Category Archives: Personal Finance
3 Essentials for Managing Your Money
If budgeting and preparing expense sheets sound like tasks only an accountant would do, think again. Keeping track of your personal finances – even if you have an accountant – is important to your financial future.
It not only gives you a keen awareness of your money situation, but also increases your chances of making smart spending and investment decisions.
Following these crucial tips will help you create a secure financial future for you and your family.
Spend Less Than You Earn
DUH…RIGHT? Although this tip sounds straightforward, you may sometimes find it daunting to actually put it into practice. However, reevaluating where you’re spending money can really help you to live within your means. and help you live within your means.
This is one of the first places we start with members of Stiletto Wealth Societies Money Talk Group. I help members find their necessity number. This important first step will help you determine the current state of your personal finances.
Make Your Money Work For You
This can be as simple as taking advantage of the compound interest offered by most savings accounts.
Making sound investments can help increase your annual income over 5%. You don’t need to invest aggressively to get this kind of return, either. Ask friends and family for referrals to trustworthy brokers to help you get started.
Protect Your Money
You MUST have a plan to protect your assets in case something unforeseen happens. There’s nothing worse than working hard for your money and then losing it due to poor planning.
Beware of any instant growth opportunities or investment clubs that promise overnight fortunes. These may include seminars with “self-made millionaires” that pressure you into signing up with a program that might not be a legitimate source of income. Take the time to research investment opportunities before you commit your money to them.
Knowing how to manage your money is a fundamental aspect of any successful long-term personal Financial Strategy.
TAKE ACTION:
1. Make a commitment to go on a healthy financial journey
2. Grab a Pen and your calendar.
2. Make a money date with yourself right now.
3. Use last month’s bank statements and bills to determine your necessity number.
If you take just a small amount of time to analyze your spending habits, you may surprise yourself with how much money you can save! You can then invest these savings in a way that will help you see returns year after year.
GOT QUESTIONS?
OR
NEED SUPPORT?
Stiletto Wealth Money Talk Meets Every 4th Thursday in the Evening!
Money Talk Affirmation: I Believe It Can Be Done
Before any goal I declare can be accomplished, i must first believe that it can be done. With this understanding, I set my mind in motion to find a way, better yet, I set my mind in motion to make a way to do it. Whatever my mind truly believes, my mind will help me achieve and therefore create my reality. Believing something can be done, paves the way for my creative imagination and focused determination to bring it to fruition.
Declare Today:
I believe it can be done.
As you reflect on this money talk affirmation, answer the following questions:
- What is your top goal at this point in your life?
- Have you made sure the goal is specific and realistic? Do you believe it can be done?
- What can you do today to make progress toward getting it done?
If you FEEL STUCK and want one-on-one guidance to make progress and FINALLY MOVE FORWARD… don’t delay,
TAKE ACTION:
REPLY to THIS post for a Strategy Session
OR
JOIN US for Money Talk This Month:
Click this link and complete the form to RSVP as My Guest!
I regularly work with women (and a few good men) to help them turn their financial aspirations into reality. My goal is to help you utilize practical tools to enhance both business and personal financial wealth. During my strategy session you’ll be able to ask me anything you want about your finances, idea or business, so that we can move your life and legacy forward.
Managing Your Money When You’re Broke
Hey Money Maven!
Budgeting money is rarely easy, but it’s especially difficult when you don’t have enough of it to even pay all of your bills. It’s important to change how you spend your money when you’re so short on funds.
Follow these steps for effective money management when you’re seriously broke:
- Be proactive. Don’t wait until the collection agencies start calling. They are relentless and aren’t known for being understanding. They only get paid when you pay them, so you can see where their priorities lie.
- Prioritize. Life is all about priorities. Look at how much money you have available and then prioritize your bills accordingly. Typically, your mortgage, basic utilities, insurance and food will come first. Credit cards are usually last on the list.
- Cut back on your savings plan. This might be the one time to stop saving part of your paycheck. The expense and ramifications of not paying your bills might be too great to cut yourself even shorter to make your savings payment.
- Avoid relying on credit. When cash is short, it’s a common practice to start using credit cards to replace a paycheck. The cost of this money can be incredibly high, and this debt is difficult to eliminate later on. Don’t fall into the trap of viewing credit as a viable solution.
- Create more income. If you don’t have a job, take anything you can get for the time being. If you do have a job, consider adding a second job or getting some overtime. If you have stuff lying around the house that you don’t need, it might be wise to sell it.
- Make a new budget. This might be the last thing you’re in the mood to do, but either your financial circumstances have changed or your current budget isn’t working. Both reasons suggest that a new budget is required. Take a look at your income and bills and make some smart choices. Remember that it’s all about prioritizing intelligently.
TAKE ACTION
In stressful times like these, it’s easy to succumb to your anxiety and not take action, but understand that this course of action will only make your challenges greater in the future.
Take a deep breath and do everything you can to get yourself back on track financially. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish when you really focus your intention and energy on solutions.
Prioritize your bills, increase your income, and make a new budget. Things will be better before you know it.
STILL NEED SUPPORT? BEGIN HERE!
Stiletto Wealth Money Talk Meets Every 4th Thursday in the Evening!
Four Surprising Things That Damage Your Credit
Hey Financially Savvy Sister
We all know that paying our bills late can damage our credit score. And most of us know that having too much debt is a challenge, too. However, there are some things that seem harmless that can also put a damper on your credit as well.
Here are some surprising things that damage your credit:
- Getting the wrong type of credit. Obtaining your financing from the source of your purchase is generally frowned upon. Furniture stores, car dealerships, and more are common sources of this ‘second class’ credit. They’re viewed as credit for those that don’t have options.
- Your utilization ratio is too high. A significant portion of your credit score is determined by how much of your available credit you’re using. For example, if your credit card has a credit limit of $2,000 and your balance is $500, then you’re utilizing 25% of your credit on that account.
- Hard inquiries. In the world of credit, there are hard inquiries and soft inquiries. Hard inquiries lower your score for a time, while soft inquiries don’t affect it at all.
- Not using any credit. Perhaps you feel that you’re being financially intelligent if you swear off credit altogether. However, even if you keep your credit cards, if you never use them at all, you’re hurting your credit score. You need to have some sort of payment history.
TAKE ACTION:
Sign up for The Stiletto Wealth Credit & Debt Assistance Workshop on February 25th!
This is a hands on LIVE interactive workshop.
Your credit is worth keeping in mind. So many things are more expensive when your credit is poor. In fact, many things are entirely out of reach if you have a low credit score. Remember the surprising things in this article that can damage your credit and make an effort to avoid doing any of them. Your financial future depends on it!
ENTER YOUR INFO & SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOP BELOW:
We’ll send you the workshop deets!
I’ll see you at the workshop!
Get Naked and Prosper
Hello Beautiful
Here I go again… I know what you’re thinking. “What’s the deal with this chick + sex + money.”
When it comes to discussing intimate affairs in our society, money might even be more taboo than sex.
News flash Love…
People whisper quietly about money + sex because they are closely related…
Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich”, concluded that a very important aspect in the process of gaining wealth was tied to sex. He said that “The emotion of sex contains the secret of creative ability.” This “seat of power” and the ability to create is uniquely tied to the essence of wealth.
My Take On It
Money remains a charged topic because, for many people, because it’s a proxy for self-worth + self-esteem.
The Power Is In This Truth
Get Naked!
Peel off all of those exterior layers and get down to the core of who you are! If this involves literally getting naked in front of a mirror, then go for it! I WON’T JUDGE!
Accelerate Your Wealth Potential
Activate the Divine Feminine Essence of Wealth™
Authority + Sensuality + Harmony
And…
Get to the core of who God created you to be.
Get Real Comfortable in Your own skin so you can welcome the flow of wealth + prosperity into your inner circle.
Love … ARE YOU LISTENING…… You Deserve To Make Good Money. Infinite Wealth is your divine Birthright!
Take Action
Activate you Wealth Potential + Make Some Deposits In Your Self Worth Bank Account: Do something every day to nurture your power of creation + self care + intuition.
Here are some tips:
1: trash your to do list TODAY + replace it with 3 actions directly tied to your prosperity (money making actions) and accomplish those three TODAY
2: take time for you TODAY + do something you really enjoy that makes you feel taken care of… bubble bath, get a massage, oil + nourish your skin + body
3: Listen to Your Soul TODAY + take time to quiet your mind + journal your thoughts. You will find that you are a source of valuable infinite wisdom and an expert on how to handle any situation in your life.
Do this everyday for a week and watch what shows up in your life! I’d love to hear about it….
Love, Hugs, and Blessings
5 Money Mindset Shifts to Open Cash Flow
Every headline, news report, and magazine cover seems to scream the same thing at us day after day: “The Economy Is Doomed!” So it’s an especially important time to watch your own beliefs, and make sure you don’t fall into a “scarcity” mentality. Believe it or not, there are many people out there making good money, and in fact, making more money in the last four years than they had ever previously!
Why shouldn’t this include you? What are the “messages” you’re telling yourself? Are your thoughts consistently filled with abundance, creativity, and possibility? Or are they more often “running a number” on you about lack, failure, and pessimism – even unconsciously? Your mind is a very powerful tool of creation.
Your thought patterns really do create the way that you experience the world around you and the things that you focus your attention on will be attracted to you. So, you must become aware of what your money mindset beliefs are (or your money B.S. as I like to call them) and whether they are helping or hindering your success.
Here are 5 money mindset shifts that will support you and your business:
Money Is Really Simply an “Exchange of Energy”:
With everything that you do, and everything you receive, there is an exchange of energy. This is true also in your business; with every client communication, every consultation, every tele-class, and every written article, you are giving out energy, and it is being received by the other person. Money can be looked at as a representation of this energy. People pay you in the form of money (energy), so that they can receive your gifts. And then you pay others with money (energy) for their products or services. It’s really just one big exchange of energy – the money “itself” is just rectangular, green paper (at least in the US). The Shift: It’s really about what it represents, right?
Money Is a Sign That You Are Impacting The World:
Too often, coaches, consultants, and others in “helping” professions have negative associations with making a lot of money. Oh, they want a reasonable amount – but when asked to dream big, many say that wanting an excess of money feels greedy and uncouth. But think about this – you’re paid for your gifts and talents, and the impact that those have on your clients. So this money represents the tremendous effect you are having on the world. The Shift: More money is a sign of your greater impact, plain and simple.
You Must Actively Pay Attention To Your Money:
Respect and gratitude for money is extremely important. It’s like a relationship: Would you stick around for someone who didn’t pay any attention to you. It’s mandatory that you know exactly what you have, and that you’re making mindful decisions about what to use it for (remember the “exchange of energy” concept). It’s also helpful to get honest about your money situation with a small group of trusted friends or mastermind members who can “hold you as powerful” and support your intentions to bring in more income. This level of intimacy actually banishes any shame you may have about your money situation. And lastly, take a moment for gratitude with every check you write to pay bills or purchase you make – that you have the money to do so! The Shift: You get what you focus on and what you focus and pay attention to grows and becomes a bigger part of your life.
Stop Trying to Control the “How” of Money:
When you feel in your “gut” that you’re on the right track – when you’re coming from a place of inspiration – always take the next indicated action. Don’t talk yourself out of it with limiting beliefs such as “I don’t know how” or “what if it doesn’t work?” The moment you say YES and commit, trust me, the means will show up. The “how” of it all will present itself, one action at a time. You don’t have to know it all before you start moving forward. Money may flow in beyond your wildest expectations, and from a variety of sources you never could have predicted. Better to let go of controlling how it’s all going to work – God usually has something greater in mind than we can even imagine.
Money Needs To Flow:
“Money is like water, it needs to flow. When it doesn’t, it damns up, stagnates and goes septic. Fear, doubt and anxiety will stagnate the flow of money.” ~ Kendall Summerhawk, Million Dollar Marketing Coach
If you want your clients to spend their money with you, YOU need to be a model for spending your money with others. Period. Now, I’m not suggesting going into debt. But what I AM recommending is you continue to invest wisely in your business. On an energetic level there is no way you’ll get prospective clients to invest with you if you’re not walking your talk. The trick is to invest in products and services that add VALUE to your life or business. Once you practice this for yourself, you’ll understand first hand what it feels like so you can authentically guide your prospective clients to do the same. The Shift: Holding on to money will not keep you from losing it but it will keep you broke! Keep money circulating, spend and receive, spend and receive!
Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?
No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:
Shameca Tankerson, is a Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Cash Flow Success Mentor to entrepreneurs and service professionals. Using a proven system, she opens a candid dialogue about money that teaches her clients how to breakthrough to their next income level and expand into a cash flowing business with a new collaborative business model that is liberating, Inspiring and Powerful. To Get your F.R.E.E. “Spark Your Cash Flow Financial Success Kit” – Making Room For Money: 5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Sabotage Their Cash Flow (And How To Avoid Them). Visit: http://www.MakingRoomForMoney.com
3 Easy Credit Repair Steps
Quick credit repair might seem impossible if you’ve been having credit problems. It’s easy to think that once your credit score is damaged you might never be able to fix it. Fortunately, it’s possible to take just a few steps and achieve quick credit repair that can make a huge difference in your score.
Step 1 make sure you make the right payments on time. If you’re having financial problems, just this first step caIf you’re having problems with your credit, you’ve probably gotten behind on at least one debt. Late payments or missed payments can dramatically damage your score.n seem difficult. But if you figure your income and expenses and there’s just not enough there to make the minimum payments, then you need to contact the companies and let them know you’re having a hard time.
If this doesn’t work and you still can’t pay, you may want to look into a quick credit repair program that negotiates for you to pay a percentage of what you owe in smaller payments. It’s important to do something so that you don’t keep getting farther and farther behind.
Step 2 Manage the balances on Your Credit Card Balances. If your balances on your cards are more than 40-50% of their limits. You can pay more on each card if you want. But you’ll get more of a feeling of satisfaction if you choose one card to work on first. Make the minimum payments on the other cards, and pay as much as you can on that one card. Using this method, you’ll see the balance of that card drop more quickly. Once that card is paid off, chose another card and start applying what you were paying on the first card to it in addition to its minimum payment.
Step 3. Contact Experian, Equifax, Innovis and TransUnion and request your free annual credit report. Look them over and contact them about any errors. These are 3 easy quick credit repair tips than can really improve your score right away.