Debt Free Life Hacks: Managing Money Like a Boss

The holidays are near, and during this time a year, there is a lot of shopping. There are plenty of sales to choose from - Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and general holiday sales. Even more, with the pandemic, stores have extended their sales over multiple days, weeks, months even! One thing you can count on is promotions that pressure you to buy and to buy now.  Buy Now! Phrases like "limited time offer," "lowest prices of the season," and "while supplies last" can invoke a sense of urgency and give the illusion that you'll miss out if you do not act fast. Sometimes this is true, but often times it is not. While you may feel pressured to buy now to get the best price, just make sure that you really are getting the best price. Sales come, and sales go, but you'll almost always be able to get the item at a good price on more than one occasion. Do your research and try not to shop impulsively. It's almost always a recipe for disaster. When a store ...

This week’s blog may be somewhat controversial. It’s important to always weigh your options and the consequences of financial decisions you make. I recently made a decision that challenges what many financial gurus would recommend. I considered the consequences and decided it was worth it. So what did I do?  I’ve been wanting to upgrade my mobile phone, something I don’t do often and when I do it’s never the latest and greatest because I just need something that is practical and reasonably priced. The phone that I’m wanting is the latest model of my current phone, and an ideal fit for my needs ( and tiny hands 😂). The Problem The problem is the phone is much more than I feel is reasonable for a phone. Cell phones discounts are extremely rare these days 😞 and so there’s not much wiggle room when it comes to getting a “good deal”. It just doesn’t feel right for me to spend so much money a cell phone. I need a deal! My Solution To feel good about the purchase, I decided...

We've all heard the phrase, "you never miss the water until the well runs dry". Sometimes in life we get so caught up in everything that we don't spend enough time appreciating what we have. How Easily We Forget Things we easily take for granted like food, water, and lights hold so much value. It's not until we're hungry, thirsty, or in the dark that we realize have valuable these things are in our lives. Having lived in Florida for some time, I've seen some of the damage a hurricane can cause.  In those times, there may have been a loss of power for several days to weeks. Then is when you realize how important electricity is and how lost you may feel without it, even for a short time. Realize how valuable your money is before there isn't enough of it Money can be the same way. We can get so caught up in the routine - going to work, getting paid, paying bills, and just living life -  that we just expect it to always be that way. But life is...

As we near the end of the year, the season of even more extreme consumer marketing is here. Already we've begun to receive mailers and emails about holiday savings which is the equivalent of holiday spending . RESIST!  The holidays should not be a race to spend all of your hard-earned money. Instead of money, try spending time with with family and friends. Make it about creating special memories together. Skip the lines and instead play games at home, cook and eat together, take pictures, tell jokes. Resist going store to store or shopping online to buy things you don't need or want just because it's on sale. The advertisements will be convincing, persuading, and call for quick action. Do not be fooled by the gimmicks. If you must shop, have a budget and stick to it. Shopping during the holidays isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just be sure to remember to spend wisely. Beware of the holiday marketing. Always manage your money like a boss especially during the ...

Got a big bonus? Bills lower this month leaving you with some extra cash? Money burning a hole in your pocket? Wait just a minute!  As consumers, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements, sales, deals, and ways to spend our money. It's easy to get sucked into the moment and go spend crazy... especially when you have some extra money floating around.  Who doesn't love a great deal? I know I do. What is important is knowing when to buy and when to walk away. Sales come and go (SERIOUSLY), but with many advertisements crying "last chance", "lowest price of the season", and other calls to action, it makes it somewhat hard to resist.  The truth is, no matter how good the deal is, if it's something you did not want/need or wasn't on your infamous wish-list, it's still money unnecessarily spent.  I was once the person who received a coupon and just HAD to use it. I would sometimes force myself to find something to buy just to use the coup...