10 Ways to Make Yourself Save More Money

Saving money can be difficult as you’re usually putting money away for an intangible item, out of sight out of mind problem, for a future occurrence that may never happen. Maybe you make a general statement such as I’m going to start saving because it’s important. This is not motivating enough to consistently save money. You may save for a week or two, but then you’re going to fall off.  Ask yourself: Why is it important? What exactly are you saving the money to buy? Here are a few more ways to make you save more money.

1) Write down your goals (previous post about resolutions and goal setting). In order to achieve something you first have to state what it is. The goal should also be specific and measurably. You should know exactly when you have successfully reached the goal, give it a dollar amount and deadline.

2) Create a visual reminder of your goals. Out of sight, out of mind is a big factor. You’re more likely to spend and not save if you can’t remember why you should be saving, especially when the impulse to buy a want occurs. Create something visual to hang on your wall, place as a screen saver, etc.

3) Break your savings goals into daily or weekly amounts to make it more manageable in your mind and so you know exactly what to aim for every day or week. For example if you want to save $6,000 for the year, then you know you need to save $500 each month, $125 each week, or $17.85 each day. If you’re saving up $1,000 for a trip coming up in 5 months, then you know you need to save $200 each month, $50 each week, or $7.14 each day.

4) Wait and come back. When you want to buy an item, wait for at least a week, come up with reasons as to why you need it, not want but need it. If you can’t think of any reasons then leave it. If the item will no longer be available in a week, then wait at least 24 hours. You’ll be amazed how this simple trick will get you to decrease unnecessary spending.

5) Shop your closets. I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I clean a closet or cupboard I find things that I’d completely forgotten existed. There may be things in your home suffering the same fate. What’s in the back of your closet? Check the clothes closet, hall closet, pantry etc. What forgotten items may be in there? How can you re-purpose them for the new season or a new use?

6) Get a bottle for loose change. When you buy something, put the loose change in a bottle (aka piggy bank for adults), or just get a piggy bank and have fun with it. Once your bottle is filled, wrap the coins in the appropriate wrappers and take them to the bank. It’s better to take them to a bank where you have an account as you can deposit the money in savings right then and there.

7) Only charge items you can pay off in full before the end of the month. Don’t carry a balance on your credit card and you’ll save all the money you would have paid in savings. You’ll also maintain a good credit card history and credit score while not increasing your debt.

8) Make a realistic not extremely frugal budget. One of the top reasons a person doesn’t stick to a budget is the budget isn’t realistic. The budget is so limiting, there are no rewards or real entertainment factored into it. No one and I mean no one can stick to a budget like that one and if you can’t stick to the budget then you’ll overspend. Make sure the budget is frugal so you’re getting the most out of your money and moving towards your financial goals, but don’t make it so restrictive that you can’t enjoy yourself a bit. You won’t overspend and you’ll save money.

9) Calculate how long you have to work to afford the item. Every item you buy you can figure out how much time you have to work to be able to afford it. For example, if you’re buying a jacket that is $200 and you make $20 per hour, you worked for 10 hours in order to get the money to purchase the jacket. Is it really worth 10 hours of work? Do you feel comfortable trading 10 hours of your time for the jacket? Do this before making a purchase and you might just decide the item isn’t worth it.

10) Delete your saved card information on the shopping sites. Major shopping sites will allow you to create an account and save your payment information. This is offered as a gesture in convenience for the shopper. If you have an account you don’t have to take out your card and spend time entering the information. Or looking at it from their view, you won’t spend time thinking about the purchase and potentially deciding that you really don’t need the item. Convenience can and does lead to more spending. Delete the information, take the time and save more money.

What are your biggest obstacles to saving money and how do you overcome them?

Want to learn more about creating your own wealth check out Financial Blueprint for Quitting Corporate.

About the Author: Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. Maria is the founder of Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life. Dr. James is our resident Money Scientist.

23 Ways to Make Money: Side Hustles

Sometimes you need to supplement your income; you need ways to make money on the side apart from your regular job. Other times you may have gotten furloughed (as so many people have recently with the government shutdown) or laid-off and need to make money to stay afloat until you get back to work. Enter the side hustle. Strap on your entrepreneurial hat and gloves and get to work on different ways to make money. I’ve listed twenty-three below to help you get started.

1) Online merchant. Sell items online at places like Amazon, Ebay, etc. You can sell things you don’t use that are already around your house. Those boots you’ve only worn once that hurt your feet, sell them. The tennis rackets that were only used a few times before being put in a corner to collect dust, sell them. If you have collector’s items of toys, games etc. consider selling a piece or two. If you bought a toy for $5 and it can now sell for $200 online, that’s a nice return on investment and supplemental income.

2) Self-published author. Have you already written a collection of short stories or a collection of poems? Put them together and read it through to make sure there is flow or ask a person you trust to proofread it. Once you’re satisfied, self publish it. Put your new work in the proper format for the site on which you plan to sell it, and give it a reasonable price. This will bring in some passive income, a nice way to make money that won’t require constant work.

3) Freelance writer or editor. If you already have a great knowledge base in your industry you can write about it for others. There are writers and editors for every subject or industry. You can put the word out that you’re available, charge a low introductory price to get feedback and testimonials from the first few jobs to build more credibility. You can also sign-up on sites like elance.com and fiverr.com to promote your services and get clients.

4) Barber or stylist. Styling hair is a great way to make money. If you already have clippers and regularly cut the hair of siblings, friends, or your children then you may be able to expand and make a little money. Let your current “nonpaying customers” know you are looking to expand and what your price point is. You’ll already have positive word of mouth recommendations.

5) Babysitter. I often see ads or hear people asking about babysitters. If you have the patience and the knowledge to watch children then this may be a nice side hustle for you. Determine if you need any certifications to give yourself an extra boost or credibility. Research the going rate so you can be competitive.

6) Dog walker. People love their pets and some would spend all day with their four-legged friend if they could, but they need to go to work. They would love it if you could pop in and take their friend for a walk.

7) Pet sitter or house sitter. Has a friend or relative ever asked you to watch their house or go over and feed their cat? Well this is also an avenue for a side hustle or a way to make money. You could become a freelance pet or house sitter. People will pay for peace of mind and to make sure furry or feathered friends stay in good health.

8) Personal assistant. Busy executives and professionals may need an assistant outside of work to assist with everyday errands such as picking up drying cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. If you don’t mind running around a bit this may be a great way to bring in side income. Some people use the term gopher, but I like the term personal assistant. I’ve seen some charge about $50 per hour for these services. Now just starting, I don’t suggest this pricing until you’ve gained positive referrals and recommendations.

9) Personal shopper. Some people just don’t have time to go shopping. You can do it for them; yes they will pay you for it. Say they need a great outfit for the important meeting or office party, they’ll let you know what they’re looking for and you have to hunt it down. So if shopping is something that you like to do then try this out.

10) Seamstress or quilter. If you’re good with a needle, you can make some money. If you sew, crochet or knit you can sell your creations on sites like Etsy.com where people buy homemade items such as hats, blankets, scarves, gloves, doilies etc. If you sew particularly well you could also tailor clothes for individuals.

11) Scheduler. Busy people who aren’t great with organization or just feel they don’t have the time will pay you to create their schedules. If you’re familiar with programs like Google calendar or Outlook, you can try this side hustle. I’ve seen many ads on craigslist for this.

12) Tutor. People are always looking for others who have mastered a subject to tutor themselves or their children. If there is a subject in which you have higher than average knowledge you can tutor in that subject. The most common subjects are math, science, English and test prep (SAT, GRE, MCAT). However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of opportunities for other subjects like foreign languages.

13) House cleaner. If you don’t mind scrubbing and using a little elbow grease then you can try house cleaning. House cleaners or housekeepers are still quite common. Do the same mentioned above to gain credibility and get the word out.

14)  Lawn care specialist. Cutting grass and hedges around the house is often outsourced to others. So if you know what you’re doing and have the tools then this may be an option. You could also do things like rake, bag and haul leaves. Clean out gutters etc.

15) Photographer. Already have the equipment and have taken pictures at friends’ events for free? You could start making money here. Turn your hobby into a moneymaker. This is definitely for the person who is already doing photography as a hobby and has the necessary equipment and skill. I do not suggest offering to take pictures at someone’s special event without some experience.

20) Clinical trial subject. You can sign-up for clinical trials that are offering compensation for participation. The description will tell you what is expected of you and the time commitment that is required, usually the longer the commitment the higher the compensation.

21) Workout coach or personal trainer. If you’re really into fitness and health and offer advice to friends and family anyway, you can begin to get paid for this also. Many individuals who are ready to get started working out, want an accountability partner who knows what he/she is doing…and yes they’ll pay you for it.

22) IT troubleshooter. Technology is very important in our daily lives. When it works awesome, when it doesn’t …well you know. So if you’re technologically savvy and know how to fix most problems or problems tied to a specific device or machine then people will definitely pay you to help them.

23) Landlord. If you have an extra bedroom or a part of your house than can be used as a mini apartment, then rent it out. Renting out rooms can bring you in an extra couple hundred a month. Be careful and make sure to check backgrounds and other items to maintain your safety.

A few notes:

As you may have noticed there is a running theme throughout this article. If you have a hobby or a passion that you’re already involved in, you have the knowledge necessary to make money from it. Be creative and think outside the box. Start with an introductory rate and get great recommendations and testimonials.

For every site mentioned check the rules and fees to make sure that it is a lucrative option for you. For each side hustle, do your research so you’ll know exactly what it entails (advantages and disadvantages), how to get started, how you can be competitive and will know what you need for credibility. You can also look up companies that are already hiring freelancers and sign up with them.

Prepare to pay taxes on your side hustle. Fill out a 1099 estimated income tax form to state how much money you’ve earned from your side hustle. Unfortunately or fortunately (depends on how you look at it) the government wants to get paid too.

Do you have a side hustle? What is it and how did you get started? I would love to hear from you.

About the author: Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. Maria is the founder of Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life. Dr. James is our resident Money Scientist.

Is Your Money Prepared for the New Season?

Summer is coming to a close. Every year you prepare yourself for cooler temperatures, getting children ready for school, school buses on the road, and to rake leaves and warm the car in the mornings. As you prepare for the changes to your routine you also need to get your money prepared for new expenses and do a financial fitness check up.

1) Check your home. Check the insulation on windows and doors. No or insufficient insulation will allow heat to escape and your heating bill to climb unnecessarily. Can we say major money leak. Also check the insulation in the walls of your home, that is important to trap the heat too. If you're renting have your landlord do a check. I once had two months of a $300 gas and electric bill. The culprit? A living room window was cracked at the top and was letting my heat escape. If you see a crazy jump, something is wrong, start checking.

2) Do a financial check up. There are several things that would be good to check during this time. Do at least these three.

Net worth. You've been steadily working on growing your money for several months. Calculate your net worth to see how you're doing. Is the number a little bigger? If so you're moving in the right direction.

Spending plan. How well is your spending plan working? Determine if you need to shift your plan, such as increasing or decreasing target amounts for specific categories. Did you plug all money leaks? Perhaps you decided to keep a subscription when you made the plan, but looking back realize you really haven't been using it. Well then cancel it, cut it from the plan and shift the money towards something else. Put the money towards a category you're struggling with sticking to the allotted amount, savings, paying down debt or investments.

How much closer are you to your goals? The numbers will show if you're making progress towards your goal. Are you on track to complete your goal by the deadline that you set. If not what can you adjust to stay on track.

3) Shop smart. We know the best times to purchase clothes is at the end of a season when there are big discounts as stores prepare for the change in inventory for the new season. However, if it is unavoidable and you have to buy new fall gear for yourself or family members try this. Shop at thrift stores and discount chains. You'll be able to find cool new things at a much lower cost. Many times there will be items with the tags still on them. You just have to dig around a bit. Look for online deals and coupons. Don't use your credit card. I repeat don't use your credit card. 

About the author:

About the author: Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. Maria is the founder of Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life. Dr. James is our resident Money Scientist.

10 Actions Needed for Financial Freedom

The terms financial freedom and financial independence generally refer to the same concept or ideal. However, individuals consider them to mean different things. For some they mean debt free, having the ability to live without working to earn income, or being financially secure and not stressing about money. Whatever your definition of financial freedom, there are some key actions that you should take to get you on the right path to achieving it. 

1) Calculate your net worth
Your net worth is a snapshot of your financial health at a specific point in time, your wealth status if you will. Understanding where you currently stand financially will help you in defining realistic goals. Use the formula net worth = assets - liabilities. You need a baseline to work from as you move toward financial freedom. Calculating your net worth at the start will provide that for you.

2) Define and write down your goals
You need to know the goal in order to achieve it. In other words you can't hit the target if you don't know where it is. Take some time to reflect on where you are currently with money and where you would like to go. Define your goals so you can accurately determine the steps needed to reach them. Some common goals are saving an emergency fund, saving for retirement, saving for a yearly vacation, adding to an investment portfolio.

3) Design a money strategy
A money strategy is a comprehensive plan to detail what you plan to do with your money. This is the action plan to achieve your goals. For each goal detail the steps needed to achieve it, resources you'll use and how much money is involved in each step.

4) Create a monthly and annual spending plan
You need to create a spending plan to determine where your money is going. You should have a clear view of how much you will spend in what categories and how much you will save. This allows you to see where you can cut costs and free up money aka keeping more money in your pocket. Creating an annual spending plan will allow you to also see big picture and determine how much of your money is truly going to certain items. You may decide to skip that Starbucks latte or forgo certain subscriptions after all. The money you free up and save can then be put towards a few luxuries and income generating assets!

5) Create a specific debt reduction strategy
If you still have debt, you need to pay it off to be able to use the full potential of your income. You can't reach financial freedom if you have debt holding you back. Work on paying your debt down, "good" and "bad" debt must go. Debt is debt and you'll save yourself thousands of dollars by getting rid of it. Make a specific plan of what order you'll target the debt accounts. Aggressively pay down one at a time to make the most impact and not spread the money too thin.

6) Freeze your credit cards
Now that you have a plan to eliminate your debt, dont rack up anymore. Put the credit cards away and make them very difficult to use. Literally putting the cards in the freezer is a great way. Take the cards out of your wallet and leave them at home. Spending within your means is a must for financial freedom.

7) Open a separate savings account
You need one savings account for your emergency fund. As indicated by the name you don't touch this money unless it's a true emergency. Did you know you should also have another savings account? This is a small account to house money for non-emergency expenses that are in your spending plan, but may not be used every month. If you leave the money in your checking account it's likely to be spent.

8) Cut costs not quality
When you create your spending plan, you'll see places where you can cut back. However, cutting back to lower expenses doesn't mean sacrificing quality. Think of ways to get equivalent products or services for less e.g. shift providers, eliminate things you don't use, find coupons and deals etc. You don't want to feel deprived, but you want to plug money leaks and free up as much money as possible that can be used for saving and investing.

9) Create side income as needed
You've streamlined your expenses, but may still need a little more money. Whether you just want more money to invest or enjoy luxuries or you need more money to make ends meet, having side income is beneficial. This is income outside of your main income source. Some examples are part-time jobs, freelance work, etc. (check out 23 Ways to Make Money).

10) Open a 401(k) and traditional IRA
We know saving is only part of the journey to wealth. Putting your money to work for you is also necessary to reach your goals. At bare minimum open these two accounts. If you work for an employer, make sure to speak with HR (human services) about reanalyzing or starting a retirement account. In most cases this will be a 401(k) or 403(b). If you started one a while ago make sure you check how much money is going towards it and how you can increase the amount. You should also open a second retirement account, an IRA. You can only add so much to your 401(k) so when you hit that maximum you want to still be able to save. The IRA will allow you to do so.

About the author: Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. Maria is the founder of Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life. Dr. James is our resident Money Scientist.

3 Habits of Millionaires You Should Adopt

We’ve all seen the lists that come out every year naming the wealthiest people in the world and the country. The billionaires and millionaires, individuals whose net worth are in the millions and billions not the people who simply make millions (yes there is a big difference). People who build wealth tend to be focused. They keep their eyes on the prize and most think big and outside the box. These traits combined with some other key habits are exhibited by millionaires and are the reasons they have and keep their millions.  Here are some concrete habits you should adopt.

Habit #1: Millionaires are frugal.

When people think of the word frugal most go straight to the concept of being miserly, instead of careful with money or not wasteful.  Usually a frugal person is considered to be a cheap person who tries to skimp on everything. However, let’s turn that on its head. Millionaires are some of the most frugal people. You may immediately think, yeah sure they are…that $500,000 car and multi-million dollar home is really frugal. But it’s true, millionaires are frugal. For example, I watched an interview where Warren Buffet, the second wealthiest person in America at a net worth of $58.5 billion, said he’s had the same wallet for twenty years! Twenty years! If anyone can afford a new wallet then Warren Buffet can right. However, it’s not just about the fact that he could afford it. He spends on what he truly enjoys and is frugal about everything else. That’s the true luxury in frugal living (the motto you see blasted on this site). Spend as extravagantly as you want on the things that you love and be frugal with the things that are not as important to you. Sure, millionaires have very expensive items and toys but they made sure to have the income or assets to pay for those toys before they purchased them. No credit used. No debt incurred.

Habit #2: Millionaires keep it slow and steady.

You don’t see millionaires trying “get rich quick schemes.” There are proven methods to build wealth and increase your net worth and they aren’t quick or overnight, with the exclusion of inheritance or winning the lottery. The term is “build wealth” for a reason, you must build it. You will need to use long-term money solutions such as a 401(k) and investments outside of retirement accounts to build wealth. Continuously contribute to retirement accounts to reach your nest egg goal; yes you should know how much you will need, the exact dollar amount. You have to know what the prize is to keep your eyes on it. Investing takes time to see steady gains. The average return on investment in today’s market hovers between 9-10%. I would need to write several articles to explain details about investing, but basically you need to leave the money in the market for years to see such returns. 

Habit #3: Millionaires buy assets not liabilities.

When you get your paycheck and you make a list of the things that you’re going to buy, what is on that list? Is every item a liability, something that you will spend money on that doesn’t make you any money? If yes, then you’re falling into the cycle that many of us do. We use all of our income to purchase liabilities and don’t spend any money on purchasing assets. Assets are things that bring in money without you putting additional money, time and energy. Millionaires work on continually acquiring assets or investments that can bring in money. Create a plan on how and when you’ll purchase more income generating assets.

Pair your determination, focus, and knowledge with these habits so you too can start building wealth and raising your net worth. You can do it. 

About the author: Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. Maria is the founder of Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life.

Successful vs Unsuccessful People

Your habits and mindset has a great influence on your success, success with finances and life. The above infographic has been circulating after MaryEllen Tribby posted it on WorkingMomsOnly.com. It goes through some great tips and habits that you should institute if you want to be successful and some that you should drop to avoid not reaching success (notice I didn't say failure). There are definitely some key elements that should be highlighted.

 

1) Continuously gather knowledge and learn things that will help you move forward. When trying to accomplish a goal, learn all that you can about the subject. Learn about the tools and resources available to you to assist with accomplishing your goal. Unsuccessful people don't actively gather information and don't act on the knowledge that they do have. There's a vast amount of information available to help you master your finances and reach financial success. Actively seek it out and apply the knowledge when you acquire it.

2) Giving to others is necessary. Don't horde what you know and don't try to step on others to reach your goals. Many people have a fear of letting others know what they know, of giving to much away. You want others to help and promote you without doing the same for others? It doesn't work that way. Share information and tools and others will be more likely to do the same with you. If you come across a great resource for saving money, cutting costs, etc share the wealth and let others know. 


3) Accept responsibility for your failure. The fact that this is listed on the successful people side of the graphic says a lot. You cannot reach success without some failures. Don't give up in the face of failure. Learn the lesson and use that failure as a stepping stone to do even better. Say you wanted to pay off your debt and made a plan to do so but along came an emergency and you had to incur more debt. Establish an emergency fund so you'll be better prepared next time and move forward.

About the Author: Dr. Maria James
Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. While an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University she co-founded an organization called STOP, which taught basic self-defense to women and children. Her has a passion for diverse communities led her to live in Costa Rica for three weeks to learn more about the culture and community. Maria also continues to pursue her other interests which include, Spanish and finance. Maria also founded the business Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life.

Why New Year's Resolutions are Dangerous to your Money

Many people look at new year's resolutions as a good thing. They make vows to get healthy, save more money, spend less money, give up vices or bad habits and more. Do these all sound great to you? Most people would say yes. However, all of the above are bad resolutions. Why do you ask? Because they are all too vague! What exactly is meant by get healthy? Are you resolved to eat healthier? How? What exactly is meant by save more money? How are you going to do it? How much is more? You have to create a specific plan if you want to achieve these goals. Making vague resolutions is setting yourself up for failure. Do these three steps to make concrete financial resolutions or goals.

1) Write a plan.
Write out what your resolution is. That's the what. Then get very specific as to how you are going to achieve it. What the steps necessary to achieve this goal. For example, say your resolution is to start saving for retirement. Look up what that entails. What is the first step? You need to know about different types of retirement accounts such as 401(k), 403(b) traditional IRA vs Roth IRA, SEP IRA for those who are self-employed. Learn the advantages and disadvantages, money going into the account pre-tax vs contributing after paying taxes on your income. I would go into the differences but that's is an entire blog article itself. Then write out how to start the steps to start these accounts. How much you're allowed to put in etc. You see where I'm going get very specific, write out a detailed plan.

2) Set a date.
For each step in your plan, write a deadline. When are you going to accomplish each task? Writing it out without saying when it should be done is a good way to ensure that it never gets done. Giving each step a deadline will also allow you to avoid getting overwhelmed by the steps and tasks. You'll be able to complete them in an orderly fashion with less stress. Staying with the example from above, if your first step is to learn the differences between retirement accounts, by what date are going to have that accomplished? Put the deadlines on your calendar as a visual reminder so you ensure they get done. Remember each task accomplished takes you closer to your financial goal.

3) Set a dollar amount.
Every financial resolution should have a specific amount attached to it. You have to have a number that you're working towards. At what number can you claim success. If you're resolved to save more money. How much money do you need to save per month, per year? Make it specific. For example, I will save $1,000 this year. Now you have a number. Now you have a concrete endpoint for when you have accomplished the goal. If we stay with the retirement example, a goal with a dollar amount would be: I will contribute 20% of my income. You know how much you make and how much should then be contributed. 

About Your Author: Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. While an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University she co-founded an organization called STOP, which taught basic self-defense to women and children. Her has a passion for diverse communities led her to live in Costa Rica for three weeks to learn more about the culture and community. Maria also continues to pursue her other interests which include, Spanish and finance. Maria also founded the business Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life. Meet Dr. James at our 2014 Unlimited You Conference April 11- 13, 2014 www.hwhn.org.

Happy New Year!

Hey there!

We are thrilled to say Happy New Year! We want to start off the new year in true gratitude, so thank you for being a part of our family. Last year was good to us. It wasn't easy but it was good. It had it's challenges but also its triumphs. With your help 2013 was powerful yet, we know that greatness is still available. We're clear that 2014 will be unrecognizable, because while we have big plans there bigger plans in store.

We encourage you to join us in knowing that you are Unlimited! That your future, your dreams, your goals are bigger than you can see right now. The impact that you're going to make in 2014 will surpass the limits that you see. We would love to be with you during the journey.

So let's go! Let's make 2014 the year that made a difference in our limitless life. 

In Sisterhood,
Maria, Monokia, Adia and Mothyna

Combat Holiday Marketing and Save Money

As soon as October hits, marketing for the holidays starts. We are bombarded with commercials and ads for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. No matter what your religion or which holidays you celebrate or observe, the commercials and ads get you thinking of your upcoming holidays and traditions. The marketers and companies that have paid the marketers good money to create the campaigns are hoping to direct your thoughts and emotions in order to get you to buy more and more items. Do you realize when it’s happening? How do you combat it? There are some nice tricks to work around the marketing and work with your money mindset to prevent any “extra” spending.

Mid-October I saw a commercial about a family dressed in costume and trick-or-treating for Halloween. Each member of the family, both parents and each child, had the latest gadget to plan their route and to get updates on the best houses to visit. The commercial showcases several new features of the gadgets and several new gadgets. The Dad then remarks that he is so happy that he upgraded their technology before the “holiday”. You may know to which commercial I’m referring. If you ignore the cute factor (the family is absolutely adorable) then you clearly see what the commercial wants you to think and do. You may start looking at your phone and think I do need an upgrade and I could use some of those new features for … and when I do ... We all do it, but there are ways to combat this.

Now, we are starting to see more commercials geared toward the major holidays in November and December. They want you to spend as much as possible for any major holiday or event observed during this time. You may start to feel pressure or the desire to get new items as you see the ads and commercials, as you start considering what gifts to get for others and yourself. This is what the companies want. Sure they also want to show off the new items, but they are also banking on the fact that you’ll feel the urge and need to buy, buy and buy some more things. You may need to use credit in order to get everything you “need” and we know what happens then, debt and guilt. Here’s how to combat the marketers and get what you need and nothing that will cause you to break the bank. First get familiar with your money mindset so you know which marketing tactics are hardest for you to resist. Next use the following tips to combat some of the marketing tricks.

1) Question it. When you see commercials and ads, ask yourself: what is this commercial really trying to get me to do. In my family we play a game, when we see a commercial we try to guess what the commercial is selling before it’s revealed. This little game will get you out of the mindless consumer trap.

2) Stick to your list. Determine what you need to pick up before going shopping. This will help you to combat a few marketing tricks employed within the stores. The holiday music playing and the scents in the store are all marketing tricks to evoke emotion to get you to buy more items, extra and unplanned purchases.

3) Use a waiting period. If you just heard about or saw a commercial for a new item that made you want it, you know you just need to have it, then wait for awhile. Do you still feel the same way about it? Have you done research looking up reviews and features of the item to determine if it will truly fit your needs? If you’ve determined that it is actually a great buy and fits your needs then purchase it (after looking for deals and doing comparison pricing).

4) Think of your spending not saving. There will be a lot of price tags and signs that tell you how much you can save by doing a certain action or purchasing a specific item. Instead of looking at how much you’ll save, look at how much you’re spending. If the sign says an item has been marked 50% off from $60 to $30 then you make think: yes I’ll save $30. However, the bottom line is you’re really spending $30. If this item is unplanned or something not on your list, you’re spending an extra $30 not saving $30.

Keep these four tips in mind when shopping to combat and resist the marketing efforts that want to convince you to spend spend spend. You will save money and still get everything you need and have fun during the holidays.

Author: Maria James has expertise with designing income management, debt management, and wealth protocols to help you keep more money in your pocket.Graduate school allowed her to further develop strategic planning and scientific analytical thinking and apply those methods to money management. The Money Scientist was born.Maria hosts webinars, speaks, blogs, and writes articles to educate and empower you about money.

Maria is also Co-founder of Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation (HWHN), Inc, where she is currently the Director of Finance. She has used her skills to develop and implement a financial system that has kept the nonprofit growing for the past ten years. Maria has also been a guest financial expert on WEAA, Bobby Finance and RIB Radio. Visit www.pocketofmoney.com to learn more.

Moving Toward Financial Success

Dr. James, our resident Money Scientist, has agreed to give you the first peek at her latest article for this week! You're the very first people to see it.

by Dr. Maria James

In our society, money is necessary. Whether it's something that you need or want, you need money to get it. In order to have shelter you're likely paying rent or mortgage. In order to feed yourself and your family you need to purchase food and groceries. In order to get around you need transportation, whether you take public transportation or you drive your own car. Money permeates every aspect of our lives; however, the majority of Americans can't answer questions about basic personal finance concepts. The majority of us are in debt, 80% of Americans have debt! That's right, so people with high incomes and a lot of money coming in are still in debt. That person who makes $100,000 a year hasn't reached financial success and likely has debt.

It's not what you make it's what you keep. It's how you manage your money and what you do with your income and resources. Unfortunately, many of us don't know how to manage it and it shows. Over 40% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. A small delay of incoming cash causes late payments of bills and hard decisions about paying for items such as food, gas for the car or medication. One small emergency will completely throw off or disrupt the shaky balance of your finances. No one wants to live this way. The good thing is you don't have to live in fear. You can change this circumstance.

Financial success requires more than knowing when your bills are due. The science of creating wealth has been determined. It's known, I know it and you can learn it too. You need a mix of the right knowledge, behavior and attitude. Financial literacy is a tool in your personal finance toolbox. So that probably made you wonder what are some other tools you should have. Here are a few other key tools:

1) A spending plan.

You must plan out your cash flow, how much is coming in, how much you're spending and where you plan to spend it. This is crucial to achieving your goals, one of the lower rungs on the ladder towards financial success.

2) A tracking system.

You have to have a way to track your expenses and income. For most, the income is easy. It's your paycheck. However, your expenses are variable and have many different categories. You need a way to keep track of the money flowing out so you don't overspend and you can properly take of your home, children, nourishment etc.

3) Investments.

Send your money to work for you to earn more money or at least keep up with inflation. It's an important part of your long-term money strategies and preparing for future expenses like retirement or your children's education. You don't have to be a stock broker, know how to pick stocks or know how to read the financial reports on the stock market in order to do this.

4) A reward system.

I know this one comes as a shock, but it's true. I believe in luxury in frugal living. You have to be able to enjoy the now as well. If you aren't having any fun and you only think of sacrifice and limitations when you're managing your money, you won't be able to stick to your plan. Include a reward system that correlates with your plan so you'll be able to follow-through and consistently implement your financial plan.

Having the knowledge and using the right tools will allow you to save money, conquer debt, build wealth and upgrade your life. Move towards living debt free. Move towards less stress about money. Move towards financial freedom.

If you'd like more information and detail, I'll be conducting a free webinar titled "Earn it. Save it. Grow it!" on Saturday, October 12, 2013. Click here for more information..