23 Money Moves to Implement in 2023 It never ceases to amaze me how fast time goes by. The older I get; the faster time seems to move. I can only imagine how fast time … Read More »

5 Tips for Sticking to Your Resolutions Making a resolution is for you and you alone! Usually, resolutions are set at the top of a new year. However, you can set … Read More »

6 Small Tweaks to Your Day to Feel Amazing Have you ever had one of those days where you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and the entire day seems to go wrong? On the flip side, you can wake up in a great mood and that lasts throughout the rest of your day. Any other time, it’s just a normal day. Well, not anymore! You can do things throughout your day to make sure you feel positive and amazing! We only get this one life, so making sure we feel good as much as possible should be the goal! I’m sharing 6 small tweaks to your day to feel amazing! Sometimes, it just takes small changes to have an amazing impact. 6 Small Tweaks to Your Day to Feel Amazing #1 Wake up to something soothing I’m sorry, but there’s NO way I can wake up to a blaring alarm. Not only does that wake me up in a panic, but it naturally brings feelings of panic and rushing. Thankfully, my internal alarm clock wakes me up before my phone’s alarm. However, I always set my phone alarm just in case! When my alarm does wake me up, it’s the soothing sounds of bells. I also don’t set my volume very high, so the sound of the bells is loud enough to wake me up, but not loud enough to leave me feeling panicked. Waking up to something soothing sets the tone for the day. Everyone’s preference is different, so play around with different sounds. Bells, birds chirping, waves crashing, or any other soothing sound will beat a blaring alarm. #2 Take a different route on your commute I’m a Virgo. That means I’m structured and value routine. In terms of commuting, it usually means taking the same route wherever I go. If I’m in a hurry, I’ll be taking that routine route without even thinking about it. If I have time, I’ll try to switch up the route to whatever destination I’m going to. This makes me feel like I’m doing something different – even though I’m going to a familiar place. Changing up my normal route gives me a chance to notice different things. I can’t say this is a fact, but it definitely makes me feel sharper! If you commute to work or drive to the same place often, try taking a different route. It will make you feel like you incorporated something new and different into your day! #3 Give someone a compliment You’ve received a compliment before – how did it make you feel? Probably good, right?! Well, imagine if you can make someone else feel good. It seems like such a natural thing to keep to yourself, but spreading a little kindness can make you feel amazing. Not to mention, you never know what someone else is going through and how your compliment can pick them up. The next time you notice someone’s outfit, smile, car, or anything else, take the time to let them know. Giving someone a compliment can make you feel good all day long. I don’t recommend complimenting someone to get something in return. But, when you feel compelled to share the kind words, please do so. #4 Open the blinds or curtainsI absolutely love natural light. There’s just something about the way the sun lights up a room that makes me want to smile! Whether you’re working from home, getting tasks done or in the office, make it a point to open the blind or draw up the curtains! The natural light will bring an instant surge of energy and leave you feeling great! The City Girl Savings office space doesn’t have any windows. So, I did the next best thing! We (meaning my boyfriend with me watching) installed bright LED lights in the office space. It’s not as great as the sun’s light, but it does make the room bright. #5 Step outside just to soak in the sun and fresh air Just like natural light can make you feel great in your space, stepping outside and soaking in the sunlight and fresh air can make you feel great in your body! I love taking a nice deep breath in during my morning walk. The air is so crisp and clear – almost like an instant energy surge when it hits my lungs! Any chance you get during the day to step outside and breathe in the sun and air, take it! You don’t have to be outside long to reap the benefits that it brings. Going on a quick walk during your lunch break can be a great way to get energized to finish out your workday! #6 End your day with reflection I recently listened to “The Gap and The Gain” on Audible and one of the ways to “live in the gain” is to end your day with 3 accomplishments. No matter how big or small, listing out your accomplishments puts you in a state of pride and gratitude. It allows you to fall asleep on a positive note. I’m still working this into my nighttime routine, but it has been super helpful with waking up happier. When you think about the 3 things you accomplished for the day, you’re literally reflecting on your day! You’re running through the day in your mind to find your accomplishments. Reflecting on the day is a great way to close out the day and start fresh when you wake up the next day. Related: 7 Bright Ways to Start a Positive Day The beauty of each of these tweaks is that you can do them as early as today! It takes no time at all to get some of these tweaks implemented and start feeling the results! If you find yourself going through the motions every day, it’s time to switch up your routine! Add one (or some) of these tweaks to your day and you’ll feel better instantly! Do you have any daily habits or rituals that help make your day better? Have you tried implementing any of the tweaks listed above? Drop a comment … 6 Small Tweaks to Your Day to Feel AmazingRead More »

#55: Tackling Taxes with Confidence with Duke Moore For most people, the thought of tax season is daunting – especially if you don’t understand what makes the most sense for your situation. From a personal perspective, my tax situation is relatively simple, so TurboTax has always done the trick…not so much from a business perspective. That’s why I’m so excited to talk with Duke Moore of Duke Loves Taxes about how entrepreneurs, content creators and business owners can tackle taxes with confidence. Thanks to his easy-to-understand tax advice, Duke has helped thousands of people make the most of tax time! In this episode, Duke and I talk about things everyone, especially content creators and small business owners, needs to know to handle tax season this year and forever more! Here’s a glance at this episode: [06:00] Did you know you can become a QuickBooks pro? Duke (and myself) recommends QuickBooks for simple bookkeeping. [14:58] As a self-employed individual, you’re paying double the taxes you would if you worked for a company. [25:10] Duke and I talk about tax mistakes entrepreneurs and content creators often make and ways to avoid those mistakes. [31:15] Not sure where to draw the line with the write-offs for your business? Duke helps listeners understand what truly makes a write-off valid. [39:06] Want to start an online business or leverage the online space? Duke shares why now is the time to get in. Click here to listen! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Po … #55: Tackling Taxes with Confidence with Duke MooreRead More »

CGS 2022 Year End Goals Recap W … CGS 2022 Year End Goals RecapRead More »

5 Ways Reflection Sets You Up to Succeed I used to be the person who always focused on the end result. I would never take the time to think about how far I’ve come or what I’d accomplished. It was always: what’s next? Nowadays, I still keep my eyes on the end vision, but I also take the time to reflect on how things have been going. This reflection allows me to make adjustments with myself, my actions and my surroundings to help me get to my end result. If you were like old me and skipped the reflection, I challenge you to do things differently! Reflection can bring so many good things to light about your progress and about yourself. Keep reading for 5 ways reflection sets you up to succeed…in all areas of life! 5 Ways Reflection Sets You Up to Succeed #1 You can assess what’s working and what’s not working Taking the time to reflect on things gives you a clearer perspective. What have you been doing that produces results? What have you been doing that drains you? What’s working? What’s not working? Not only isn’t it important to answer these questions as you work towards different goals, but it’s also incredibly important to know where you should or shouldn’t spend your time. Once you know what’s working, you can do more of those things. Once you know what’s not working, you can stop those things and do more of what is working! Your time is valuable and reflecting helps you determine how to spend it wisely. #2 You can decide if you need to adjust your goals or your actions Some people are big dreamers – and there’s nothing wrong with it. However, we don’t want to be dreaming our entire lives. We want to be living! Reflection can help you decide if your goals are truly things you want. It can also help you determine if your actions are in line with achieving those goals. Throwing all of the amazing wishes out there may take away from focusing on the handful of things you actually want to achieve. Take some time to reflect on your wishes and determine if they’re worth working towards. #3 You can determine if the goal is still in line with your values and desires Have you noticed that the things that were important to you 10 years ago are no longer important now? That’s because we grow over time. We outgrow things. We establish our core values and beliefs. We recognize what’s important and what isn’t. It’s a normal part of life. Reflection brings you up to speed with your current values and desires. The “life goal” you had right out of college may no longer be right for the woman you are today. Are you holding on to goals that are no longer in line with your values? Reflection will help you answer that question and start thinking about goals that matter to the person you are today. #4 You can learn new things about yourself One thing I’ve known about myself is that I have trust issues. I’ve learned to work through those issues with time and practice. There was a time a few years back where my boyfriend was on a boy’s trip for work and they went out late. He wasn’t responding for a few hours, which wasn’t normal, and as I felt the anxiety rise in me, I took a second to reflect. Were my trust issues creeping in? No, I didn’t think he was doing anything wrong. What was the problem then? I realized that I also have abandonment issues – being left behind, willingly or unwillingly. I never thought I had issues with that, until it dawned on me that my dad’s passing triggered a fear of losing others I love. Had I not taken the time to ask myself what was really wrong and reflect on the answer, I would have never known this issue was a thing. Reflection can provide so much insight into why we do and feel certain things. We can learn things about ourselves we never knew! #5 You can identify strengths and weaknesses for future goals Lastly, reflection sets you up to succeed by allowing you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing this information can help you move forward accordingly when working towards your goals. You can stay in your lane with your strengths and you can delegate or seek help for your weaknesses. It’s important to know this information about yourself so that you can create a life in line with what you’re good at and what you’re not good at. If you’re not good at something that truly interests you, you can take classes or learn how to improve. If you’re not good at something you have no interest in, you can leave that thing behind. Related: 7 Questions to Ask to Determine What You Want Out of Life Was reflection just an afterthought for you? If so, I hope I’ve given you some good reasons to give reflecting a try! Even if it’s just insight into how you can do things better, it’ll be worth the time it takes you to sit down and reflect on things. What are some ways you incorporate reflection into your routine? What benefits have you received from it? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop a comment below to … 5 Ways Reflection Sets You Up to SucceedRead More »

#54: How to Complete Your Year End Money Review If you’re listening to the City Girl Savings podcast in real-time, then you may have noticed a theme in the past few episodes – wrapping up the current year and preparing for the new year! I’ve been practicing year-end closes and new year-starts for over a decade, and I truly believe it’s made a big difference in the goals I’ve reached over time. If improving your finances is something you want to focus on in the new year (or anytime really), then completing a year end money review will help! In this episode, I’m walking you through what a year-end money review is and how to complete your own! Take this information and let it help you improve your finances for next year! Here’s a glance at this episode: [02:20] Before proceeding with your year end money review, take a deep breath! This task is not meant to overwhelm you, but to prepare you for a new year. [05:05] It’s not just how much you spend, but how much you make too. An integral part of your year end review is knowing how much income came in. [08:00] To avoid overwhelm when tackling your expenses, get a total number of what was spent in the year. Don’t worry about categorizing at this point. [13:15] Not happy with your year end money review results? Start thinking about how you can improve for next year. Click here to listen! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I lov … #54: How to Complete Your Year End Money ReviewRead More »

5 Easy Ways to Manage Your Money Better Next Year If there’s one skill EVERY woman should be good at, it’s managing her own money. The ability to manage your money will allow you to live a life you love. It will also give you options for changing careers, relationship and locations! Unfortunately, budgeting and money management isn’t taught in school…and most of us didn’t learn from our parents! Just because we didn’t learn how to properly manage money in the past doesn’t mean we can learn now! No matter what time of year it is, there’s never a bad time to put your finances at the forefront and whip them into shape! To help make it just a little easier, I’m sharing 5 easy ways to manage your money better next year…or any time of year! 5 Easy Ways to Manage Your Money Better Next Year #1 Work with a money coach In the article 7 Signs You Need a Finance Coach, one of the top benefits for working with a money coach is the guidance you get from someone who’s achieved what you want to achieve. “A finance coach helps guide you through tough financial decisions or times. If you are feeling lost, stuck, or confused in your finances or with a few financial decisions that are looming, your finance coach can guide you through making the best choices to come out on top.” There’s no shame in asking for help, especially when it comes to something as important as managing your money. Although most money coaches come with a price tag, it’s so much more than an extra expense. It’s an investment in learning how to manage your money better for the future. If working with a money coach is on your to-do list, schedule a complimentary financial focus call with me and let’s chat. Sometimes, a little guidance can go a long way! #2 Get as many things automated as possible I’m all about keeping things simple. How can I have the best output with the least input? When it comes to managing money, one of the best ways to make things easier is by automating as much as possible. There are so many financial activities that can be automated: savings transfers, income deposits, retirement contributions, investments, bill pay and the list goes on. Before automating things like your bills and savings transfers, make sure you have a good handle on your budget. The last thing you want is to have automatic transfers and payments happening when you don’t have money to cover them. Start by automating what makes sense for your situation and then work your way up to automating more! #3 Pulse check on your money once a day One of the easiest ways to manage your money better is by simply looking at your money! I hear it so many times – people are scared to check their accounts. They’re ashamed with what they’ve been doing with their money. Or, they’re scared of what the account will show. Whatever the reason holding you back from looking at your money is, you are stronger! Try to start each day by looking at your bank account. Check the balance and check your latest activity. Do this for all active spending accounts, including credit cards. You don’t have to do anything with the information you see, you just have to be aware of what’s going on. Eventually, anxiety will fade and control will set in. Check out the article 5 Daily Habits for Financial Success for some additional things to do each day to manage your money better. #4 Focus on intentional spending One of the most underrated forms of money management is intentional spending. Intentional spending is being 100% aware of what you do with your money. You’re not spending on impulse. You know that you’re spending the money, whether you should or shouldn’t. The awareness is what’s most important. When you’re unaware of your behavior, you don’t know you have a problem to fix – let alone what the problem is. When you are aware of your money patterns and behavior, you can start pinpointing areas of opportunity. Eventually, you’ll seek the help you need to fix those areas. Check out the CGS podcast episode: How To Be Intentional with Your Money to learn more! #5 Be aware of the money content and conversations you consume Have you heard the saying “you are the average of the five people you hang around”? It basically means that what you surround yourself with becomes your reality. If you’re constantly listening to your friends say they’re broke, you may find yourself feeling broke. Scrolling social media to see how people are spending their money? You may have feelings of envy or disappointment creep in. The point is to consume content and have conversations that paint money and financial growth in a positive light. Once again, awareness is key. Recognize any negative content or discussions around money and politely change what you consume. Related: 5 Ways to Manage Money Like a Pro Obviously, I could’ve listed things like create a budget or limit non-necessary spending, but I want to focus on the areas that tend to be overlooked. Each of the tips above will help you manage your money better, as long as they’re implemented. Do you have money management as a goal for the near future? What ways do you plan on improving your situation? Post … 5 Easy Ways to Manage Your Money Better Next YearRead More »

#53: My Personal and Business Goals for 2023 During the last quarter of every year, I like to sit down and set my personal and business goals for the next year. I usually reflect on the progress of current goals and let that information help me tweak the new goals I plan to set. I don’t always reach every goal and sometimes I exceed my goal, however I never stop setting goals or stop working towards them. For years, I’ve been sharing the goals City Girl Savings sets each year, and 2023 is no different! In this episode, I’m sharing my personal and business goals for 2023. Putting it out into the universe makes it real! Even if I don’t reach the goals, I’ve declared them, and now I have to work towards them! Here’s a glance at this episode: [01:32] I kick off the episode by sharing my personal goals for 2023 and how I came up with them. [07:29] I also break down my City Girl Savings business goals for 2023 and why those are the targets we will be working towards. [13:39] From a business perspective, we typically set the same goals but with higher targets. This is because we’ve identified the KPIs for us. Click here to listen! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love Raya and … #53: My Personal and Business Goals for 2023Read More »

As the winter months begin to approach, make sure you do your due diligence in protecting and taking care of your skin. The weather is chillier and because the sun may not be out and as hot as it was in the […]

City Girl Savings Goals for 2023 I can’t quite believe it, but another year has come and gone! Hopefully you know by now that I like to share the goals City Girl Savings will be working towards in the upcoming year. I’ve written this article every year for the past 6+ years, and whether the company hits the goals or not, progress is always made! Keep reading to learn about the primary focus of City Girl Savings for 2023. This article shares what we are working on for the new year. Also, check out how far we’ve come by reading our goals from 2022 (and past years too!)City Girl Savings Goals for 2023Goal #1: Last year, we were getting ready to launch the City Girl Savings podcast, so our podcast download goal was a secret! Now, our goal is to have 50,000 episode downloads in the year.Goal #2: Our goal is to have 7,500 Facebook Group members.Goal #3: Our goal is to complete 250 consultations.Goal #4: Our goal is to have 10,000 newsletter subscribers.Goal #5: Our goal is to put organizational systems in place that set the CGS team up for success.Goal #6: Our goal is to have 250,000 website views.Goal #7: Our goal is to average 1% engagement rate on Instagram, and grow TikTok to 2500 followers.Goal #8: Our goal is to increase revenue by 50%!We’re setting more goals this year, so the [good] pressure is on! You may notice that some of our goals are the same as last year’s because we’re likely not going to hit them this year…and, that’s okay! The goal is to keep pushing. We are on a mission to help as many women (or people in general) as possible reach financial success. To do that, we have to set BIG goals! What are some of your biggest goals for 2023? Stay tuned to see our final goal numbers for 2022!The CG … City Girl Savings Goals for 2023Read More »

#52: How to Financially Prepare for the New Year Depending on when you’re listening to this episode, another year is quickly approaching.If I’m honest, I absolutely LOVE this time of year.There’s something about a fresh start that gets me so inspired and motivated.What better fresh start than a new year?!Granted, to be successful, we need to be motivated all the time.However, a new year is the best time to get the momentum flowing.In this episode, I’m walking you through the things you can do to financially prepare yourself for a new year.Here’s a glance at this episode:[02:16] I’m walking you through a few questions you can ask to better understand your current financial situation.[05:30] Creating goals is how you take your dreams up a notch. Don’t skip the process of setting your financial goals.[08:15] Saving for your priorities before saving for your wants can reduce stress and help you work towards the things that truly matter to you.[11:00] The holidays used to be my prime time for overspending. This left me moving into the new year behind financially.Click here to listen!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts“I … #52: How to Financially Prepare for the New YearRead More »

7 Lessons I Learned in 2022 Can … 7 Lessons I Learned in 2022Read More »

#51: Fearlessly Chasing a Life You Love with Madison Anaya If you sit and think about it, in the grand scheme of things, life is incredibly short.As far as we know, we get this one physical chance to make it as amazing as possible.A lot of my life experiences have caused me to do a lot of soul-searching – and that has allowed me to get very clear on what my dream life looks like.Every day, I make a conscious decision to do things that help me get closer to that dream life.And that, makes me live each day feeling fulfilled.Another woman doing the same is Madison Anaya of the Fearless Chase.In this episode, I’m so excited to talk with Madison about how people can fearlessly chase a life they love.Here’s a glance at this episode:[04:55] Madison shares some of the recent developments in her business and what’s made her feel in more alignment with life than ever.[10:48] Have you ever shared something exciting with a friend or family member only to have their fears placed on you? Madison walks us through her experience with this.[18:00] “Your definition of success will change.” As you move into different life seasons, success will look different in each stage.[26:45] Not sure where your limiting beliefs or unpopular opinions come from? Madison shares some tips to journal out those thoughts.[35:14] Toxic positivity is real. Madison and I get real on how to phrase your words so you don’t rub people the wrong way.[52:40] Every time you share an opinion, internally ask yourself “why”.Click here to listen!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple … #51: Fearlessly Chasing a Life You Love with Madison AnayaRead More »

6 Questions to Help You Reflect on Your Goal Progress The last quarter of the year is always my favorite. Not just because of the holidays (though, they play a big role), but because of the opportunity to reflect and prepare for the new year. I’m a Virgo, so the thought of a fresh start always excites me, and what better fresh start than a new year?! I’ve been formally setting goals since I was 20 years old. I haven’t been fully reflecting on my goal progress since then, but I’ve definitely learned how to reflect on what has worked and what hasn’t. Reflection is such a critical part of the goal-setting process. When you take the time to flush out strengths and opportunities as it relates to your goals, it can help you set future goals that are attainable. To help, I’m sharing 6 questions to help you reflect on your goal progress. My hope is that after reading this article, you never forget your reflections again! 6 Questions to Help You Reflect on Your Goal Progress #1 Are you on track with your goal? Kicking off our list of questions to help you reflect on your goal progress is getting straight to the point. Are you on track? This may seem like an obvious question to ask, but your answer to the question could shed light on a few things. If you don’t know if you’re on track, then it means your goal isn’t as robust as it should be. When setting goals, you want to follow the S.M.A.R.T criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timeline). If your goal is missing any of those characteristics, especially Measurable and Time-specific, then it’s incomplete. You’ll know if you’re on track with a goal if you have a specific deadline and a specific target. For example: let’s say your goal is to save $5000 in 10 months. If you’re reflecting on your progress at the 5-month mark, you should have $2500 saved. You’re half-way to the goal deadline and so you should have half of the amount saved. Without those criteria though, you’ll never know if you’re really on track. #2 Have you set realistic milestones and timeframes for your goal? Question #2 ties directly into the question of if you’re on track with your goal. Does your goal have a timeframe and is it measurable? If so, and you’re not on track to reach your goal by the deadline, you’ll want to assess if you’ve set realistic milestones and timeframes for your goal. It can be so easy to be overzealous with setting goals, especially if you consider yourself a high-achieving individual. However, it doesn’t mean that you can accomplish any and everything. It also doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t leave a little room for something unexpected. Referring back to the earlier example of the goal to save $5000 in 10 months. That would require saving $500 every month for ten months. Assuming you have a budget plan in place, you’ve determined you can afford to save $250 every month after all of your bills and expenses are covered. $250 per month after 10 months is only $2500. With that being said, saving $500 per month isn’t a realistic milestone. That also means the likelihood of having $5000 saved after 10 months is not realistic. Now that you know, you can adjust your goal amount or timeframe. #3 Does your goal still excite you? Take it from me – there’s nothing more boring than working towards a goal that doesn’t excite you. Now, it’s possible that the outcome is more exciting than the goal itself. Obviously, paying a large amount of money towards debt every month is not exciting, but knowing that you’ll be debt free at the end of it is very exciting! Pulse check with your current goals and make sure that they excite you or the outcome of achieving the goal excites you. Bonus points if the goal does both. Currently, I’m aggressively saving money to pay my mortgage off. I’m putting large amounts of money into savings every few weeks, which is exciting. And, the thought of having my mortgage paid off next year also excites me! #4 How will your life improve when you reach the goal? Can’t seem to figure out if your goal is exciting. Asking yourself how your life will improve when you reach the goal can help. Regardless of what your goal is, think about how your life will improve when you reach the goal. If you can’t answer the question or there doesn’t seem to be any improvement after hitting the goal, then you’ll probably want to set new goals. If you have a goal to travel to a new country next year, then you may say that your life will improve because you’ll be more cultured and open-minded. If your goal is to start a business that makes a profit, even a small profit, then you may say that your life will improve because you’ll be able to save more to quit your job and take your business full-time. #5 Do you need to do anything differently to reach your goal? Once you’ve confirmed that your goal excites you and your life will improve when you reach the goal, you’ll want to think of ways to reach your goal faster – especially if you aren’t on track. What can you do that you haven’t tried? What options or resources are available to you to help you reach your goal? The point is to think about how you can get on track to reach your goal by the deadline or how you can reach your goal faster. If your life improves when the goal is reached, then why not try to reach the goal as quickly as reasonably possible?! #6 What accomplishments have you made as you work towards your goal? One of the most important aspects of reflection is recognizing how far you’ve come. If you haven’t read The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan, I highly recommend it. Sometimes, we can be so focused on getting where we want to be that we forget to stop and appreciate how far we’ve come. Anytime you’re assessing your goal progress, take the time to recognize what you have accomplished along the way. Even if you haven’t reached your goal, there are likely accomplishments along the way. For example, if your goal is to learn how to budget and all you’ve done so far to reach the goal is invest in a money coach, then recognize that! Making an investment in your growth is a huge accomplishment! Related: 6 Easy Tips to Keep Your Goals Front and Center The 6 questions above will help you assess your goals and get the juices flowing to do things differently, if needed. As I mentioned, reflection is such an important part of the goal-setting and achieving process, you don’t want to skip that step! Do you typically reflect on your goal progress? What questions do you ask yourself? … 6 Questions to Help You Reflect on Your Goal ProgressRead More »

5 Christmas Gift Ideas that Can't Be Bought Christmas is the time of year where giving is not a second thought but an action of kindness. There’s something about the holidays that brings people together and calls for a time of love and laughter. Hopefully some Christmas gift ideas are already on your mind!While this is the most wonderful time of the year, is it just me or is there an underlying energy to feel this strange pressure of commercialization versus the simple joy of togetherness? Like our gifts are what really matters when we know it’s the quality time? The presents versus the presence. If you’re looking to gift something that can’t be bought in stores this year, check out these five Christmas gift ideas for your loved ones.5 Christmas Gift Ideas that Can’t Be Bought#1 Arts & CraftsA wonderful gift idea that can’t be purchased and comes from the heart is an arts and crafts project. It could range in anything from a scrapbook project to creating something precious that the receiver has always needed but never purchased.Gifts for the holidays do not necessarily mean you need to spend big bucks to make it meaningful. The thought behind it speaks volumes and the receiver will know it as soon as they lay their eyes on it. A perfect gift is one that has thought behind it. Some other arts and crafts ideas include a custom coffee mug, ceramic ornaments, or DIY bath bombs!#2 A Family cookbookThe gift of food is the gift of time, energy and, well, food. Those delicious chocolate chip cookies, infamous spaghetti recipes or even chicken dinners all serve a purpose in everyone’s household!  A family cookbook with generations of recipes is a gift that can never be matched.One thing about the holidays that brings people together is food. Food comes in different colors, shapes, sizes but it always represents the same thing…LOVE. Homemade food, of any kind. So, a family cookbook can’t disappoint!#3 A Letter of LoveA letter to someone saying all the things you never take the time to say and a bottle of wine to sit and drink together is a magical gift. Everyone has a love language, and a letter of love can touch on just about everyone. This gift is from the heart and can be cherished for many, many, many years.The beautiful thing with this gift is you can keep it as long or short and sweet you want. It is the message in the letter that tugs the heart. Though this gift is inexpensive, it’s rich in so many other ways. In the letter, one should speak from the heart saying things you may never have a moment to say to the recipient.#4 Family Heirloom An heirloom is an object of worth passed from one generation to the next. If this isn’t a tradition in your family, you could be the first to begin a custom that lasts centuries. The important focus is the meaningful intention behind the item you want to give.Generally, the heirloom is considered to be expensive in value but if there is something you want to gift someone that is important to you, you can do that. The value is assigned by those who nurture and care for the heirloom item. Heirloom items can include but are not limited to clothing, jewelry, or even household accessories. Cherished items often cross oceans, countries, and generations to create their stories, probably with a few scratches and bumps along the way.#5 Quality TimeWhether in movies or in real life we always hear the saying “I wish there was more time” with a loved one. Time does not wait, bend, or fold for anyone. It is a true gift to cherish and should never be taken for granted. Here today and possibly gone tomorrow – quality time is important gift and should be shared accordingly. There are those ‘bucket list’ things we didn’t even know existed – until we made the point of selecting unique experiences we wanted to give to the people we love.It may not be a present under the tree, but it is an experience which provides us more value than things can offer. Quality time can look and feel different with all the technology we are accessible to including FaceTime, chatting on the phone or in person. Though quality time is not necessarily cheaper than buying presents, it’s sharing an experience with them, making a memory alongside them which money can’t buy.Related: 5 DIY Christmas Gifts to MakeThere is no better feeling than seeing smiles on your loved ones’ faces. So, this year think outside the box and gift them something they will never forget. The holiday season is a time for giving, entertaining, and enjoying time spent making memories with family and friends.Check out our City Girl Savings podcast hosted by our one and only CEO and Founder Raya Reaves. Also, like and follow us on our social platforms Twitter and Instagram @citygirlsavings. If you are looking for a community, you have come to the right place! Join in on the conversations on our City Girl Savings Meta page where we love to hear … 5 Christmas Gift Ideas that Can’t Be BoughtRead More »

#50: 10 Goals to Make the Most of Your Life in the New Year Think about your life and how quickly time has gone up until this point. The thing about time is that it will keep going, whether you decide to make moves or not. I always try to make the most of my time, because if I don’t, I’ll just need more of it down the line. I think setting goals (and working towards them) is a great way to make the most of your time. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 different goals you can set to make the most of your life in the new year, or at any point in time! Here’s a glance at this episode: [01:20] Pause. This is our 50th episode of the City Girl Savings podcast! Round of applause, please! [03:01] A Harvard Business Study found that people with goals are significantly more successful than people without goals. [06:35] A personal goal to set for the new year should be to start journaling – it can make a huge difference on your journey to personal success. [10:00] To build wealth, you need to save AND invest. Get started with a platform like Betterment. [12:45] I share my experiences with working with mentors and how those experiences impacted my goal progress. Click here to listen! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcast … #50: 10 Goals to Make the Most of Your Life in the New YearRead More »

6 Tricks to Tame Your Anxiety from Debt Take it from the girl who has been in and out of debt multiple times – the anxiety is real! Debt is draining and the mental weight that comes with debt can be hard to manage. Sometimes, it’s easy to just throw in the towel and accept that your debt will always be there. Please don’t let that be you. Your debt CAN be tackled. It may not happen overnight, but it can happen. On the flip side, I also don’t want your debt to debilitate you. I don’t want you to constantly stress yourself into a tizzy thinking about your debt. To help you tame your anxiety from debt, I’m sharing 6 tricks to start implementing. If you have debt and it stresses you out, these 6 tricks will help you tame your debt-induced anxiety. 6 Tricks to Tame Your Anxiety from Debt #1 Detach your personal worth from your debt balance It’s incredibly hard not to base your personal worth on financial or material things. I blame the society we live in. We have a direct line of sight into how the wealthy spend their money, and it creates feelings of inadequacy when we can’t compete. I think this can happen whether a person has debt or not. Listen to the CGS podcast episode How I Combat the Competition Mindset for some of the ways I put the competitive thoughts on the back burner. If you have debt, no matter what got you into debt, I want you to detach your personal worth from your debt balance. More importantly, I want you to detach your personal worth from anything material or financial. You are so much more than what you owe or what you own. Detaching your personal value from your debt or material balances will reduce the amount of stress you have when you actually do look at your debt balances. #2 Create a realistic budget, that includes some of the things you love One of the best ways to tame your anxiety from debt is to have a budget plan in place that allows you to make sure your responsibilities are covered, you can enjoy life in moderation, and you can put extra money towards paying off your debt. Please don’t skip this step! A budget will be your saving grace as you work towards debt freedom. More importantly, your budget will be the key tool for success with managing your money whether you have debt or not. Not sure where to start? Grab my Budgeting Basics Kit for an easy step-by-step guide to creating your own budget. Now, if the thought of creating your budget adds to your anxiety, let me create one for you! My specialty is budgeting, so I’d be happy to whip one up for you that allows you to enjoy life, put money towards your debt, and make sure your priorities are covered. Get started by visiting the Budget Form. #3 Get a plan in place to tackle your debt Once you have your budget created, you’ll know exactly how much extra you can put towards your debt. This information is critical as you move forward in your debt payoff journey. It also helps reduce your anxiety because you have an amount dedicated to your debt.  When it comes to paying down your debt, you’ll want to be strategic with it. Find a debt payoff strategy that works for you and stick with it. I recommend the snowball method, because it focuses on the lowest balance debt first, which allows you to get quick wins with your debt payoff progress. #4 Track your debt payoff progress Regardless of what debt payoff strategy you decide on, you’ll want to track your progress along the way. When I was paying down my debt, every month in my debt payoff spreadsheet, I would strikethrough the payment that was made towards my debt. Over time, it was incredibly motivating to see how much I had paid off. You don’t have to use a spreadsheet. You can physically write your payments made in a notebook. You can color in a calendar or Debt Payoff worksheet. You can also use an app to track your progress. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you track your debt payoff progress, only that you do track it. Seeing the progress over time will keep you motivated to see the journey through! #5 Share your feelings in the CGS Facebook Group Debt can be draining. Debt can cause anxiety. Debt can eat you up inside. Debt can do all of those things, if you let it! Don’t keep your feelings towards your debt bottled up. Find a safe space to get those feelings off your chest. The City Girl Savings Facebook Group is a judgment free community that allows you to share. You can also find other avenues of sharing. Talk with family or friends. Consider Debtors Anonymous. Work with a money coach. See a therapist. There are options available to you to help you share your feelings regarding debt and help you tame your anxiety. #6 Practice patience and commit for the long haul Paying off your debt is not going to happen overnight, especially if you have a lot of it. Help tame your anxiety by setting realistic expectations about the debt payoff process. It’s okay if you’re on this journey for the next few years. Decide to commit to the process and see it through until the end. Once you’ve put the stake in the ground and made that decision, you can breathe a sigh of relief. You’re committing to doing what it takes, no matter how long it takes. That alone can put your anxiety at bay. Related: 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Paying Off Debt Because debt payoff doesn’t happen overnight, you’ll have to make a conscious effort to do things that will improve your situation and reduce your stress. The tricks above can have massive impacts to your mental health and stress levels. Start with 1 or 2 and work your way up to all 6! Also, check out the CGS Podcast Episode My Debt-Free Story#15: My Debt-Free Story and the Biggest Takeaways to hear how I got through the long process of paying off my debt. If you have debt, what are some ways you’ve managed your anxiety from it? How has your situation changed as you paid your debt off? Drop a comment to shar … 6 Tricks to Tame Your Anxiety from DebtRead More »

One thing I have noticed about the 2022/“post-pandemic” world is that personal development and self-care are really trendy now. I’m not too surprised though, as I think the past couple of years have taught us to […]

#49: Mistakes to Avoid When Paying Off Debt Coming from the girl who’s gotten herself into and out of debt multiple times, I know a thing or two about the debt payoff process.Have you decided that now is the time you’ll pay off your debt once and for all?Now, be honest with me. How many times have you decided that now is the time you’ll pay off debt once and for all?You may have the best intentions when it comes to paying off your debt, but if you find yourself in the same position or trying to pay them off with no success, you could be making some costly mistakes.In this episode, I’m sharing some common mistakes to avoid when embarking on your debt payoff journey.Here’s a glance at this episode:[01:45] Forgive yourself for getting into debt and choose grace as you move forward, otherwise you’ll never be happy throughout your debt free journey.[03:40] You need a budget! Leverage your budget to help you determine how much you can realistically afford to put towards your debt.[05:35] If you are working to pay down your debt, don’t continue using credit. This is a recipe for disaster.[08:49] Not sure how much to have saved before paying down debt? I break down how you can find the number that’s right for your situation.[12:45] Once you pay your credit accounts off, make sure to keep them open. This will benefit your credit score for the long haul.Click here to listen!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts“I love Raya and C … #49: Mistakes to Avoid When Paying Off DebtRead More »