6 Things Every Woman Needs in Her Purse A woman’s purse is more than just a fashion accessory. Purses are an extension of a woman’s’ personality and the contents that are … Read More »

#89: Master Your Money Like a Pro News flash: You don’t have to make a lot of money to be good at managing it! In fact, if you can master managing money w … Read More »

How to Forgive Yourself for Bad Money Behavior No one is perfect with money. I REPEAT: No one is perfect with money! I’m a money coach, and I struggle with money sometimes. Not to mention, my past relationship with money was a terrible one. I was constantly spending. I was deep in debt. I had no direction. But guess what? I changed. My money situation is better now than it has ever been. My bad money behavior is in the past. Sure, it creeps up every now and then – it always will. But I know how to forgive myself and move on. If you have the time, I want you to listen to Episode 1 of the City Girl Savings Podcast: Big City Spender to City Girl Saver. You’ll learn about my story from over spender to money coach. Hopefully it inspires you to forgive yourself for bad money behavior and gives you hope for what’s possible with your money. Now, let’s get into how to forgive yourself for bad money behavior. How to Forgive Yourself for Bad Money Behavior #1 Get to the root of the behavior Let’s start by identifying what has caused your bad money behavior up to this point. When you can get to the true root of the problem, you can find true solutions. When I do this type of work with my clients, I have them go all the way back to early childhood days. What do they remember about money? Were they constantly told they couldn’t have things? Were their parents stressed about money? Usually, our bad money behavior stems from childhood. We were deprived as kids, so when we start making our own money, we can’t tell ourselves no. Or, maybe you always got what you wanted, and nothing has changed as you started making your own money. Take some time to think about your past experiences with money and see what you can uncover. I do this exercise in depth in the Money Management Mastery Program. Doors are officially open, so come join! #2 Who else do you need to forgive I’ve worked with clients who got themselves into bad money situations because of an ex. They took out debt that never got paid. They funded their partner with nothing received in return. As you work on forgiving yourself for bad money behavior, think about who else you need to forgive for the things you’ve been through. What’s done is done. Holding onto hate, guilt or regret won’t do any good. Forgive whoever needs to be forgiven and vow to never be in that position again. Maybe you need to forgive your parents, your siblings or your friends. Let go of whatever you’re still holding on to and you’ll feel 1000 times lighter. #3 Remind yourself that you’re a work in progress I’m saying this again: NO ONE is perfect with money. In fact, we’re all a work in progress! Sure, some people may be further along than you or me, but that doesn’t mean their work is done! As you move through your forgiveness journey, constantly remind yourself that you’re a work in progress. Things won’t always go smoothly, and things certainly won’t always be perfect, but make the choice to power through, no matter what comes your way. Also, it’s okay to be a work in progress. If you have feelings of “I should be further along” or “I wish I didn’t have X, Y, or Z”, tell yourself that you’re working on forgiving yourself for those things and that you’re a work in progress. Believe me, the only one you actually have to convince is yourself! #4 Understand that budget slip-ups are inevitable This goes hand in hand with being a work in progress. Things will ALWAYS come up! It’s life and we really can’t escape it. However, you can ease the blow of budget slip-ups by doing a few things. First, knowing that they happen to us all. Second, working on a building a savings or having some sort of plan to adjust when needed. If things come up and my clients don’t want to use savings, I always have them look at their budget to see what spending areas can be cut back to accommodate for the unexpected charge or expense. If all else fails and they need savings, that’s what it’s there for! #5 Never be too ashamed to ask for help If you need help with your finances (or any area of life), a major part of forgiveness is letting go of your pride (or fear, or embarrassment) and seeking help. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to who said they were scared to reach out for help, but things got so bad they had no choice. Don’t be that person. Don’t wait for things to go sideways before seeking help. When things aren’t getting better, especially with your money, find someone who can help get you back on track. As a money coach, I help my clients create and stick to budget plans so they can manage their money and undo past money mistakes. There are plenty of resources out there that can help you too. #6 Acknowledge and recognize your wins One thing I struggle with is recognizing my wins. I’m so focused on the goal or what I’m trying to accomplish that I fail to pause and appreciate how far I’ve come. I’m working on it and it’s a conscious effort. Take my advice and do the same for yourself. Any time you have the opportunity to acknowledge your progress or recognize your wins, take it. It’s such an important part of goal-setting! Make a list of all your wins, recognitions, accomplishments and compliments and refer back to it whenever you need a confidence boost or reminder of how far you’ve come! #7 Vow to never give up Finally, make this promise to yourself right now…promise that you’ll never give up. The journey to financial success can be a long one, but if you vow to never give up, you’ll eventually reach the finish line. I know it’s easier said than done. I also know that there will be trying times. But I know that you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. You are capable. More importantly, you are worth it. Related: 7 Signs You Need a Finance Coach Like I said – no one is perfect. There will always be good and bad days, for all of us. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continuously work on improving our finances. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn to forgive ourselves for bad money behavior. It’s okay to make mistakes. What’s not okay is letting those mistakes define who we are and what we can do with money. Have you struggled to give yourself grace when your bad money behavior creeps in? What do you do to keep your eyes on the prize? I’d love to hear what works (or doesn’t work) for you, so drop a comment below to sh … How to Forgive Yourself for Bad Money BehaviorRead More »

#88: How to Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable Great things happen outside the comfort zone, unfortunately it doesn’t always feel good there. Being uncomfortable is the f … Read More »

5 Things I’ve Learned in Therapy About My Money Habits When I turned 30, I decided that I was finally going to get my life together, you know because I was a “real” adult now, I was GRO … Read More »

#87: Big Signs Your Budget Isn’t Working and What to Do Next You’ve taken the steps to actually get your budget created, but now that you have, you realize that it just isn’t wor … Read More »

7 Steps to Making Your Money Work Better for You You work hard for your money (hopefully), so shouldn’t your money work hard for you? I’m hoping your answer is “Heck yes, Raya” … Read More »

5 Tips to Help You Build Your Network Building your network doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye. It takes time to form relationships, which is a critical part of networking. To build your network means you gain access to new opportunities, get advice from experienced professionals, and even find new clients or customers that are in your wheelhouse. Many times, the relationships that are formed and maintained through your networking journey can help teach you things you never imagined. This allows your mindset to broaden for a better way of life. Check out these five tips to help you build your network effectively. #1 Identify your goals and target audience It’s important to identify your goals and target audience when you’re looking to build your network. Let’s expand on this. When you’re traveling from point A to point B, you have a clear idea of where you are going and why. Keep the same mindset when trying to expand your network. What do you hope to achieve by building your network? Are you looking for new job opportunities, seeking advice from experts, or looking to expand your business? It’s like clockwork, meaning once you have identified your goals, you can then start identifying your target audience. You will know exactly which speaking engagements you want to attend and which moderators or speakers you’re looking to get face time with to obtain the knowledge in broadening your career. #2 Attend industry events and conferences Sure, it can be kind of intimidating showing up to events solo, so to help break any awkwardness you may feel ask a friend to tag along. If you find yourself attending alone – don’t break a sweat, remember you and everyone else is attending for a common objective…networking. Attending industry events and conferences is a great way to meet new people and expand your network. By you simply showing up, you’re bringing yourself an inch closer to those goals. Look for events that are relevant to your field or industry and attend them regularly. These events provide opportunities to meet people with similar interests, learn about new developments in your field, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders. When attending events, be sure to introduce yourself to other attendees, participate in group discussions, and exchange business cards. Follow up with the people you meet after the event, either by email or LinkedIn. This will help you maintain the newly built relationship, as well as build your network over time. #3 Utilize social media When it comes to social media, we can all agree to disagree that it has its positives and negatives. In this case utilizing your social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are great tools for building your network. If you haven’t already created a professional profile on LinkedIn and start connecting with other professionals in your field, let’s get on it! Each social platform serves a unique purpose and LinkedIn is ideal for expanding your network and community. Join groups related to your industry or interests and participate in discussions. This will help you build relationships with other professionals and stay up to date on the latest industry news and trends. Twitter is another great tool for building your network. We suggest creating two different profiles. One for the use of personal satisfaction and another one solely for professional and business networking. Remember, anything that goes out on the internet could stay there, so be mindful of what you post! #4 Volunteer for industry-related organizations Volunteering for industry-related organizations is a great way to build your network while also giving back to your community. When you operate out of a place of professionalism and kindness, others see and appreciate that and are inclined to want to partner with you on future opportunities. Sometimes, these organizations may be at your place of work! So, start by looking at employee networks. When looking outside of your employer, try to find organizations related to your field or interests and get involved. Stop standing in your own way. Opportunities won’t come to you unless you put yourself out for the world to see and hear you. This could involve serving on a committee, organizing events, or participating in fundraising activities. It also demonstrates your commitment to your industry and can help you establish yourself as a thoughtful, go-getting leader in your field. #5 Build relationships, not just contacts When you build relationships, it becomes a two-sided thing. When they see your name across an email or call, they are inclined to want to speak to you, as opposed to just being another contact. Remember building a strong network is about building relationships, not just collecting contacts. It’s never good to forget people’s faces, job objectives and how you met. When you meet someone new, take the time to get to know them and their interests. Ask questions and show genuine interest in what they do. Building relationships based on mutual respect and trust is the key to building a strong network. Therefore, when reaching out to people in your network, be sure to personalize your communications. Use their name, reference a previous conversation or meeting, and demonstrate your understanding of their interests or concerns. Related: 6 Tips to Improve Your Networking Skills Building a strong network is an essential aspect of professional success. Your future self will thank you so much because it will know the impact it had on your professional success. We never get tired of hearing from you and members of the community so drop some love and comment below. In fact, we love it so much we encourage you to stay connected with us via our IG @citygirlsavings and join the conversations via our City Girl Savings Meta page. Always on the go?! So are we – you can hear and listen to City Girl Savings podcast featuring our very own Founder / CEO Raya Reaves as she covers topics to help your money savvy like never before. So, what are you waiting for and join the CGS tribe! -Taelo … 5 Tips to Help You Build Your NetworkRead More »

#86: Home Buying 101 with Realtor Coco Massara One of the most common goals I see across the City Girl Savings community is home ownership. People reach out to me sharing … Read More »

6 Must-Do Moves for Financial Success In 2020, almost 60% of women in the United States were solely responsible for making investment decisions and around 40% … Read More »

#85: Mindset Matters: Abundance versus Scarcity When it comes to your finances, it (literally) pays to have the right mindset. In fact, it pays to have the right mindset … Read More »

5 Reasons to Protect Your Skin in the Summer Your skin is like an extension of you! In fact, it’s one of the first things people notice about you. Our skin helps to protect u … Read More »