Another holiday season is approaching! I don’t want you to be caught off guard with the holidays this year, so the game plan should be to start saving money now! If you already have a sinking fund or savings a […]

5 Beauty Habits to Build Into Your Night Time Routine Getting your beauty rest does a body good or so they say! It’s important to start with the basics, and the foundation of great beauty starts with the mind. Check out 9 Affirmations to Channel Your Inner Beauty to get your mind right! The next most important thing is your beauty habits…especially the ones in your night time routine!However, what about the habits to build into your evening routine to really help see your skin glow and do what it does?! Welp, you’ve come to the right place! Check out these five beauty habits to build into your night time routine!Beauty habits to build into your night time routine#1 Add Apple Cider Vinegar to your Face-Washing RoutineIf you haven’t tried apple cider vinegar, I highly suggest you try it. Side note: the smell could be off putting but the results will have you keep applying. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Apple cider vinegar is 94% water and 5% acetic acid with 1% carbohydrates. This kitchen essential can gently exfoliate the most sensitive or breakout-prone skin without the need for harsh scrubbing.Apple cider vinegar also known as ACV may also help restore the natural pH balance of your skin. Apple cider vinegar has a lot of powerful antimicrobial properties that may aide in skin infections and soothe irritation. You can also take ACV in the form of gummies!#2 Incorporate OilsRegardless of the skin type you have, you should always incorporate oils into your skincare routine. In fact, facial oils may be that missing step in your beauty routine. It’s important to always connect with your dermatologist before you start a new regimen. The suggested evening routine in applying oils is after you have cleaned and washed your face.You don’t have to pour the entire bottle over your face! Applying a dime size of your preferred oil to the selected areas such as forehead, each cheek, nose, and chin will do wonders. Applying oil to those areas can be beneficial in preventing aging wrinkles. If your skin is more on the sensitive side, then I suggest you giving almond oil a go. The oil is packed with hydrating omega-3 fatty acids, making it is a good choice for sensitive skin.#3 Don’t Skip Vitamin CVitamin C gives the best glow for youthful looking skin. Sure, you may get some vitamin C via consumption, but applying topically takes your evening skin routine to the next level. Topical vitamin C can help prevent premature aging of the skin, restoring a youthful, smooth appearance to the skin.Collagen production is tied to skin elasticity and firmness which is found in a lot of vitamin C. Before going to bed apply a light layer of vitamin C serum to a clean face and wake up with healthier and brighter skin! #4 Hydrate Hydrating yourself is essential in obtaining glowing skin and feeling good from the inside out. By drinking ample amounts of water day-in and day-out, you can slowly tighten your skin and maintain a healthy glow. Our bodies naturally accumulate toxins from all the foods we digest, therefore drinking water will help flush them out of your body.Some toxins can be harmful for you which can take a toll on your overall health. As a matter of fact, certain type of toxins will clog your small pores on your epidermis and can cause issues like acne and pimples – which is where they originate from. Generally, adults should drink between 5 and 8 glasses of water minimum every day. Set a goal to start and end your day with a glass of water!#5 Avoid Salty FoodsNow there is nothing wrong with salty and sweet foods, but it’s a no-go to enjoy them right before bed. Foods that have high levels of salt will cause you to retain more water, leaving you feeling extra bloated. Salty foods tend to manifest itself as acne breakouts, which if not cared for appropriately could leave scarring.While stress can play a major factor in why your skin isn’t flourishing the way it should, some foods can have a big impact, as well! If you’re going to indulge in some salty foods, I suggest eating them earlier in the day, following up with some water to help flush out those toxins mentioned earlier. Related: 6 Long Term Beauty Habits to Start NowHave you ever tried incorporating these suggested routines into your evening routine? If so, did you see a difference? What does your nighttime routine look like? Check us out on our other social platforms IG and Twitter @citygirlsavings and stay up to date with budget friendly trends. If you are on Meta join the City Girl Savings group chat, we love hearing from members in the community!Lastly, if you haven’t heard by now, we have launched a City Girl Savings Podcast where our founder Raya Reaves drops gems for a better financial life. We encourage you to totally check it out! We promise you it won’t disappo … 5 Beauty Habits to Build Into Your Night Time RoutineRead More »

#40: 5 Reasons to Try a Savings Challenge If you take a second to think about it, challenges can be extremely effective! Any kind of challenge. You have someone guiding you through. You have other people participating, which increases accountability. You have new tools and ideas to do things differently. Essentially, all the things you need to succeed. In this episode, I want to focus on money saving challenges and why you should give them a go. I’m sharing 5 reasons to try a savings challenge. Here’s a glance at this episode: [02:15] One of the biggest benefits of participating in a savings challenge is the extra accountability you get from everyone participating. [04:05] Community can have a major impact on how people take action. The support, accountability and motivation can keep you going. [09:12] There’s nothing to lose and nothing at stake when it comes to a savings challenge, so why not give it a go?! Click here to listen! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love Raya … #40: 5 Reasons to Try a Savings ChallengeRead More »

5 Simple Ways to Level Up Your Life I’m a firm believer there are seasons in everyone’s life where their main focus should be on grinding and leveling up. They’re putting in the work to reach goals and new levels; knowing that what comes after is something new. On the flip side, I don’t think life is ALL about the level up. Sometimes, it’s important or necessary to stop and smell the roses. I’m not one to stay stagnant for long, but there is something to be said about taking a break. For me personally, I like to put my head down and grind for a stint of time. Then, I like to stop, take a break (actually, a vacation) and then get back to the next goal. Whatever preference you have, the point is to keep leveling up. Level ups don’t always have to be drastic. Check out 5 simple ways to level up your life and feel better for it! 5 Simple Ways to Level Up Your Life #1 Work with a Coach or Therapist Unless a person prioritizes their own self-awareness, there will be a cap on how much or how far they can level up. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize one’s thoughts, understand why certain people, places or things make them feel a certain way, and have the wherewithal to shift their internal narrative. Not only does self-awareness make a person more well-rounded for themselves, it can have a positive impact on the people they surround themselves with. One of the best ways to improve self-awareness is by working with a coach or a therapist. Therapists and coaches are trained to ask the questions that most people don’t even think about. However, the questions shed light into the way a person thinks and acts. Putting a light on those things allows for people to grow and improve. Leveling up your life starts from within. Seek guidance from professionals who can help you improve in this area. See if your job’s health insurance or benefits can help cover the cost. Most companies have employee assistance programs that will cover a few sessions.  #2 Start reading (or listening) more If you can’t financially afford to work with a therapist or coach, consider consuming content that can help. Podcasts, audio books and regular books will do the trick (for now). I highly recommend The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. The point is to take in information that will help you grow as an individual. You can consume content that helps you in all areas of life. I don’t know about you, but it can be tempting for me to fix all of the things, all at once. However, that doesn’t always work the ways it’s intended to. When you have 10 things you’re working on, you can realistically only give 10% of your focus and effort to each. Take it one or two areas at a time. Once you have one under control, move on to the next. #3 Get outside Whenever I’m feeling anxious or stressed out, I get outside and go for a walk. Breathing in the fresh air, feeling the breeze and listening to the birds chirping is one of the best ways to improve your mood and your productivity. If you can get to a place where getting outside (which is completely free, by the way) can become your recipe for success to feel better and be more productive, then you’ve already gotten to the next level. Oftentimes, people spend money to feel better…or, they eat bad to feel better. Imagine if simply getting outside can help calm those negative thoughts and emotions? My brother and I make it a weekly ritual to walk along a nature trail at a close-by park. I also walk my dogs twice a day. See how you can incorporate walks outside into your daily routine. If you work at an office building, do a lap around the building on your breaks. Even if it’s for a short amount of time, getting outside can have lasting benefits. #4 Donate your time, money or thingsI can honestly say that giving back to those in need is one of the best ways for more abundance to come your way. Whenever I donate my time, money or valuables, I always end with feelings of gratitude. Gratitude for what you currently have is an integral part of leveling up. The beauty about donating is that you don’t need money to do it. If funds are already tight, consider volunteering or donating old items. Giving back to the world, to your community or to those in need is something that opens the door for a better quality of life – what better way to level up than that?! #5 Always set goals for yourself My final advice for simple ways to level up your life is to continuously set goals for yourself. The growing should never stop. Once you reach one goal, your focus should be on appreciating how far you’ve come, then shifting gears to the next focus. Just like some of the other tips in this article, setting goals for yourself is completely free. However, the value that comes from it is infinite. When you get on a roll with setting and achieving goals, you’ll steadily make your way to your dream life. In order to level up, we have to know what the next level looks like – your goals can help make that clear. Related: 5 Reasons to Stop Putting Off Improving Your Situation Whether you start with one item on this list or tackle all five, each of the items on this list will help you take your finances to a new level. The items on this list will produce the long-term results and success you’re worthy of. You can do it! Just stay the course, stay consistent, and stay motivated. Have you done or started doing any of these things? Drop a comment below to share! -Raya … 5 Simple Ways to Level Up Your LifeRead More »

#38: Money and Mental Health: A Real Conversation with Lisa Let me start by saying that mental health is a serious matter and it’s an incredibly hard topic to talk about.There is a direct correlation between money and mental health.If you’ve been diagnosed (or not) with mental health disorders, you may find that you’re sporadic and impulsive with your spending.You may beat yourself up for your money behaviors, not recognizing that there’s SO much more to it.In this podcast episode, I’m talking with Lisa (who has wished to keep her identity private) about the real struggle when it comes to money and mental health.Lisa has been diagnosed with multiple disorders and talks about the impacts it has had to her money, budget, career and more.If you struggle with mental health, you’re not alone…please know there are resources (like City Girl Savings) to help!Dealing with mental health issues is hard enough, but the added layer of money can make it nearly impossible.Let’s have the tough conversations, so we can start to collectively work to change.Here’s a glance at this episode:[02:00] Lisa shares her background, along with the fact that she has suffered with mental health issues for her entire life – which has affected her finances.[06:39] ADHD has caused Lisa a lot of problems throughout her career but she only recently learned of this diagnosis.[12:00] Working with a money coach (Raya, as it turns out) was the best money education Lisa has ever received.[23:39] Lisa shares how she made the bold decision to ask her job how she can step back and take some time to deal with her mental health issues.[28:28] Having compassion as an individual can be extremely welcomed when looking to help someone with mental health issues.[34:00] If you struggle with mental health, Lisa shares some ideas on how you can ask for help and get the support you need.Click here to listen!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts“I … #38: Money and Mental Health: A Real Conversation with LisaRead More »