The Overparenting Trap: 4 Ways To Let Go And Let Your Child Grow

The Overparenting Trap: 4 Ways To Let Go And Let Your Child Grow

by | Sep 20, 2019

Are You An Overprotective Parent? 4 Ways To Let Go And Let Your Child Grow

Good parents want to be involved in their children’s lives, but for years educators and psychologists have been asking the question: How much parental involvement is too much? When does trying to help your children in school, sports, and myriad other ways go too far, hurt their development, and become over-protective?

The explosive college admissions scandal seemed to answer that question. Television actress Felicity Huffman was sentenced to jail for paying $15,000 to influence the boosting of her daughter’s SAT score. Fourteen other parents in the probe have also pleaded guilty.

While most parents don’t cross that legal line, early education expert Christine Kyriakakos Martin says too much parental involvement can be harmful in a variety of ways, sometimes leading to children becoming ill-prepared for the challenges of adulthood.

“The consequences of being an overprotective parent is that your child will lack self-confidence to make decisions and take risks,” says Martin (www.youvegotthisparenting.com), author of You’ve Got This! Keys To Effective Parenting For The Early Years. “They’ll lack the coping skills to get up when they fall down from a bad experience and try again.”

Martin offers four ways for parents to stop being overprotective and promote more strength and independence in their children:

Stop teaching fear. While there are non-negotiables when it comes to teaching your child safety — for example: wearing a helmet when biking, no talking to strangers, no texting when driving — Martin says sometimes parents overprotect when they create too many boundaries, which in turn may teach children to live fearfully. “When you don’t allow them to play outside much, you’re impeding their freedom,” Martin says. “Play develops the imagination and self-confidence. Overprotective parents don’t want their children to fall down, and getting back up and brushing themselves off is a necessary component for healthy growth and development.”

Don’t be their full-time problem-solver.  Martin says many parents want to take care of all of their chidlrens’ problems and make things easier for them. At some point that needs to stop, she says, because adult life is rife with adversity and unforeseen obstacles that we must learn to deal with independently. “Teaching children problem-solving skills encourages them to be independent,” Martin says. “Learning to resolve conflict on their own and work through problems builds resilience and teaches them how to handle adversity.”

Teach responsibility. “If you make their beds and clean their room, you’re doing them a great disservice,” Martin says. “It’s about learning early lessons in responsibility. Doing these things for a prolonged time can debilitate your child and set them up for a lack of life skills as adults. Let your child take on reasonable responsibilities and let them feel a sense of accomplishment.”

Let them branch out. Sometimes parents develop a comfort zone with their child’s pursuits and restrict them when the child wants to expand. “Let your child have some freedom to make some of their own decisions about their interests,” Martin says. “Interests change, and the more varied experiences they have, the better for their ability to make decisions and adapt to different situations.”

“Parents are right to protect their children in a dangerous world,” Martin says. “But having them grow up in a bubble hurts them and their ability to deal with the world as adults. The best thing you can do for your children is to find that balance between protecting them and teaching them to be strong and self-sufficient.”

About Christine Kyriakakos Martin

Christine Kyriakakos Martin (www.youvegotthisparenting.com) is the author of You’ve Got This! Keys To Effective Parenting For The Early Years. An early education expert and consultant, Martin is the founder and owner of Sunshine Preschool in Hopkinton, Mass. She has spoken on child-development topics at national education conventions and colleges.

Reentering the Dating World as a Single Mom

Reentering the Dating World as a Single Mom

by | Sep 6, 2019

Am I ready? Do I really want to go through this again? Do I have the time? Most single moms go through these and a whole other list of questions before they even dip their toes into the dating pool. Dating when you are single and without kids can, at times, be overwhelming, but single parent dating is a whole other story. You are not only choosing a partner for yourself but also someone for your child or children. This makes it that much harder, but not to worry, there are certain steps you can take to make your re-entry into the dating world a bit easier.

Decide what you are looking for

When we have kids, our priorities tend to change substantially. This means that we start looking for some other qualities in men than we did when we were young and single. And it is important that you take your time and make a list of what you need in a future partner.

Be careful though, don’t make one about what you don’t want, that one is easy and tends to preoccupy us a lot more. No, you need to attract someone with a certain set of qualities and that is what you need to focus on.

So, do you want an older or a younger man, do they need to have kids, or would you like someone with whom you can extend your family? These are all important issues to think about.

After all, the values and character traits of your future partner is what you will be bringing home to your kids, and you want them to have a good of a role model as you have been to them so far.

It is time to get back out there

You do want to have someone in your life, someone to rely on, someone who will love you and whom you will love. But you, as many women who have gone through several disappointing relationships and who have children, are afraid of failure and even more so you don’t want to disappoint your children, so there is a tendency to avoid the dating game altogether.

This is never a good option, so just to start you off, you might want to pay a visit to some renowned dating sites. See what is available out there in the dating pool. But make sure to be honest when you create your own profile, state clearly that you have children and how important it is to you to find someone who knows what that means.

Don’t worry, this won’t diminish your chances of finding the right date. On the contrary, you will attract those who are interested in you as a single mom and a hot-blooded woman, not just one or the other. 

After you have seen what is out there in the online world, you might want to check out the real one. Dress up, get a sitter and have a night out with your friends, maybe you’ll get to meet someone new at your local cafe or restaurant.

Finally, don’t say no to being set up. Yes, people might think they know what you want, but once in a while they actually might get it right. And at least a blind date or two will get you out of the house and back into the dating game. 

Don’t get easily discouraged

Wouldn’t it be nice to get that prince charming on the first try? Well, you might get lucky, but you also need to be prepared to kiss a few frogs first. Starting dating again means that you will get to meet a lot of different men, some might be similar to what you are looking for and some the complete opposite. 

However, the most important thing is that you are finally out there, meeting new people, going out and having fun. So, if the first few dates don’t go exactly as you wanted them to, it’s ok, that happens, there is someone out there for you, just don’t get discouraged.

Also, don’t settle if you find only one of his ten jokes funny, and you don’t seem to have that much in common, you can say thank you, next (well, not to his face).

Dating someone just to avoid being alone will prevent you from meeting the person you should be with. So, stay in the game until you find exactly what you are looking for, or until he finds you.

No one said reentering the dating game as a single mom is going to be easy, but hey, you are raising a child alone and there is nothing, and we mean nothing, that can scare you.

That said, take some ‘me’ time, get dressed so that you feel fabulous and get out there, your future Mr. Right might be closer than you think!

 

Single MomPreneur Series – Jennifer Glass Business Consultant

Single MomPreneur Series – Jennifer Glass Business Consultant

by | Aug 2, 2019

Jennifer R Glass is CEO at Business Growth Strategies International, LLC (formerly Credit Cards, NJ). BGSI, through its various divisions – bgsipayments, bgsicoaching, bgsiacademy.com, bgsimarketing & ccnjhost.com – provide a robust and best-in-class solution for business owners looking to grow their business and revenues.

Ms. Glass is frequently asked to speak on numerous stages, including being a three-time top college speaker, the Small Business Development Center – an organization that works with thousands of small businesses each year and presents on topics such as “QUICKLY Get More SALES & REVENUES the EASY Way,” “The 3 Secrets to Getting More Customers,” “Optimize YOUR LinkedIn Profile to Maximize Your Revenues,” “The 9-Point Sales Process to Getting More Revenue,” and her keynote address “Does Success Equate to Happiness?”

Ms. Glass recently co-authored “Reach Your Greatness” with ABC’s “Secret Millionaire,” James Malinchak and has her book, “It’s the Bottom Line That Matters: Quick Tips & Strategies You Can Use Right Now to Grow Your Business in the Next 12-Months” scheduled to come out shortly.

Because of the work Ms. Glass has done over the last 15+ years, she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including ABC, CBS, NBC & Fox, recognized as a leader in business by more than 1,000 organizations, the Small Business Development Center, SCORE, several top global accounting firms, commercial and investment banks and was even named as a top woman in business leader by Acquisition International Magazine among other publications. Ms. Glass is also highly sought after by business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to increase their business via social media and other channels.

Be one of the first 5 people to reach out to Jennifer on social media by August 15, to get 30-Days free access to BGSIStartupAcademy.com (value of $97).

Connect with Jennifer Glass at bgsiacademy.com

21 Radical Back to School Budget, Bully, and Bullet-proofing Tips Busy Parents Can Start Today to Empower Yourself and Your Child Tomorrow

21 Radical Back to School Budget, Bully, and Bullet-proofing Tips Busy Parents Can Start Today to Empower Yourself and Your Child Tomorrow

by | Jul 29, 2019

Can you believe it’s already back to school season? Once we pass Independence Day the back to school shopping advertisements begins. We get into back to school prep mode in anticipation of a new school year. Ironically, in this day and age of bullying, suicide, and random shooters in school hallways, there is much more to prepare your children for than just having the right clothes and supplies. 

Since this is a personal finance blog I will share my back to school budget tips, but I also want to share my radical parenting tips for bullying prevention and bulletproofing your kids. Hopefully, this will prepare you and your child for a financially, emotionally, and physically safe, healthy and happy school year. Grab your coffee or tea (my favorite) and settle in for an eye-opening, yet empowering read.

7 Back to School Budget Shopping Tips

21 Radical Back to School Budget, Bully, and Bullet-proofing Tips Busy Parents Can Start Today to Empower Yourself and Your Child Tomorrow

According to the National Retail Foundation (NRF), “families with children in elementary school through high school plan to spend an average $696.70. That’s up from $684.79 last year.” That is a lot of money on a single income. Fortunately for you, I have seven things that you can do to budget-proof, save money, and cut your spending in half on back to school clothes and supplies. 

Tip 1 – Create A Spending Plan or Budget

When you know what you want to spend for each child you have more control of your money and can make better buying decisions. If you have one child you will probably spend less but if you have more than one, then you definitely need to have a spending plan in place. This plan will hopefully include the clothes that they will be wearing, school supplies, lunches, and any activities they’ll be involved in.

Tip 2 – Buy in Bulk With Others 

Buying in bulk with others will save money because you’re buying large quantities from a warehouse club at a lower price.  You divide the order with everyone who contributed to the purchase. This is great for buying items that you probably never thought of purchasing, and also great for developing a cooperative relationship with other parents that can go on through the rest of the school year. 

Tip 3 – Shop Top Sales

There are going to be plenty of sales but you want to be strategic about the sales you follow. Make sure that you’re only getting things that your child really needs for the school year.  It’s easy to get sucked into buying unnecessary items on a whim because the price is just too good to pass up. Buy supplies for the entire school year on sale and use coupons for additional discounts. 

Tip 4 – Create A Uniform or Capsule Wardrobe To Save Money

This might sound new and different but it can be a money and time saver, especially if your child is not going to a private school or school that requires uniforms. Clothing can be very expensive and even though our kids want to be the most fashionable and wear the latest styles, creating a uniform, or capsule wardrobe will definitely save you money. Create your own uniform with jeans or khaki pants and different color shirts for each day of the week. Use accessories for girls to mix things up or create a unique look.

Creating a capsule wardrobe or uniform that you can mix and match keeps you from spending crazy amounts of money on clothing for the school year. The added benefit is your kids, always know that they never have to wonder about what they will wear to school each day. It’s also important to know what your child wears daily should the unthinkable happen. 

Tip 5 – Shop Consignment and Thrift Stores for Gently Used Designer Clothes
If your child wants and craves designer clothes because they are fashionistas, you’ll want to help them find quality clothes, without the sticker shock. Head to a consignment shop like Plato’s Closet and look for designer clothing in their size and fits their taste. You can also find gently used clothes at thrift stores. Often there are tags still on the clothes. If you go on specific days you might even get up to 75% off the already discounted price! 

Tip 6 – Say No to Excessive Requests 

Fundraisers – During the school year, especially the beginning of the school year, there are fundraisers for everything. The PTA is always putting on fundraisers, the school has their fundraisers, the band or sports clubs have fundraisers as well. Every time you look up someone is asking for more money. Decide at the beginning of the school year how much you plan to contribute to a fundraiser. Making this decision early will save your budget and sanity.

Teacher Requests – Another type of excessive requests are classroom supplies. Teachers, with the help of the school, should be providing the cleaning supplies, tissues, hand sanitizer, etc. for the classroom. But somehow the parents have been made responsible for buying these items for the entire class. If this request will bust your budget, you can say no and tell them that you are not willing or not able to provide extra supplies for the entire classroom. It is too much for you and your budget. It’s okay to say no. 

Tip 7- Choose 1-2 Extra Curricular Activities For The Year

Your child does not have to be in every club or every activity that’s available during the school year. You can decide at the beginning of the school year that your child will only be involved in one or two activities. Setting limits will cut down on the amount of money you have to spend on uniforms, equipment, instruments, and supplies outside of what you already spend for the regular school year.

So there you have your back to school budget tips and tools to make sure you both have a financially safe, healthy and happy school year. 

7 Bully-Proofing Tips to Empower Your Child

back to school bully prevention and proofing | richsinglemomma.com

Now let’s move on to bully-proofing and prevention. Bullying is a very important topic that has been spotlighted in the media and for good reason. I’ve had to deal with bullying as a parent and when I was a child. I equipped my kids as best as I knew how to deal with bullies at school. Statistically, 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month, according to StopBullying.gov. As a parent, you want to prevent bullying as much as possible for you and your child to feel emotionally safe, healthy and happy school year.

Here’s how to create a bullying proofing or prevention plan. 

Tip 1 – Set Expectations With The School And Your Child At The Beginning Of The Year 

You want to let the staff and faculty know that if there are any incidences of bullying, you will report it to the police and that you expect there be full repercussions to anyone, teacher or child, who attempts to harm or bully your child. Set expectations ahead of time so that everyone knows, including teachers, faculty, as well as the principal and staff that your child will not be a bullying target. In PTA meetings, make a declarative statement to all parents present that bullying is not going to be tolerated. Let everyone know you have a contingency plan for it, and that you expect that everyone will be in cooperation and speaking with their children about bullying and preventing it.

Tip 2 – Teach Your Child Verbal Self Defense 

Bullying activity usually starts with words. If you teach your child verbal self-defense, you can equip and empower them to diffuse difficult situations.

Verbal self-defense is using one’s words to prevent, de-escalate, or end an attempted assault. (Wikipedia). If they’re being bullied or a hateful person is spreading rumors/ lies or is verbally abusive, teach your child how to stand up to the perpetrator. Teach them how to look the bully in the eye and let them know that you will not be bullied or listen to the abuse, and walk away.

There are other things that you can teach them about verbal self-defense. Practice saying something like, “Oh that’s all you got?” or “Is that right? Let’s settle this right now!” Once you teach your child to confidently give a rebuttal, then you and they will feel more confident moving forward in the school year. There is no guarantee they won’t be bullied, but it will help them see that they have an option to respond in a way that’s empowering for them.

Tip 3 – Teach Physical Self Defense

If you’re able to put your child into a self-defense class, then do that, whether it’s karate Taekwondo or boxing. You want to give your child a sense of empowerment to defend themselves in case someone decides to physically hurt your child. 

Tip 4 – Agree on Limited Social Media During the School Year

Limiting social media during the school year is a very important tactic because this is where a lot of bullying starts online which turns into cyber-bullying. You want your child to understand that social media will be limited or off limits during the school year because they need to focus on their schoolwork. Involvement with peers is important, but not to the point of it hindering their studies. It also sets a precedent for letting their friends know what’s more important. You are proving that knowledge is power.

Tip 5 – Create a No Social Media Policy 

Implementing a no social media policy is a way to ensure good mental health and focus. Explain to your child that the academic plan you’ve created for the school year will go off the rails if social media is distracting them. It cannot help them advance in their goals or help them stay on course for their projects, their homework, their applications to different organizations and or colleges. Social media is not a priority. It has to go on the back burner until all academic goals are met. In essence, eliminating social media can eliminate opportunities for bullying.

Tip 6 – Create an Open Door Policy/No Judgment Zone to Discuss Peer Issues 

An open-door policy is very important because you don’t want your child to hide the fact that they are dealing with harsh situations, whether it’s bullying or cyberbullying. You want them to be able to come to you so you know what’s happening and how to help them deal with it. They may not want you to get involved, but you can be a coach for them to help them deal with the situation.

Tip 7 – Build Their Sense of Value and Self Worth 

Building their self-esteem and helping them understand their value will build their confidence. They’ll be able to let peer pressure and bullying, as long as it’s not physical, slide off their back and not be emotionally affected by it. Building up their self-esteem is crucial because with high self-esteem they know another person’s opinion has nothing to do with their success or failure. It is simply a character issue with the person who is being the bully.

Note: In order to build self-confidence in your child, you have to have self-confidence and have a sense of value for yourself. Parents who are confident usually raise confident children, so you must build up your own confidence. You have to deal with bullying issues you faced when you were in school and not live vicariously through your child. You don’t want your child to be defenseless or hopeless, because you felt defenseless and hopeless. You need to build up your own self-esteem, your sense of self-worth and cultivate that in your child.

7 Radical Bulletproofing Tips to Empower Your Child

back to school safety to empower parents and students | richsingleomma.com

Finally, let’s discuss bullet-proofing your child. We live in a society where, unfortunately, school shootings are regularly occurring. In 2018, there were 82 school shootings, the highest on record, according to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). These acts of local terrorism have become a part of our culture. Despite the fear and hopelessness around school shootings, It’s important to believe that you can bulletproof your child and to know that it doesn’t require you getting a gun. It also doesn’t require you to stand guard outside of the school every single day. Fortunately, there are things you can do that will keep your child safe and give you a sense of peace.

Tip 1 – Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Start with affirmations to cultivate a positive mindset. Why? Because your mindset and your attitude will determine how your child feels about going to school, and about how to deal with different incidences that happen at school. Having a positive mindset will set them up for a positive day, and positive life. Negative energy will draw more negative energy, which will keep your child in a state of fear. You don’t want them to be frightened of everything but want them to have a safe, healthy, happy existence at school. Cultivate a positive mental attitude.

Tip 2 – Pray for Your Child

Even though prayer has been taken out of school, there is nothing stopping you from praying for and with your child at home. You want to pray and bless your children before they leave, and when they return from school. We were created by the Creator, the source of all life, who is the ultimate protector. Give the Creator control and the opportunity to protect your child.

While you are praying for your child, pray for and bless the school and employees. Pray for the building and for everyone that comes in and out of the building. Pray for a wall of protection around the school, so that no perpetrators can enter the school with any ill intent. Your prayers have power. What is even more powerful is praying with other parents with children going to the same school. Your combined prayers are a powerful force against evil.

Tip 3 – Decide and Affirm That Your Child Has a Safe and Successful School Year 

You can do this before school even starts. You can start saying this right now and begin making the affirmations over your child’s life, every single day. Do this in a thankful way, not in a begging way. There’s a difference. You are trusting that God, the universe, the Source of all life has your child’s best interest at heart and they have sent the angels of protection around them, to keep them safe. You have to pray this over your child because you are their parent and you are the one that has a vested interest in them living a safe, whole, successful life.

Tip 4 – Create an Emergency Plan

You are praying for and blessing your children, but we also want to take action and create an emergency plan. If anything does happen at the school, you’re able to contact your child, you’re able to contact the school, and you have a safe word or a safe place they will go. You also want to make sure that you are staying calm during any emergency situation so that you can make your child feel calm as well. Department of Homeland Security computer forensics expert, Kevin Tillman, suggests parental apps that monitor communications are a great tool to have in your arsenal. Some apps are free and others have a cost. He also says having parents on speed dial is critical. 

Tip 5 – Teach Them to Pray For Themselves and Their Peers

School prayer has been banned but you can still teach your child to pray on their own in school. And it doesn’t have to be a group or school-mandated activity, but they can pray, while they’re in class. You can teach them how to pray prayers of protection to keep themselves safe. You can teach them positive affirmations and help them cultivate a positive mindset. They will be a source of light and positive energy to children around them.

Just think, if every parent who’s reading this article will teach their children how to pray, then prayer will be back into schools. It won’t be a mandatory thing that the school determines and dictates, but it is simply what each individual has a right to do. Think how much safer the school will be, because there are individuals inside the school praying every day. Every day and pretty much all day the school is protected by the prayers that started at home then filled the school because the kids start praying before tests, for their friends, and for themselves. 

Tip 6 – Teach Them the Stay Low, Don’t Be a Hero Method 

If anything happens at the school, your child needs to know that they should stay low and don’t be a hero. They should basically make themselves invisible, and run away if possible. When they have this in mind, they will likely be safer. Teach them to follow the stay low, don’t be a hero methodology, and you’ll likely see your child safely at home. “Parents should also be aware and familiar with any active shooter training the school provides”, says Tillman. This will help them know the school’s procedure if such an incident occurs. 

Tip 7 – Adopt an Arrive Alive Visualization Practice 

See you children coming home safe and happy every single day. When you are able to see yourself greeting their child at home and see them safe and happy, you are creating this reality. You’ve just adopted an arrive alive visualization. Know and trust that you and your children will always arrive home safe every single day. I’ve done this regularly through the years with my children and they’ve come home safely every day so far. Release any thoughts of tragedy or pain coming to your children. Speak goodness, peace, and health over their lives daily. Remain in a good mental place and keep a positive mental attitude every moment of the day to see positive things happen for your children.

Next Steps

We’ve discussed budget-proofing, we discussed bully-proofing, and we discuss bullet-proofing your child for the upcoming school year. All of these strategies are within your power as a parent to enforce and complete. I hope that as you go forward through this new school year that you will have both a safe, healthy, and happy school year for you and your children.

Back to School Safety Parental Resources

Spyzie – A mobile phone monitoring and tracking app. Monitor your kids’ phone activity to make sure you know they are safe online. Also, track where they are at all times which is especially important if there is an incident at school. Available for both Android and IOS.

Qustodio – A parental control software to monitor your child’s activity online and on the go. Block numbers, websites, and see who they are talking to on the phone and online. Available for Windows, Android, IOS, and Kindle.

Back to School Budget, Bully, and Bullet-Proofing Checklist – To help you remember these back to school action items I’ve created a checklistyou can download for free with the coupon code: SAFEKIDS.

Click here to get your checklist now.

 

 

 

 

 

Back to school budget tips | richsinglemomma.com .7 Bully -proofing and prevention tips to empower your child for back to school | richsinglemomma.com  

 

 

 

 

 

6 Ways to Live a Life of Luxury

6 Ways to Live a Life of Luxury

by | Jun 12, 2019

A life of luxury comes in all different forms. For some, it might mean having the biggest house on the block or the most exclusive credit card in their wallet, and for others, a life of luxury might be more measured by the friends and family in their circle. No matter your definition of luxury, there are ways to add richness to your life regardless of the amount of money in your wallet.

Spending time with loved ones and continuously working on bettering yourself are just a few things that can make you feel like a million bucks, no matter what your current financial status is. Here are five ways to live a luxurious life without spending any money.

1. Budget Time With Your Family

Life is busy, and it can be easy to fall into a routine of early mornings and late hours with limited time in between. While it’s often easier said than done, make room to budget time in your schedule to spend with the ones you love most. Recognizing the love and support that you are surrounded by every day can be one of the most luxurious components of your life. Money might come and go, but the memories you make with your family will last a lifetime. The things you do in life means more when you are doing them with the ones you love.

2. You’re Worth More Than Your Bank Account

A number does not define you or anyone around you. I’m not at all suggesting that money isn’t a necessity in life, but it’s important to realize that the things you currently possess are worth more than anything. Let your life be defined by your contributions to your community, the positive impact that you have on those around you and the little things that make you extremely happy – and do more of those things.

3. Strive for Happiness

Take a step back and look at everything around you. Think about what truly makes you happy, and what, if anything, you’d like to change or cut back on. Life is a journey and part of that journey is making adjustments along the way to incorporate more of what brings you the most joy. Just remember that happiness will have a different meaning for everyone, so try to avoid comparing yours to the people around you. Whether you’ve been wanting to take on a new hobby, fuel your passion through a side hustle or even make a career change, I hope you’ll feel empowered to go after the things that drive happiness for you.

4. Prioritize Health

Health is one of the most important forms of wealth. Good health allows us to be physically and mentally able to set out to achieve our goals. When our schedules get full our health typically falls to the end of our priority list. A big part of living a luxurious life means feeling it too. Prioritize going to the gym, the doctor or even yoga classes if that’s what it takes for you to personally feel good. Perhaps even a morning run can give you the energy you need to kickstart your day and take on the world.

5. Plan

Having clear goals to work toward can help eliminate the feeling of uncertainty about your future. While no plan has to be set in stone, the one you create can help guide any tough decisions you might encounter in the future. Creating a plan can offer more insight into what’s really important to you, and you might even find that you have most of those things already. Part of luxurious living is having a rich mindset to go along with your everyday lifestyle.

6. Be a Go-Getter

It’s very unlikely that the things you want most in life will be handed to you – that’s what makes life fun!  I believe happiness is the biggest luxury in life. No matter what you do or what you want most in life, be a go-getter and be proud of your achievements.

Rachel Dix-Kessler, Bio

Rachel Dix-Kessler is the Consumer Advocate of personal finance comparison website, finder.com. In her role of Consumer Advocate, she analyzes and reports on the spending and savings habits of Americans. Rachel is passionate about studying financial trends in order to provide actionable advice that encourages more people to talk about, and understand, their own personal finances.