{Every Woman Should Know} 10 Things Your Don’t Owe Anyone

Published on May 20, 2016January 2, 2017 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

Have you ever had one of those weeks that tested you both personally and professionally? Well, let’s just say that this was one of those weeks. In it I learned that there is no greater peace than peace of mind. I also learned that sometimes it is easier said than done to be your authentic self, but you will always come out better for doing so. I came across this brief video posted by Power of Positivity that breaks down 10 things you don’t owe anyone and I must say that I have been tested by 4 out of the 10 in the past month. Life is gift and you should give everyday the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life; otherwise, what is the point? I hope that the video below inspires you to wake up, be kind, kick ass, repeat. Happy Friday Lovelies.

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{Derby Fashions} Does Looking Good + Feeling Good = Spending Money?

Published on May 7, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

A few weeks ago I was low key stressing about Derby Fashion….I know, it’s just the Derby and people have real problems, but when I don’t look good, I don’t feel good. I wasn’t even planning on attending until the very last minute so things became a mad dash for me to find the a complete get up, including the dress, cute wedges for the grass, and of course, the hat! The Mr. and I were here, there, and everywhere and I even employed the help of my mom in the search for the perfect hat. I was swiping left and right (my bank cards not Tender) when it hit me…Danielle, you have hit one of your shopping triggers. In the past few years I have noticed that I tend to spend more when I feel something is “lacking” in my appearance. I will over shop when I probably didn’t need to as a way to try to correct something that may be off in my life. On the second day of running around Atlanta I forced myself to just stop and really think about what is currently in my closet. This is after the Mr. treated me to a very cute new dress and I bought new shoes. I was out looking for THE HAT when I thought about switching things up. Actually, it was after I saw this picture that I began to rethink my entire approach:

My original plan was to go traditional Derby in a more dressed up way, but I loved how pretty and comfortable she looked (no comment on her Beau). “Oh wait”, light bulb moment, “I have a very similar dress in my closet”….but still no hat. In my final half hour of stress before we had to leave, I told myself that whatever hat I found, be it for the dress we bought or the dress I have, would dictate my Derby look. Fed up and feeling a little defeated, I went to one final store and found a hat. We attended Atlanta’s version of the Kentucky Derby and had a blast with new and old friends.

Check It Out!

Through the experience I learned that I have to start making time to take better care of myself, that way I don’t have to get ready, I will stay ready. I learned from a mix of packing up my closet for the big move (another post for another day), that it is time for me to reinvest in my wardrobe. At (insert cough here) 30 years old, I shouldn’t be trying to wear the same staples from college. My style has evolved and so has my body. I also learned that along the line, I had replaced an updated wardrobe with things to make my new house a home. I was a girl with a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear because I had not taken the time to properly edit, purge, and organize. For Derby Day, I wore a dress from my own closet, shoes I already had, and a hat that, unlike the more traditional style, I could see myself wearing again. After I complete my Edit, Purge, Organize, which I will blog my way through, I will be able to make better decisions like that in the future.

Editors Note: I took the new shoes back because they worked for the new dress but weren’t really my style. With that money, I bought six new classic wardrobe must haves. Special thanks to Event Rentals Unlimited for VIP access to the beautiful air conditioned glass tent!

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{Monday Motivation} Rich vs. Broke

Published on May 2, 2016February 27, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

Rich People Stay Rich By Acting.png

Today’s #MondayMotivation will hopefully inspire your thought process. It is so hard to get caught in stuff….consuming “stuff”, showing off “stuff”, and being wasteful with “stuff”. If you spend like you are wealthy, you will never be wealthy because you spent it all. Instead of “acting” rich, why don’t you make positive changes to actually get to that status? Like the word freedom, the word rich has so definitions. Remember, rich doesn’t always have to describe someone’s financial state. I motivate you to act broke with your spending and be rich in the things that really matter…like people and experiences that….FEED-THE-SOUL. Take this week and do things that make you feel like your best you. Wishing you a great start to your week!

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{Week 17 Update} 52 Week BINGO Money Update

Published on April 24, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

Well hello lovelies. Certainly, I could not let the week go by without at least giving you an update on my progress. Last week I was so pleased by the kind reception and celebration of shemakescents reader, Alysa, who saved a total of $515.00 so far (read her spotlight here, she is pretty awesome). Her dedication to her goals is inspiring and she agrees that this challenge is an easy way to save money! Today, I wanted to close the week letting you know that I have crossed $31.00 off of my 52 Week Bingo Money Sheet, which puts me at $143.00 saved so far this month. Year to date I have saved an extra $621.00 toward my current financial goal.

The great thing about this challenge is that you can alter it to fit your personal goals and lifestyle. I start every year on the first Friday of the year, but you can start anytime.

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Quick Tip: If you have a larger savings goal, you can double up the numbers for a minimum of $3800.00 before you even cross off the bonus boxes!

{Reader Success Story} A Shockingly Easy Way to Save Money for Fun

Published on April 15, 2016April 15, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

In my posts on this site, I share my progress toward financial freedom sort of like a diary to the world. Sometimes the stories reveal my failures and the things I learned from the experience so you don’t make the same mistakes. More often than not, my stories are transparent accounts of gained confidence in regards to my financial literacy. Every week, I have diligently crossed off numbers on the 52 Week BINGO Money Sheet and I update you on how those funds are being used. As of week 15, I have saved $590.00 extra dollars that I have put toward my credit card debt. I am proud of myself but I am equally proud to know I haven’t been on this journey by myself. This week, I wanted to shift the focus off me and begin to share the stories of other smart women who are kicking debt’s butt and redefining the “fab life” for themselves. Our very first reader’s profile is from Alysa T., a 28 year Marketing and Communications Manager out of Washington, D.C. A friend referred Alysa to shemakescents.com about 3 years ago and interestingly enough, the BINGO Money Challenge was the first article that she read.

When asked why she decided to join the challenge, Alysa explained, ” It’s a very simple and kind of fun way to put aside a little extra money each year! I think checking off all the boxes appeals to my organizational side too. This year I’m putting [my savings] towards a vacation. I am recently SCUBA certified and want to explore the underwater world more! It is awesome to know that she is using the money saved for things that (if you follow the blog, you already know what I am going to say) FEED-HER-SOUL! Over the past few years, Alysa has become more than a loyal reader. She is my Twitter pen-pal/accountability partner who sometimes sends me her progress updates before I have the chance to check-in. I LOVE THAT! I love knowing that we are on this journey together. “In past years”, Alysa reveals, “I used it for a new computer and a down payment on a car”.

The journey towards financial freedom isn’t a easy one…if it was, no one would have debt and everyone would be building wealth. Alysa’s biggest financial goal is to get her emergency fund to a healthy level so she can put more savings towards fun things. I’d say with a savings of $515.00 year to date, she is well on her way.

How Much Have You Saved on the BINGO Money Challenge? Share Below

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{World Recycle Week} How To Save On Purchases By Donating Unwanted Clothes

Published on April 14, 2016February 17, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

“90% of textile waste is recyclable”

Yesterday after my outdoor yoga class, my friend Dana and I found our way into H&M where the window featured signage about World Recycle Week. During the campaign period, April 18-24, H&M aims to collect 1,000 tons of unwanted or worn out garments from customers worldwide in its more than 3,600 stores. The initiative is part of H&M’s goal to close the loop in fashion, recycling unwanted garments to create recycled textile fibers for new products.

Woman Closet

The timing could not be more perfect because I have started a Purge, Edit, & Organize (post coming soon) overhaul for my closet. My plan is to sell the clothes that I no longer wear or fit properly. Whatever doesn’t sell will be split between the Goodwill and women’s shelters in Atlanta. Everything else, that I would have normally tossed, will go to H&M for recycling. I’m not sure if this is the case for all locations, but my local H&M is offering 30% off your entire purchase if you bring in items for recycling. This could be a win-win situation if you are in the market for a trendy new piece to add to your wardrobe or home.

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{Time Management} How to Find More Time in Your Day

Published on April 14, 2016October 31, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

People are so into time management tips and tricks which is evident by one of our most popular posts, {Quick Tips} How to Be More Efficient. If you had an extra 5 or 10 minutes in your day, how would you use it? Would you hit the snooze one more time? Spend it doing something you love? How about 30 minutes? Would you try something new? Work later? I live my life according to an ever-changing color coded to-do list that keeps me organized in my 9 to 5, that helps organize 2 home renovations and of course, SheMakesCents.com. With a day packed with things that have to get done, I sometimes find it difficult to schedule time to do things I want to do.

Getty Images/ Digital Vision/PeopleImages.com

Admittedly, I am one of those people who wishes for more time in the day to do the things that “feed my soul” or at least keeps me from losing my marbles. Tuesday night Google launched “Google Goals” as a new calendar feature that finds unscheduled time in your schedule and devotes that time to work toward personal goals, such as pilates, updating your financial plan, reading the SheMakesCents Book selection, or girl’s dinner/date night with the boo. I’m more of a traditionalist with my paper calendar; however, I am open to using Google Goals as a FREE life coach for time management. It’s worth a try, especially for all of you whose phones are permanently attached to their hands.

Check out this video to see how it works!

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52 Week Bingo Money Challenge Milestone

Published on April 5, 2016April 5, 2016 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

If I told you the last five days have been a whirlwind, I’m not sure you could even comprehend what I mean. In the past five days I served as a juror on a trial for two days, driven from Atlanta to Jackson, Mississippi, attended a funeral, got back on the road for the six-hour car trip home, just in time to make it to a Sunday wedding for my sorority sister. That being said, I missed last week’s check in and the March recap of the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge.

Check out a few pictures from the wedding!

For the first week of April, I decided to cross off $23.00 + a bonus of $75.00. My first April contribution, including the bonus, is only $4.00 less than my entire last month’s savings. I’d say I am off to a good start for month. Overall, I have a saved a total of $556.00 that I have been using to make extra payments toward my credit card debt. Every extra payment is helping me shave off the repayment term, shave of compounding interest fees, and is improving my credit score because my debt to credit ratio is increasing. I would LOVE to have my credit card balance under the $500.00 mark by the end of May. With a balance of $2400.00+, only time and discipline will tell. Until then, I will keep crossing off numbers on my BINGO money sheet.

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{Every Woman Should Have} The Protection of a Slush Fund

Published on March 29, 2016March 29, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

This is not a typical savings post, but a post that might just save you. I learned a very adult lesson when I was just a teenager watching a friend’s mother pick up the pieces after a messy divorce. To my knowledge, it was he who messed up…..so how in the world did she have to downgrade the lifestyle that they built together and he upgraded? The simple answer, he probably had the better lawyer. They shared an account but she didn’t have an account all by herself. At 15 years old, I learned that life happens and not everyone gets the happily ever after they were expecting. More importantly, I learned that every woman should have a her own money. I vowed that would NEVER be me. That was the year I started saving my own money.

The Protection of a Slush Fund

Creating a Slush Fund for yourself isn’t a selfish act nor does it have to be a sneaky one. In this post, Fortune Magazine author, Jean Chatzky, cites a study conducted by Princeton Research Associates for CreditCards.com. According to the study, “7.2 million Americans (4.4 million men and 2.8 million women to be precise) have a bank account or credit card that their spouse or live-in partner doesn’t know about”. That kind of omission in a relationship is not my personal cup of tea. I believe in the “yours-mines-ours” approach where the lines are clear and the division of funds works for both parties. This “Yours-Mines-Ours” strategy is me taking an active role in my personal finances and joint finances. Gone are the days where women are expected to blindly allow their spouses to run their financial house without know how the money is flowing in and out.

Regardless of your relationship status, YOU have a responsibility of building your financial house on a stronger foundation. Be proud of that. Be clear about your expectations. Be smart about your money. Every woman should have a protective slush fund because no one can protect you like you.

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You’re married, so should you have your own slush fund?

{Monday Motivation} Refresh Your Priorities

Published on March 28, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason4 Comments

Happy Monday!!! Today’s Monday Motivation goes out to my family. This past Saturday, my eight year old cousin Kentric Stubbs Robinson had a wish granted by Make-A-Wish Mississippi; hours later, he lost his battle to a rare blood cancer. How lucky we all are to have someone that makes saying goodbye so hard. He was a fun, curious, and kind child who had a talent for dancing and was not afraid to show off this skills.

Today I motivate you to stop existing in this world and start living! Be like Kentric. Do something that feeds your soul; that’s where true happiness lies. If dancing is your passion, then dance. If reading brings you peace, make time to read. If your happiness is in the kitchen, cook. If helping others is your thing, go volunteer with an organization you admire. Just don’t waste the time you have left doing things that don’t feed you mentally, spiritually, or physically. Starting today, refresh your priorities. You will be a more fulfilled person for it.

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