“I’m tired of going backwards.” A client said that to me recently, and it stuck with me because I know how many people feel the same way but don’t always say it out loud. You’re paying bills, making decent money, and still feel like every step forward gets erased by the next expense. It’s exhausting. If that sounds familiar to you Reader, I want you to know this isn’t a personal failure. It’s usually a sign that you don’t have the right system in place yet. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to...
18 days ago • 4 min read
On a recent call, a client shared something I hear all the time. She wanted to use every extra dollar to pay off debt. But at the same time, she really wanted savings, too. That push and pull is such a common money struggle. Do I knock out the debt faster, or do I build a cushion so I can breathe? Both goals make sense. And when there’s no clear plan, it can feel like you’re doing the “wrong” thing no matter what you choose. This is where having a strategy matters. Money decisions stop...
25 days ago • 4 min read
Money stress doesn’t always show up as panic.Sometimes it looks like quiet worry.Or feeling like you should have this figured out by now. If that sounds familiar, I want you to hear this: You’re not the only one who’s had to learn money the hard way. BUT...you don't have to keep doing it the hard way. That’s why I want to share a podcast episode I recorded with career coach Nicole Gwanzura. Not interested in receiving Friday Freebie gifts, but still want to get other emails from me? No need...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
I first met Toni-Ann through her Let’s Get More Time Summit, and I immediately loved her message. She helps busy moms find calm in the chaos and make space for what really matters. We both care about helping women create more ease. She focuses on time, and I focus on money. Together, we want to help you feel less stretched and more in control. So if you’ve been craving more breathing room in your days, she has something that can really help. Not interested in receiving Friday Freebie gifts,...
3 months ago • 2 min read
I recently dropped my phone and cracked it. The Samsung store said the motherboard was damaged, so buying a new one was unavoidable. I’ve had this phone since 2020, and I wasn’t ready to start over. *Cue the Graduation song by Vitamin C* Shopping around shocked me. The latest model was $1,200–$1,400, and things like SD card slots are gone. So I went back to what I used to do: I checked eBay and got the previous model for $724.50. Good camera, less cost, and no regrets. The lesson? Take your...
4 months ago • 3 min read
I’m getting ready to head to Portland for FinCon, the big conference for personal finance creators, coaches, and money enthusiasts. I was feeling fine until the airline reminder popped up, and my anxiety instantly kicked in. While I’m a confident and self-assured woman, I'm also an introvert. Walking into a room full of people can be...no IS terrifying. Last year, I found a way to make it work. I scheduled one-on-one meetups through the conference app with people I wanted to connect with,...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Last week, I told you about how I helped my sister find over $300 she didn’t know she had ($334.28 plus interest, to be exact). Today, I want to share a little more about how that happened and why it might be worth your time to check for yourself. That day, I was doing one of my favorite “nerdy money things”...checking missingmoney.com to see if there were any unclaimed funds under my name. Now, to be honest, I’ve done this search before... multiple times. 😅 But since I keep my money pretty...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Last week, I met with a client for a Smart Money Strategy Session. She felt like she was drowning, and it was clear why. Every dollar coming in was already spent. So saving? Felt impossible. As we talked, it became clear that most of her money decisions were being made in the moment. Whatever expense popped up, that’s what got handled. But there wasn’t a plan for how much she could afford ahead of time. No strategy to guide those choices. I challenged her to pick one major expense to either...
6 months ago • 4 min read
You’ve probably seen the “Buy Now, Pay Later” options all over the place…Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, you name it. It’s tempting to break up a purchase into smaller payments instead of paying the full amount upfront. But here’s something you need to know:BNPL loans are now being reported to your credit report. 👉🏽In April, I shared on Threads that Affirm had already started reporting to Experian. The others are following suit. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you handle...
7 months ago • 3 min read