Can Being a Minimalist Build Wealth?
The idea of owning more is a western phenomenon that assigns value for having more stuff. If you don’t have a boat or a wardrobe full of the latest fashion trends you are less worthy and should probably go buy something now to fill the void (just kidding but that’s how we feel, right?).
What is Minimalism?
The idea of minimalism has always intrigued me, especially as I clean and wonder how I ended up with so much crap! And then when I really start to think about it, I realize that I purchased all this stuff, most of which I didn’t even know I owned and certainly don’t use.
The Minimalists describe minimalism as, “a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from overwhelm. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from depression. Freedom from the trappings of the consumer culture we’ve built our lives around. Real freedom.”
Using Minimalism to Stay Frugal
This is where minimalism and frugality come together to make a beautiful frugal baby! When we buy less stuff and focus on only what makes us happy, or is a necessity, we have more physical and financial space in our lives. We also get the wonderful side effects of having less stuff to clean, organize or manage.
The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) community does a great job of bringing these two ways of life together to live intentionally while focusing on building wealth. When we clarify what is important to us and commit to only spend money in those areas, we free up a lot of income to invest and build wealth. This is a topic of its own but if it interests you at all, read more about it here.
How to Start Living Minimally Frugal
So what are we to do about it? The Minimalists also have a great 30-Day Minimalism Game which can help you start to clear out what you currently own. Look around and find patterns in areas that you spend money that you end up getting rid of. Home décor your weakness? Or maybe it’s books? Whatever it is, commit to spend less in these areas and use that money to pay extra on debt or invest. Having less is more after all.
Date Night Idea: Budgets and Beers
Creating fun and easy routines that make managing your money something you look forward to.
Budgets and Beers is a quarterly date night that Derek and I have that we look forward to just as much as the Minnesota State Fair. I know that sounds crazy, but it has become our time to update our net worth, track progress towards goals and dream about what we want for our future, all while having beers! Our path to getting better with finances didn’t start here, we were far from it. Money shouldn’t be a source of fear or anger and this is how you can make it just a little better than yesterday.
In the Beginning, It Can Be Overwhelming
When I graduated from college and started making a real salary, I thought simply paying my bills while having extra money to go on vacation was properly managing my money. I lived this way for years but didn’t seem to be making any progress on my student loan debt and my savings account was barely a thing. What have I been doing wrong this whole time? How come my finances didn’t seem to be getting better as I was getting older and making more money?
Before I stumbled upon Dave Ramsey, I didn’t know where to begin and my finances were a source of stress. Do I need to invest more? Is saving for a home more important than paying off student loans? How does my car payment fit into things? I was what he would have called “Dave-ish” because I didn’t follow his rules, but it was the push that I needed to get started. As I started to dig into the scary stuff, things became clearer and I was no longer feeling the burden of the unknown with my money.
Clarifying goals is truly step one in determining what path you should take and for me, it was paying off my student loans. Others that I speak with are saving for a baby or trying to upgrade a car. Take some time to think about what your initial priorities are so that you can make room to save for them to actually make them happen.
Simplify Personal Finances
The moment I decided paying off my student loans would be priority number one, everything became a little more clear. I was no longer worried about how to do everything at once because I gave myself permission not to. I only invested up to my employer match, I paid minimums on my car payment and I didn’t stress about the low balance in my savings account or my lack of a house fund.
I used a simple calculator to determine how much I needed to pay each month to become debt free by a certain date. As I toggled between higher and lower extra monthly payments, I could actually settle on a payment that I could afford that would get me to debt freedom sooner than I initially expected.
This extra payment number allowed me to focus on just one thing. I could spend money wherever and however I wanted but I had to make this extra payment every single month.
Make Tasks a Part of Your Routine
By following a simple budget each month, which included plenty of vacations and restaurants, we were guaranteed to be debt free by our target date. Weekly we would track our spending and if we ever overspent, which happened a lot I must say, we would just move money from another category to balance things out. We never touched the extra debt payment category. A budget helped me stay on track in the day-to-day and quarterly “Budgets and Beers” date nights kept us motivated!
Each quarter Derek and I would sit down to talk about how we did that past quarter, along with updating our debt totals and net worth. By adding this automatic date night to the calendar, we held each other accountable to making those monthly payments and it became something that we actually looked forward to. Previously I was floundering hoping that I was doing something right, and now I was actually seeing the progress.
Something to Look Forward To
You feel a sense of relief when something becomes routine. You are no longer trying to force something and it becomes your new way of life. Budgeting wasn’t easy right away, I actually hated it. But once I saw how it was helping me stay on track to reaching my goals, I knew it was worth all the headache. Seeing our debt totals decrease and our net worth inching towards a positive number gave us the motivation to keep going.
Now I can honestly say I love budgeting (and it’s totally ok if you aren’t there yet). I love our quarterly date nights and I love that all of the perceived sacrifice is working towards a plan that gets us to a life where we can travel more, have flexibility in work and simply live in the present.
Whether it’s a weekly chat with your partner, monthly budgeting sessions as you're figuring things out or quarterly updates towards goals, what can you be doing to make your money just a little easier to manage? Unfortunately personal finance isn’t something taught to us so we have to take it upon ourselves to be the experts. Setting up these systems might seem scary but once you get started you will be relieved that you took the leap!
Is It Too Early to Bring Up Holiday Hangovers?
This week marks six months until Christmas! While we’re newly into a maskless Minnesota summer I wanted to bring it up because I am sure it’s the last thing on your mind. Now hear me out, saving for Christmas doesn’t have to be a daunting task and this is the one holiday related activity that you won’t be called out on for starting too soon (we see you Target with your decorations in September). I’m here to show you that you can actually enjoy the holidays without January credit card guilt and I’ve even included a free tool below if you appreciate a good spreadsheet!
Christmas Is Expensive
The holidays are an expensive time of year and if you don’t have any money set aside for it, I am sure you feel the stress of your paycheck being gone before you even get it. Holiday parties, gifts for friends, family and even co-workers, all that extra booze, it adds up! According to Deloitte, in 2019 American households spent an average of $1,496 on Christmas. Even more staggering, 22% of Americans believe their spending will cause them to go into debt.
Christmas happens the same day each year, yet we are constantly running in circles trying to start saving for Christmas in November while we are still stuck paying down holiday debt in March. By saving a little bit of money year round, we can avoid debt and ensure holidays are reserved for what truly makes us happy; spiked eggnog and holiday parties!
Calculating How Much You Need to Save Each Month
When trying to determine how much you should save for Christmas, let’s first figure out what you normally spend money on. Write out a list of all things Christmas related; wrapping paper, extra tape or bows, extra groceries, gifts for your immediate family, gifts for friends and extended family, home decorations, travel, etc.
Set a spending amount for each category that is backed by some research. By that I mean look at old statements or look online to see how much items cost that you are including in your budget. For example, if you normally host a party, think of how much you might spend on food and alcohol to get an accurate estimate.
Once you get totals for each category in your mini Christmas budget, add up all the totals to get your grand total that you plan to spend on Christmas. To determine how much money you should start saving, divide that grand total number by six since we have six months until Christmas. This is the amount you should start saving each month to have Christmas fully funded without worrying about holiday debt.
Here’s a free tool, no email necessary, to get started on your holiday budget! Be sure to save a copy to your drive first to get started.
Make Sure Your Savings Aligns With Your Budget
After you do the hard work in determining how much you need to save per month to leave Christmas debt free, look at your current finances and ask yourself, can I afford to put this money aside each month?
If the answer is yes, great job, you did it, now you just have to automate the transfer to make it even easier! If the answer is no, go back and look at your mini Christmas budget. Are there some extra items in there that you can eliminate or reduce your spending on? If not, is there temporary work that you can pickup between now and then to give your income a boost?
By saving for Christmas before the holidays come around, you are allowing yourself to fully dive into boozy happy hours with coworkers and exploring the latest ice sculptures with friends and family without the holiday stress of “can we afford this?”
Every penny you save now is one less penny you are paying interest on later. Let’s bring back the most wonderful time of the year as a time that’s truly full of joy and peace.
How Jealousy Stopped Me From Building Wealth
How many times have you said to yourself, “once I make more money we can start paying off debt” or “I could pay off my student loans if I made as much money as (insert name).”
Unfortunately, I know that feeling all too well and it didn’t do me any good! I was constantly making excuses as to why I wasn’t making progress or why I wasn’t further ahead in life.
I would blame it on my income or the fact that I didn’t have parents that paid for my school. But in reality, it was because I didn’t use the money that I was making efficiently. I was still spending tons of money going to restaurants or out on the weekends. I was young and I deserved that, right?
Looking back, if I would have dedicated a portion of my income to debt, I would have been able to pay off my student loans so much quicker than I had and, this is the important part, I would have had so much less stress around money. I could have afforded to make less money because I wouldn’t have had student loan debt and I wouldn’t have had to miss out on trips because I had to work.
When I was comparing my situation to those around me, basically having an enormous pity party for myself, I wasn’t able to make progress in my life.
Once I decided that it was time for a change I immediately saw a shift in my stress and the clarity that I had around money. I wasn’t making any more money but I was seeing my debt total decrease so much more quickly than I ever had. All because I was actually using my income to change my life, versus wishing I had more income or less debt.
When we stop wishing for things to improve our lives, we are actually able to see what we can do to live happier lives. Stop worrying about the new car your neighbor bought or your friend that is looking at cabins up north. This is your life, use your resources to curate your version of happiness.
It's Finally Happening and We Paid for It in Cash!
I’m jumping in this week to talk about something to hopefully inspire you to take action on something that you have been dreaming about, but haven’t quite pulled the trigger on yet. If a global pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that we should be spending as much time as possible doing what we love most with whom we love most!
Since I have been working from home I have been driving my car so much less, and I sort of love it! Of course I drive my car and this is not an article about how you should take up biking but it is a lesson in searching deep into our souls to find out what we truly love in life.
For us it was traveling, specifically around the United States. Yes, we are all about international travel but we live in such a large country and we want to explore every nook and cranny. And to be honest, we are obsessed with our dog and she can’t travel internationally.
After two road trips we realized our Jeep wasn’t cut out for longer trips. It drove wonderfully, had modern luxuries and had great mileage yes, but we couldn’t sleep in it and we had too much stuff to make it enjoyable to temporarily live out of.
This is where the idea of #vanlife came in and we finally decided to go after it! No, we didn’t have tens of thousands to buy one of those fancy vans and a loan was out of the question, so we decided to start looking at older ones that will need some TLC.
In preparation we sold my car to become a one car household during this transition, we are fortunate enough to have this flexibility since I work from home and we don’t have kids.
After months of searching and lots of patience our dream van popped up on Marketplace and I jumped on the opportunity to schedule a time that same day to see the van in person. The van was everything that we ever imagined and we paid cash on the spot so that we didn’t miss out as the market is really competitive at the moment.
My dad came to test drive it with me as Derek was out of town - and of course Kona came with!
Purchasing this van is something that we have always dreamt about but it never felt realistic. We can’t afford three cars. We both have jobs, what are we going to do with a van meant to live out of? COVID has taught me that anything is realistic and it just takes a little bit of thoughtful planning to make sure it happens without added stress.
By selling my car, setting money aside each month and focusing on our van life dream, we were able to pull the trigger when the perfect van popped up! This adventure vehicle will ensure we make the most of our long-weekend getaways. It means that we will be able to see more state and national parks as we will have to pay less in lodging. It means that we will be able to have our pup involved in all of the memories we will be making as we explore our beautiful country.
What is your version of van life? What are your dreams that you are setting aside because you haven’t sorted out yet how to make it work?
I want this to be your sign to make time in your life for your dreams. What do you need to do to start making it a reality? How much money do you need to set aside to ensure as little stress as possible?
How Your Spending Can Help Guide Future Habits With Money
We’ve all been there, too much month at the end of the money or you make too much money to be this broke!
It’s not a fun place to be and when you’re feeling that stressed with money, you can’t possibly see a way out.
What if I told you that if you looked at your current spending habits, you’d probably be able to tweak a few things to relieve your money stress? Of course there are always the situations when you simply don’t make enough money (you’ll have to increase your income or lower your monthly expenses) but I’m talking to those of you that have a decent income but it never seems to be enough.
This is where tracking our spending comes into play and it’s a total game changer! When we see where our money actually goes, versus where we think it goes, we are able to do a better job with our everyday spending. Do we want to continue spending the way we have been or do we want our money to be going towards something else like a vacation, season tickets at the local theater or a larger Christmas fund?
So how do you go about tracking your money so that you can make changes to actually be able to afford the things you love most in life? Here is a free 90-Day Expense Tracker that you can use to get started. Use bank statements, both checking and credit cards, Venmo history and whatever other accounts you spend money out of to fill in this spreadsheet to get your monthly averages. These averages will tell you how much money you spend in any category on average.
Since money isn’t an infinite resource, it helps to see how spending in one area will decrease the amount you have available to spend in another. This is when we can ask what’s more important, this new pair of jeans or another day at a resort?
When you compare those totals to your monthly income you can start to ask yourself, can I afford to keep spending this much money in certain categories or is this the reason that I run out of money each month?
Use your monthly averages to outline a budget and don’t forget to include your goals like that vacation you have been wanting to go on. If the totals in each category are more than you make in a month, you will have to reduce your spending in some areas.
By aligning our planned spending with our income, we can ensure we reach our goals and continue to do what matters most in life, without going into debt. But the trick is to get started. Start with the 90-Day Expense Tracker to see where your money is going and decide, is this the path I want to stay on or do I have other plans for myself?
Budgeting Made Easy By Following These Simple Steps
When you think of budgeting, I want you to think about a 5-minute task while you’re relaxing. Maybe you’re having a beer with your spouse after a long day or you’re cozied up in bed about to dig into a great book.
That is what budgeting can look like when you have a system in place and goals that you are working towards. You are no longer stressing about a bill that’s due or working the math to figure out when you get paid next before you can go grocery shopping.
These are the tasks that I do on a regular basis to ensure my budgeting system is working for me versus the other way around.
Weekly I categorize my spending and readjust areas I overspent in. When I overspend, I look at categories that have a little extra money that I can pull from so I am not negative in any area of my budget.
Monthly I create a new budget based on what I have going on that month. Whether it’s a graduation party or date night to a baseball game, I set money aside to make sure I don’t have to put these expenses on a credit card to pay later.
Quarterly I update totals for my net worth and (if you have any) debt balances. Seeing these balances change each quarter will keep you motivated to continue to build wealth and pay off debt.
Annually I plan for the year ahead and readjust categories in the budget for what’s to come. Whether it’s a vacation or big house project, I add the category and start saving.
By putting a little effort into creating a system, you are ensuring that you reach your goals while reducing the effort that you have to put in on a regular basis.
So what does budgeting actually look like? After I make a purchase I categorize the transaction. Sometimes I do this while standing in line at the checkout or while I am pumping gas, other times it’s a few days later when I get a minute to login to my budgeting app.
If I overspent in a category, which will happen more as you start out with budgeting, I move money from another category to cover the overspending. So maybe I had $100 to spend on groceries but I spent $115, I’ll move $15 in my app from a category that will be ok without the $15, sometimes it’s Vacation or Extra Fun Stuff, it really depends on what’s going on at the time.
I continue categorizing my transactions all month and as money comes in, I put that money into categories for spending later. And once a new month hits, I make sure all the categories make sense and I continue where I left off.
So that’s it! If this seems like a lot, I promise it will reduce so much stress and uncertainty you have around your money. It will become a routine that you don’t give much thought to, like grocery shopping or mowing the lawn.
What systems can you put into place to make budgeting take less than five minutes each week?
What You're Missing Out on if You Have One Job
The days are long gone that you get everything you want in life from working at one company. Not only might your needs and wants change but benefits aren’t like what they used to be, oh man I sound old. Pensions are rare and the days of a household having one working parent and one stay at home parent without financial stress are gone.
There are so many benefits to making a little bit of extra money outside of your day job, let’s dive into just seven of the reasons and then we’ll explore how you can make more money!
Protection for you and your family
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that our jobs are not guaranteed. Losing your job can be out of your control and it can also be out of your company’s control. It doesn’t matter how great an employee you are. So let's protect ourselves and our families. If your hours are reduced at work or you don’t get that annual bonus, don’t let your lifestyle or your goals suffer.
Limitless income
When you start working for yourself, your income is tied to you, not the limits to your job title at work. If you are selling custom earrings for example, you can make more money as you make more products, share them online or attend artisan fairs. When you take the reins and start acting, not reacting, your options are endless. I don’t say that to sound cliché, I say that because it’s true.
Making money while you sleep
Selling without having to physically be in a specific space is magical. This is how you see so many people making money while on vacation or waking up to “you have a new sale” email. When you can streamline your side hustle to be online and available to consumers 24/7, your income ceiling is limitless. Go create a website or post your products on social media and start selling while you sleep.
Exploring a hobby
Have you ever wanted to start something but was afraid for some reason? Turning a potential hobby into a side hustle is a great way to test the waters. I didn’t start flipping furniture because it was a dream I had. I started because I loved buying vintage pieces but quickly had too much furniture for our tiny house (I was also spending more money than I wanted to). So I started selling furniture that I didn’t mind parting with as I bought new pieces. I sold my coffee table when I found one I liked better and I did the same with my dining room table. I quickly learned that I could make money at the same time that I was updating my house. Start small and start with an area you are already interested in, you don’t have to go all in right away.
Reaching your goals faster
When you have a side hustle and you are intentional with that extra income, you are able to reach your goals rather quickly. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to pay off debt, build an emergency fund, go on that family vacation or stop the paycheck to paycheck cycle. This was a big motivator when I was paying off my student loans. Since I was working extra I was able to still go out to eat and go on vacation because my extra income was all going towards debt.
Flexibility to work when you want
A huge perk of being an entrepreneur is that you get to work when you want. You get to decide if you are maxed out at your day job and need a break or have some free-time and want to dive in. Don’t create unnecessary stress by over committing yourself. Complete tasks you need to get done for your side hustle when you are up for it, and stop when you are over it. If you find that you are never really in the mood, choose a new side hustle, that might not be the one for you.
Potential to go full time
When I started Money Gal Coaching, I wanted to show people how I got out of debt and how anyone could do it. I never imagined this would be a career change for me. But since I started with a passion that I did in my spare time, I was able to find something that I loved that I can turn into a long-term full-time passion. When you can turn your hobby full-time, work becomes fun and less of a chore because you do what you love and you get to create the rules.
Ok so you have decided to go after your hobby or increase your income, but what should you be doing? There are so many options, here are just a few but take some time to think about what you love doing and how you can make money at it.
You Should Start Saving for Vacation Now (and Here’s How)
In case you haven’t heard, the world is opening up and we are about to be released into the wild and it’s every man for himself!
Calculating the cost of flying or a good old fashioned road trip isn’t the only expense when we take a trip. In order to do everything you want during vacation, it’s important to save up some money to pay down the inevitable increased credit card bill.
Creating a vacation budget can look a few different ways depending on what you are doing, but it isn't hard! Let’s use a real example of me going to Utah for a friend’s wedding in the fall. I am creating a budget to know exactly how much I should start saving each month so that money doesn’t stop me from celebrating and having the absolute best time.
Here are the 5 areas to help you create a detailed budget that ensures you get to go on a vacation that allows you to enjoy it to the fullest!
Transportation - Decide how you will get there. For this wedding I priced out our two options, flying and a road trip. Since the flights and a rental car for a week wasn’t cheap we opted for driving but that’s not always the cheaper route.
Lodging - So many options to choose from such as hotels, AirBNBs or staying with friends. Choose your preferences and research pricing for each night you are away.
Food - This is a big one and I always like to overestimate. How much will you be spending on breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks?
Alcohol - If you like to consume adult beverages while you're away put some money aside, alcohol isn’t cheap! Estimate the number of happy hours you might have and how often.
Extras - Will you be going on any day trips? Do you like to buy souvenirs? Do you need spending money? I added a pass to the National Parks, a wedding gift and a little bit for souvenirs. Some trips this category is a lot of money while others I am spending more time with people versus doing things that cost money.
Once you have all the areas of spending let’s calculate how much money you need to start saving to get that much closer to living that #vacationlife. So far my budget is telling me that I need $972 (or $1,944 total but Derek and I split vacation expenses). If I am leaving in 5 months, I will need to save $194 a month before we leave.
If this number is realistic then great, you did it now you just have to save! Let’s say this number was too high, I would go back in and determine what areas of spending I can reduce. Easy ones for me are breakfast (I am good with coffee and a protein bar) and maybe I spend less on dinner a few nights of the week (notice I already cut dinner out one night since we will be at the wedding).
I can also increase my income. Maybe I pick up an extra shift, reduce my spending with my personal budget or sell a few things around the house to make some extra cash to help get more money.
The reason we do this extra work for a budget is so that we can curate the vacation that we want, not one that we can afford at the time. We don’t want to have guilt on our way home or regret going all together because we made irresponsible decisions.
So I ask you, what trip do you have coming up and how much money do you need to start saving to make it the best post-COVID trip ever?
4 Reasons You Aren't Budgeting and Why It's Hurting You
One of the main things that stopped me from budgeting was that I thought it was just something that was supposed to tell me no all the time. I thought that it would be the end to life as I knew it and that it was going to take a lot of time to manage.
The only thing right about my assumptions was that life would be completely different. But little did I know, it was about to get so much better! If I would have known that I would have started much sooner and if you’re not already budgeting, I’m here to show you why you should start one today.
When we become intentional with our spending we ensure that we get to do more of what we love most! We actually save for the vacations that we have been dreaming about for years. We might even save for a down payment on a new home or invest in ourselves by going back to school. No matter your goals, a budget helps get you there so much more quickly while remaining out of debt!
Here are four things you might be telling yourself that has stopped you from creating a budget. But don’t worry, personal finance is something we aren’t taught about so no wonder why we aren’t always good at it.
Budgeting just tells me want I can’t buy
A budget would only tell you no for a couple of reasons; 1) it’s not something that you said was important enough to start saving for it or 2) it costs more than you were planning to spend. When I help people create a budget, we are sure to include our goals, hobbies and things we love most in life. So you’re only telling yourself no to something that you once said wasn’t important. If things changed, let’s make room for it in the budget!
I am always overspending
When you overspend on your budget it might be because you didn’t estimate the correct amount for a certain category. Help yourself out by putting in a bit of effort to see how much money you need for each category, and the 90-Day Expense Tracker can help with this. You can also overspend if you aren’t checking in on your budget. Set five minutes aside a couple of times a week to see where you are at with your spending.
I don’t have enough money to budget
Believe or not, everyone no matter their income benefits from budgeting. It’s easy to think that you’ll start budgeting once you make “more money” but that day never seems to come. And in fact, we don’t magically become better with our finances because we make more money. No matter your income, get started with a zero-based budget to ensure every dollar you make is working to create your dream life.
I’m too afraid of what I’ll find
This is a real one and since it’s emotional it can take some time to overcome. One thing I would say is that nothing gets better as it is being ignored. We don’t just wake up with more in savings or less debt, we have to be intentional for these things to happen. So what do we do about it? We dig in, giving ourselves grace and we start working to improve our situation. It’s usually not as scary as we think it is and having the knowledge can help our situation change rather quickly!
So what can you do today to be just a little bit better? Maybe you look into your spending, clarify your goals or look into increasing your income. Whichever you choose, just choose one thing and get started. You won’t regret it!
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We Often Don’t Include the Most Important Things in Our Budgets
Before I started on the path to figure out my debt, I was completely in the dark about a budget. What is a budget for? Who needs a budget? What am I supposed to include in my budget? Once I have a budget, now what do I do?
I initially started with listing out all of my bills and the sort of obvious things, like groceries or restaurant spending. That made sense, right? I quickly hit a brick wall when I bought a present for a friend’s birthday, that didn’t fit into any of the categories I had listed.
So there it began. I would add categories to my budget as life happened, and I was missing a lot of things! I didn’t account for bachelorette parties, weddings, insurance premiums, attending Twins baseball games or annual events like the Minnesota State Fair.
How was I so far off? The idea of saving for these “smaller expenses” didn’t even cross my mind until they started adding up. One summer I remember being a bridesmaid in three weddings and attending 10 more, I was broke!
This is what got me looking at my calendar and creating space in my budget for the things that were already scheduled and I wanted to attend. I would quickly add up what I thought that event was going to cost to calculate how much I had to start saving with the time that I had left.
Sure spending $200 at the Minnesota State Fair wasn’t necessarily going to break the bank, I could pick up another shift at work and be fine. But when I started saving just $17 a month year around, that affected my finances so much less!
That is when buying all the beer at the fair and eating all the fried pickles, corn and donuts became really fun. Because it didn't matter if I also went out to eat that week, because I planned for this.
So I challenge you, take a look at your calendar and what can you start saving for right now? Make a list and figure out how much you should save a month. Here’s a free tool to get you started on all those categories you might be forgetting in your budget.
7 Questions to Ask Yourself to Be Better With Money
Reaching goals can be hard and it just doesn't happen by accident, we have to actually put in the work. So whether it’s running a marathon, eating healthier or getting that next promotion at work, a plan is laid out so we know, how am I going to get from A to Z? The same works with reaching financial goals or simply getting rid of stress around money.
For example, if you want to increase our savings for an emergency fund, you have to determine, how much money am I going to need? From there, how much can I afford to set aside each month? Then you have to set that money aside and actively not spend it unless it’s an emergency.
Below are 7 questions to ask yourself so you can stay on track with your goals and crush it with your finances.
What can I do to increase my income?
I am sure you know by now but the side hustle game is real! It has never been more important to have diversified income because a job is not forever. There are so many options today so get creative, try selling something you enjoy making, teach or consult in your area of expertise or pick up some dog-walking clients.
Can I afford to pay more towards debt? What would my budget look like without debt?
If you are making your monthly payments on debt I would push you to see how much extra you can afford each month, especially on high-interest debt. By making only the minimum payments we are paying more in interest and increasing our chances of disaster if something were to happen with our income. Best bet is to pay it off as quickly as possible. And for a bit of extra inspiration, take a look at a life without those monthly debt payments, what else could you be spending that money on? Más vacaciones por favor!
Am I saving enough today to fund my vision for retirement in the future?
How much are you saving per month and are you on track for retirement? The answer is different for everyone, it depends on how much money you would like to have for retirement and how long until you want to retire. Use this calculator to see what your balance will be at retirement. If you haven’t bumped up your contributions lately you might want to look into that, 15% of your paycheck is a good goal if you don’t have high interest debt. Bonus credit if you want to reach financial independence at an earlier age, use this FIRE calculator (FIRE stands for Financial Independence Retire Early) to see when you can reach this goal!
Is my emergency fund all set or how much do I need to get it funded?
Having an emergency fund to fall back on will relieve a lot of stress in case a pandemic happens, an expensive car repair is needed or your furnace breaks in the middle of winter. A good rule of thumb is to have 3-6 months worth of expenses saved up and set aside in an account that you have easy access to. Don’t include unnecessary spending while calculating this number, it should only include what you would need to get by, we aren’t going on vacation during an emergency.
What are two of your big goals and do you have a plan to get there?
In order to truly enjoy life, we have to be sure we are doing the things that make us happiest. Sure we have to go to work and pay bills but outside of that, on the weekends or in your spare time, what do you enjoy doing most? Maybe you want to save up for a camper or you want to buy a cabin up north. Whatever it is, are you setting money aside? Do you know how much it will cost? Have you created a vision board on Pinterest to stay motivated? Ok, the Pinterest part isn’t necessary but it sure can be fun!
What system am I following to stay on track with my spending?
Just like we have to be intentional to reach our goals, we need a system in place to help us get there. Do you have a budgeting app to watch your spending? Do you use the cash-envelope system for categories you tend to overspend in? Do you log everything in Excel and update the pivot charts to see your savings progress? Whatever method speaks to you, put in some solid effort and you’ll be amazed how easy it will become.
Is there anything holding me back from taking action?
If you aren’t able to get started on the above items, why? Are you too stressed to even start? Do you not have a supportive partner? Does your debt seem too high to even begin to dream about retiring? Whatever it is, take one little step forward. Choose one thing that you can start to work on and begin there. You’ll be amazed that with a little support, it’s not as scary as you might have imagined!
My Why & How a Budget Changed Everything
After I finished college, I did what a lot of broke 20-somethings do. I moved to the city, got a full-time job making very little money and made up for my inflated lifestyle with a waitressing gig five nights a week.
I had around $60,000 in student loan debt, a number so big that I couldn’t even comprehend it as a 22 year old. Combine that scary number with a society that tells you “student loan debt is good debt” and “debt is a part of life”, I had accepted my fate.
So instead of more efficiently managing my finances, I worked to enjoy life and put my debt on auto payments. For around eight years it was out of sight and out of mind. I tell you this because I think a lot of us feel this way, especially before we drink the debt-free-lifestyle kool aid. We don’t believe we have options! We believe debt is a fact of life and we don’t have a choice in the matter.
It wasn’t until my late 20’s that my monthly debt payments were becoming an issue. How was I supposed to buy a house or save for a wedding with this much debt? Let’s be honest, I wasn’t close to either of those things but I wanted to be ready once I was at that point in life.
I started talking about my money struggles with peers and I learned of an entire community of people paying off large amounts of debt, in relatively small amounts of time. These people were living my dream and I couldn’t believe it took me this long to find them!
I quickly tallied up my debt and there it was, the number that I had been avoiding for a long time, the amount between me and my new debt free life, $46,514.91.
I created a “budget”, at the time it was more like a list of bills, and I committed to a number that I thought I could afford to pay extra towards my debt each month.
I had a target date that I was going to be debt free but once I started to see progress, I cut the time in half. Not because I was making a ton of money but because I quickly realized how much money I was actually wasting a month. Going out to eat, new clothes, alcohol. All the things!
I was making progress and I was seeing first hand the impact of paying extra towards my debt! I also began playing around with a few debt-free calculators online and calculated the impact of every extra dollar that I paid. This became my motivation to bump up my payment to something bigger, while still manageable, and it allowed me to shed years off my debt free journey.
Each milestone was cause for celebration and motivated me to pay even more. Quickly my amount owed was $40,000, then $30,000 and eventually single digits and gone!
My budget evolved over time and became the source of my success, as cheesy as that sounds. I was able to prioritize the things I loved most, like going out to eat with friends or road trips with my partner and pup, while still paying down debt.
Some months I paid more and some less, but the goal was there and my mind was set that my future life was so much more important than this life I was living that was making me more broke.
Becoming debt free doesn’t happen by accident and it doesn’t happen overnight. I had to learn what a budget was and how to stick to one. If you can’t relate to the word budget, I was right there with you! I mostly wanted to know how much extra I could be sending towards my student loans and it just so happens a budget tells you that, who would have thought?
The Myth of the American Dream
With post-pandemic life seeming closer than we have ever been, one can’t help but wonder, what am I doing with my life? If we have learned anything from the past year, it’s that we should be spending more time doing what we love while surrounded by the people we care about most.
But when I think about re-starting an old routine of traffic, work, then more traffic, one can’t help but think, is this American dream for me?
But wait, what is the American dream, exactly? Americans have always heard about this destination but I have to admit, it's not very tangible. People even move here from all over the world to chase after this dream life, but what is it? After all, we can’t achieve something that we can’t precisely explain, let alone set goals for.
While thinking ‘is the American dream possible’, I couldn’t help but think, maybe the dream is still there but the path to get there is very different than when my parents were my age.
I truly believe you can now live your very own version of the American dream. You don’t have to feel the pressure of going to a job if it doesn’t make you happy. And flip that around, why quit a job you love and feel stable in?
It might look like quitting your job, moving abroad or starting a business. The best part is that this is your vision for your life and you no longer have to find joy in what society deems valuable. This is your American dream!
Of course, your dreams should reflect in your finances because you will need to set money aside to make this your new reality. From there, prioritize which things to do first, because it can’t all happen at once.
When we let go of the American dream myth, we can start living an intentional life, driven by our innermost passions, creating our very own version of the American dream. You can expect to live a much happier, fulfilled and purposeful life once your dream starts to become your reality.
What to Do When You Are Bored at Home
I think it is safe to say that by now we have all become very comfortable at home and have been pretty good at getting creative in our spare time. Remember when we were making fancy coffee drinks by grinding instant coffee for hours?
But I would like to offer up a few (budget friendly, of course) ideas to enhance your home-life as we are in the weirdness of winter, besides that one 60 degree day.
Ok, 12 things you can do at home to fight boredom
Make a playlist of your favorite throwback songs - cleaning, taking a bath, you pick the vibe
Watch a classic movie you’ve never seen - if you haven’t seen When Harry Met Sally, I strongly suggest
Listen to one of Michelle Obama’s podcast episodes while sipping a mimosa on a yoga mat on a Saturday afternoon- this one is very specific, might be on my to-do list
Plan your next trip in extreme detail - bonus tips if you figure out how much you need to save a month and incorporating it in your budget
Clean your makeup brushes - the reward with this one will come the next time you have to put on makeup
Unsubscribe from emails - easy targets are ones you delete right away, you know which ones they are
Make delicious bread - start with a simple banana or sourdough if you are a newbie
Create a vision board - this can be for goals, your room or a van you are preparing to buy and live in (ummmm this last one is me!)
Send a note - pick a friend, family member or lover (oh lal la) and tell them just how much they mean to you
Start learning a language - this is great to brush up on those high school skills or to prepare for your next trip, pick an app like Duolingo to help
Learn to french braid - this has been on my list since I was 6 but I refuse to give up on this dream
Organize a clothing swap with friends - this can be to keep, borrow or sell
Alright, there you have it. Easy ways to perk up your day that won’t break the bank. The key is to stay inspired, keep dreaming and living life intentionally.
4 Ways I Practice Self Care, Without Blowing My Budget
The budget gets a bad rap. I get it, I was once there too but I am here to say that, it can work wonders when you put its powers to good use.
I often bring up budgeting, it’s just what I do, and people fall into one of two buckets on the subject, 99% of the time.
The first group says they budget. After a few questions, I find out all they actually do is have an idea on how much their bills cost and a number they shouldn’t go over on items like groceries.
The second group of people have never budgeted. They don’t have any interest in one because they don’t want to be told what they can’t spend their money on.
Now, don’t worry if you are one of these people. Most of us are doing the best we can with our finances considering we were never actually taught how to manage money.
But what if I told you that a budget allows you to go on vacation, ensures you get that new deck before summer and gives you permission to spend your money!
I tend to be on either extreme with spending money on myself. Either I went to Target to find a necklace but left spending $150 on who knows what or I don’t use my debit card for a full week.
In an attempt to balance my actions from one end of the spectrum to the other, I try to incorporate small gestures of care into my budget.
Here are four ways I treat myself without breaking the bank, or my budget.
Doggy dates. If you have an active dog you know that the walks are endless and even a good run or bike ride isn’t always enough. Afternoon or early evening walks are an easy way for me to step away from the computer and enjoy the outside, no matter the weather. I will sometimes play a podcast or just be with my thoughts as I see this adventure through her eyes.
At-home facial with wine. Masks can be relatively cheap in the store or easily made at home. Whether it's during a bath, or while reading a good book, allow yourself this time to relax. You deserve it!
Try a new recipe. I like to play a fun game of ‘what can I make with the ingredients I already have at home’. I hate throwing groceries away so even if it tastes sub-par, it’s better than going in the trash. There are also apps or websites that you can type in items you have on hand and recipes can be generated for you.
Make a fancy afternoon beverage. I can become quickly useless around 3:00 PM if I had a bad night of sleep or hadn't left the house up until that point. Taking 15 minutes to make infused sparkling water or a matcha latte gives me just the boost I need to finish my day off strong while feeling a little fancy.
These are just a few small ways I insert joy in my life, but we are all different. Think about what you love, what makes you feel special and what can be a true treat during your day. Be sure to add these items in your budget and allow yourself to spend this money, self care is important.
The Dangers of Store Credit Cards
I use my credit card as a way to earn easy perks. I am already spending the money, why not earn cash back, miles or rewards points.
I don’t think I need to be the one to say it but here I go, the perks of spending on a credit card is only good if you pay off your balance in full every month without interest or fees. Everything comes with a warning label right?
When working with clients, I only recommend using a credit card if they don’t have a past with credit card debt. It is not worth the perks if you might slip back into debt. Let me say that again, don’t even ponder a credit card if you won’t pay it in full every single month.
Store credit cards are a different beast and don’t provide the same benefits as traditional credit cards. Here a six reasons why you should stay clear of those store cards and stick to cash or a traditional credit card:
Encouraging extra spending - stores often reward you with discounts or extra money back as you spend a certain amount of money. These are traps to get you to spend more when you would have otherwise.
Higher than average interest rates - the average interest rate in 2020 on store credit cards was 23.91% while a traditional card was a mere 17.87%. Maybe it’s because shoppers are high-risk or they need to make up the revenue from smaller lending limits? Either way, you pay more each month and that’s all that matters.
Lowers your credit score - traditional cards can boost your credit score (yes you can still do this without paying interest) while store credit cards lower your credit score. The jury is still out on why exactly but it’s most likely that store cards tend to be open for a shorter periods of time and not all stores report this information to the three credit bureaus.
Not available for emergencies - we’ve heard it before, “I only use my credit cards for emergencies” said everyone who has had to defend their credit card spending. But what happens when an actual emergency happens? Like, you need $6k right now. Your store card won’t come to the rescue.
Limited options - everything aside, you have to use this card at this specific store. This can lead to purchasing more expensive products or a store no longer in your area if you move.
Overcomplicates things - the more cards you have the more likely you are to forget to pay a bill, miss fraudulent transactions or simply keep track of it all. Don’t overcomplicate things, one credit card and/or one check card is all you need.
Now that you know why you should immediately look into getting rid of those store cards, do you want to know one sort-of exception? My Target RedCard. I save 5% on everything and it comes directly out of my checking account, not accruing interest. But I caution you, don’t open too many of these cards because after all, we want to keep things simple.
Start Here if You Are Feeling Overwhelmed With Your Finances
I get it. Start budgeting! Pay off debt! Refinance your loans! Save for an emergency! Don’t forget about retirement!
We are constantly hearing messages on how we should be doing better and how to fix things. There are a ton of routes you can take while on your personal finance journey, so feeling overwhelmed is normal.
Instead of not starting because you feel paralyzed, let’s break a few of the important items down into manageable tasks.
Once you start to see progress, you will build up your confidence and motivation to continue on this journey.
I compare a financial journey a lot to our health and wellness journeys. You could start working out, eating better, drinking more water, or getting your steps in. They all are good things but you can’t do everything all the time, that is a recipe for burnout.
So, this is how you start. And remember, you take this one day at a time, if you are starting to feel overwhelmed, come back tomorrow. The key is to make small daily progress, tiny steps forward, that will add up to big improvements in your life.
Dream big. Get a clear mental picture of the reason you want to clean up your finances. Maybe it’s for your kids or so that you can go on a dream vacation without going into debt. Depending on your style, you can detail your dream out in a journal, Pinterest board or app on your phone.
Put a list together of all your accounts. Write out all your debts and assets. By seeing on paper how much debt you have, you will be able to get a better idea of how bad (or not so bad) your finances are.
Track your past spending. List out and categorize all your spending from the last 90-days to see where your money has been going. This will help you see if it’s going towards things that are important in your life.
Debt or savings. Decide what your main goal is so we can add it to the budget.
Create a budget. Use your past spending, and debt or savings goal, to create a budget that aligns your income with your spending. Don’t forget to include those larger annual expenses and break them up into monthly savings goals.
Follow the plan. Track your spending moving forward and try your best to stick to your budget. It won’t be perfect the first few months but you will get better each day, week and month.
Ready to dive in but want a bit of help? Schedule a free call today and let’s chat. This is an investment into your future, your future self will thank you.
If You Have Federal Student Loans, What's Your Plan?
May I extend my fullest congratulations to those with Federal student loans. You are granted, yet again, an extension to when your payments will resume.
Now let me put my overbearing mother-figure hat on and ask you, “what are you doing about it?” How are you improving your finances with this never-been-done-before miracle that has come out of a horrible time for our world?
These COVID relief measures mean much more than simply not having to make your payment. The bigger piece is that you are not accruing any more interest. Compound interest can be a wonderful thing when you are earning it, but it has the opposite effect when you owe it on a debt.
What happens if you continue to make your payments when they aren’t required? This breaks down to a $393 student loan payment (the national average) going directly to pay off the balance of the loan.
Normally a part of that $393 payment goes towards the principal balance and another part goes towards new interest that has accrued since your last payment. Your payment has less of an impact when you are also paying on interest, taking longer to pay off your loan.
Now I ask you again, what will you be doing with this newly awarded time? Are you paying off high interest debt? Are you using it to increase the amount saved in your emergency fund? Are you doing the work to get on a working budget while you have some wiggle room?
If you didn’t say yes to one of the above, I want to ask you ‘why not’? I am a true believer in ‘everything happens for a reason’ and if this wasn’t a huge wakeup call I don’t know what is.
We have been taking our health, relationships and finances for granted for decades now. I am not the first to write about what 2020 has taught us but I am here to reiterate it for those of you with federal loan debt.
How you focus your time and energy with your finances these coming months will have a major impact on the rest of your life, good or bad.
Are you going to continue to look the other way at your debt, knowing it will ‘get paid off eventually’. Or are you going to jump in the deep end, as hard as it might be, and create a plan to change your future for the better?
Get started with tracking your spending with this free tool to see where your money is currently going. We can’t change our futures unless we dig into our past.
How I Stick to a Budget Without FOMO
Something that I often hear from people is how limiting a budget can feel. If you consider setting a spending limit on items limiting then, maybe? But remember, you are the one that is setting those limits and we all have to have limits. Money is not unlimited so unless going into debt is a goal of yours, you have to know when to say no.
I am here to shout from the rooftop that I don’t see my budget as restricting. I see it as something that gives me permission to spend, and here’s why.
Your budget is like that best friend when you are at the mall that says, you need that shirt, get it! It is saying, hey, you set money aside for this specific thing, what are you waiting for?
When I help clients create their first budget, we start the process with creating a list of everything that brings them joy. Do you value spending time with family and friends? Do you like traveling? Do you always need the latest gadget? Is it your personal mission to try every brewery in Minnesota?
Whatever you find value in, you want to make sure you are incorporating spending for those areas! My budget always includes a category to save for the Twins home opener, the Minnesota State Fair and Black Friday. Non-negotiable. These are experiences that are affordable and have become a tradition with close friends.
Maybe in your previous life (pre-COVID) friends always do a last minute pricey brunch and you feel guilty when you go, and when you don’t. Start setting aside a small amount of money each week, or with each paycheck, so these events don’t break the bank.
We still have to say no to some things since our money isn’t infinite. But saying no to something you don’t value is a lot easier than saying no to something that you do.
Start today with writing out all the things that truly bring you joy, a little soul searching one might say. Figure out how much you can afford to spend on these items and make sure they are in the plan. And remember, no item is too small to start saving for. My car tabs are way less annoying when I save $5 a month versus $60 at the DMV, that’s a happy hour!