Why Lifestyle Creep is Your Biggest Hidden Money Problem
melaniedj • 17 October 2019
You can give me every excuse in the book, but the honest truth is more than likely your biggest money problem is your lifestyle creep.
You get a big bonus or raise and it's time to upgrade the cell phone, get a new car, plan the exotic vacation you've been waiting for, and remodel your home!
Without realizing it, you've effectively spent MORE than your raise, putting you in a worse financial situation than before, even though it appears to be better.
When people talk about their financial struggles, they usually point back to their wage as the issue.
This is a clever tactic because it diverts the attention and symptom of the problem from themselves and their own actions.
Lifestyle creep is the reason many people with modest incomes are actually wealthier and better off than those considered top income earners.
Anyone can fall into the trap of lifestyle creep. If you aren't careful with your money and don't practice self-discipline you'll likely be next!
WHAT IS LIFESTYLE CREEP?
Lifestyle creep is when you live on more than you make, making it hard to save, invest, and results in living paycheck to paycheck despite having a higher income.
Many times lifestyle creep is brought on by an increase in wage and/or bonus that results in your standard of living increasing by more than the increased income.
All of us can fall prey to this trap when our income rises.
Your paycheck is larger, and you're ready to give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done!
Suddenly the mall sounds more appealing than the thrift store.
You reward yourself with a nice dinner out, but soon enough dinner out becomes the norm.
The problem with lifestyle creep is that it's impossible to get ahead financially if you are spending more than you make, no matter what your income is.
Lifestyle inflation can be avoided by laying some ground rules and practicing some good old fashioned self-discipline.
HOW TO AVOID LIFESTYLE CREEP
AVOID DEBT AT ALL COSTS
I can't say this enough- just because you can afford the monthly payment doesn't mean you can afford an item.
True affordability is defined as being able to pay the full cash price for the item right now.
For example, let's say you get a $5k raise and reward yourself with a new vehicle for $15k that you finance over 5 years at 3%.
Although your monthly payment will hover around $270 and cost you $3,240 a year (less than your $5k raise), you're stuck with that $270 monthly payment for four more years.
Even if you get another $5k raise the next year, chances are your household costs will have risen, and you'll again find a way to reward yourself.
If you're currently in debt, start the debt snowball today and break the chains of monthly payments.
Monthly payments destroy your ability to save, invest, and have financial peace .
REWARD YOURSELF WISELY
It's not a bad thing to reward yourself with a nice dinner for working hard, just make sure it's in the budget!
Instead of buying yourself a nice new car and outspending your raise, treat yourself to a nice dinner and do a budget check in.
Adjust your budget for your new income, but stick to your budget principles.
Your adjusted budget should still follow the percentages above (the percentages represent % of monthly take home pay).
Makes sure you put some fun money in the budget otherwise if you deprive yourself of guilty pleasure spending completely you'll be more likely to bust the budget.
GET ON A DANG BUDGET
A zero based budget helps you to avoid living beyond your means.
Most people are scared away from a budget because they say they don't have time.
Our monthly budget takes me five minutes to complete at the start of every month and I just created an excel version of my best selling monthly budget template for those in a real time crunch!
If you're new to budgeting or need to brush up your budgeting knowledge, click the image below to sign up for my free budget bootcamp email course!
DON'T MAKE HASTY MONEY DECISIONS
When you get a raise and/or bonus, don't drive straight from work to the car dealership.
As your income rises, make gradual money changes.
If you make hasty money decisions, you're headed straight for financial ruin due to lifestyle creep (the phrase itself sounds icky) !
A few good rules to avoid making hasty money decisions include:
- Sleep on it.
- ALWAYS talk to your spouse first.
- Create a mock budget.
- Research.
Any time our income rises, we don't make ANY sudden changes.
We actually make REALLY REALLY slow changes, and that has saved us from poor decision making!
DO THE MATH
If you are set on purchasing an item, make sure you've done the math to see if you will be spending more than your raise.
This seems like common sense, but so many people say their money problems started when their income rose and their spending rose more.
Most people know how to do the math, but let their impulsiveness get the best of them.
In fact, I'd argue that Americans are the least self-disciplined they've ever been when it comes to money behaviors.
Even if the math doesn't make sense, we just can't say no.
Stick to this rule of thumb- if you're spending more than you make you need to start telling yourself no.
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“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 Did you catch the last part of that verse? Discipline, though painful, will later on produce a harvest IF you have been trained by it. That’s a big if. Sometimes we make the mistake of after we do something big and change our life in a big way, we think we are owed or deserved something. For example, we paid off all our consumer debt in 12 months while living on one income. Wow! Great! It was super super hard, and required a lot of self-discipline and determination to persevere and stay motivated. But you know what the actual really hard part is? Now that we’re debt-free (besides our mortgage), we are able to take our foot of the gas a little bit. Diligently save and invest, but also enjoy life. The hard part is CONTINUING to consistently do the same thing over and over again — save up for large purchases, invest 15% of our gross income, always pay cash (no credit cards). You see, we COULD spend more on groceries, we could take more vacations, we could do more shopping. Drive a fancier car. But for us, we have long-term goals that we believe will pay off more and are worth the work of planning meals, price comparing, and saving up month after month to pay cash for everything. Because $200/month could make you over $1 million dollars if invested consistently for 40 years and not touched. The small things matter. No, they may not make or break your ability to build wealth in one month, but they do matter. Because your BEHAVIOR and ATTITUDE about money matters. The small choices you make reflect your habits, and if you want to change your life you have to change your habits. #financialliteracy #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #moneymanagement #selfdisciplineButton -
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What happens if you #invest the average car payment?? You’ll #retireamillionaire ✅ This is why getting out of debt is so important— it eats your monthly income so there isn’t much left to save & invest! If you invest $500 for 25 years starting at age 25, then leave it alone and don’t contribute a dime more from age 50-65 (15 years)— you’ll have over $1 million. *Assuming a 10% average annual rate of returnButton -
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Money management is something we all do, but how well we do it will determine how much financial stress and financial anxiety we feel surrounding our personal finances. These are ways you can take control of your financial future. ✨Build an emergency fund. Aim to save 3-6 months of expenses (not income) in a separate savings account. If you have a stable, predictable income, then you probably only need 3 months of expenses saved. If you have irregular income, or you are a business owner, commission employee, etc., you might want to save closer to (or even more than) 6 months expenses. This will help you survive financial crisis - job loss, major repairs, unexpected medical bills, etc. An emergency fund is an incredible safeguard that will help you sleep better at night. ✨Pay off all your debt. Debt is stressful. There’s no way around it. The best way to reduce financial anxiety surrounding debt is to pay it off. Aim to pay off all your consumer debt as quickly as possible using the debt snowball method- where you list your debts smallest to largest & pay off in that order. See Dave Ramsey’s website for more details. ✨Make a detailed budget, and stick to it. Budgeting finances is incredibly easy. Add your income, list all your monthly expenses, and budget it to zero. Be sure to allocate income to saving for large purchases and investing (or other financial goals). ✨Make both short & long term financial goals. If you don’t have goals, it will be hard to stay motivated to take control of your finances. Let’s face it— personal finances can be boring, especially if you’re a free spirit (not a nerd). If you make goals, it keeps you motivated AND the likelihood you’ll actually hit your goals goes up tenfold! ✨Automate your finances. Set up auto-withdraw for your bills (and savings!!), so that you aren’t tempted to brush them off and pay them later, only to forget and realize you don’t have enough money to cover the bill that month. You get behind little by little, small decision by small decision. Pay bills first, savings second, and spend what’s left over. #financialliteracy #financialfreedom #financialstability #financialstress #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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Why is college pushed as the ticket to a successful life? Why is institutional education considered the best education? Call me old school, but I think your aptitude, skills, and personality are what set you apart. My first two years of college was a literal repeat of everything I learned in high school. So I paid $60k for a “refresher.” They know this. But they got you- you have to have a certain number of “credits” to graduate, and there are certain requirements for what kinds of classes those can be at different universities. You’re in golden handcuffs. Truth be told, I learned the majority of the tax code and tax return mechanics from PREPARING hundreds of tax returns my first year, and having a veteran accountant review and correct my work. I realized after working just how little use my actual degree was. You learn by doing! So ask yourself, as either a parent of a potential college student, or a college student: 1. How löng will it take me to break-even on my degree? 2. Do I really know what I want to do, or should I do some job-shadowing and work some different jobs first? 3. Can I find an employer who will train me instead of going to college for 4 years just to enter the workforce? As I’m considering hiring a virtual assistant myself, I could care less if the person who I (potentially) hire has a college degree. I care about who they are as a person- their skills, personality, and willingness to learn. End of story. #entrepreneurspirit #degree #tradejobs #bachelorsdegree #collegedebt #collegedegreeButton -
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My secret #budgeting weapon: the paycheck budget! Paycheck budget planning is not just for those living paycheck to paycheck, it’s for anyone who wants more control over their finances and a better method to stick to their monthly budget! #paychecktopaycheck #paycheck #budgetplanner #monthlybudget #financialliteracy #financialindependence #moneysavingmom #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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Here are some ways you can save money on the rising cost of groceries! Some more info on how I’m saving money despite high (and still rising) inflation: ⭐️Some Top Ways I Save Money: Stay out of the snack aisle. It will cost you double to buy single-serving, pre-packaged goods. While it’s convenient for kids lunches, buy the food item in bulk (or choose a healthier option), and put in reusable containers. You can even choose a day of the week to make 3/4 of your kids lunches or their entire lunch for the week and either freeze or refrigerate if necessary. Price compare (quickly). While this sounds super simple (it is), I’ve found that sooo many people don’t realize there is a per unit price on most price stickers. Did you know that?? This makes it super easy to quickly compare what the cheaper item is per unit. Buy staples in bulk no matter your family size. Even if you have a small family, buy in bulk. When it was just my husband and I, it didn’t seem effective to buy in bulk because we wouldn’t eat everything before it expired, and I didn’t realize how many things you could freeze (trust me, I knew NOTHING about food cooking, preservation, etc, etc). Which brings me to point 4… Freeze, freeze, freeze. Seriously. I freeze just about anything and everything. Cheese. Butter. Sour cream. Pancakes. Cream cheese. Fruit. Coffee (ice cubes). You name it, I freeze it. Buy the dairy mentioned above in bulk, then freeze. Take out of the freezer as needed so you don’t waste and let food go bad! Commit to 1 grocery store trip/week or less. The more you go to the mall the more money you will spend. The more you go to the grocery store, the more money you will spend. This is more an act of self-discipline than anything else. If you commit to going only say once per week (you decide what’s doable for your family), and STICK TO IT, you will see a decrease in your spending. If it’s mid-week and you realize you’re out of something (that isn’t a necessity), find something at home to make. Get creative. This will force you to use what you already have on hand and PLAN before you go to the grocery store (both a meal plan and a shopping list).Button -
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If you’ve just started your #investing and #retirementplanning journey, it can be confusing trying to decide where the best place to invest your money is. Here’s how to invest for beginners & investing tips for everyone! #investingtips #investingforbeginners #investing101 #investingstrategy #rothira #401k #ira #retirementgoals #retireearly #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen How to Invest for Beginners: ✨How much to invest? Try to invest at least 15% of your gross household income into tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Do not include any employer match incentive for purposes of the 15% calculation. ✨IRA vs. 401(k)? An IRA is an individual retirement account, where you invest money apart from your employer-sponsored 401(k) account. Think of an IRA as a DIY investing option, although I recommend using an investing professional from a brokerage firm to help you get started with an IRA. A 401(k) is tied to your employer, and typically has more limited investing options (the average has about 20 funds to choose from), and often times employers have an employee matching incentive. ✨Roth vs. Traditional? Roth & Traditional investments are a TYPE of investment INSIDE your retirement account. These terms are specific to retirement savings accounts, not general investing accounts. Traditional contributions are made pre-tax, and both the principal and growth are taxed in retirement. On the other hand, Roth contributions are taxed on the way in, but both the growth and principal distributions are tax-free in retirement!!Button -
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Investing is a key part of #retirementplanning , but you can make so many mistakes, which deters many people from #investing at all. Don’t make these investing mistakes! #investing #investors #stocks #retireearly #retireyoung #investingtips #investingforbeginners #investmentstrategies #401k #ira #rothiraButton -
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Don’t you dare come at me with “iTs BeCaUsE oF rUsSIA”, no it’s because of our energy policies 😬 C’mon, man. #samsclub #keystonepipeline #drillbabydrill #gasprices #inflation #bidensucks #groceryshopping #grocerylist #grocerystore #economics #economyButton -
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Inflation is an invisible tax imposed on the people by a government, but how? When they can’t get “their” money via ⬆️ taxes, they confiscate it by printing money and reducing your purchasing power. If you knew the harm the Fed caused to your money, there would be no Fed. In promises of “fixing” and stabilizing the economy, they only make it worse. Caused by: ✅ gov borrowing ✅ gov spending ✅reckless monetary policy Governments have two ways of paying their expenditures: ▪️direct taxation ▪️ borrowing money — pushing the bill onto the taxpayers of the future, and todays taxpayer must pay the interest The government isn’t really even borrowing and spending anymore— they are simply printing money out of thin air and spending… then forcing you to foot the bill via inflation. At some point the brakes have to come on and there will be a reckoning, probably much worse than the 08-09 financial crisis. This time may we learn from it. #inflation #government #taxes #tax #economics #economy #stocks #stocktrading #investment #investing #invest #monetarypolicy #federalreserve #interestratesButton -
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4 *must know* HSA benefits! 💡 Here’s why we choose an HSA over an FSA! #hsa #fsa #medicalexpenses #investment #investing #invest #healthsavingsaccount #flexspending #employeebenefits #savingmoney #healthinsuranceButton -
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If you aren’t familiar with our story (why I started this account and my blog 4 years ago)… here it is! We paid off over $20k of student loan debt in 12 months while living on one income (my husband was still in school). I started full-time work as a tax accountant when we got back from our honeymoon, and he was in school during the day and worked construction after school until he started his internship! It was an incredibly busy first year of marriage! We worked our butts off to knock my student loan debt out in 1 year. It wasn’t without struggles. During this time we : - cash flowed our honeymoon - cash-flowed a $5k car repair - didn’t eat out, buy anything new, and lived in a janky apartment that was cheap and allowed us to send a lot of money to debt Though difficult, this time helped us set a firm foundation to build our finances together— God’s way. We learned how to work together as a team, work HARD, sacrifice, and live well below our means. The self-discipline and financial habits we developed have served us well. We still don’t have any credit cards. We live well below our means. We don’t care much about what other people have. We’re content. We automate our investing. We pay extra on our mortgage because we just hate debt. #payoffdebt #debtfreejourney #debtfreegoals #studentloans #studentloandebt #moneymindset #personalfinance #financetips #debtfreedom #debtsnowball #daveramsey #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #financialpeaceButton -
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💡A Roth conversion is the process of transferring funds from a Traditional to a Roth retirement account. The following scenarios would be a situation where a Roth conversion could take place: 1. Transfer from a Traditional 401(k) to a Roth 401(k). Example: Let’s say your employer adds a Roth option to their 401(k) plan. You decide to move the funds in your Traditional 401(k) to the Roth 401(k). The money never leaves the plan, it just changes nature of taxability. 2. Rollover from a Traditional 401(k) to a Roth IRA. Example: You leave your job where you have a Traditional 401(k). You roll over the funds from your old employer account to a Roth IRA— which is a retirement account separate from your employer sponsored plan. 3. You convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. This most commonly happens when someone exceeds the income limits of being able to contribute to a Roth IRA. Example: You make too much to contribute to a Roth, so you open a Traditional IRA. You contribute all year to the Traditional IRA, then convert it to a Roth IRA at the end of every year. 🔑The main difference between a Roth retirement plan & a Traditional retirement plan is WHEN and HOW they are taxed. 💡You contribute money to a Roth retirement account AFTER-TAX, but the GROWTH on the contributions is not taxed. 💡You contribute money to a Traditional retirement account PRE-TAX, and the GROWTH AND CONTRIBUTIONS are taxed in retirement. Depending on your situation, this can make a big difference. Some general principles: - If you’re young, you’ll likely want to contribute to a Roth. If you have 30-40 years of growth, you want that growth to be tax-free! - If you expect your income to go up, you’ll likely want to contribute to a Roth (when you have the lowest tax rates you’ll have in your working years). NOTE: Regardless of whether you have a Traditional or Roth 401(k) option at work, the ER match portion of your retirement savings is ALWAYS taxable. #retirementplanning #retireearly #retireyoungretirerich #rothira #401k #ira #investing #investingtips #investingforbeginners #financialfreedomButton -
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“TaX tHe RiCH”🥴 as a former CPA, this one just gets to me. Did you know that businesses pay 93% of all income taxes — which then, lowers employee wages & prices as income tax burden rises? The U.S. has one of the most progressive tax systems in the world. People like to point to the Scandinavian countries as the “perfect model” because they have lots of social programs, but when it comes to taxes, they are MORE capitalist than the U.S. — everyone pays a flat tax (my personal preference). When businesses are allows to thrive, workers thrive, the economy thrives, and everyone is better off. #taxseason #taxtips #taxtherich #economics #economics101 #capitalism #socialism #socialismsucks #politicsButton -
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Thanks but no thanks. Everything requires a spreadsheet. My budget, my grocery list, each child, EVERYTHING 🤗 #spreadsheets #nerd #accountinglife #accountant #cpa #accountinghumor #excel #microsoftexcel #spreadsheet #budgeting #budgetplanner #familybudget #momsonabudget #budgetingtips #personalfinance #moneymanagementButton -
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⚠️ Unpopular opinon alert… I believe today’s generation of parents participate in a form of child welfare by not teaching their kids the value of hard work. Any discomfort or challenges their children face are immediately removed. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for my parents and the lessons, both direct and indirect, they taught me about money. We had to work, and work hard. My parents were not interested in being our personal ATM. They provided the necessities, we worked for everything else, starting in middle school! You can teach your kids about money at every age, here are some ideas to get your started! ➡️ For all kids: ✔️ More is caught than taught. Model smart money behaviors yourself first and foremost. ✔️Pay commissions, not allowances. Never once in my life did I have an allowance. I survived. My parents paid commission to show us that you have to work for what you want AND need. ✔️Establish chores that aren’t paid, but are just required for being part of the family. ✔️ Cut them off when they graduate. ➡️ For smaller kiddo’s: ✔️Keep a jar of coins to show that you don’t waste things and small contributions add up over time. ✔️Explain to them WHY they can’t have something. For instance, reasons could include- you already have one at home, life isn’t always fair, or it’s not in the budget right now. ✔️Have them re-use items year to year. This is a great idea for school supplies! If they already have a perfectly useable backpack, binder, pencil box, etc, have them re-use these items. ✔️For really young kids, keep jobs/chores short and simple. ✔️Pay your child immediately after the job is done to teach them the relationship between work & money. These are just a few ideas! Follow along for more tips 💥 ‼️let me know in the comments how you teach your kids to work‼️ #teachingkids #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinancetips #familybudget #familyfinances #momonabudget #financialeducation #financialliteracy #daveramseybudget #workethic #hardworkpaysoffs #hardworkpays #familybusiness #raisingtoddlers #raisingteens #raisingtinyhumans #raisingthefutureButton -
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Are you relying on social security as a retirement vehicle? The SSA is projected to be insolvent by 2033. Benefits are expected to be cut, so you won’t even get out of the system what you put into it. Sound like a good deal? 🙅♀️ The U.S. government thinks you are not capable of making your own financial decisions, so they forcibly take money from your paycheck and do it for you via payroll taxes. Some nuggets of info about social security: 1️⃣Social security benefits are comparatively lower than market rates of return. You can even have a negative rate of return after adjusting for inflation. The unrestricted free market ALWAYS outperforms government run social programs. The stock market has averaged a 12% rate of return since it’s inception. 2️⃣If you die before reaching government-regulated retirement age (another discussion for another day), you lose all your Social Security benefits. If you invest privately, you can ensure that if you die the money you have diligently saved can be passed onto someone close to you. Hows that for a deal? They will take money you could’ve been investing, invest it for you, and then if you die, they keep it. 3️⃣Social security benefits are subject to double taxation. You are taxed on your gross (W-2) income, which includes the money that was remitted to the gov for social security taxes. Then, in retirement, you are taxed on your benefits if you earn over a certain amount in retirement, and the income levels are not very high (it’s almost like you’re being disincentivized from earning money in order to enjoy retirement). How’s that for a good deal? In the name of “compassion” the government tries to act as a white horse saving the day. However, when you read between the lines, you realize that what you are giving in exchange for what you are getting is not a good deal 👎 Alright, queue all the commies sending me hate mail 😂 #socialsecurity #retirement #retirementplanning #retirementgoals #governmentspending #inflation #investing #investingtips #investing101 #investingforbeginners #economics #economy #freemarket #stockmarket #taxes #notaxationwithoutrepresentationButton -
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Getting ready to see what you made before the government robbed you blind 🙄😅 #taxes #taxseason #government #incometax #socialsecurity #medicare #fica #paycheck #paychecks #january #federaltaxButton -
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You’re shocked?? 😂 the average car payment in the US is right over $500/month… OF COURSE it feels like you have no money! #carpayment #debtfreejourney #debt #daveramsey #debtisdumb #cashisking #getoutofdebt #payoffdebt #usedcars #newcar #daveramseybudget #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseyplan #consumerism #consumerbehavior #consumerdebtButton -
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When the hubby says Chik-Fil-a doesn’t qualify as a “nice date.” 🤪 I’ll forever be the spender and he will forever be the saver🥰 that’s what makes it work! If I didn’t have him, I’d never go out. If he didn’t have me, he’d never eat in😉 Are you the spender or saver?? Give me a funny story below about it 👇 #personalfinance #spender #saver #moneysaver #moneysavingtips #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseybudget #moneyandmarriage #money #savers #moneysaver #frugalliving #frugal #cheapdate #frugalmom #thriftymomButton -
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The best way to get rich quick is to get rich slow. Here’s what you DON’T need to become a millionaire: ❌ Six-figure income ❌ College degree ❌ Luck ❌ Single stocks ❌ Cryptocurrency ❌ Real estate (although this can be a great source of passive income/investment once you are completely debt-free) This is what you DO need to become a millionaire: ✅ Consistency - investing every month over a long period of time. There is no shortcut to wealth. The best way to get rich quick is to get rich slow. ✝️ Proverbs warns: “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” ✅ Discipline - you have to discipline yourself to pay yourself first and be willing to make sacrifices NOW so you can reap the rewards LATER. ✅ Live on less than you make - you can never out-earn bad money management. If you invest just $200/month consistently for 40 years, with an average rate of return of 10%, you will have $1,264,815 in retirement! You might think, 10%?? Yeah, right. No one makes that good of a return on their money unless they get lucky and invested in a business early on that went big (think Walmart, Microsoft, Apple). This couldn’t be further from the truth. That accounts for MAYBE 1% of investors. Most people become millionaires by cultivating the habits I outlined above. Since inception in 1926, the S&P 500 has averaged right at a 10% rate of return. Will you get 10% every year? Nope! Some years you might only get 3%, or you might simply break even when you account for inflation (hello 2021/2022!!). It’s all about staying the course - weathering the highs and lows of the market 📈 👉🏼Side note: The S&P 500 is just fancy terms for an index of 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. So different companies are always being pulled in & out of the S&P 500 based on their performance. You should actually average higher than the S&P 500 if you have a good investment professional! #investing #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #investingtips #investing101 #investingforbeginners #investingstrategy #stockmarket #retirementplanning #retirementgoals #millionaireminds #daveramsey #daveramseybabystepsButton -
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💡Looking for a way to save money this year? I talk a lot about this, because it’s so powerful — using cash literally changes how your brain responds to a purchase. The feeling associated with the purchase is more powerful. Think about it— is it harder for you to hand over a Ben Franklin to the cashier or swipe your card? Additionally, If you commit to using cash for certain budget categories, you can leave your cards in the car and this way you force yourself to only spend what’s in the envelope— it’s your only option that way! 📩 I won’t go into all the research for this specific post that shows willingness to pay doubles when a card is used, because I think most of us can admit we don’t think as much when swiping plastic vs handing over physical cash. I sell these cash envelopes in my Etsy shop if you’re interested! ✅ 4 different floral designs ✅ customizable blank envelopes ✅ elegant design ✅ instant download ✅ over 25 pre made envelope categories Here is the link if you’re interested: 💫Vertical envelopes: https://etsy.me/34amnxp 💫 Horizontal envelopes: https://etsy.me/3zKRlrX #personalfinance #cashenvelopes #cashenvelopesystem #cashisking #debtisdumb #daveramseybudget #cashenvelope #cashenvelopestuffing #frugalliving #budgetmum #financetips #financegoals #moneysaver #moneysavingmom #moneysavingtips #savemoneytoday #savemoneylivebetter #moneymanagement #frugalmomButton -
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These DM’s always irk me. The “must be nice to _____.” And they’re always from people who don’t know anything about me besides that we paid off all our consumer debt in 1 year & I quit my job as a tax accountant to stay home with my kids. Based on this set of facts, the assumption is that I - came from a wealthy family which set me up for success - make insane amounts of money - have never had any hardships None of these are true. But that doesn’t matter to people who assume that success comes from luck (marrying into money, growing up wealthy, receiving an inheritance, etc.) Did you know that over 90% of Americas millionaires are self-made & never inherited a DIME? Bet CNN won’t tell ya that fun fact🙃 The TRUTH is: ✅ I paid my way through college, working 3 jobs (before classes, in-between classes & after class) ✅ I did NOT grow up wealthy ✅ My husband & I paid off all my student loans while living on one (modest) income ✅ I drove a beater for 6 years until getting our minivan in 2018 ✅ Today we still make many sacrifices to save, invest, and build wealth So no, I haven’t had it “easy” , but that’s relative. I’ve had it easier than some, and worse than some. #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #debtfree #debtfreeliving #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #studentloans #millennialmoney #moneymanagement #financeblogger #debtisdumb #cashisking #debtsnowball #debtfreegoals #financialgoals #moneygoals #2022goalsButton -
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Debt is one of the most normal things in the world to most people. The government subsidizes it(via tax breaks and being in the student loan business), many parents encourage it (student loans), and Americans buy it. 🧑🎓The average student loan debt is just over $37,000. 💳The average balance on a credit card is $5,525. 🚗 Americans borrow an average $34,635 for new vehicles and $21,438 for used vehicles. I think part of the issue is we lack contentment, and part of the issue is we lack knowledge. ✨People don’t take the time to calculate how much they’ll end up paying in total (after interest) for their degree, new car, furniture, etc. ✨Most don’t realize that credit card companies spend billions on consumer behavior research every year, so when they offer you cash back & airline miles, they know they’ll more than recoup their costs by the increase in your spending using credit instead of cash or debit (it literally affects your mind differently). ✨Another one that will get me in trouble… a college degree is not a prerequisite for success! Trade jobs are sitting open, paying $45/hour starting wage, while students line up at the university to pay $100k for a degree that will put them at a lower starting wage than the trade job. Getting out of debt was an incredible weight lifted off of our shoulders. It took a lot of sacrifice — we didn’t go on vacation or eat out, we rented a janky apartment for cheap, worked, worked, and worked some more, drove old, rusted, duct-taped vehicles, and ate a lot of beans and rice until we clawed our way out. There is a better way, but you have to be willing to do the work! 💪 #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #daveramsey #personalfinancetips #getoutofdebt #debt #debtfree #finance #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #cashisking #debtfreeliving #debtisdumb #millennialmoney #frugalliving #budgetmom #momonabudget #studentloans #credittipsButton -
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**MY PERSONAL OPINION** But it’s backed by research 🙃🙃 Do you honestly think you’re outsmarting credit card companies who spend BILLIONS of dollars on consumer behavior research?? Do you really think they’re giving you free money (“cash back”) without getting something in return? They KNOW that their billions spent on research shows that you SPEND MORE MONEY with a credit card than a debit card or cash 👍 The buy now pay later mentality affects your purchasing decisions. Specifically, it affects your willingness to pay. Let me give an example. In one study, randomly selected participants were offered the opportunity to purchase tickets to an actual professional basketball game. They were either to pay by cash or credit card. They were asked how much they were willing to pay for those tickets, and those who were told they would have to pay by credit card were willing to pay over TWICE as much as those who were told they would have to pay with cash. What’s going on here? Payment method affects consumer spending behaviors. The same study found: 👉 people pay less attention to prices when using a credit card 👉 it hurts the brain more psychologically to use debit or cash vs credit 👉 people who use credit cards are less likely to have a household budget The facts don’t lie ✅ 👉Source: Journal of Consumer Behavior #financialfreedom #finance #financialliteracy #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #daveramsey #personalfinanceforwomen #millionairemindset #daveramseybabysteps #debtsucks #cashisking #personalfinance #creditrepair #creditcarddebt #creditcard #cashButton -
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🚗 What happens if you invest the average U.S. car payment?? 👉 $550/month ( Yikes‼️) 👉 40 years (age 25 to 65) 👉 10% average annual rate of return $3,478,243 in retirement ✔️ Don’t buy (literally and figuratively) the myth that you HAVE TO have a car payment, or that it’s smart! If you’d take that car payment and invest it instead, you could be a millionaire. Drive what you can afford, which is what you can pay cash for! #carpayment #debtfreecommunity #debtfree #debtisdumb #invest #investing #stockmarket #compoundinterest #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinancetips #moneymanagement #millennialmoney #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #debtsnowball #debtfreegoals #debtfreelivingButton -
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Do you ever wonder what percent of your income you should be allocating to certain budget categories? These are Dave Ramsey’s recommended budget percentages for your personal finances! 1. Giving 10% 2. Saving 15% 3. Housing 10-25% 4. Food 5-15% 5. Transportation 10-15% 6. Clothing 2-7% 7. Health 5-10% 8. Insurance 10-25% 9. Recreation 5-10% 10. Personal 5-10% 11. Debt 5-10% (+ any extra, pay off all consumer debt before investing) #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseybudget #daveramseyplan #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #financialfreedom #finance #financialliteracy #budgeting #budgetplanner #budgetmomButton -
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Just because there is high inflation doesn’t mean you can’t build wealth! These are 5 things we’ve done to deter inflation and build wealth this past year. Tips for combating inflation in your personal finances! 1. Made extra mortgage payments. 2. Invested in the stock market (mutual funds) so our money at minimum keeps up with inflation (hopefully outpaces it). 3. Kept our emergency fund on the low end. Put as much savings as we could in the stock market instead (for example our new vehicle savings is in a brokerage account instead of a savings account). 4. We haven’t made any major changes to our monthly budget (increases). 5. We don’t panic. Slow, steady, calculated, unemotional investing is how you win with money. The best way to get rich quick is to get rich slow ⭐️ #investing #inflation #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #investingforbeginners #investing101 #investingtips #moneymanagement #moneymanagementtips #financetips #stockmarket #payoffdebt #payoffmortgageButton -
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When people try to justify the $70k 2022 suburban they can’t afford because it’s “for the kids safety”🤔 ‼️I have nothing against suburbans or nice cars ‼️My only beef is when they’re used to justify a car payment that you can’t afford 🙅♀️ Once we had 2 kids in tow, we ditched my 2004 Ford Escape for a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica minivan that we bought used with cash! The average car payment in America is over $500 🤯 that can be a major budget killer depending on your income! Save up, pay cash 💰 #personalfinance #debtfree #daversmsey #payoffdebt #debtisdumb #cashisking #carpayment #autoloan #debtsnowball #debtfreeliving #debtfreegoals #millennialmoney #getoutofdebt #payoffdebtButton -
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Had to do it 😂 I had way too much fun making these 🙃 But for real… SAVE THE GIFT BAGS BEFORE I LOSE MY SANITY THEY COST MORE THAN THE GIFT ITSELF 😆 I’m the psycho whose saving all the gift bags, wrapping paper, and tissue paper #frugalmom I can’t help it. It’s my identity. Merry Christmas Eve, God bless you & your family 💕 #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #money #frugalliving #frugalchristmas #christmassavings #millennials #memes #christmasmemes #mommemes #funnymemes #daveramsey #daveramseycommunityButton -
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When you’re Christmas shopping and the cashier tries to convince you to open that store credit 🚫🙈 ✌️not in a million years We have never had a credit card in our 6 years of marriage, sorry not sorry 😉 We pay cash for EVERYTHING, because I know the research that shows your willingness to pay increases 150% using credit va debit or cash 👍 so save 20% today and spend 150% more on all future purchases! No thanks. Felt like rufflin some feathers this eve of Christmas Eve 🎅 #creditcard #creditcarddebt #daveramsey #daveramseybabysteps #daveramseybudget #frugalliving #debtfree #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #moneymanagement #holidayspending #cashisking #payoffdebt #millennialfinanceButton -
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✨DIY WINTER DRY SKIN BODY BUTTER✨ 1 part coconut oil 1 part epsom salt 15-30 drops essential oil of choice ✅ non-toxic ✅ frugal ✅ minimal ingredients This was one of my favorite things to use in the shower when I was pregnant! Extremely moisturizing! #diyremedies #diyrecipe #dryskin #bodybutter #diybodyscrub #nontoxic #diychristmasgifts #frugalliving #naturalcures #naturalremedies #dryskincareButton -
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🌱 How to choose the best stock mutuale funds! We follow Dave Ramsey’s advice exactly and put our money into four buckets of stock mutual funds: 1. Growth 2. Aggressive Growth 3. Growth & Income 4. International The key is to diversify your investing portfolio to mitigate investment risk. Mutual funds is just a fancy term for a group of stocks. We personally don’t invest in any single stocks because the return over time is not favorable and it’s risky! We don’t want our hard earned money being gambled by investing in single stocks! #stocks #mutualfunds #investing #investing101 #investingforbeginners #personalfinanceforwomen #investingtips #daveramsey #retirementplanning #financetips #finance #personalfinanceButton -
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5 SELF-EMPLOYED SMALL BUSINESS RETIREMENT PLAN OPTIONS💡Did you know you have options as a small business owner to invest, despite maybe not having the funds to start a traditional 401k plan for you or your employees? You can even take advantage of a Roth IRA! #smallbusinessowner #investing #401k #rothira #simpleira #solo401k #investingforbeginners #retirementplanning #retirementplans #retirementsavingsButton -
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💡401(k) vs IRA: What’s the difference? Great question, let me answer! I’d recommend: ✅invest in your 401(k) up to your ER match, then open an IRA. Open a Roth 401(k) if available through your ER retirement plan. ✅ if eligible, max out your Roth IRA ($6,000 for 2022). If this still doesn’t meet 15% of your gross income, continue funding the 401(k), which is maxed out at $20,500 for 2022. ✅ if you are not eligible to open a Roth IRA because of income limits, open a traditional IRA & convert it to a Roth at the end of every year, paying the taxes on your contributions upon conversion. This is called a back-door Roth. #investing #rothira #401k #401kplan #investingforbeginners #investing101 #investingtips #retirementplanning #retirementincome #retirementsavings #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinances #iraButton -
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💡This is exactly why you need to start #investing in your 20s! Harness the power of #compoundinterest to #buildyourportfolio! TIME IS MONEY! #investing101 #investingforbeginners #investingstrategy #investingeducation #financialliteracy #financialplanningButton -
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These are 7 sinking funds you need in your monthly budget & how to budget for a sinking fund! #sinkingfunds #sinkingfundstracker #budgeting #personalfinance #moneymanagement #savingsgoals #savingsaccountButton -
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✅ A few reasons you need a ROTH IRA ASAP! Be sure if your employer offers a Roth 401(k) you are taking advantage of that option. Then, invest above and beyond your match in a Roth IRA (this is an individual retirement account, not employer sponsored). Between the two, if you’re eligible, you can contribute up to $19,500 per year. However, for the IRA, the max contribution is $6,000 per person for 2021 ($12,000 per married couple) ‼️#rothira #investing #401k #investingforbeginners #retirementplanning #retirementgoals #millennialmoneyButton -
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Easy way to figure out what paychecks you will use to budget and pay for which bills! A paycheck budget does not mean you’re living paycheck to paycheck, rather, it is just a detailed schedule showing when funds will leave your account and how each paycheck is allocated! A simple budgeting method. Link to this template in my bio! #paychecktopaycheck #paycheck #paycheckbudgeting #budgeting #budgetplanner #budgetbypaycheck #plannerinserts #plannerinspirationButton -
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If you’re planning a wedding, it doesn’t have to be expensive and stressful. Here’s how to create a wedding budget from scratch and save money on your wedding! #weddingbudget #budgetwedding #weddingplanningButton -
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Do you know your net worth? When it comes to personal finance, net worth is a much better indicator of wealth than income. You can make a million a year and still be broke 🥴 if your spending is equal to your household income, you’re by definition, living paycheck to pqycheck. Give it a try, calculate your net worth in a few minutes! Share in the comments how it went (don’t have to share numbers of course)- but were you surprised? Motivated? Happy?! #networth #finance #personalfinance #investing #wealth #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinancetips #moneymanagementButton -
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If you're an employee, you've likely heard the terms 401(k), IRA, Pension, etc thrown around, but maybe have no idea what they actually mean. The WORST thing you can do as an employee is set up your employer-sponsored (don't worry- this is defined in the slides😉) retirement account, and then never look at it again, assuming as long as you make contributions, you'll be set for retirement. Or, you might have a few things briefly explained to you, such as the difference between a pension & mutual fund, but you don't really know what's the better choice 🤷♀️ I'm here to help with all the confusing retirement jargon! Here are some key things to remember: ✅ 𝐀 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐑𝐀 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐑𝐀. Though you contribute to it with after-tax dollars (unlike a traditional IRA where you contribute with pre-tax dollars & get a tax deduction in the year of contribution), the withdrawals you make in retirement are 𝐭𝐚𝐱-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞. ✅ 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐚 "B𝐚𝐜𝐤-𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐡" if you are above the income limits for contributing to a Roth IRA. Just note you will have to pay taxes on your contributions upon conversion. ✅ 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐈'𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. They have limited investing options and don't perform well. PLUS, you have no control over the investing decisions. ✅ 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐑𝐀. This is a great option to invest above and beyond your employer-sponsored 401(k). You will likely have more investment options. ✅ 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 (𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲. However, they offer no tax-savings, so they are good for saving up for large purchases, but not a great retirement savings option. ⭐️ And of course, always contribute at least 𝟏𝟓% 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 (𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦-𝘵𝘢𝘹) 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 towards retirement ⭐️Button -
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Literally all the time 😂 sorry, had to. Part of laying out a budget means forcing yourself to see the 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 involved with your purchases. Money is about behavior more than it’s about head knowledge. If you can change your behavior, you can change your life. This is nothing new. Just like if I’m frustrated because it FEELS like I have no time, one look at my weekly screen time report and I realize time isn’t the problem— it’s my behavior. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. You might feel like you have no money to save, but in reality if you cut back to eating out 2x per month instead of 4x, you’d have $100-$150 to save. Or, if you sold your brand new car and got a used, reliable car paid for in cash, you’d have $300-$500 extra per month because you don’t have a car payment. Ask yourself, 𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺? Do you really have no money living in the wealthiest country in the world? Or, are you a slave to your money because your behaviors around money are irresponsible? Don’t worry, I’m always here for your reality check 😉Button -
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➡️ This should blow your mind. If you invest just $100/month from age 20 to 75, at an 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 annual return of 12% (you could have a 1% year and a 30% year), you will have $7,103,877 at retirement 🤯 $100 dollars per month. 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. The problem is most people don’t think it’s possible— so they don’t have a long-term plan for their money. Couple that with the fact that we have a problem with wanting what our parents and grandparents have, but not wanting to do what it took them to get there— saying no, consistent investing & saving, living below their means, staying away from consumer debt, etc.— leads to most people having a victim mentality when it comes to their personal finances. 93% of America’s millionaires are self-made. Additionally, most of the 93% came from lower or middle class families. It can be done, and it should be. Button -
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If you’ve never added it up, I dare you😉 we spent upwards of $500 per month eating out before attacking debt & budgeting (and kids)! A few nights of takeout a week, dinner out on the weekends, meet up with friends for drinks... what I THOUGHT we were spending vs what we were *actually* spending were two completely different numbers 😑 but that’s what happens when you don’t budget, you really have no idea 🤷♀️ and quick tip— your best guess is usually not accurate! #daveramsey #budgeting #budgethumor #budgetingtips #personalfinance #daveramseycommunity #debtfreecommunity #debtfree #moneyhumor #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinanceformillennialsButton -
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When you are budgeting, it’s nice to have something to gauge if what you’re budgeting is reasonable. These are Dave Ramsey’s recommended budget category percentages. Now, remember, these are 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. I understand that some people have extremely unique situations, and for example, someone with a family of 10 is going to probably be pushing the grocery budget percentage limits! This is why they are general guidelines, not absolutes. These guidelines are designed to keep you on track so you can make your money do what you want it to, rather than being a slave to it. If you’re housing is taking up 50% of your take home pay, you’re likely feeling pinched — and for good reason! You’re house poor, meaning you’ve bought more house than you can afford, and thus you have a hard time finding money left over every month to save or give. Likewise, if your grocery budget is taking up 25% of your take home pay, you might need to scale back the Costco trips and start meal planning to free up some of your income for other things. ➡️Swipe right to see some important notes on housing & saving in particular! Button -
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ITS A BIG DEAL 🤣 love my husband for these important reminders before I lose my mind reconciling our bank account! I reconcile daily and I’m still off $10 sometimes. I try and figure it out for a few minutes and if I can’t, no biggie 🤷♀️ #bankreconciliation #accountant #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #budgeting #monthlybudget #budgetmomButton -
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There is one baby step in Dave Ramsey’s FPU plan that we will not complete— funding kids college! My husband and I carefully considered what we thought would be best, and ultimately came to the conclusion that we want our kids to take 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 for their education. The cost of higher education has risen dramatically over the last 10 years, and frankly, we are of the opinion that the value of the education has not increased proportionally. In fact, it’s decreased (we believe). America is 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 with credentials, but credentials don’t determine success, and everyone has to decide what success means for them. 41% of recent college graduates are working in jobs that don’t require a college degree. High paying trade jobs sit empty while high schoolers are pressured into going to school or being labeled a failure. But at what cost? 4-8 years of schooling is a long time, and the opportunity cost must be considered. We will absolutely support our kids if they decide to go the college route, and advise them (if they’ll let us 😜) to find a school they can afford. This might mean working and paying their way to a community college, or if they’d like to attend a four year school, working REALLY hard to compete for scholarships!Button -
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Everything you need to know about the Advance Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ✅ #americanrescueplan #taxrefund #taxseason #childtaxcredit #advancechildtaxcredit #taxcredits #cpa #taxaccountant #taxreturn #presidentbiden #personalfinance #personalfinanceforwomen #financetipsButton -
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•𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒• So many people feel defeated by unexpected expenses that seem to come up 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 month and bust their budget. They feel like it’s impossible and useless to keep a monthly budget for this reason. A budget actually helps you prepare for these expenses using a handy tool called sinking funds! ➡️ Swipe to see how they work!!Button -
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Anybody else a budget and spreadsheet nerd ??! 🙋♀️ I could spend hours looking over the monthly budget 😜 #monthlybudget #budgeting #budgetplanner #budgetnerd #marriedfinances #personalfinanceforwomen #budgetspreadsheetButton -
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Many people falsely equate being frugal with being broke. Our culture loves to make you think that the appearance of wealth = wealth. A while back, I read a book called The Millionaire Next Door, and from this book I learned that the average millionaire: • Drives a car that is 3-5 years old • Has never paid more than $50 for a pair of jeans • Lives in a home less than 3,000 sq ft • Owns a primary residence worth $300k What does this tell us? Your neighbor driving a Benz that just put in a pool and remodeled their entire house probably didn’t make the cut 🤷♀️ Either way, you don’t know if they are responsible with money or not, and the data shows us that those who don’t look wealthy are often the ones who are. Our culture has it 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴- consume, consume, consume. You 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦, you 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥, you 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 have ______. Wisdom tells us that the only things we NEED are the essentials, what we DESERVE is not as important as what we can GIVE, and we are not 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 to anything we can’t pay cash for. Read between the lies. There are wise poor and wise rich—and foolish poor and foolish rich. Choose carefully who you learn your habits from ⭐️Button -
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💡BEGINNERS GUIDE TO INVESTING! Bookmark & save for later!Button -
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✅ PRODUCT SWAP - DRY SHAMPOO RECIPES FOR BLONDE & BRUNETTE BELOW (save for later!!) I’m always trying to find cheaper, easier ways to do things. However, admittedly, it can be difficult to find a cheaper, easier, non-toxic product replacement. I’ve always avoided natural products because I *𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵* you’re always going to pay triple. While for some things there is no way around paying more, I’m on a journey to see what practical, affordable ways you can swap out toxic products for non- toxic products. I’m what you’d call a 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘺. I’m becoming more and more crunchy, but I’m a natural skeptic. But as I learn more about chemicals and toxic ingredients in everyday products in general, I’m realizing that I was wrong about some things, and some products are worth paying more for. But of course, I’m going to try and do it cheaper, and help you do the same! 🤗 This DIY dry shampoo recipe is not only inexpensive, it uses all natural ingredients AND works just as good as dry shampoo. Before using this new recipe (below), I was using the Dove dry shampoo. I LOVE the dry shampoo, but when it is one of the worst offenders when it comes to toxic chemicals 😩 Here’s the recipe ⬇️ 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐃𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐎 8 TBSP Arrowroot Powder 4 TSP White kaolin clay 24 drops essential oil (I used Tea Tree) *** Brunettes 👩🏽 do 5 TBSP Arrowroot powder & 3 TBSP cocoa powder Add dry ingredients to bowl & mix well. Add essential oils. Stir. Use a funnel to pour mixture into a glass shaker jar! I shake it over my hair or put some in my hands and run it through my roots on day 3 hair! ⭐️ Toxin-free dry shampoo that’s just as inexpensive! Recipe credit: Bumblebee Apocrathy Button -
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🚘 Car payments are never a good idea, here’s why! With the average car payment in the U.S. being over $500, imagine what you could do with an extra $500 per month! Save, invest, pay extra on your mortgage! Cars are a depreciating asset, the second you drive a car off the lot it starts to depreciate in value. Coupled with paying interest on an asset that’s going down in value rapidly, you pay above sticker price for a product you won’t be able to make any money on! #carpayment #autoloan #cardebt #debt #debtfreecommunity #debtfreejourney #debtpayoff #investment #financetips #getoutofdebtButton -
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🏠 We bought our first home (we currently live in it) in February 2018 for $184,000. We were told (by the bank) we could afford a $400,000 home. The monthly mortgage payment (including taxes & insurance) would have taken up HALF of our take-home pay at the time. We would've been house-poor, running the hamster wheel, feeling like we never had enough money left over. At the time of purchase, we were pregnant with our first. While I did end up working full-time for a brief period after he was born, we knew that we wanted the freedom to be able to have me home (which is what I ended up doing). When you live below your means- that's exactly what it affords you- freedom. We have been able to save up and pay cash for all the repairs & remodeling we've done and pay extra on our mortgage every month. Looking back, I'm so thankful we didn't over-extend ourselves when we were living double-income-no-kids. It's tempting to bite off more than you can chew when it comes to how much house you can afford. Everyone around you does it. Every so often, I have someone message me asking me to look over their finances and help them out. They can't figure out why they can't get ahead, and they say while living without credit cards and second mortgages might work for my family, it can't work for them. There's no possible way. When I look over their expenses, some quick math determines the main culprit - the mortgage. When I reply that their mortgage is literally eating their income alive, they can't believe it. That's what the bank said they could afford, so it must be okay. Do the math yourself, and make a mock-budget with your potential mortgage payment before buying a home! Don't guess. Luke 14:28 says, "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? " It's wise to count the cost before laying the foundation. There is a cost to anything worthwhile- following Jesus & home ownership! The fool is reckless & careless (Proverbs 14:16). These 3 principles will help you enjoy home ownership, and your home will feel like a blessing rather than a curse! Button -
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HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR NET WORTH IN MINUTES ⭐️ Many people make a large income, but have nothing to show for it. This is why net worth is a bigger gauge of wealth than income. A millionaire is defined as someone whose total assets less their total liabilities nets to more than one million dollars. Here’s how you can quickly calculate your personal net worth in minutes! #networth #investing #finance #financialliteracy #personalfinance #millionairemindset #millionairegoals #assetsoverliabilities #assetsButton -
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If you’re getting married, you need a wedding planning organizer that will help you stick to your wedding budget. Planning a wedding can be stressful and expensive, but with this organizer, it’s fun & on budget! This is an editable pdf template, instantly download today by clicking the link in my profile to my Etsy shop! ❤️ #weddingbudget #budgetwedding #weddingplanner #weddingprintables #weddingonabudget #instantdownload #printablesButton -
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The budget by paycheck method allows you to break your monthly budget down into smaller, more manageable chunks. If you’re paid weekly or bi-weekly, this budget method is a must! If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this budgeting method allows you to work in real time with real dollars and break the cycle. Find this budget template in my Etsy shop: Frugalmillennialmom. Link in profile description! #budgeting #paychecktopaycheck #paycheckbudgeting #budgetplanning #budgeting101 #budgettemplate #biweeklybudget #weeklybudget #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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🔑 Key reasons to invest in a ROTH IRA instead of a TRADITIONAL IRA. There are other things to consider, these are just the main perks. The biggest benefit is 𝐭𝐚𝐱-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. Most people when they start investing in their 401(k) just choose traditional deferrals because it SOUNDS better, as you get to put money into the investment pre-tax! However, as the money grows in the account, it is ALL (both contributions you made & earnings/growth) taxable upon withdrawal in retirement 👎 For example, let’s say you invest $10k every year for 30 years and at retirement you end up with around $3 million. 1️⃣ If you contribute to a TRADITIONAL 401(k) or IRA: Each year, you have the benefit of earning, then contributing, $10k to your investment without paying any tax on it. At retirement, you will pay tax on the ENTIRE $3 million, AND, even if you don’t need it, you will be required to take minimum distributions every year. 2️⃣ If you contribute to a ROTH IRA: On the other hand, if you contribute to a Roth 401(k) or IRA, you will contribute the $10k after tax. However, at retirement, you will pay 𝐍𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐗 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 $𝟑 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧. What’s the difference here? You pay tax on $300k ($10k a year for 30 years) with the Roth, and you pay tax on $3,000,000 with the traditional, the only benefit being the 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘭 of the tax until retirement. ✅ It’s ALMOST always better to do a Roth!Button -
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How important is time when it comes to investing and retirement planning? It’s amazing what a difference just 15 years makes! #retirementplanning #investing #investingtips #moneymanagement #retirementgoalsButton -
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How many times I said we were done having kids after baby #2.... 🤷♀️💁♀️🍼👶 I’m a bad liar ;) #pregnancyannouncement #pregnancy #babybudgetButton -
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Dave Ramsey’s 4 recommended types of mutual funds! We don’t invest in any single stocks, just mutual funds. Of those mutual funds, we spread our investments 25% each over 4 categories. #mutualfunds #investing #investingforbeginnersButton -
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⭐️ 5 SINKING FUNDS I ALWAYS BUDGET FOR ⭐️ Sinking funds are used to save money for a specific period of time for a specific purpose. For example, if you have a vacation coming up in 8 months, and you want to have $800 saved up to spend during your trip, you would set aside $100 per month into either your normal savings account or a separate savings account at your bank. Then, when it’s time to take the trip, you can transfer it to your checking. This way, you don’t have to barely squeak by during the month you vacation! I love using a sinking fund for Christmas gifts! This way, I have the money saved up and ready to spend. The best part? I can spend guilt-free knowing I’ve carefully planned. What do you use sinking funds for?? #sinkingfunds #savingmoney #moneysavingtips #personalfinanceforwomen #moneysavingmomButton -
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HOW TO WORK AS A TEAM WITH YOUR SPOUSE WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY! Let’s be honest, it doesn’t come easy. Here are 3 things you can do to work as team instead of fighting about money. #marriedfinances #moneyandmarriage #couplesbudgetingButton -
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⭐️WHERE SHOULD YOU START WITH INVESTING?? Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, here are 3 things you should always do when investing for retirement, no matter your age! #investingtips #investing101 #investingforbeginnersButton -
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Swipe right for simple budgeting tips ➡️💡 #budgetingtips #paychecktopaycheck #moneymanagementButton -
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Me & my baby girl♥️ My heart could just burst into a million pieces when I look at her 😩Button -
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What’s your biggest challenge with groceries & meal planning? Mine used to be so much WASTE & lack of meal planning. We would spend upwards of $500/month on groceries for two! And guess what.... I’d end up throwing away half our fridge every couple weeks😐 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 $𝟑𝟎𝟎/𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬! Many families spend $600+ on groceries every month‼️ A good rule of thumb is $100/person per month. We have 2 adults and 1 toddler that eats whatever I make every night, so our budget is $300/month. Now, you might be thinking 𝘰𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥. Let me tell you from experience, If you aren’t keeping track, you’re probably WAY off. Go look at your prior months bank statement. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥?? 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐮 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯? These are all things that be mitigated and opportunities for you to SAVE more! #groceries #groceryshopping #mealplanning #familymealprep #budgetmealsButton -
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💡 A few of the 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 differences between a Roth and Traditional IRA (Individual Retirement Account). We contribute to my husbands 401(k) through his work up to the employer match, then we both have our own IRA’s. The reason we only contribute up to the match is— 1) 401 (k) plans generally don’t have as many options as you do in an IRA 2) It’s always good to diversify your investments to mitigate risk Side note, if you are over the income limits to be able to contribute to the Roth IRA, there is a work-around, commonly referred to as the backdoor Roth, where you contribute to a traditional IRA, then 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵 it to a Roth. ➡️ More about that on my blog! ❓do you contribute to an IRA❓❓ Drop a 🤚 below if you do!! #rothira #traditonalira #investingforbeginners #investing101Button -
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THE DEBT SNOWBALL 👊 These five steps are the exact steps we followed when we paid off over $20k of student loan debt in 12 months. You don’t have to be a high income earner, a math geek, or even good with numbers at all. It’s a simple plan. You just have to be willing to do hard things. All you have to do is commit to a plan, and stick with it at all costs. Easier said then done, I know! However, I can say without a doubt that this was one of the most difficult, humbling, and rewarding experiences we have ever gone through as a couple! When I wanted to quit, my husband encouraged me. When he wanted to quit, I encouraged him. Many people during this pandemic have realized that they’ve been “winging it” with their finances. That’s a fine plan when things are good, but it’s a terrible plan when things are bad. Is the pandemic your fault? Of course not! No one saw it coming. However, there are many things you’ll go through in life that aren’t your fault (and some that are), and that’s not an excuse to not be prepared! Debt will hinder your ability to save money. It will make you a slave to the lender. Imagine going into this pandemic having no debt. How would you feel? While you still might have some fear, it would feel pretty dang good knowing that your debts are paid and you’re not a slave to the bank! Make this your “never again” moment! Button -
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We are having a nice, relaxing day at home after traveling ALL DAY yesterday with our two kiddos! They did AMAZING! Kids are so resilient. The babe was easy, she slept almost the entire time both plane rides (3.5 hr flights). Our toddler was a challenge at times, but he surprised us with how well he tolerated the plane ride! Even so, it was exhausting and we are happy to be home!😊 I hope you guys enjoyed the kickoff to my debt payoff stories blog post series, I can’t wait to share more! Next one will be this week 🙌 If you’ve paid off debt, comment below the BIGGEST sacrifice you had to make ⬇️⬇️ Ours was putting off buying a home and we didn’t see the inside of a restaurant for a LONGGG TIME. #personalfinanceforwomen #millennialmoney #debtpayoffButton -
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Couldn’t resist posting a picture from our hike today! 🌲 ☀️ We are having so much fun on vacation! I can’t believe it’s going by so fast😥 if you’re looking for a beautiful place to visit, I highly recommend the Oregon coast! My parents moved from Washington state last summer to Oregon, and I’ll admit I was apprehensive at first that I would like it as much as where I grew up, but it is B E A U T I F U L⭐️ Staying on budget & having tons of fun, doesn’t get better! #personalfinanceforwomen #millennialmoney #travelonabudget #oregoncoastButton -
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☀️ WE ARE HEADED TO THE OREGON COAST TOMORROW!! I can’t wait to see my family ❤️ It will be Tripp’s second time to visit them in their new home state and Parker’s first time! One of my favorite things about being debt free and budgeting is setting aside money to travel! I’m thankful we are able to get out to the west coast at least once a year. We save for travel by setting up a sinking fund and treating it like a monthly expense— it’s a line item in our monthly budget. This way, our vacation never follows us home. It’s paid for before we even go! I use the EveryDollar app to track our spending while on vacation. I will typically at the end of every day (or if we are just sitting around for a while) enter all the days expenses. It honestly takes no time, under 5 minutes for sure! I’m excited for family, SEAFOOD, and to let the purse strings loose a little😉 ‼️Disclaimer— my husband still has to remind me even on vacation.... IT👏IS👏OKAY👏TO SPEND MONEY YOU HAVE SAVED 🤪 It honestly pains me to spend money because that’s my nature, so I’m glad I have my hubby to balance me out 😅 anyone else?? Yes, we are flying with 2 under 2. Yes, I covet the prayers 😬😜 Any tips for travel are welcome below ⬇️Button -
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This is exactly how I break down our budget by paycheck every single month. By doing this, I'm able to break our budget into smaller, more manageable chunks. This really has been a game-changer in making sure that I actually stick to our budget... because let's be honest that's always the biggest struggle! ;) What questions do you have?? #budgetbypaycheck #paycheckbudget #millennialmoney #personalfinanceforwomenButton -
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A little bit about our debt payoff story and what motivated us to get out of debt! We used the dave ramsey debt snowball method to pay off all my student loan debt. Plus, three dangers to avoid regarding debt! #payoffdebt #debtsnowball #studentloandebt #daveramseyButton
