4 Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health We shouldn’t believe in all the nasty stigmas that surround the negativity of mental health. Mental health is HEALTH and should be approached and treated as such. With a variety of 24/7 support groups on various platforms, instant access to therapists, and more, it’s easier than ever to prioritize your mental well-being. Amplifying the need to not let your mental health slide because other things seem to be more important should stop. In doing so, here are four ways to prioritize your mental health. #1 Self-careSure, it sounds like something so nonchalant to do but it’s probably one of the most cost-efficient ways to keep your mental health on track for success. For those of you who don’t understand what self-care is exactly, it means just what it says: to take care of yourself. Whatever it is you enjoy doing and whatever your body is in need of is surely self-care.  What does self-care look like you might be wondering? Some enjoy meditation, a hike, reading a book or even shopping. Check out 6 Self Care Ideas to Feel Rejuvenated for some ideas! There is no right or wrong way to show yourself some good old TLC (tender, love, and care). Also, it doesn’t matter how often you indulge in caring for yourself, just as long as it’s in positive and healthy manner. Which means, you can do it once a month, every other week or daily! It is at your leisure to make sure you are good. #2 Movement Mental health is important at every stage of life. Movement does a mind, body, and spirit good. Sometimes when we are stagnant in our daily routine, our mental state can slightly be affected for the worst. Just like food nourishes the body and brain – so does movement!  When I mention movement, don’t think I’m trying to have you run a marathon or hit the gym (though either of those options won’t hurt to do!) Movement helps with mental clarity, as well as concentration and memory. Granted, more times than we like to admit we find ourselves sitting more and moving less. With new age technology everything is at the click of our fingertips. Working, ordering food, socializing via social media. Therefore, to help prioritize your mental health calendar some time in your device get at least 30 minutes of movement a day. #3 Trusting TribeWe can all play a role in improving the acceptance of discussing the care of one’s mental well-being. Finding a trusting tribe that you can express your feelings with is vital. It’s so nice to have a safe space to have others pouring light into your life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with caring for issues related to mental and behavioral health, especially when it’s concerning someone you love and care about. On the contrary, if you are not as close with an individual who is experiencing an uphill battle with mental health, you can still be a light for them while they are in dark place. You can be that tribe for them without overstepping or coming across as insensitive. Whether it’s simply reminding them they have a safe space with you to talk to or simply passing along any tools you know to be useful. Tribes are important certainly when the world feels like it keeps you isolated. #4 Get Organized Now, I’m not suggesting you do a full spring cleaning, but it’s noted a tidier, cleaner, and organized environment will make you feel more comfortable in your space. When you’re organized, it gives a clear space to see what items you need to still tackle in your life. In many cases, mental clarity comes with an organized setting. To help prioritize your mental health, things such as agendas or even calendars in your tech devices assist you with friendly reminders of any meetings or activities you have going on. The last thing a person needs is to feel like they are sinking with so many commitments and placing themselves on the back burner. When you are organized, it helps you put into perspective the bandwidth to give your time to certain things in your life. Related: 7 Ways to De-Stress From a Long Work Day Although these are just few ideas to earn some extra cash, there are plenty of options out there. Have you tried any of the methods listed above? If so, which one was your favorite and why? Check out our Facebook page and do not forget to join the Facebook group to keep up with all of our newest City Girl fun. Also, follow us on our other social media accounts Instagram and Twitter at @citgirlsavings, we will be sure to give a follow right back … 4 Ways to Prioritize Your Mental HealthRead More »

5 Money Rituals to Attract Wealth As “woo woo” as it may sound, practicing regular money habits can help open the door for more wealth and abundance to make its way to you. Whether you believe in that kind of thing or not, wouldn’t it be worth testing – just in case it actually does work?!I’m sharing 5 money rituals to attract wealth into your life. Whether you’re a believer or not, I challenge you to do these rituals everyday for 30 days. After that time, you can decide for yourself if things in your money situation are better and more abundant. You never know, you may just be pleasantly surprised!5 Money Rituals to Attract Wealth#1 Practice gratitude for your moneyOne of the best ways to lead a more fulfilling life is by practicing gratitude. Gratitude allows you to see the good and appreciate what’s going right in your life. The same theory applies when you practice gratitude for your money. I want you to start appreciating what you do make and what you do have.Whenever you pay a bill, say the phrase: “I’m grateful I have the money in my account to pay this bill”. Whenever you get paid and money is deposited into your account, say: “I’m so grateful that more money has made its way to me.”The point is to appreciate the money moves you make and start building a foundation of gratitude for your financial situation. This means you’re focusing more on what you do have than what you don’t. When you focus on the good, more good things come as a result.#2 Listen to guided meditations on abundanceI recently started listening to guided meditations on abundance right when I wake up in the morning and it has been a game changer. I was one of those people (actually, I still am but I’m working on it) who wakes up and checks their email and social media first thing. Not anymore! Now, the first thing I do when I wake up is search YouTube for meditations on abundance.I start my morning by following the guidance in the meditations and when I tell you that what follows is a day full of happiness and positivity, I’m not kidding! Starting my mornings that way has really allowed me to focus on the positive and keep grinding through to my goals. One meditation I really enjoy is “Guided Abundance Meditation” by Bob Proctor.#3 Speak or write daily money affirmationsAnother positive money ritual to attract wealth is to speak or write daily money affirmations. I did this regularly about 4 years ago, when I decided I wanted to run City Girl Savings full time. Every day I would write down affirmations related to money, wealth, success, and business. Eventually, I started to believe these affirmations. Four years later, I’m running City Girl Savings full-time.For my coaching clients who struggle with money mindset, I have them review some of my favorite affirmations and pick the ones that resonate most with them. Then, I have them cite the affirmation aloud or write them down daily. Affirmations can be a great way to teach your mind new, positive beliefs about your money situation.One topic we cover in my 8-week Money Management Mastery program is Mindset. In the program I share my favorite money affirmations and teach my students how to practice them on their own.#4 Spend your money with intentionIf you want to attract more wealth into your life, you have to treat the current money you have with respect. One of the best ways to do that is by being intentional with your spending. To be intentional with your spending means you’re thinking through every purchase. It’s not a matter of saying no to things you want to buy but deciding that the purchase is something that truly impacts you or not. Once you’ve made that decision, then you decide if you should spend the money or not.The more intentional you are with your spending, the more you’ll learn to control yourself when it comes to spending. When you can control yourself, you can control more money that will eventually be coming your way. You can’t manage $100,000 if you haven’t been able to manage $50,000.#5 Journal your feelings, fears, accomplishments, and experiences with moneyThe final money ritual I want to introduce you to is journaling about money. Make it a point to write down your thoughts, feelings, fears, recognitions, and experiences with money. Let the feelings pour onto the page, then read what you wrote. This will give you insight into how you currently think and feel about money, which can help you change your own narrative.How you think about money plays a big role in how you manage it. If you’re not happy with how you manage your money, you need to start changing the way you think about it. Check out the City Girl Savings podcast episode Why Mindset Critical and How to Start Changing It for more insight about this.Related: 10 Money Mantras to Spark Financial MotivationWhile I want you to give the money rituals above an honest shot, I can tell you that practicing them in my life has made a huge difference. Not just in how I think about money, but how I feel about it too. I’m more positive. Things work out in my favor. I always have what I need. Whether that has come as a result of the rituals or not, I can’t say 100%. What I can say is that positive changes happened when I started doing different things! Do you have any money rituals to share? What’s your take on manifestation? Post a comment below to share.-RayaThe CG … 5 Money Rituals to Attract WealthRead More »

5 Tricks to Feel Fierce in Your Clothes It’s finally time to quit hiding your perceived “flaws” and start feeling fierce. You only have one life to live so why live it worrying about what others think?! Trust me, it can be hard to be confident when your body is restricted or experiencing discomfort. However, the first rule of thumb is to start by choosing styles that you love, in colors that make you happy. Whatever your best feature is, build your wardrobe around it! Check out these five tricks to feel fierce in your clothes!5 tricks to feel fierce in your clothes#1 Repeating Affirmations There is no competition if there is no comparison. Stop comparing yourself to the next person because what is for you is only for you. Spewing a mouthful of body positivity affirmations in the mirror will do your mind and body good. Sometimes it starts with our mindset to be fierce. Speaking confidence and positivity into yourself is a hidden trick most people don’t know is free of charge and ACTUALLY works. Affirmations are typically powerful words said in a sentence. The focus is to repeat the affirmation for it to soak into your conscious as well as unconscious mental state. These affirmations, whatever they may be to you, are repeated until believed to help push you to reach your absolute potential. Here’s an affirmation the CGS Team loves: “I am at peace with my body and physical form.”#2 Invest in SetsSets are so on trend right now and can make you feel fierce when wearing them. The look of sets is easy and effortless – you don’t have to worry about coordinating colors when everything is the same. It’s like an already built outfit that’s fierce and comfy all in one. Matching sets are great for lounging around or hitting weekend errands. Nothing elevates a comfy top and pants like having them be matching and in neutral colors. They come in a variety of styles; for instance, there’s the biker tights and top, leggings and top, if you are looking for a more relaxed fit then there are the wide-legged pants paired with a 1/4 zip. Sets are fierce and if you haven’t invested in one, now is the time! #3 Host a Fancy Dressed Up Evening InTired of having to order Ubers or spend most of the night looking for parking? Host your own fancy dress up evening in and bring out all the fierce. There’s no high-end restaurant required to have a glamorous night. Sometimes you just need a night in to feel sexy!Kill two birds with one stone, invite the girls over and tell them to bring their fiercest fits. It’ll be a fancy night in with your best gal pals. Don’t worry about the food because you can order take out – the focus will be how hot you look! It might also be just the thing the doctor ordered to bring some fun and fierce int0 your life.#4 Body Language Before you can even utter a word out of your mouth, your body has already expressed a detailed conversation with the room. Tone, movements, gestures, and actions are all part of the non-verbal language. If your posture is trash, I highly encourage you to fix it asap.Having good posture is important because it conveys confidence, and it keeps your spine healthy. When you slouch you appear less assure of yourself – which certainly shouldn’t be the case. While on the other hand an upright back will make you look self-assured and ready to take on any challenges. #5 Fix Your CrownFeeling fierce in your clothes is not just about your clothes! It’s the whole package – when you feel good, you look good. So even though your outfit might be bangin’, if the whole package is not in lock step, then your fierce isn’t going to hit has tough as it should.Style your hair before going out. Add accessories to your outfit. Throw on some red lipstick. Identify the things that help you feel fierce and add them like armor! Eventually those things will give you the pep you need, every time you need it!Related: 5 Fun Color Combos to TryDon’t be too hard on yourself! It’s important to remember that your body will experience change – and it’s totally normal. At the end of the day, it’s you who is wearing the threads and should be you who can feel fierce in your clothes!Are there any tricks you use to help bring the fierce out?! We love hearing from members in the community so drop a comment letting us know. Keep up to date with all of City Girl Savings news and updates by following us on our various platforms such as Meta and IG @citygirlsavings. If you haven’t tuned in to the City Girl Savings podcast, we highly encourage you to!  … 5 Tricks to Feel Fierce in Your ClothesRead More »

#37: How Practicing Delayed Gratification Sets You Up for Financial Success Delayed gratification is the ability to say “no” to current wants in the present in order to say “yes” to true desires in the future.Essentially, it’s your willingness to practice self-restraint towards the things that you currently want because they don’t help you achieve your future goals.I’ve been practicing delayed gratification for years now and it’s been a total game changer in the success I’ve experienced.In this episode, I’m sharing how practicing delayed gratification sets you up for financial success.Here’s a glance at this episode:[02:15] Delayed gratification is your ability to say no to spending on things you don’t need now so that you can have what you truly want and need in the future.[03:24] The most impactful practice of delayed gratification was with my previously owned car – a Mazda3 that I had for 13 years![07:21] Create a list on your phone of the things you want to purchase but practiced delayed gratification with. Refer to that list when you have an opportunity to spend (birthday gifts, etc.).[09:23] The more you practice delayed gratification, the better you get at it. It may be hard in the beginning, but it gets easier!Click here to listen!Rate, Revi … #37: How Practicing Delayed Gratification Sets You Up for Financial SuccessRead More »

5 Courses I Wish I Took in College It has been about 12 years since I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (I-L-L-I-N-I) with a degree in Media Studies and a double-minor in Gender & Women’s Studies AND Sociology. Now while I loved my major and minors, I can honestly say that I barely remember any of those specific classes I had to take, let alone the million and one prerequisite (Gen Ed) courses that most universities require in order to graduate. Now that I’m an adult and well into my career in marketing, I can’t help but think that colleges should offer courses that we will use in our daily adult life. In fact, we should have college students take an entire semester of “Adulting 101” classes that should be treated as Gen Ed courses! If I were to ever have a university named after me (Lena I. Dell University), these are the 5 courses I would require all students to take in order to graduate. Do you agree with my list?  #1 Financial Literacy This wouldn’t be a City Girl Savings article if this course wasn’t number one! I’m not ashamed to say that being within the CGS community has changed how I view my finances, but it would have been amazing if college offered a course that taught us how to budget, how to understand credit, investing, how to buy a house, taxes, you know…the financial aspects of adulting. Unfortunately, society leaves it up to the parents/guardians to teach us about personal finance, but what if they weren’t taught by their parents? Ohhh at my university, you’d need a B+ to pass 🙂 #2 Career Planning Ask yourself this question: When did you learn how to interview for a job? Better question – did you seek this skill out or was it mandatory to learn? I’m still not confident in my cover letter skills and I have been in the adult workforce for over 10 years! For women, and especially women of color, learning how to know your worth when applying for jobs AND learning how to confidently negotiate your salaries would have been gems to learn in college! I’m so happy I chose to invest in myself with job/career coaches, but it would have been so cool to learn these skills before the age of 21! #3 Personal BrandingNow this one is for my Millennials for real – how dope would it have been to learn how to market and brand ourselves right before the social media phenomenon occurred? How about being aware of your digital footprint (social media, old Tumblr blogs, opinionated think pieces) because anything on Beyonce’s internet lasts forever. I personally would have loved to learn branding etiquette in college. I think anything that relates to putting your best self into the world is a skill that should be taught to everyone, especially college students going into professional careers. Check out 5 Easy Ways to Incorporate More of You in Your Branding. #4 Home Economics Now I don’t know about you, but I wish I took this class in high school. Unfortunately, this course was just an elective in my high school…and wow, do I wish I took it!  If you grew up watching TV in the 90s, you’d know that there was ALWAYS that episode of a show where one of the main characters is doing some kind of project/activity in Home Economics. I’m just now really being intentional in learning how to cook, which I’m loving, so this would have been a great skill to learn in college – instead of just knowing how to boil water for Ramen noodles 🙂 How about learning other life skills, such as how to sew, how to change a tire, and the infamous doll baby to learn how to care for a baby…that would have been a sight to see at campus Greek parties! #5 Health & Fitness Listen, if this course was offered at the collegiate level, I probably would not have gained the Freshman 15, or 25 –  no judgment here. Learning how to properly read labels on food packaging, learning about macros, BMI, and the importance of exercise and stretching! Millennials, what body part is aching today? Haha, it’s my lower back today… This would have been a crucial class to take because when we’re young and in college, we think we’re invincible with this “Young Forever” mindset, which is great to have, but as my parents say, “Just Keep on Living”…oh, and we needed to learn the importance of sleep in college as well. Related: 5 Helpful Resources to Learn More About Finance What about you – what other adulting courses do you wish you took in college? Do you think it would have changed your career path or even how you live your life today? What was your most memorable course you took in college? Let me know! Drop a comment to share! -Le … 5 Courses I Wish I Took in CollegeRead More »

#36: Putting More of You Into Your Branding Believe me when I say nothing sells better than YOU! Whether you’re selling yourself to a job, selling yourself as a business owner, or selling yourself to a brand. I used to hide behind the City Girl Savings brand. Instead of putting my name and face out there, I’d act as if I was The CGS Team. Technically, I wasn’t acting – I was The CGS Team! My point is that I never let anyone see or hear from me…from Raya. For years I did this, and it wasn’t until I started coming out of the shadows that my business truly started to take off. In this episode, I’m sharing how you can put more of YOU into your personal or business branding. Here’s a glance at this episode: [02:10] When I started being myself, unapologetically, it has opened my business to many more opportunities. [03:42] I break down the things I would share in my content and how detailed I got with those sharing items to really put myself into the mix. [05:22] Use your thoughts as nuggets when creating your content. Sprinkle in bits and pieces of your own experiences. [07:16] An easy way to ease into sharing more about yourself is by letting people know about your favorite things. Click here to listen! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I l … #36: Putting More of You Into Your BrandingRead More »

I personally don’t have kids (yet, who knows what the future holds ). However, if I did have them or when I do have them, you can guarantee that I’ll be teaching them about money as early as I possibly can. We liv […]

5 Hacks to Organize Your Office for Success Stepping into your office space should make you feel like you want to tackle the day and be as productive as possible. Though I understand if that’s not the case when you have paperwork ceiling high, file cabinets not being able to shut at all, on top of not knowing where anything important is when you need it! When your office is organized, you have a better sense of where things are on the fly, and it just feels better walking into your office and not running over documents! Keep reading for five hacks to organize your office for a successful tomorrow. #1 Use CalendarsThough it seems obvious, calendars can help you visualize your schedule and remind you of important events, such as holidays, anniversaries and vacation time. Whether you choose online calendars, such as Google Calendar or other apps, or a paper-and-pen notebook, calendars provide many benefits in both your academic and personal life. Calendars are easy to personalize, depending on your work habits, access to technology and other preferences.  Whether it’s a wall hanging calendar or the desk ones – every office should have one in it to make sure your organization is on point! This hack may help save you time on project deadlines and serve as a personal reminder for daily life activities. There’s less of a chance you’ll forget something because you have it written down in a calendar you frequently visit. #2 Time Management Although time management may not seem like a hack, it’s vital to work on because organization doesn’t happen overnight. Bloc off time on your calendar to dedicate a few hours to organizing your office space. Take it in chunks! Set up time to go through and trash documents. Then, take time to visualize how you want your space to be organized.  From there, take time to decide which files need to be placed in the filing cabinet and which ones can be placed on your desk in an organized manner. Once the paper is properly separated you can then start putting items away accordingly. The point is to manage your time so that your office gets organized in a way that’s the most helpful for you. #3 PurgePurging can be therapeutic for some. If you’re like me then it can be tough to part ways with things – even if it’s a post-it note that just has some motivational words written on it. However, I do encourage you to purge as much as possible when you’re cleaning and organizing your office area to avoid hoarding. Remove everything, clean it thoroughly and only put back on the desk the items that are essential. By essential, I mean the things that you refer to on a daily basis. It’s better to have the frequently-used items out, so you don’t tornado your room trying to look for them later. Anything else can be placed in your desk, filing cabinet or other storage area. #4 Invest In Furniture Sometimes, making a quick run to IKEA for a budget-friendly piece of office furniture is a must! The more storage space you have in your office, the less crowded your office can feel with documents and books. If you’re an avid reader, perhaps getting a multifunctional piece of furniture fits more into your organizational space. Or if you want to separate bills from work documents, you can purchase a filing organizer that sits on your desk along with a filing cabinet for more personal and home documents. The last thing you want to do is get cluttered because you’re mixing work and life. Some key office furniture pieces to consider: Bookcase Filing cabinet Desk (obviously) Storage container/unit #5 Get a Label Maker Let’s be real, label makers do kind of tie your office together with a pinch of organizing! They’re light, portable and those labels can help you identify items quickly, saving you time and energy. Label makers are especially helpful to those who have illegible handwriting, too. We always see them online and in stores but never really think twice when it comes to purchasing one. Well, this is your sign to pick it up and take it home. Printed labels make organization easy and help you identify what you need, when you need it. They create order where they may be chaos.   Related: 8 Chic Office Accessories to Stay Organized I hope that with these hacks you can now enjoy your office being clutter free! How many times would you say your office needs to be organized? Have you tried any of these hacks? If so, which ones worked the best and which ones the least? Stay current with all of your financial and lifestyle tips by following City Girl Savings on our Instagram @citygirlsavings, Twitter @citygirlsavings and YouTube page @cirygirlsavings. On the go? No worries! You can even catch our founder dropping financial tips on how to reach your money goals via our City Girl Savings Podcast on all listening platforms like Apple a … 5 Hacks to Organize Your Office for SuccessRead More »

#35: Breaking Free of Broke Once and For All I need to stress something for a second…and I want to stress that being “broke” is not something anyone should flaunt or speak into their life.We are what we think about. And if we’re constantly thinking we’re broke or we don’t have enough, then that becomes our truth.If you are constantly calling yourself broke, it’s time to change your tune.No more putting out into the universe that you’re broke. No more acting in accordance with that limiting belief.I’d rather you say you are a work in progress!Outside of removing “broke” from your vocabulary, in this episode, I’m sharing how you can break free from broke…once and for all!Here’s a glance at this episode:[02:35] Should you really be “broke”? I’m sharing 5 signs you probably shouldn’t be as broke as you are.[04:05] If you don’t take ownership and get your spending under control, you’ll always feel like your broke and out of control with your money.[07:20] Are you in the same spot with your money year over year? The goal is to have steady, continuous growth, even if it’s small growth.[09:32] A budget can help you understand your situation clearly and determine limits to your spending.[11:00] Instead of focusing on the money problems, focus on the solutions to the problems! A shift in mindset can go a long way.Click here to listen!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts“I love Raya … #35: Breaking Free of Broke Once and For AllRead More »

7 Habits to Develop to Level Up Your Life My goal every day is to be a better version of myself than from the previous day. I say this, but let’s be realistic, some days I’m just grateful that I made the bed that morning (if I even got out of bed). However, the goal remains the same – just being consistent in at least trying to be better. Right now, we are in the midst of the “level up” movement, arguably brought to the mainstream by Ciara’s hit song, “Level Up”. But what exactly does “leveling up” mean? I define it for myself simply as a way to increase my personal identity, my current situation; a shift; a way to allow the Universe to shower me with abundance. Still confused? Keep reading to see what habits to develop to level up your life! #1 Create a Morning & Evening Routine Ok – now this one right here, I’m sure you’ve seen a plethora of influencers’ “My Morning/Evening Routine” videos (you know the ones, where they “wake up” and there’s magically a camera already recording).  Now don’t get me wrong, these videos are entertaining, which is why they are so powerful, but why are they popular? They provide us with structure within our days, they establish discipline and self-control, and they help prioritize your important tasks for the day. Everyone’s routines will look different, but some of my tasks in my morning routine include meditating, getting my morning walk/”strut”, and listening to either music or a motivational podcast while getting ready for work. Some of my evening routines include planning out the next day in my planner, getting in some strength training, and doing my skincare routine. Again – no routine is perfect, and newsflash – your morning and evening routines should not make you more stressed or should include so many tasks that you’re overwhelmed. Level up your routines by being consistent, but also realistic. Check out the article 7 Bright Ways to Start a Positive Day for more ideas. #2 Get Comfortable Saying “No”  “Hi, my name is Lena and I’m a recovering people-pleaser”. Let me just say that investing in a professional therapist/life coach is already a way to level up your life but the hardest truth I learned about myself through therapy was that I have always been a people-pleaser.  Now this can show up differently in self-proclaimed people-pleasers, but for me, it meant that I would always put other people’s needs, wants, and desires before mine. I never established boundaries with people because I was afraid of either hurting their feelings or making them feel uncomfortable in any way.  When I became intentional about leveling up my life, I decided to start by learning to use an amazing two-letter word, that doubles as a complete sentence, “No”. Oh you’re going to ruffle some folks’ feathers, but something I had to remember: everyone isn’t meant to go with you to the next level of your life. #3 Learn that Change is Necessary So, I was recently in the job market, researching and looking for my next job venture. After working with an amazing career coach, and re-working my resume, I felt very confident in my resume, especially my objective section! However, I remember being so annoyed that I had to revamp my objective for every job I was applying for; why couldn’t my generic objective be enough? I needed to learn how to change my mindset around objectives for jobs. Each job was different, so I needed to treat my “goal” differently for each job.  Ultimately, I learned to take this same mindset to other areas of my life. I have been wanting to lose a certain amount of weight for I don’t know how long. It wasn’t until I made a drastic change to my diet and lifestyle that I started to see some significant weight loss. When you level up, you have to do some things differently in order to get different results. #4 Practice Time ManagementThis kind of goes hand-in-hand with my first habit, but time management is one of those skills that I think should be taught in college, because as we get older with more responsibilities (jobs, families, hobbies, side hustles, etc), time (like money) needs to be managed, allotted, and budgeted.  I wrote a similar article on how to be more productive, but trust me, time management is still a skill that I am trying to master. Some people live by their Google calendars, while some do best with having their “to-do” lists on their Notes app on their phones. I grew up in the 90s, where Lisa Frank stationery was all the rage, so I love planners, cute pens, etc., and I love writing things down – so it’s really about finding the best time management system for you. Again – this is a skill that will need practice, but always remember that we all have 24 hours in a day, use that time wisely 🙂 #5 Keep Learning New Skills In addition to learning to manage your time, ALWAYS be open to learning new skills! If 2020 – 2022 has taught us anything, it’s that a traditional 9-5 job is not as “stable” as we are taught to believe and the traditional college route isn’t the ONLY path to success. So many people took the initiative to start up businesses during those unprecedented times and many others decided to look online to learn new skills!  How many of us learned how to bake sourdough bread during lockdown from TikTok or YouTube? How about learning a new language, how to create social media viral videos, or learning a new hobby? My point is, always be a learner of life as you do not know when your new skills will help you earn money in unexpected ways! #6 Always Network I know you’ve heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Well, it’s not a saying for nothing, neither is the saying, “Your network is your net worth”. So why are these sayings popular? Because they have proven to be true for a lot of people in getting to the next level in their life.  It’s like the “Six Degrees of Separation” – somebody in your circle always knows somebody who knows somebody, so always be willing to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people, go to different social events, take a class, show up!  I know it may be easier said than done, but remember, leveling up is all about growth, and it will be uncomfortable at times, but welcome the discomfort, it means you’re learning and growing into a better version of yourself. You never know, you may just meet someone who can change your life in the best way possible, so polish up, buttercup! #7 Get Physical Ok, I saved the most obvious one for last because who doesn’t want to level up their fitness game? I won’t bore you with all the benefits of exercise and nutrition, but the hard truth is this: we’re not going to be young forever, we’re not going to have the same stamina forever, and we’re not going to have Megan Thee Stallion knees forever (not even in our 30s). So what does this mean? It’s time to take control over your health TODAY! If you’re a Millennial like myself, we need to be more aware of our physical well-being so we can age gracefully! Get out and take a walk, join a gym, take some dance classes, invest in a personal trainer/nutritionist. We’re not just doing this for vanity reasons (but who wouldn’t want to look great naked), but we’re leveling up our bodies and mental health as well! Related: 9 Positive Affirmations for Happiness and Success What other ways/areas of your life are you leveling up? What habits from the list above can you incorporate in your daily life? Remember, the level up journey is a never-ending jo … 7 Habits to Develop to Level Up Your LifeRead More »

#34: How to Be Intentional with Your Money At the end of the day, it’s not about how much money you make…it’s about how intentional you are with your money. A person who makes a lot but spends a lot is less effective than the person who doesn’t make a lot but also doesn’t spend a lot. It all comes down to being intentional. Are you thinking through each purchase? Are you leveraging your money to get ahead? Regardless of how much you make, as long as you’re intentional with your money, you will see results. In this episode, I’m sharing how to be intentional with your money, so you can get ahead. Here’s a glance at this episode: [02:50] Understanding everything it takes to be familiar with your overall financial standing – all accounts included. [05:07] The first step to being more intentional with your money is knowing where you currently stand and a budget is the best way to know that information. [09:27] Overcoming the temptation to spend when I know I shouldn’t was a big factor in ultimately curbing my overall desire to spend. [11:56] Setting intentional money goals can help you stay on track and make the right financial decisions in your situation. Click here to listen! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love … #34: How to Be Intentional with Your MoneyRead More »

Back when the City Girl Savings blog launched in 2015, we had shared an article called What College Really Costs to help shed light on the rising costs associated with higher education. Here we are 7 years later, […]