#13: 7 Questions to Ask to Determine What You Want Out of Life When you feel like you have a sense of purpose in your life, you wake up each day full of gratitude and a fire to work towards that purpose. I want you to look up and realize that you’ve achieved or you’re working to achieve everything you want out of life. Question #1 What would I like to be doing during retirement? Depending on how you answer this question, you’ll have a better idea of what you should be doing now to get you there. If you know your retirement is filled with travel and luxury, you’ll need to up your retirement savings right now. This could mean some sacrificing now, so you’ll enjoy it later. If your retirement seems low key, maybe you focus your extra money on other things. Question #2 What is my love language? Finding out your love language as early as possible allows you to express to others what you need to feel loved and show love. You’ll have a better understanding of yourself and what you need. You can use this information to share with others, to ensure you’re fulfilled. Knowing your love language brings an added layer of self-awareness, which is the key to seeking happiness. Question #3 What impact would I like to have? I believe we’re all put on this earth to make a difference. That difference can be in the form of helping one living thing or thousands. When you know the impact you’d like to have, you can start doing things to help you leave that impact. You can act with the intention of having that impact on others. This will leave you feeling fulfilled at the end of your days. Question #4 What are my core values and beliefs? When you know your core values and beliefs, you can act in integrity with those values and beliefs. When I say “core values and beliefs”, I’m referring to the key principles you stand by. The point is to identify your core values and beliefs and start living a life centered around them. Question #5 If money were no object, what would I be doing? I challenge you to get deep here and have fun. The goal is to understand what brings you joy – whether it requires money or not. When you know what brings you joy, you can start putting yourself in a position to consistently seek out those things. Question #6 What am I most passionate about? People can be passionate about a variety of things. There’s no right or wrong answer here, only the answer that serves you. Similar to the other questions: when you know what you’re passionate about, you can start working towards having those things in your life regularly. Question #7 Do I like to live in the moment or plan ahead? I ask this final question because it’ll help give you insight into how you operate. If you’re a person who likes to live in the moment, you’ll have to work a little harder to have a plan in place for your life. If you’re a person who likes to plan ahead, you’ll have to be mindful of your day-to-day activities. Here’s a glance at this episode: [01:53] First question to ask yourself is what you want to be doing in retirement. What does your life look like then? [03:13] Second question to ask is what your love language is. This helps you understand how to give and receive love. [04:55] Third question to ask is what impact you would like to have. [07:14] Fourth question to ask is what your core values and beliefs are. These will help you make decisions throughout your life. [08:15] Fifth question to ask yourself is what you’d be doing if money were no object. [09:24] Sixth question to ask is what you’re most passionate about. [10:11] Your final question to ask will help you determine how you should plan your life. Are you more spontaneous or structured? Click here to listen! Rate, Re … #13: 7 Questions to Ask to Determine What You Want Out of LifeRead More »

5 Easy Ways to Incorporate More of You in Your Business Branding From one business owner to another, nothing sells better than YOU! This is especially true for service-based businesses. Business branding is everything!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. I did this for years, but it wasn’t until I came out of the shadows that my business truly started to take off.I was afraid to let myself shine through in my business and its brand. Whether I lacked confidence, had imposter syndrome or felt safer behind the CGS Team, I eventually fought through it.When I started introducing myself, showing my picture and sharing my story, more and more people wanted to hear from me.I looked like them. I had the same experiences as them. Because of that, they knew me. They liked me. They trusted me. Now, I’m no longer afraid of being the face of my business. I’m no longer worried about how others may perceive me.I’m unapologetically me and it’s opened my business to more than I ever though possible. I want the same for you.If you’re hiding in the shadows, it’s time to come to the light! Check out 5 easy ways to incorporate more of you in your business branding.How to Incorporate More of You in Your Business Branding#1 Show your face on videoOne of the best ways to incorporate more of YOU into your business’ branding is by hopping on video. That’s right, show that pretty face of yours!You can do this via YouTube, Instagram stories, Instagram Live, Facebook live, or by recording a video and sharing it.Let people see you. Let people see the person behind the brand. This builds a connection that turns into long term supporters, a thriving community, and new customers.I know it’s not easy, especially if you’re an introvert, but don’t let that stop you. In fact, share that information with your audience! Let them know you’re getting out of your comfort zone.The support you get makes the effort worth it!#2 Include your own personal experiences in your content (social media posts, blog articles, podcast, etc.)One thing I started doing that changed the game for my business was including more of my own personal experiences in my content.Now, I share how I did something, how it impacted me, what results I got, and so on. I also share my thoughts, feelings, struggles and awakenings.Nine times out of ten, your audience or someone watching can relate to your own personal experiences. Sharing builds that connection I mentioned earlier. When someone feels they relate to you, they instantly learn to like and trust you.Your entire piece of content doesn’t have to be centered on your own personal experiences, though that isn’t a bad idea.You can sprinkle in bits and pieces of your own experiences. You can use your thoughts as nuggets to drive home a point.An easy way to get started is to share why and how you started your business. I did this for City Girl Savings in the article My Start-Up Story: Why I Started City Girl Savings.#3 Give a glimpse into your lifeLooking for another easy way to incorporate more of you in your business branding? Give glimpses into your day, dinner, or life!Share the people you love. Share your pets. Take a picture of what you’re eating for dinner. People want to know you’re a real person.I started doing this on in the form of a monthly “Day in the Life” series via Instagram stories. I take my audience behind the scenes of my life on a particular day each month.I’m personally trying to get better about doing this on the regular, but I knew if I had a set day/time every month, it would happen.You can ease your way into this. Start small by sharing your favorite way to have coffee.Eventually you’ll get comfortable with sharing more about your life, and that will turn into an eager and engaged audience!#4 Share some of your favorite things Maybe you’re not ready to give your audience a glimpse into your life just yet. Instead, share some of your favorite things.You can do this in a blog post, in a pre-recorded video, in a social media post or in an email newsletter. Just take the time to share the things you like most.Feel free to start basic with things like your favorite color, song, movie, or hobbies. Then work your way up to your favorite podcasts, stores, influences and start sharing why.This is a great way to continue building upon that connection your audience craves. It also helps people get a better understanding of who you are.Sharing your favorite things lets potential clients know if you both jive. If not, it’s totally fine! You want customers you can jive with!#5 Put your picture up in multiple placesIf you’ve been following along but feeling anxiety with each tip that passes by, start here! If you want to incorporate more of you into your business branding, start by putting your picture up!Put your picture on your website, put it on your business’ social media platforms. Share it in stories! It doesn’t take as much effort to share your picture as it does some of the other ideas in this article.Start here to get your nerves to wind down. Don’t have a picture worthy of sharing? I highly doubt that—but consider taking headshots.Everyone needs a professional headshot, and it could be a great picture to share across your marketing channels.Related: CGS 5 Year Mark: Success and OpportunitiesFollowing the tips above will help your current and future customers relate to you in ways you never would’ve expected.In a saturated online space, the only thing differentiating you from someone else is your own look, experiences, and voice.YOU are the thing that makes your business different. Share more of you, and those who resonate will become loyal followers and customers.Are you scared to put yourself out in your business? How do you incorporate yourself in your business’ branding? Share yo … 5 Easy Ways to Incorporate More of You in Your Business BrandingRead More »

5 At-Home Fitness Programs to Try Working out and trying to get fit can seem like a chore, but fitness should be fun and exciting—not scary and boring. There are some at-home fitness programs that can make working out exciting!Whether the gym is closing due to the pandemic or lines are wrapped around the block due to social distancing, it seems like the safest place for a guaranteed workout is in your home.Check out these 5 at-home fitness programs to try! #1 Fit Girl’s Guide 28-Day JumpstartThis is the perfect jumpstart when trying to add some extra healthy movement in your day, all while not killing yourself.This at home workout is just 28 days which is great for anyone trying to test the waters of their fitness journey. Workouts are 30 minutes and, best of all, require little to no equipment.This is great for those just starting out because it not only works you, but teaches you! Instructors explain the proper form of workouts in addition to stretches so you don’t hurt yourself.For just $35, you get a four-week workout as well as a Jumpstart Journal, which includes a food and exercise diary. #2 P90XIf you have never heard of this at home fitness program, we can most certainly call you a Gen Z type of exerciser. This isn’t a cult classic workout program for no reason!The workouts are varied, incorporating resistance training, cardio, plyometrics, abs work, martial arts, and yoga. You name it, the program is touching on it one way or another.The program comes with 12 workouts, as well as a nutrition plan and a workout calendar. P90X will have you sweating and burning calories you didn’t even know could burn.The X in P90 stands for extreme for a reason. This program is designed for one hour a day, six days a week, for 90 days.To purchase you simply can join Beachbody On Demand ($39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for 12 months) for access to this and other Beachbody exercise programs.#3 Insanity This at-home fitness program is a 60-day cardio-based program for advanced exercisers. When we say advanced, we are not joking, but we will let you try it for yourself and see.Insanity is a challenging workout, but it is so worth it! This particular at-home workout includes 10 conditioning workouts that are about 30 to 60 minutes each, and you do them six days per week.The cherry on top is that this at-home workout comes with a nutrition guide and no equipment is needed! #4 PIIT28PIIT28 may sound like an odd fitness program name: it stands for Pilates Intense Interval Training. For all the Pilates lovers, you won’t be disappointed with this workout program.This is a Pilates-based interval training program that requires zero equipment, minimal space, and 28 minutes a day for 28 days. Talk about having time in a day to do it all.Twenty-eight minutes of working out is a dream come true, especially when you’re doing it from the comfort of your own home.In this specific workout, the Pilates instructor will have you go through seven different exercises for 45 seconds each, resting for 15 seconds in between. Then you repeat that set three times.For as low as $39, the program comes with 17 guided workout videos and an e-book, which includes printable versions of the workouts, a workout calendar, a guide to warm-ups and proper form for each exercise, and a rep sheet so you can track progress.#5 Tone It UpThis fitness program offers a variety of free and paid workouts, plus a paid nutrition plan. Don’t freak out over the name—this program is more of a fitness community than a program itself.Trust and believe there is no shortage of variety when trying out Tone It Up! The type of workouts include HIIT, total-body strength, cardio, and routines geared toward certain areas, like arms, abs, or glutes.If your interest was not piqued yet, there are also workouts inspired by boxing, barre, yoga, and much more.As for timing, there’s a little bit for everyone’s schedule. While some of the workouts range in length, and while some are bodyweight only, others require equipment such as an exercise ball, sliders, resistance bands, and dumbbells.The great thing about this at home program is it’s a lot more affordable than a gym membership, starting as low as $15/month or $100/year for Studio Tone It Up.Related: Ease Your Way Into Working OutWho said you needed to have a gun membership to look and feel your best? Clearly these 5 home fitness programs can get the job done and still catch your favorite reality show without the DVR.What is one fitness program you would recommend? Have you tried any of the ones we suggested? If so, did you get the results you desired? We love hearing from you and members in the community so drop a comment! When you’re browsing Facebook stop by our City Girl Savings page and chime in the convo!Also, don’t forget to show some love to our Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube page @citygirlsavings.-TaelorThe CGS … 5 At-Home Fitness Programs to TryRead More »

February 2022 Money Review When … February 2022 Money ReviewRead More »

6 Ways Independent Women Can Thrive Financially “All the women who independent, throw your hands up at me!” Not sure about you, but Destiny’s Child is running through my head right now!Independent women are a force to be reckoned with! Whether they’re single, own their home, or face society head on, there are certain things all independent women can do to thrive financially.In fact, whether you consider yourself an independent woman or not, the tips in this article can help you financially thrive and conquer!Check out 6 ways independent women can thrive financially and start implementing these tips and tricks into your day-to-day money routines.6 Ways Independent Women Can Thrive Financially#1 They can diversify their assetsDo you have a 401k? What about an IRA? Maybe you’re investing via a brokerage firm (like Fidelity or Vanguard) or a robo-advisor (like Public or Betterment).Regardless of how you currently invest in assets, you can thrive financially by diversifying them! Not familiar with the term “diversification”?According to our article 11 Investment Terms Simplified, it means:“An asset allocation strategy that mixes a wide variety of investments within a single portfolio. Diversification rationale is that a portfolio with a variety of investments will earn higher returns and offer lower risk than an individual investment found in a portfolio.”Basically, it means that you shouldn’t have all of your eggs (money) in one basket (single investment). Your money should be spread across multiple assets, so your risk is spread out as well.If one asset goes down, but the other goes up, you’re even.How do you diversify? Start by looking at your current assets/investment options. You can do this on any platform. If you’re looking at your 401k or IRA, look for the option to change your investments.From there you’ll have the ability to select multiple options. Read How I Picked my 401k Selections for my strategy on this.#2 They can start investing in stocks and cryptoOne of the best ways to build real wealth is through investing. Primarily, investing in the stock market. However, there are other forms of investments as well (real estate, equity in a company, and crypto are some examples).I did an interview with The Money Manual about investing in crypto. You can read it here. I’m sure you’ve heard of Dogecoin or Bitcoin by now. The good thing about crypto is that it trades 24-7. This means you can make money anytime, not just when the market is open.Since crypto is relatively new, it doesn’t have as strict regulations as other forms of investments. My guess is this will change in the future, but until then you can leverage it to help you build wealth!You don’t need a lot of money to invest in crypto to make a profit.Robinhood, Public and Coinbase are all great options for investing in crypto. You even get free stock if you join Robinhood and Public! Start there and start small. At least until you can get your feet wet in the experience!#3 They can get a pre-nuptial agreement in placeAre you an independent woman in a relationship? Are you engaged or on your way to marriage? One of the best things you can do to thrive financially is have a pre-nuptial agreement in place.Long gone are the days of pre-nups being a bad omen. They are absolutely critical if you have wealth and assets you don’t want subject to your partner, should the marriage end.Men have no problem asking women for pre-nups, so independent women shouldn’t have a problem asking for them either.You can set your own terms and make it suitable for you and your partner. Maybe they have assets they want to protect too! Don’t be afraid to have the conversation, it’s necessary.#4 They can set their own money goalsIf you’re an independent woman, then you’re probably already setting your own money goals. However, it still needs to be called out, especially if you’re in a relationship.You can thrive financially be always setting and working towards your own money goals: the things that mean the most to you.I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have joint or mutual goals with a partner or significant other. I’m just saying that you should also prioritize your own wants and things you’d like to accomplish.The levels never end, so the goals should never stop!#5 They can start setting up their children for successDo you have kids? Do you think you’ll have kids one day? Start setting them up for success now! You can do so in a variety of ways.Open a 529 account (pre-tax investments) for their college education costs. Get them set up with a minor savings account and contribute to it regularly. Gift them a piggy bank so they learn the value of saving (affiliate link).Financial literacy isn’t taught in school (yet), so one of the best ways to set your children up for success is by teaching them yourself.However, you should have your own ducks in a row first. Since you’re an independent woman, I’m assuming you do! #6 They can keep their own reserves on standby Another way independent women can thrive financially is by having their own form of reserves (in the form of savings).Should sh*t hit the fan—in your job, relationship or home life—you can recover and bounce back quickly, thanks to your reserves.Not only does having a savings on standby help you if you need it, it brings a sense of security that can be powerful as you’re continuing to grow your own wealth. Start with having one month’s worth of reserves, then work your way up from there.Related: 7 Money Moves to Become Financially IndependentWherever you are in life, the tips above can be applied accordingly. The purpose is to stay an independent woman by ensuring you can and will always be financially stable.Slowly work your way through the tips on this list so you can thrive financially. You’re worth it!Do you have any of the tips on this list in place currently? What actions or habits help you feel financially in charge? Drop a comment below t … 6 Ways Independent Women Can Thrive FinanciallyRead More »

#10: Conquering the Fear of Failure and Redefining Success “I’m worried again. I’m worried I won’t be able to make CGS a self-sustaining business that I can run full time and still survive.”This was a journal entry I had written on 4/10/2019.Nearly a year earlier I had made the decision that I wanted to run City Girl Savings full-time…and that’s when the fear started to rear its ugly head.Over time, I sought out the skills, tools, and resources I needed to become a person who didn’t let a fear of failure stop them.Journaling was the true game-change for me.I’ve been writing my goals down for nearly 14 years, but I didn’t start consistently journaling until 2018, coincidentally right after I turned 30 and realized that I wanted to be a full-time business owner!It’s like some part of me knew that I needed to become a next-level Raya to eventually reach that goal.I’m a much faster typist than writer, so I’ve been typing my journal entries. I have a document for each year, and I specify the day.After reading “The Power of Now”, I was able to have effective journaling sessions with myself. I would ask questions and truly seek the answers.Daily affirmations were a very powerful resource for me as well.I would journal my beliefs – things I believed to be true about myself.There were many other journal sessions around my fear of failing and they all lead me to this realization:I define “Failure” and I’ve already decided that I could never be a failure because of all that I’ve done up until this point. Forget about what hasn’t been done, that’s only icing on the cake.I also realized that unless I’m dying or on the verge of dying, this “fear” I have is unnecessary.That’s how I conquered my fear of failure.As far as redefining success, I stopped defining success by what society says and started thinking about what a successful life really looked like to me.Once I got clear on that, I was able to see that I’m already a success!Here’s a glance at this episode:[03:25] I learned that typing out my journal entries was much more sustainable. I think much faster than I write, so typing made sense and continues to be a daily practice for my journaling sessions.[04:55] I break down a journal entry I had years ago that shows my fears as thoughts and how I shifted the narrative as I was journaling those worries.[07:45] After reading The Power of Now, I was able to have conversations with myself and ask questions to get to the root of my thoughts.[12:30] The true way to kick the fear of “failure” in the butt is defining what failure means to you and making sure you never get to that place.Click here to listen!Rate, Review, & Follow on … #10: Conquering the Fear of Failure and Redefining SuccessRead More »

8 Ways to Make More Money Instantly While the cost of living across the United States is on an unbelievable rise, an increase of wages lags. Higher salaries are coveted but don’t appear to be progressing with the times. This means that more and more people are seeking out additional streams of income. Long gone are the days of having one income and expecting it to help you get by. With the rising costs of being a U.S. citizen, the driving force to work towards goals, and the desire to build lasting wealth, making more money is an absolute necessity. Not sure what you can do? Check out this list of 8 ways to make more money instantly. Don’t be afraid to try different things to bring in more money. Trial and error give you the freedom to experiment and find what works best for you! 8 Ways to Make More Money Instantly #1 Sell unwanted stuff online I think one of the best ways to make money quick, reduce clutter, and feel better is to sell stuff you no longer want. Donating is also a good thing, but if you’re looking to get some extra cash, selling is the way to go. Nowadays, there are so many options to choose from when selling your stuff. Poshmark is great for clothes and accessories. I wrote an article about using Poshmark to make a profit. Other online marketplaces include eBay, LetGo, and Facebook Marketplace. I recently came across ThredUp and Tradesy too! I would suggest finding the platform that works best for you, as opposed to being on multiple platforms – at least for the long term. #2 Create and sell a digital product While creating a digital product doesn’t happen instantly, once it’s created and available for sale, the money can come in instantly! In fact, a digital product is a great form of passive income. You can make sales while you’re sleeping, traveling or at your day job! To get started, think about the information you’d like to package up to sell. Are you good at organizing? Do your friends compliment your style? Is cooking new recipes your thing? Think about those things and then decide on what information you’ll use for your digital product. The options are endless! Once you’ve decided on your topic, think about what type of digital product you’d want to create. You could do an eBook, a recorded video training, a checklist, or a combination of all those things. Find a platform to host it on (YouTube for video, website, etc.) and set up a PayPal account to accept payments. You can market it to your friends and family, share it on social media, or drop off flyers around town. This may require some extra work, but it could spark that entrepreneurial flame in you! Not to mention, getting sales in the middle of the night is a great feeling. #3 Day trade in the stock market Proceed with caution here! Day trading is the act of buying and selling stock or crypto assets over the course of a day, or over a few days. If you watch the market, you may have an idea of which stocks have a history of increasing. Even if you buy and sell for a profit of $30, you’re making extra money instantly! I warn you to proceed with caution because profits are not guaranteed. There is always the scenario of things not going as planned and you losing money. In those cases, you could hold your investment until it goes back up (which I’d recommend) or sell for a loss. I’ve day-traded cryptocurrency and have made a few extra hundred bucks a month. Then, my asset went down, and now I’m waiting for it to go back up. That put a pause on my day trading! Make sure you set your personal limits and stick to them. #4 Become a local dog walker Do you love dogs? Become a freelance dog walker in your spare time! You can leverage a company like Wag, who handles payments and finding clients. You can also market yourself online or around your neighborhood and get paid directly from your clients. Not only do you get to be around dogs, but you get some good exercise in as well! This is an option that requires an exchange of time for money. That’s okay! Especially if you enjoying moving and being around dogs. #5 Start babysitting or house-sitting Another option that requires an exchange of time for money, but pays instantly, is babysitting or house-sitting. Do you have a lot of extra time on your hands? Maybe you enjoy being around kids, or like the solitude of no one being home. Baby-sitting and house-sitting can be great options for you. Similar to dog-walking, you can find companies that facilitate the meeting of sitter to client, or you can go the freelancing route and find your own clients. Either option can result in extra money coming in, which is the goal! #6 Take surveys onlinePrefer to stay home when making extra money? Consider taking surveys or watching videos online! Swagbucks is one of the best resources to leverage to get paid for taking surveys or watching videos from the comfort of your own home. Looking for something less mainstream than Swagbucks? Some other online survey options include Branded Surveys, InboxDollars, LifePoints and Survey Junkie. Get an account set up and get to the surveys! The payouts aren’t astronomical, but neither is the amount of work or effort needed to complete the tasks. #7 Participate in studies or blood drives If you need a one-time influx of cash, or extra cash on an as-needed basis, participate in local or virtual studies, or blood drives! I get emails all the time for paid studies. In exchange for my answers to the study and time given, money or gift cards are offered. I don’t accept every request, but I do participate in the ones that interest me or ones I can give good feedback on. Blood drives are another way to make some extra money and help save lives! I’ve never gone this route but would suggest looking online or contacting your local hospitals for guidance on how to give blood. #8 Start driving for major companies (Amazon, Uber, Shipt) A final way to make more money instantly is to become a driver for major logistics companies. Amazon fleet, Uber and Uber Eats, Shipt, InstaCart, Postmates and Lyft are all great options. What’s even better is that some of the companies give bonuses. Complete a specific number of rides or hours and you get extra cash paid out instantly! I’ve done Uber in the past and have made good money from it! One weekend I made $400! It’s a great option when your schedule varies or you like driving. There are options that don’t require human interaction too, which is great if you’re worried about health or safety. Related: 5 Reasons Why You Need Multiple Income Streams One thing I will add is to ALWAYS have a plan for extra income. When you do move forward with making extra money, give it a place and a purpose before it comes. That way you aren’t wasting the opportunity! All of the ideas listed above can help you bring in more money instantly. Some require an exchange of time for money, while others require devoted attention. Either way, you can find an income-generating activity that suits your personality and lifestyle. What are some ways you bring in more money? Do you have any go-to income sources when you’re running low on cash? Share your tips and tricks by posting a comment below. -R … 8 Ways to Make More Money InstantlyRead More »