real estate anytime soon. Three years ago, my furnace died and cost nearly $5,000 to replace and install. If you’re only keeping $1,000 in your emergency fund, you could be wiped out by an unexpected problem like this. Especially if the appliance dies in a time of need and emergency-fix charges may apply (such as a furnace dying mid-winter when it’s the only source of heat). Knowing about how long your appliances should last can help you budget for upcoming replacements. Also, when looking at new real estate, you can determine what may NEED to be replaced and how much it can cost.
Note that these numbers are only guidelines (from Consumer Reports and Home Advisor)… there are many tiers of appliances (budget to luxury) and costs can always go beyond these numbers. The ranges of lifespan are related to there being multiple types of the listed appliance. For example, electric boilers don’t live as long as gas ones (13 vs 21 years).
I have to admit, some of these lifespans surprised me. I know people that have been replacing washing machines every few years due to major breakdowns. I wonder if appliance lifespans are getting shorter as quality of materials and craftsmanship declines… have your appliances lived up to these numbers?? Do you budget for regular upgrades? 💰💵🏡

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When I first realized my marriage was never going to work, this data is the first place I went to figure things out. I knew that I would have to take care of my kids and that I couldn’t count on anyone for regular support. I already had a bachelor’s degree, but my major was Visual Arts. So I hatched a plan to head back to school so I could become qualified for a job that would PAY. 💰 Initially I chose mechanical engineering and signed up for classes at a state school. But when I took my first programming class, I knew that I had found my calling. The field was growing, the jobs paid well and I could get the degree in about half the time due to fewer specialized classes being required. Since I already had one degree, all of my gen ed classes were considered complete. I only needed to take classes that were required for the degree that I wanted. I earned my Computer Science degree in about two years. The classes were great but juggling the complications of parenthood on my own and keeping my bills paid was a challenge. It was probably the hardest time of my life due to the constant mental gymnastics required. But it was also extremely rewarding. I got to reinvent myself on my own terms and created a life of abundance and joy. If you’re in a similar situation, I feel you a million times over. It’s SO hard but don’t give up. It does get better. 💕

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Sunday is the one day where we generally have no plans: no work, no school, no kid activities. I like to use it to catch up with friends, catch up around the house, get outside or do nothing at all. Today I’m excited to be opening a box of new teas from one of my favorite tea companies and reviewing my budget. This is when I can address any surprises from the past week and plan for upcoming expenses. There are many holidays and birthdays in the next few months, so this is the month I start really planning for those. The weather looks amazing for some time in the woods so a hike with my girls is in order and then catch up on some chores. I find the work week so much more enjoyable when there’s some order at home (especially since I work remotely). Last but not least, my skin could use a little love. So I’m looking forward to an evening with my TLC Babyfacial mask. I hope you all have a relaxing Sunday 💕

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People are always asking if they should invest while they have debt. The simplest way to look at this is to compare the APR on your debt to the rate of return you expect on your investment. While you can’t be sure what the investment will return, you can use historical data to make an estimate for the sake of deciding if it’s a good idea. If the rate of return on the investment is MORE than the rate on the debt, it makes sense to invest while paying down the debt. If not, get that debt paid off as fast as you can and then invest.
For example, since inception the S&P 500 has returned about 10%. If I’m looking to invest in an index fund tracking the S&P 500, but I have credit card debt charging more than 10% interest, I might want to get that debt paid off before investing. If the credit card is charging A LOT more than 10% interest, I would really want to get it paid off first.
But the important thing to remember here is that personal finance is PERSONAL. There is no one-size-fits-all way to determine what’s going to work best for everyone. These examples can serve as a guide when making decisions for yourself. But you have to remember that what I choose for myself may not be the best for you. The most important thing you can do is to take a look at your finances, make a plan and then take action. Any progress is better than no progress at all!
Are you investing while paying debt?? 💰💵 🎉

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Always do your own research.

People are always asking if they should invest while they have debt. The simplest way to look at this is to compare the APR on your debt to the rate of return you expect on your investment. While you can’t be sure what the investment will return, you can use historical data to make an estimate for the sake of deciding if it’s a good idea. If the rate of return on the investment is MORE than the rate on the debt, it makes sense to invest while paying down the debt. If not, get that debt paid off as fast as you can and then invest.
For example, since inception the S&P 500 has returned about 10%. If I’m looking to invest in an index fund tracking the S&P 500, but I have credit card debt charging more than 10% interest, I might want to get that debt paid off before investing. If the credit card is charging A LOT more than 10% interest, I would really want to get it paid off first.
But the important thing to remember here is that personal finance is PERSONAL. There is no one-size-fits-all way to determine what’s going to work best for everyone. These examples can serve as a guide when making decisions for yourself. But you have to remember that what I choose for myself may not be the best for you. The most important thing you can do is to take a look at your finances, make a plan and then take action. Any progress is better than no progress at all!
Are you investing while paying debt?? 💰💵 🎉

👉 Follow for more!

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Always do your own research.

Don’t get caught in the cash-back credit card trap! Sometimes our minds can play tricks on us… thinking that if we charge some nice new things to our credit cards, we’ll get cash back, so it’s no big deal. This FOR SURE has happened to me in the past. (Funny what we can talk ourselves into 🤷‍♀️) But if you don’t Intend to pay the balance back in full right away, look what can happen: Say your card charges 18% interest… If you spend $1000 dollars but only pay back $100 per month until the balance is paid off, you will have spent $92 in interest charges. So that $50 cash back that you received doesn’t save you a dime in the end. And that $1000 purchase would cost you $1042 by the time it’s paid. The more you spend or the higher your credit card rate, the more money you stand to lose. Credit cards can be very dangerous because it doesn’t take long for a series of smaller purchases to add up to big debt. Stay vigilant so your mind can’t talk you into using your cards when you can’t cover the balance. Have you had this happen to you before??

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All content on this page is information of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Always do your own research.