How to Reach Your Financial Goals: Write Them Down

How to Reach Your Financial Goals: Write Them Down

by | Jan 29, 2013

Goals are an important part of life. It helps keep us on a path of success, and it helps us realize what is most important to us. When it comes to finances, having goals are key to keeping it in check and balance. A good way to do this is to write about your financial goals. Following these steps below will ensure that you reach your financial goals.

The first step is to write down your financial goals. It is the ideal way to watch them become reality.

The second step is to make your goals specific. It may be about your salary, debt, saving, anything. The next step is to keep your list of goals somewhere visible so that you can be reminded of your endpoint and stay focused. An alternative to this is to keep it hidden and check up on it ever so often. After you have created your list of goals, the fourth step is to formulate a simple plan on how to reach them. The last step is to make a time frame for your goals and stick to it.

The next step is to keep your list of goals somewhere visible so that you can be reminded of your endpoint and stay focused. An alternative to this is to keep it hidden and check up on it ever so often. After you have created your list of goals, the fourth step is to formulate a simple plan on how to reach them. The last step is to make a time frame for your goals and stick to it.

The last step is to make a time frame for your goals and stick to it.

Sometimes you can get off track of reaching your goals and can deter you from continuing. Your goals do not have to be related to finances; writing out your goals is still a very good way to keep your life in check and balance.

How to Get Whatever You Want: Barter

How to Get Whatever You Want: Barter

by | Jan 22, 2013

To get what you want, sometimes it costs money. But other times money is non-existent or limited. Sometimes we deserve to get something we want or have earned. Being creative can be a helpful tool to obtain what you have been yearning for. Follow these following steps to get yourself on the creative path!

The first step towards your creative path is to look past money and to release negative thoughts and tension. When you relax about whatever money crunch you are in, it allows you to think clearly.

The next step is to get creative and discover other ways to get what you want, especially without using your money. Sometimes bartering can be a useful tool in getting what you want. It was, after all, the first form of exchange for goods and items centuries ago. This brings us to step number three, which is to barter with people, moms, businesses, and etc to get what you want. Bartering is still practiced, and at times, it can be a preferred form of payment. Step four is to open up your creative mind and

This brings us to step number three, which is to barter with people, moms, businesses, and etc to get what you want. Bartering is still practiced, and at times, it can be a preferred form of payment.

Step four is to open up your creative mind and eyes and think of ways to get what you want without being trapped in the “not enough money” syndrome.

True needs are the bare essentials for existence like food and shelter, but sometimes obtaining these essentials is hard without enough money. Sometimes to get something you have to give something, which in the end allows everybody to win. Just like in the previous articles, giving something away can come back tenfold.

Reality Check Friday – No I’m Not the Maid! I’m Your Mother!

Reality Check Friday – No I’m Not the Maid! I’m Your Mother!

by | Jan 18, 2013

Maid Maid Buy This at Allposters.com

 

I’m trying out a new segment. It’s all about keeping it real for myself and for my readers.

The reality is, I am not a maid. I don’t want to be a maid. I was not created to wait on anyone, much less my children, hand and foot.

You are a Mother, Life Coach, and Motivator…not a Maid

I believe I am here to be a life coach for my kids.

  • I coach them about the realities (and beauty) in life.
  • I teach them how to live and survive on their own.

Part of that means they have to learn how to clean up after themselves, learn how to cook, do their own laundry, learn how to shop, choose their own clothes, etc.

Stop Feeling Guilty and Trying to Do it All

I see too many moms, especially single moms feeling guilty because they don’t have the energy to do everything for their families and be perfect.

A long time ago I felt the same way and it nearly drove me crazy. But I had a reality check and adopted the mindset that I was not the maid, but I am the

  • CEO
  • Household Manager
  • Queen of my home

Be the CEO and Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

I learned to delegate age-appropriate tasks to the kids and do the things they couldn’t possibly do like cook at least three meals a week (nope, I don’t cook everyday) and drive to places we wanted to go.

Because I didn’t shoo my kids away when I cooked they learned how to prepare simple meals for themselves or the family. Years ago this is how kids learned, side-by-side with their parents. It’s how I learned.

The Benefits of Being the Queen Bee and Training Them Well

Now my kids cook and serve me meals to give me a break sometimes. I love it when my son asks me if I want something to eat or drink and he brings me a plate or cool glass of juice. He loves doing it for me and I praise him in return. He will make some woman very happy one day.

So take a page from my book of reality ladies. Stop killing yourself by slaving away from morning to night. Trash the maid mentality and assume the Household Manager mindset. The kids are your household helpers and will be thankful that you taught them how to survive and thrive once they leave your nest.

Now go sit down somewhere and have a great weekend!

Do You Have a Big Dream? What Can You Do to Make it Come True? Lessons from MLK, Jr.

Do You Have a Big Dream? What Can You Do to Make it Come True? Lessons from MLK, Jr.

by | Jan 15, 2013

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. He was a man with a dream to bring people of all races together here in the United States. His famous, I Have a Dream speech has been the inspiration for me and so many others to dream big and never give up even if it means sacrificing your very life.

Do you have a big dream? What would you do to make it come true? Is it worth the sacrifice?

Last year I showed you a few of my dreams with pictures from my vision board on Facebook. A few of you created your own or said you wanted to create one. Did you do it? How did things turn out for you?

A couple of days ago I created a new vision board for the year. I like it much better because it is more focused. I decided I would just include three things I want to see happen in my life. Narrowing things down made it much easier to find pictures and words to include. My board is smaller than last year’s too so it’s easy to move if I need to.

Here is a picture of my vision board. I also took close ups so you can see my sections. There are some 3-D elements to it as well. My daughter loves when I do my board that way, LOL!

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I hung it up near my bed so I see it each morning. It’s important for me to hold the vision I have for my life so seeing it each morning when I wake up and each night when I go to bed helps me stay focused.

Click an image to see it up close then leave a comment to tell me about your dreams, goals, or vision board.

 

Here is the entire I Have a Dream Speech to watch. I hope it inspires you to dream bigger today.

Reader Stories: What to Do When You Are a Struggling Single Mom?

Reader Stories: What to Do When You Are a Struggling Single Mom?

by | Jan 14, 2013

Sometimes the words single mom and struggle seems to mean the same thing. It’s hard to say one without thinking about the other. Everyday I read/hear about single moms who are struggling to make ends meet. I have been there and know how hard it is to look my kids in the face, knowing there is no money in the bank, no food in the cabinets, and no gas in the car. I know what it’s like to have the lights turned off and bill collectors calling. You may be facing this now, so I really want you to read the story below. A single mom sent this powerful testimony to me and wanted me to share it with you. What do you do when you are a struggling single mom? Pray…

God’s hand on a single mother…Karen’s Story

I will never forget Saturday morning January 12, 2013. I woke up with no money in my pocket, my bank accounts were negative and my fridge was so empty you could hear the echo if I stuck my head in it. I was on day 6 of reading my bible for 90 days and could feel the strength of God on the inside of me growing but the outside seemed hopeless.

I decided months ago that just paying my tithe every pay period wasn’t cutting it so I signed up for a program at my church called “Money Wise”. A part of this program is to have you meet up with the director so she can ask you some questions and pray to see which one of the many volunteer counselors she would be able to match you up with.

Well this Saturday my counselor was coming to meet me to discuss my finances which were just a mess. We sat down for 2 hours as I displayed the part of the bible that says “ my people perish for a lack of knowledge” because I didn’t know anything. All I knew was that I was in so much debt all built from being a single mother and not trusting God . You see, I was a survivor and never living or experiencing God as my Jehovah Jirah but today that was about to change.

That morning I woke up and prompted by a vision I went downstairs to explain to my children how the money I made came in and out of the house by demonstrating with monopoly money. They seemed to understand so we moved on to have some family time when my daughter said, “mommy what’s for breakfast?” I literally had nothing but a can of corn. Thank God she loves corn because that day that is what she ate a can of buttered corn, while me and my oldest ate nothing and my two youngest went to ask one of their friends for a package of noodles.

I told my kids that I was not being a good manager over the 90% that God was letting me keep and that the bible says if you’re not a good manager of the little, even the little would be taken. So I told them from this day they had one of two choices either get on the bandwagon with me to serve God by surrendering or get out. By their silence I believe everyone chose to get on the bandwagon with me. My oldest son said a simple prayer, “ God we don’t have anything, we need something, take care of us. Thank you. Amen. We continued on our day reading the bible, praying and just praising God we had forgot that we didn’t have dinner that night.

As I said earlier my counselor was coming over to discuss money management. She showed up and for 2 hours we discussed, planned, budgeted, set goals and I repented for my lack of knowledge, faith and no seeing God as my source. As we finished praying and my counselor was about to leave, she said to me, “We don’t normally do this but I am feeling led by the Lord to ask you how much gas do you have in your car? I said it is on “E” only enough to make it to the highway to pull over and wait for the local roadside assistance to give me a gallon of gas.

She said, “follow me”, and we went to the gas station where she put gas in my car. She then proceeded to tell me to follow her to the store and there she made me go up and down every aisle picking up the things I needed and wanted in multiples of two. By the time we got to the register I had two carts full of groceries!!!!! God is good but he didn’t stop there…

KarenBlessing1  KarenBlessing3

I went home, put those bags on the table, and me and my children took a moment and said, “Thank you God”. I asked each one of my children how they felt and one by one they expressed how amazing it was to see God’s hand move first hand. We had tacos and pizza that night and the only reason we had pizza was because it wouldn’t fit in our fridge.

Sunday came and we did our normal routine went to church, volunteered, and enjoyed the day as a family when I received a call from my counselor again asking me to meet her at a nearby Starbucks. Once I got there she handed me an orange envelope with my name on the front of it inside of the envelope was 200.00 of gas cards and 200.00 of groceries cards… Are you serious God!!! Ephesians 3:20 says God will do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ever think of or ever ask. And God still was not finished.

KarenBlessing1On the outside of the envelope were the words “electric”, “water”, and “lease”. It meant that I would not have to worry about my electric bill that was behind a month, my water bill that was behind a month and my rent for next month would be paid as well.

God is good!! Awesome, amazing and he loves us. Here I am a single mother of 5 children, 4 that actually are home with me, one income that is being garnished at 35% for an upside down car note because I had to buy from a “buy here ,pay here” place. I had to just throw my hands up and say God I surrender. The moment I did God said, “thank you for moving out of my position”, and did the unthinkable.

I don’t know where you are as a single mother but I know it can be frustrating and embarrassing at times but trust me God wants to do things for us if we would only surrender and let him. It was so hard for me to throw up my hands up, but I am so thankful that I finally did and thank God because that was my last can of corn.

I am excited to finish in my journey of the money wise program to see how God is going to move on all of these debts and my one crave that I am asking God for daily is to get rid of this horrible car note that I got myself in to do the unthinkable again and have this $10,963.45 balance removed from my life.

Thank you God for looking down on a single mother and being faithful!!

Do you believe in the power of prayer? How has it helped you during the times you struggled the most? Talk about it in the comments below. 

Have you experienced miracles and blessings like Karen’s? Click here to share your story

How to Make 2013 the Year of Living Fabulously

How to Make 2013 the Year of Living Fabulously

by | Jan 10, 2013

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Making 2013 the year of living fabulously does not require jumping through hoops. Personally I hate jumping through hoops, walking on eggshells, or any other kind of extreme, anxiety-producing acrobats. Making this year phenomenal is about setting simple goals (no more than 3 please) and doing something each day to make it happen.

So here are a few steps, plus an example of what I did to set myself up to have a fearless and fabulous year.

How to Create a Fearless and Fabulous Year

Step 1 – remember, write, give thanks for 2012’s accomplishments, breakthroughs, and successes

Step 2 – think about, write down, give thanks for what you will try, achieve, and succeed in 2013

Step 3 – get a guide or partner to cheer you on through each goal

Step 4 – do it and document each accomplishment, success, and breakthrough

Example from the Pages of my Journal:

Step 1 – I am thankful for writing my book, No More Crumbs. It was a combination success and breakthrough for me. I’m thankful I’ve lived my goal for the year which was love and liberation. I learned what it means to truly love and live in freedom. I’m in the process of reconciling past relationships even though the process was painful.

Step 2 – I’m thankful for the wonderful cruise, cross country trip, and world travel my kids and I will take. I’m thankful for all the people I will help in my coaching programs. I’m thankful for the classes I will teach to help people succeed. I’m thankful for completing my certification course. I’m thankful the love of my life will manifest.

Step 3 – My guide is willing and available to me. I will get a coach to cheer me on and check in twice a month. I will start or join a mastermind group to keep me accountable.

Step 4 – I will do it and document it on my blog and in my journal.

Now it’s Your Turn

You can outline your year of living fabulously the way I did or in a different way. Some ideas include:

  • Making a list
  • Creating a vision board
  • Journaling

However you decide to do it, make it something you will enjoy and follow through with.

Are you ready to declare 2013 as your year of living fearlessly and fabulously? Want to chat with me online for a free planning session? Leave a comment below and let me know the best day and time for you.

During the planning session I will take you step by step through the process again and answer your questions. Bring your question, a pen , and paper. I will also be available to be your cheerleader through the year to keep you motivated so you can live fabulously all year long!