52 Week Money Challenge from top personal finance blog, She Makes Cents

How To Crush Your 2020 Money Goals with the SMC Money Challenge

Published on December 28, 2019December 30, 2020 by Danielle YB Vason4 Comments

The SMC Money Challenge is back to help you crush your money goals in this new DECADE! Now it’s time for the SMC Money Tribe, a community of goal-setting women, to accept the challenge and invest in their money and lifestyle goals in 2020. We are shifting mindsets while tackling debt, saving money, and replacing bad money habits with smart money moves.

Beginning on January 2, 2020, weekly check-ins will take place Thursday through Sunday on Instagram. To check-in, all you have to do is post your 2020 SMC Money Card on to your InstaStory, cross off your savings amount, and tag @shemakescents to share your progress. The conversation will also continue in the private SMC Money Challenge Facebook group where tribe members invest in their goals by engaging in money chats and mini-challenges with the best accountability partners out there…other women with money-saving goals. Often women are left to fend for themselves with regards to money matters. This is why a community for women to discuss personal finance without shame or embarrassment is important.

In the past two years, SMC Money Tribe leader, Danielle YB Vason and her hubby used the SMC Money Challenge to pay off $30,000.00 in debt. Other tribe members, like Victoria from Atlanta, shared a $27,000.00+ debt payoff and Angela from Australia saved enough money for a 5-week vacation to Mexico and the US. Regardless of whether you are joining the challenge to pay off debt, save for the future, or save for something specific like a house, wedding, or vacation, the SMC Money Challenge is for you!

How Does the 2020 SMC Money Challenge Work?

At the beginning of the year, a new money challenge guide is created. Each week, tribe members select one number from their money guide with the option to add “bonus” money and save that amount toward their money goal. With the bonus option, the sky’s the limit with one’s saving potential.

This year will be the fourth consecutive year I have accepted the challenge and so far I paid off my credit card, my student loans, a cell phone, and my car. I am not a personal finance blogger who sold all of her stuff and lives off rice and beans. I am not rich nor did I come from a wealthy family. I am an “every girl” that woke up one day and decided I could do better for myself and for my future. I made a choice to change my financial future. What choice will you make today that your future self will thank you for?

How to Join the 2020 SMC Money Challenge?

Follow @shemakescents on Instagram
Post this image below in your Instagram Story (you MUST tag @shemakescents to I can see it).
Join the SMC Facebook Group (this will be your home base for the tribe to ask questions, support each other, and hold each other accountable).
Download your 2020 SMC Money Challenge Guides- Instagram version or Print version (Challenge Hack: Use the Instagram version to share your progress with the tribe & print the main version to add more private information to track your more personal goals at home).

How To Jump Start Your 2019 Money Goals with the SMC Money Challenge

Published on December 29, 2018December 28, 2019 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

The SMC Money Challenge is back and better than ever. After a successful 2018 run, the SMC Money Tribe, a community of goal-setting women who accepted the challenge to invest in their money and lifestyle goals, is ready to take on a new money challenge. We are shifting mindsets while tackling debt, saving money, and replacing bad money habits with smart money moves. Beginning on January 3, 2019, weekly progress check-ins will open up every Thursday at 7pm (EST) and will stay open until Sunday at midnight in SMC Money Challenge Facebook group and on the She Makes Cents Instagram account. During that time, SMC Money Tribe members are expected to invest in their goals by participating in weekly progress updates, money chats, and mini-challenges with the best accountability partners out there…other women with money-saving goals. Often women are left to fend for themselves with regards to money matters. This is why a community for women to discuss personal finance without shame or embarrassment is important.

Last year, SMC Money Tribe leader, Danielle YB Vason and her hubby, used the SMC Money Challenge to save money for EXTRA debt payments. In doing so, they paid off over $19,000.00 in debt in 2018 alone. Other tribe members, like Victoria from Atlanta, shared a $27,000.00 debt payoff and Angela from Australia saved enough money for a 5-week vacation to Mexico and the US. Regardless of whether you are joining the challenge to pay off debt, save for the future, or save for something specific like a house, wedding, or vacation, the SMC Money Challenge is for you!

How Does the 2019 SMC Money Challenge Work?

At the beginning of the year, a new money challenge guide is created (this is a FREE download for members of the SMC Money Tribe). Each week, tribe members select one number from their money guide with the option to add “bonus” money and save that amount toward their money goal. With the bonus option, the sky’s the limit with one’s saving potential.

Years ago, the 52 Week Money Challenge floated around the internet. It was a savings challenge that dared those who accepted to save the dollar amount that corresponded to that particular week of the year. For example, on week 1 you were expected to save $1.00 and on week 25 you were expected to save $25, and so on. If you were successful, by the end of the 52 weeks, you would have saved a grand total of $1387.00. The thing is, at the time that this challenge was beginning to gain popularity, I knew that it wouldn’t work for me. The idea of saving numbers like $49, $50, $51, and $52…during the holidays was a bit rich for my blood back in 2013. That is when I was inspired to create a “bingo” version where I had more control over my money and how much I saved each week. I selected one number between 1-52 weekly and I saved put that amount toward my debt payoff goal because, at the end of the year, it doesn’t matter how you saved because you will still end up with the same $1387.00. Years later I upped the ante with bonuses that allow tribe members to save a minimum of $1387.00 and a maximum with no limit.

It took a few attempts, but finally, the perfect mix of inspiration, determination, and discipline combined and I was able to make it through 52 weeks successfully. The next year, I added in “bonus boxes” on my money guide and saved a little more. Then I added a way to track the savings. You see, every year I complete the challenge, I find a new way to tweak it and make it better for next year and I must say the 2019 SMC Money Challenge guide is proof of that. Now, I am proud to say that I have successfully completed 156 consecutive weeks doing this challenge. In my three successful cycles of 52 weeks, I have used the money to make EXTRA payments to my debt snowball. I paid off my credit card debt, my student loans are paid in full, and when of writing this post, I am projected to pay off my car loan 4.8 years ahead of schedule (by February 2019)…and that is just a snippet of my journey. I am not a personal finance blogger who sold all of her stuff and lives off rice and beans. I am not rich nor did I come from a wealthy family. I am an “every girl” that woke up one day and decided I could do better for myself and for my future. I made a choice 156 weeks ago to change my financial future. What choice will you make today that your future self will thank you for?

How to Join the 2019 SMC Money Challenge?

Follow @shemakescents on Instagram
Post this image below in your Instagram Story or this image to your Instagram grid (you MUST tag @shemakescents to I can see it).
Join the SMC Facebook Group (this will be your home base for the tribe to ask questions, support each other, and hold each other accountable).
Print your FREE 2019 SMC Money Challenge Guide

She Makes Cents Blog Named in the Top 40 Women Financial Blogs on the Web

Published on January 22, 2018January 22, 2018 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

The future is FEMALE and that future is NOW! In the past year, I have seen an increase of women taking the reigns over their money and careers with a never seen gusto…at least since I have been an adult. Women are investing in themselves, their money, their careers and their lifestyles and are encouraging other like-minded women to do the same. Last week we learned that She Makes Cents, the premier money and career blog for goal-setting millennial women, was selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 40 Women Financial Blogs on the web. The list, which was announced early January of 2018, features a mix of content producers who share similar goals- bringing personal finance to a female audience. She Makes Cents Founder, Danielle YB Vason shared her experience with her #SMCmoneytribe. “I am thrilled to be recognized amongst the list of well-known financial influencers and brands that I both follow and admire,” Vason admits. “As a blogger, it is easy to feel like you are talking to yourself out there on the web, so when you have your hard work recognized, it’s a very humbling feeling”. So where did She Makes Cents rank? Well, we are pleased to announce that She Makes Cents the blog came in the top 20 ranking at #19.

Other bloggers included on the list were some of our favorite reads such as City Girl Savings, My Fab Finance, and the brand Daily Worth, which topped the list at number one. According to Feedspot, “This is the most comprehensive list of best Women Financial blogs on the internet” and the blogs that made the list were reviewed under these criteria of Google reputation/search ranking, influence on social media, quality of posts, and Feedspot’s editorial team and expert review.

A word from our founder

I am so thankful for the SMC Money Tribe for joining me on a shared financial journey. Your stories and questions have helped to shape the content that is created for this blog. When I created She Makes Cents, my goal was to help millennial women become more financially literate. I wanted to inform and inspire readers to use their “cents” to live the fab life. I wanted to encourage the community of goal setting women to define what the fab life means to them. I hope that I have done that and I will continue to do just that… inform, inspire, and encourage. Congratulations to the SMC Money Tribe because this recognition is a reflection of your debt free journey too.

Millennials Get the Best Rates on Life Insurance & They Don’t Even Know It

Published on December 7, 2017March 22, 2018 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

When you hear the term “life insurance”, what comes to mind? Is it your parents’ and grandparents’ generation? Is it a sad thought like death or the process of planning a funeral? Or, is it something that you have on your to-do list to understand when you are “older” because you are not in that headspace right now? For many millennials, life insurance is just not high on their priority list, which is evident from the 2015 study from Life Happens and LIMRA that found that “60% of millennials prioritize mobile phones, internet, and cable over life insurance”. I believe that millennials are not jumping on the life insurance bandwagon because the idea of death seems so far away. More than that, millennials do not understand what life insurance is, what it does, and how we, as a generation, are in the best position to get the most affordable rates. Cell phones, internet, and cable are all elements of one’s day-to-day life whereas the need for life insurance is so far out, right? Wrong. Having life insurance provides a day-to-day safety net that financially protects the people who depend on your income, like family, and in some cases friends, in the event that something happens to you.

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Of the living generations, millennials are in the best position to take advantage of the best rates on life insurance. That is because insurance companies view millennials as low risk because of their youth and presumably good health. Those “low-risk” statuses are one of the main reasons that millennials save more money and are able to lock in a lower, more affordable rate as compared to older generations. To take the savings potential even further, millennial women, in particular, generally receive the lowest quoted rate. That is because women live longer and are perceived to be less likely to partake in risky hobbies such as skateboarding, skiing, and sky diving – all hobbies that insurance companies consider dangerous, cause premium increases and are often attributed toward experiences men enjoy more by insurance companies. When you think about it in those terms, it should not be so surprising that millennials get the best rates on life insurance.

Why Do Millennials Get the Best Rates for Life Insurance?

The benefits afforded to the “avocado toast” generation and their ability to lock in an affordable rate is evident to Generation X (1965-1981) and the Baby Boomers (1946-1964) and not millennials, according to data collected from this Health IQ quiz. When asked this questions, “Which of the following generations is most likely to get the best rate for life insurance?” the results were eye-opening. Of the generations represented, 80% of Generation X and 62% of Baby Boomers answered correctly, in comparison to only 33% of millennials understood their own savings potential. That’s right, 67% of millennials do not know they are in the best place to lock in the cheapest premiums. The point of life insurance is to protect those people who are financially dependent on you. Traditionally, that includes a spouse or children, both of which represent life stages that millennials are delaying until later in life. However, life insurance also covers parent beneficiaries who may have co-signed on a loan for you and would be held responsible to pay off debts like your student loans should the worst happen.

Equifax Data Breach: How To Find Out If Your Personal Information Was Stolen

Published on September 8, 2017September 8, 2017 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

Equifax, one of the three largest US consumer credit reporting agencies, announced this week that they were victims of a cyber-security data breach that will potentially affect 143 million U.S. consumers. The cyber hackers got access to names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and driver’s license numbers to nearly half of the U.S. population, with potential breaches also affecting consumers in Canada and the United Kingdom. Although the official statement from Equifax was released this week, the unauthorized access occurred from mid-May through July 2017. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Richard F. Smith maintains, “We pride ourselves on being a leader in managing and protecting data, and we are conducting a thorough review of our overall security operations. We also are focused on consumer protection and have developed a comprehensive portfolio of services to support all U.S. consumers, regardless of whether they were impacted by this incident.” Just because you are not a consumer of Equifax doesn’t mean that this breach won’t directly affect you. According to CNN, Equifax gets its data from credit card companies, banks, retailers, and lenders who report on the credit activity of individuals to credit reporting agencies, as well as by purchasing public records.

How Can You Find Out If You Were Affected By the Equifax Data Breach?

Equifax will send direct mail notices to consumers whose credit card numbers or dispute documents with personal identifying information were impacted. Additionally, Equifax has established a dedicated website, http://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, to help consumers determine if their information has been potentially affected. As a consolation, Equifax is offering one year of credit file monitoring and identity theft protection, copies of Equifax credit reports, the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports, identity theft insurance, and internet scanning for Social Security numbers for all U.S. consumers.

Equifax Data Breach: How Can You Find Out If You Were Affected By the Equifax Data Breach?

What You Should Do In the Event of Identity Theft

1. Review your financial accounts daily
2. Check your credit history at least twice a year
3. Immediately report any errors or disputes (click here to see how to get the process started)
4. Destroy all inactive and expired credit cards
5. Contact your bank and/or credit card company to set up fraud alerts
6. Change your passwords
7. File a formal report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

{Financial Cents} BINGO Money Challenge Hits MAJOR Milestone

Published on June 18, 2016April 13, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

Hello Lovelies! I have some exciting news to share with you this morning. Yesterday I crossed off $14.00 – doesn’t sound too exciting yet, but wait for it….. – on the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge. That $14.00 put me at the $1,000.00 mark for this money challenge! –INSERT HAPPY DANCE!!!!

On the same day that I hit the $1,000.00 mark in savings, I also hit the under $1,000.00 mark in my credit card balance!!! While I am proud of the financial gains made in the first six months of this challenge, I am even more excited about the about the savings habits I have created for myself. I believe that creating a healthy savings routine is the first step on my journey to DEBT FREE living. I was chatting with a girlfriend of mine who made the observation that I have only been focusing on saving and not making increasing my sources of income a priority. In a lot of ways she was correct. I have placed a serious focus this year on saving because in the past, I would start the year strong with savings goals and plans for myself only to find some of them abandoned by mid-year. That being said, splitting my focus between increasing streams of income and saving would have only created more problems at that point in my journey when I wasn’t steadfast in making saving a priority. The phrase, “More Money, More Problems”, exists for a reason. Without a healthy savings routine and more income coming in, I could have easily created more debt and worsen bad spending habits. I have spent the first six months of this year really focusing on correcting past bad behaviors and replacing them with healthy habits. Now that I have solid saving habits, I can start also focusing on increasing income and using that increase to move on the next snowball in my overall financial plan- student loans debt. I attribute my success to personal will, saying no to social (sometimes), and having accountability partners, like readers of She Makes Cents to help keep me motivated. I would love to hear how you are doing with this challenge… the good, the bad, and the ugly.

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

Please share below or feel free to email me.

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.

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents | Hashtag #shemakescents

{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.