4 Easy Christmas Recipes to Try This Year The Christmas spirit is among us and we don’t know about you, but we’re certainly looking forward to Christmas dishes in particular!There’s something about the sweet and savory holiday dishes that feels nourishing to the soul. Christmas only comes once a year (thought we all wish it happened more often), so why not pull out the tastiest recipes?Traditional Christmas recipes often take hours of preparation and exhausting effort—fortunately, there’s another way. Check out these four easy Christmas dishes to try this holiday season.#1 Cookie Reindeer This simple, delicious recipe will leave you with 15 cookie reindeer.  We promise you and your guests will love them (or just you, if you’re not hosting this holiday season!).You will need:Pretzels1 bag of oval cookies, like MilanosWhite frostingCandy eyes (30)Red chocolate-covered candies (15)The best part of this recipe is it’s family-friendly, so little ones can easily help out.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Snap the pretzels in half down the middle—you’ll need one pretzel for each reindeer’s antlers.Put a dab of white frosting on the top of each cookie and push the pretzels gently into the frosting. Flip the cookies over and leave them pretzel-side down on the baking sheet.Put a dab of white frosting for each eye and nose on the cookie, then stick on the candy eyes and red chocolate noses!Refrigerate the cookies for 5 to 10 minutes or let sit at room temperature for at least an hour to allow the frosting to solidify. Enjoy!#2 Loaded Baked Potato Casserole If you enjoy potatoes, then you’ll love this recipe. This easy-to-make banked potato casserole will outshine any other dish!You’ll need:5 russet potatoes4 tbs softened butter1 cup sour cream¾ cup half and half1 ½ tsp salt½ tsp pepper3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (substitute gruyere, Monterey Jack, feta, Parmesan, or other types of cheese to change the flavor)10 slices of crisp, crumbled bacon4 green onions, slicedHeat your oven to 400°F and spray a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.Place the potatoes on a cookie sheet and prick holes in them with a fork so they’ll cook inside. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.Remove the potatoes and reduce the temperature to 350°F. Let the potatoes cool for about 15 minutes, until they’re easy to handle.Cut the potatoes in half and scoop the insides into a large bowl. Add the softened butter and mash the potatoes until the lumps are mostly gone. Stir in the sour cream, half and half, salt, and pepper.Set aside 1 cup of cheese, 3 tbs of bacon, and 1/4 of the sliced green onions. Stir in the remaining cheese, bacon, and green onions.Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish and place the reserved cheese on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is slightly puffy and brown around the edges.Garnish with the reserved bacon and green onions. #3 Pineapple and Ginger Beer Glazed HamSome of us look forward to a delicious turkey each Christmas, while others opt for a delicious flavored ham. To make this easy glazed ham, you only need a 4-ingredient marinade—and the ham, of course!You’ll need:½ cup pineapple juice2 cups ginger beer1/3 cup brown sugar1 tsp Dijon mustardPreheat your oven to 350°F. Combine the ginger beer, pineapple juice, mustard, and sugar in a saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and allow to simmer for 20-25 minutes (or until thickened).Remove the glaze from the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes.While waiting, use a small, sharp knife to cut through the ham rind. You’ll want to cut about 8 cm from the shank, then run your thumb under the rind to separate it from the fat, starting at the end opposite to the shank.Peel back and remove the rind and score the fat with the knife at 1 cm intervals. Wrap the shank end of the ham in foil.Place the ham on a lightly greased wire rack in a large roasting pan and add 2 cm of boiling water.Brush the ham with about 1/4 of the glaze. Bake the ham, basting it with the glaze every 20 minutes. Bake the ham for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the outside is golden and caramelized.Remove and discard the foil, and serve.#4 Smoked Salmon WreathA smoked salmon wreath is a quick and easy starter dish—on top of which, it’s super healthy and ready in only 30 minutes!You will need:1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, with the core removed3 limes2 green shallots, trimmed3 large, ripe avocados250 g baby cucumbers, peeled into ribbons1 bunch radishes (200 g) washed, trimmed, and thinly sliced400 g smoked salmonExtra virgin olive oilCrème fraicheSalmon roeFresh dill sprigsMicro herbsCrackers or crusty bread (optional)Slice the fennel lengthwise with a mandoline, then place the slices in a mixing bowl. Squeeze one of the limes into the bowl, add a pinch of salt, and toss to combine. Set aside.Cut the shallots lengthwise and place them in a bowl of ice water for 2-3 minutes, or until they are slightly curled. Drain and set aside.Mash the avocados and juice the remaining limes over them. Add salt and pepper or other seasonings. Stir to combine. Arrange the mashed avocado around the edge of a large serving platter.Drain the fennel. Arrange the fennel, cucumber, radish, shallot, and salmon over the top of the avocado.Drizzle with olive oil and season with more pepper. Add a dollop of crème fraiche and salmon roe.Sprinkle the dill and micro herbs over the plate. Serve immediately, with the optional crackers or crusty bread, or on its own.Related: Chic and Useful Kitchen AccessoriesChristmas isn’t just about getting and giving gifts—it’s also about coming together and enjoying the fellowship of a delicious meal.What are some holiday recipes you’re looking forward to preparing this year?Like and follow our City Girl Savings Facebook page, and stay in the loop with finance, beauty, and lifestyle tips on IG @citygirlsavings. Check out our YouTube page for even more … 4 Easy Christmas Recipes to Try This YearRead More »

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6 Beauty Gift Sets to Put Under the Tree We know the best gifts found under the tree are ones that come in sets. Sets are the best holiday gifts because they are literally collections of items bundled in one!When they say get more bang for your buck, this is exactly what they mean. This year, whether you’re treating yourself or purchasing for someone else, gift sets are the way to go.Check out these six City Girl Savings-recommended gift sets you should put under the tree this year.#1 GlossierThis beauty brand never ceases to amaze their customers. From skincare routines to makeup sets, you won’t be disappointed with the array of selections they offer in their gift sets. The makeup set includes the holy grail of makeup products for the everyday woman.The daily makeup staples include the perfect everyday black mascara that visibly lengthens and curls lashes. There’s a gel-cream blush (choose from a range of buildable, sunset-inspired shades) and brow items that shape, fluff, and groom brows into place.All together there are three easy to apply make-up essentials for a fresh-faced look!#2 Fenty SkinWho doesn’t love Fenty and all its heaven-sent items!? Fenty items are so easy to use and packed with benefits.If you are unsure of the products to choose from, get their beauty set. It comes with a starter routine for your best skin in three simple steps: Cleanse, tone and hydrate. Every multi-tasking product is like 2-in-1.The universal creamy cleanser removes dirt, oil, and long wear makeup without stripping or drying. Barbados cherry and coconut-derived cleansers nourish and treat skin right.The toner serum will improve your pores, brighten and smooth skin, and keep it healthy. There’s also a moisturizing, oil-free sunscreen that’s truly invisible regardless of skin tone.The full set also works well with your makeup, and leaves your skin brighter and healthier.#3 Lush Gift SetThe Lush Hello Gorgeous gift set absolutely lives up to its name, and you’ll wish you’d gotten it sooner. In it, you’ll find lotion, a bubble bar, moisturizer, and more.All the items have signature Lush scents and that irresistible focus on making your skin soft, smooth, and gorgeous.#4 HonestThe Honest brand was founded by actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba, and has expanded into the real of beauty! These gift sets are perfect for anyone in your life who’s on the lookout for clean makeup.The Honest Three Steps to Flawless kit is a must-have, and includes a mask, cream, and more. The products are formulated with hyaluronic acid and other clean ingredients that will keep your skin fresh and glowing.#5 Kylie SkinWhether it’s for your or a gal pal, the Kylie skincare set is a must-have. The kit comes with a cleanser, face scrub, toner, moisturizer, serum, and eye cream! You can’t go wrong.The blend of ingredients and scents are sure to impress, with everything from a walnut face scrub to the eye cream’s mix of green tea and pomegranate.This skincare set will help brighten your skin, reduce puffiness, and improve the overall appearance of your skin.#6 Morphe Lash Gift SetLash extensions have hit the beauty scene and won’t be going away any time soon, so why not gift someone a lash extension set this year? The Morphe brand has a 10-piece set that you simply can’t pass up.Morphe provides intense, all-natural lash extensions—and each set can be worn multiple times! The lash set is economical and cuts down on unnecessary waste.Related: 5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas that Won’t Hurt Your BudgetGift sets are great presents, especially since they show up already wrapped and ready to be put under the tree! Beauty gift sets make gifting so much easier.What are some of your favorite gift sets?  Like and follow us on the CGS Facebook page and join the conversation! We love hearing from you. Follow us on IG @citygirlsavings and check our YouTube channel for the latest t … 6 Beauty Gift Sets to Put Under the TreeRead More »

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5 Ways to Give Thanks During the Holiday Season There’s something about the holiday season that brings our gratitude to the surface. When the holidays roll around, you can start to see the shift in people’s attitudes. The holidays can turn your office Scrooge into the sweetest enthusiast—just watch! We all know that the holidays give us a chance to focus on the most important parts of life and how grateful we are for what we have. We’re sharing 5 ways to give thanks during the holiday season. #1 Get Intentional When you make your gratitude intentional, it’s like the heavens open up. You’ll start to see and hear things differently. Getting intention helps you focus your attention on what you have, rather than what you lack. It’s a great way to show gratitude during this year’s holiday season. When you’re intentional, you choose to make decisions and take action based on what’s truly important. Remember your mom’s favorite flower, and give her a bouquet full of them. If your friend mentioned they need a new kitchen appliance to launch their meal plan business, make that your gift to them this year with a note thanking them for the friendship you’ve built. We’re confident that your intentional expressions of gratitude will be heard loud and clear. Count your blessings, and then make an intention of being the blessing for someone else.  #2 Give Back One major way of expressing gratitude is finding a way to give back. Giving back is an act of kindness for others—and it also helps to boost our own mood, reinforcing gratitude. There’s something magical about giving back and helping improve another person’s situation. Giving back doesn’t just have to be to people you know. You can also find ways to give back to your broader community. Giving back can look different from person to person. One person might feel strongly about a specific charity’s mission, and donate money as a way to help support it. Another person might want to be directly involved, and will choose to spend time shoveling snow off of an elderly neighbor’s sidewalks and driveway. There’s no wrong way to give back! You can find ways to express gratitude for all you’ve been given by finding ways to use your time, energy, or money for others. #3 Say Thank You While giving gifts and performing acts of kindness are great ways of demonstrating gratitude, a simple “Thank you” never hurts either! Thank someone who’s helped you out during tough times. The holidays can be an emotional period for a lot of people, so taking the time to thank someone can go a long way. At times, we think others are simply supposed to serve us without being asked or recognized for their effort. Throw that mindset in the garbage! When someone does something out of the kindness of their heart, offering them a genuine “Thank you” shows that you see and appreciate their work. #4 Be Thoughtful Considering how your actions and words affect other people’s feelings is another way to give thanks. We know we’re grateful when people take the time to be thoughtful for us—paying it forward is just another one to show gratitude! Your thoughtfulness will show through your actions. Whether it’s giving someone their favorite bottle of wine just because you knew they’d like it, or taking the time to listen when someone needs to complain about a bad day, your attention to how other people feel will be clear. Small acts of gratitude and thoughtfulness never go unseen. #5 Write a Note One of the most genuine ways to show gratitude is via a note or a letter. When you write a note to someone thanking them, the note demonstrates your gratitude and becomes an item that can be treasured. Sending a thank you letter to someone who’s had an impact on your life, or who recently helped you with something, is a great way to personalize a holiday card. Take the time to think of a person who helped you, identify the impact of their help, and offer them genuine thanks. And don’t forget to check your letter for typos or misspellings! Related: 5 Ways to Tap Into Your Gratitude The holiday season is here, and there’s no better time to practice giving thanks. From the City Girl Savings team to you and yours, we wish you every joy this holiday season. What are some ways you like to say thank you during the holidays? Don’t forget to check out the City Girl Savings Facebook page—we love hearing from the community! Follow us on IG @citygirlsavings to get the latest financial advice and lifestyle, beaut … 5 Ways to Give Thanks During the Holiday SeasonRead More »

5 Ways to Stretch Your Dollar Through All the Seasonal Festivities “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”! Oh, I just love the holiday season. It’s like there’s something in the air! The twinkling lights, the Christmas trees, snow (depending on where you are), it’s all so magical! While it’s fun to enjoy the energy that comes around the holidays, it’s also easy to let your budget get out of control! The holiday season goes hand in hand with spending, but if you’re intentional and wise about it, you can stretch your dollar and make it work for you. I’m sharing 5 ways to stretch your dollar through all the seasonal festivities that comes our way during the holiday time of year! 5 Ways to Stretch Your Dollar Through All the Seasonal Festivities #1 Shop in your pantry One of our mantras in the CGS Facebook Group is “I have food at home!” This holiday season, make it a point to shop in your pantry before going to the grocery store or giving gifts! Use the ingredients you have on hand for meal preparation. You can even gift food items that you haven’t used or don’t plan on using. Not only does shopping in your pantry help you keep your dollars in your wallet, but it allows you to use everything you’ve got…just in time for a new year! Stretch your dollar and get the most out of your items on hand by scoping out the pantry before spending money on food items! #2 Don’t be afraid to “re-gift” gifts I’ll be the first one to admit I do this and don’t feel bad about it! One year, I had bought myself a perfume set. Come the holiday season, I ended up getting the exact same set as a gift. Instead of having 2 of the same perfumes, I re-gifted the gift set! There’s nothing wrong it with, and it helps you save money! If you received gifts you know you wont use, or gifts that those in your life would enjoy more than you, give them away! Just make sure you don’t give it back to the original giver. That may be a little embarrassing to explain! Would you rather not re-gift? Give those old gifts to charity! If you donate to Goodwill or other charities during the holiday season, that could be a great place to let the gifts go and get to a new home. #3 Pick up an extra shift or two There’s no better way to stretch your dollar than by making more dollars! While the holiday season can be a crazy time of the year, if you have the time and capacity to make some extra money…take it! This could also help you as you create your holiday budget. Service based jobs, especially around the holidays, can help you bring in a lot more cash via tips! Everyone (well, mostly everyone) is in a “giving” mood and that translates into more money in your pockets. Consider Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Postmates or other delivery and courier service options! Retail is also an industry that picks up over the holidays. If you’re looking for something seasonal and temporary, consider working part-time at your favorite retail stores. If you spend money there on the regular, you can get discounts for being an employee! #4 Request cash or gift cards as your presents Unless I have a specific gift in mind that I need or want, my go-to gift request is always cash or gift cards to stores I regularly spend money. Last year, I got over $75 worth of Starbucks gift cards that I was able to use all through January. That helped me come in under budget in my Dining Out category! I love getting work done at my local Barnes and Noble. The year before last, I got Barnes and Noble gift cards that helped fund those day trips! My point is that you can stretch your dollar by requesting cash or gift cards to stores you frequent. This may not result in savings during the holiday season, but I can result in savings shortly after…when your budget likely needs it the most! #5 Remind yourself that debt from the holidays is not worth it Rounding out our list of ways to stretch your dollar through all the seasonal festivities is by reminding yourself that holiday spending debt is SO not worth it. Whether you’re going into debt for yourself or for others, it’s never a good idea. Not only do you feel guilty once the holiday season is over, you’re cleaning up the mess for months to come. I might add that those who care about you wouldn’t want you to go into debt just so you can give them nice gifts. Ask yourself why you feel you need to spend so much to give to others. Check out 5 Reasons Not to Go Into Debt During the Holidays for some more reasons to keep it debt-free this (and every) holiday season. Related: 8 Ways to Save More During the Holiday Season I encourage you to take any chance you have to save money and stretch your dollar through all the seasonal festivities! I want you to end the holiday season on a financial high note and give yourself a nice head start moving into the new year! Do you have any tips or tricks for stretching your dollars around the holidays? How do you save money or stick to your holiday budget? Sh … 5 Ways to Stretch Your Dollar Through All the Seasonal FestivitiesRead More »

5 Tips for Creating a Holiday Budget Is it just me, or do the holidays always seem to creep up on us?! Seriously…I blink and VOILA, it’s Christmas season! Is your holiday budget ready?!Don’t get me wrong, it’s the most wonderful time of the year and all that, but from a financial standpoint…it can put a hurting on your budget! Let’s vow to make sure that doesn’t happen this year.One of the best ways to financially prepare for the holidays is to create a holiday budget! That’s right: a budget designed with the anticipation of seasonal spending.The sooner you can get that plan in place, the better off your wallet will be. I’m sharing 5 tips for creating a holiday budget that helps you feel ready for the seasonal festivities.5 Tips for Creating a Holiday Budget#1 Assess what you already have saved for holiday shoppingIf you’re one of those A+ personal finance students who has a sinking fund year-round for holiday shopping, then way to go!If not, consider starting one for next year. Whether you have the year-round holiday shopping fund or not, take some time to think about what you already have saved for holiday spending.It doesn’t have to be much, but knowing you already have something saved for the holidays makes you feel so much better than starting from scratch.If you don’t have anything saved, no worries—we’ll just have to make it a priority moving forward. Time is ticking!#2 Consider skipping the recreational categories until the new yearYou already know that I think fun/discretionary/recreational spending categories should be in everyone’s budget. It’s a requirement for consistent and sustainable budgeting.However, if you don’t have anything saved for the holidays and need to create your holiday budget, I recommend cutting out these categories.A better way to phrase it is to repurpose these categories to holiday shopping. The money you already budget for fun spending can be used for your holiday shopping, with no impact to your normal numbers.It may not be as much as you need or would like, but it’s certainly a start.Uncomfortable with repurposing all of the amounts allotted for your recreational categories? Pick and choose what gets allocated to holiday shopping. Anything is better than nothing.#3 Add in seasonal categories to keep you on trackDo you make a new budget every month? Then, we are one and the same! Every month I create a new “tab” in my budget spreadsheet document and create my new budget for the month.This allows me to add in categories that may not be there year-round.I recommend adding in seasonal categories to your budget to help you keep track of what you want to spend and what you actually do spend.Your categories could be: Holiday Gifts, Seasonal Activities, or Festive Spending.Once you have your seasonal categories added, you can allocate your income to them. This falls in line with the tip above: repurpose your recreational spending limits to your new seasonal budget categories.#4 Are the numbers in your budget realistic?Since your budget should include your income, you’re able to see if the money that you allocate to your budget categories is in line with what you actually bring home.It’s so important to make sure the numbers across your budget categories are realistic.If you’re budgeting to spend more than you make, that means you’ll end up tapping into savings or using credit cards. Unless your savings are designated for holiday shopping, we don’t want either of those scenarios to happen!If you have to limit what you spend on holiday shopping, gifts and activities, then so be it.Trust me, you’ll feel better when the holiday season is over. Check out 5 Reasons Not to Go Into Debt During the Holidays for some more motivation.#5 Where can you reduce holiday spending costs?Reiterating my point above, overspending on the holidays is never a good idea. We get a new holiday season every year, and overspending during it can mean you’re left feeling guilty.Think about what you can afford to spend on the holidays when creating your holiday budget and ask yourself where you can cut back.Can you re-gift gifts? Can you find a bottle of wine in your pantry as your party gift? Where can you reduce your holiday spending costs, but still make sure you’re partaking in the magic of the season?This will take some creativity, but it will get easier and easier as the years go by.Related: 6 Ways to Make the Most of Holiday SpendingThe earlier you can get a holiday budget laid out, the better off you’ll be. Not only will you feel more in control, but you’ll have spending limits to stick to – this can help you avoid debt or unnecessary savings usage.The most important thing to remember is that the holidays happen every year. Drop the pressure to give lavish gifts. It’s really not necessary.How do you create a holiday budget? Have you ever planned ahead for holiday spending? Share your experiences in the Comments section below! … 5 Tips for Creating a Holiday BudgetRead More »

6 Holiday Shopping Tips to Avoid Overspending Please contain your excitement and hold tight to your pocketbooks because the holidays are right around the corner! Let’s bust out some holiday shopping tips!It’s important to get a head start on getting your finances in order prior to any spending you plan to do. Planning ahead not only saves your pockets but it also helps with keeping your sanity.If you have already been planning your gift-giving carefully throughout the year, you’re ahead of the game—and we’re secretly jealous of you for it!This year, you can avoid overspending by keeping these six CGS tips in mind while shopping. #1 Observe the Quality Often when we are shopping, we go off the appearance of the item. At a glance the item may look nice, but actually take your time to observe the quality of the item before purchasing it.The last thing you need on your plate during the holiday season is a damaged item that you have to return. Sometimes looks can be deceiving, so we encourage you not to rush and honestly take your time while shopping this year.If there’s only one damaged item left on the shelf, ask if they have any more in the back or at a different location. If both options are a no, see if you can get it for a discounted price.#2 Do Not Stress To avoid going into debt, you have to have a plan in place. First rule: do not stress. Stress will literally bring more problems your way.When you stress, you are more likely to impulse buy and that’s never good because you’re just tossing items in your cart without paying attention.Stress is such a silent budget killer! Don’t expose yourself to that kind of beating. #3 Check the Price Trust and believe your loved ones would not ask you to put yourself in a financially risky situation just to get them expensive gifts. Being mindful of the price tag doesn’t make you cheap.As an alternative to overspending at the holidays, perhaps everyone can set a limit on what they plan to spend. This way no one is left feeling like they ripped a hole in their savings.#4 Track SpendingKeep track of your spending when making purchases to avoid overspending. One guideline that always seems to work is making a list and sticking to it.When you have a specific idea of what you are willing to spend, you are less likely to pull from your savings account.If it is easier for you to put all the money in a specific account and use that that account while shopping, by all means do just that! Keep track of your spending as you go so you can stay on track with your plan.#5 Use Reward PointsSome credit cards have really nice perks! Some credit cards have cash back options in addition to point and mile cards.With a cash back credit card the card issuer puts money directly into your account, which you can then use to spend on holiday gifts!Of course, how you get the miles, points, or cash depends on the card. Nonetheless if you have a credit card that has either of these features take full advantage of the rewards they offer to keep your holiday spending in check.#6 Plan for ShippingPrepare ahead and do not wait last minutes for gifts that have to be delivered. The sooner you want an item to arrive, the more shopping will cost.We often fail to take the shipping fees into consideration when shopping online. For expedited delivery, factor in fees to be a little higher bringing your total to a number you may not have planned.Keep in mind that shipping a package across the United States costs much more in fuel and labor costs than shipping it a few miles away, thus incurring higher shipping costs.Shopping early, shopping local, and avoiding high shipping costs can keep your holiday spending in check.Related: 5 Reasons Not to Go Into Debt During the HolidaysThere is no such thing as buying a person’s love so don’t you dare go broke trying to do so. Whether you are spending money on birthday celebrations or holiday festivities, make sure you stay inside your budget!What helps you stay on budget during the holidays?Check out our City Girl Savings Facebook page and join in the conversation! Also, stop by and drop a comment and like us @citygirlsavings via IG, Twitte … 6 Holiday Shopping Tips to Avoid OverspendingRead More »

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6 Ways to Whip Your Diet into Shape Now that the world is opening back up, it’s time to get back on your health tip. There is no better time than now, so if you were looking for a sign, this is it.Starting your diet may not always be easy, especially because the day you start it can feel like everything you can’t eat becomes available and delicious. Stay focused and stay committed to the journey ahead.Check out these six easy ways to whip your diet into shape.#1 Hit the GymThe first step in a healthy weight loss journey is getting in that physical activity. No matter how that looks and feel like for you or where you are in your journey, it’s important to do it.When you are getting physical activity, it works in tandem with your diet to get you the results you want and deserve. There is no greater feeling then seeing your hard work and dedication pay off in the best way.Hit the gym, take a class and sweat it all out.#2 Swap This for ThatInstead of keeping your old eating habits, try swapping out unhealthy options for something lower in calories. Swapping out unhealthy options for something healthier can def keep you on track for achieving the results you want.Simply consuming 50 calories less than what you would normally do every day can help you drop 5 pounds over a course of the yea! Lowering your bread intake can aid in consuming fewer calories.Eating a sandwich open face (without bread slices) means you cut a whopping 120 calories. Instead of consuming sodas, swap that out for a seltzer beverage.Do yourself a favor and take a pass on the sugary drinks the next time you are feeling parched.#3 Drink WaterWhen it comes to dieting, all the rules can feel frustrating. One thing that for certain that doesn’t change is your need for water intake.Keep your body fueled with water, and if you are craving something on the sweeter side that’s ok. We are all humans and craving something just means you aren’t a robot.There are tons of low-calorie powders you can add to water to give you some sweet flavors while still providing you with vitamins to whip your diet into shape.#4 Accountability GroupsHaving accountability while you are dieting is beneficial. Don’t make it harder on yourself by thinking you can do it on your own.The truth is, having like-minded people in your circle can push you to obtain the results you want. Cravings will arrive, and when they do you will wish you had your accountability group to encourage you to stay strong.If you’re not sure where to start in finding accountability folks, we suggest starting with your close knit people.Let them know you are trying to whip your diet into shape and that you need some accountability. You may even be shocked at the influx of excitement and support!#5 Watch Food ConsumptionModeration is the key to every healthy diet. Telling yourself no will most likely make you want it even moreSetting a large goal can be daunting. Begin with smaller, more attainable goals—like instead of getting a burger opt for the turkey option.Or instead of that burger go for green and get a salad. You will be surprised at how filling and yummy a good salad can be.#6 Find MotivationFinding motivation can be hard when you have worked a long day and you are tired. Everyone has different reasons for going on a diet, and the key to sticking to your commitment is to find yours.Remember that, sure, the diet will give you an amazing body—but it is also about being healthy. Small reminders and affirmations can help you maintain momentum.Limit your vices and start with minor changes. Going cold turkey may be a little tough, but if you are able to do it then more power to you!Whether you are just starting out or thinking about whipping your diet into shape, there is no better time than now. Stick to your commitment to get in shape and the rest will be history!Related: 5 Ways to Sneak Veggies into Your DietRome certainly was not built in a day and neither will be the body you worked so hard for. What tips have you found to be useful in whipping your diet into shape?Don’t forget to check out our City Girl Savings Facebook page. We always love hearing from you and members from the community! Drop a comment and like us on Instagram @citygirlsavings.-Tae … 6 Ways to Whip Your Diet into ShapeRead More »

5 Ways to Revamp Your Savings Goals Coming from a girl who has been setting money and savings goals for years, sometimes your goals just need a revamp! While it’s great to be ambitious with any goal, things don’t always play out as expected. Just because the original goal you set hasn’t been accomplished doesn’t mean you can’t eventually achieve it. A lot of factors, some in your control and some out of it, go into achieving and not achieving your goals. If you’re struggling to set savings goals you actually hit, let me help! Small tweaks can go a long way. I’m sharing 5 ways you can revamp your savings goals and put yourself in a position to start setting and achieving realistic goals. Nothing keeps you striving for more like reaching your savings goals! 5 Ways to Revamp Your Savings Goals #1 Reduce the number of savings goals you set at one time This is such an important thing to be mindful of, and I stress it to my clients ALL the time. When you focus on too many savings goals at one time, you spread your resources thin. Let’s say you have 4 goals you’re working towards—you’re likely giving 25% of your savings to each one. That means it’s take you longer to reach all of them. Instead, focus on 1-2 money goals at a time. Now you’re giving 100% to 1 goal or 50% to 2 goals. This gets you to your finish line faster than if you were focusing on even more goals. While you can always get out there and make more money, the same theory applies. Too many goals spread your resources thin. Take some time to think about your highest priority or deadline-specific goals. Make it a point to work towards those ones first. Not to mention, the momentum you get from achieving goals keeps you wanting to reach more and more of them! #2 Re-evaluate your budget to set the stage There’s nothing worse than setting a goal that isn’t realistic for your situation. The best way to avoid that trap is by reviewing your budget from the beginning. After all of your priorities are covered, how much do you realistically have to put towards your savings goals? When you know what’s realistic for your situation, you can set timelines that help you reach your goals accordingly. You can also take it a step further and try to beat your sensible timeline! Yes, you know when you should achieve your goal, but can you achieve it sooner?!#3 Ask yourself if the goal is really what you want To do what it takes to reach your goals, they have to mean something to you. What fun is it to work so hard for something you don’t actually want? No fun! As you’re going through the process of revamping your savings goals, ask yourself if the goals you have excite you. Do you really want what you originally set out to achieve? If the answer is yes, then great! Keep working towards it. If the answer is no, then scrap the goal and start over with one that means something. I promise you, when you have goals that really matter, goals that hit at your core values, you will grind until you reach them. You will put in the work, effort and time needed to achieve them – because they are worth it to you. On a final note, it’s okay that your goals change. Maybe you really did want to achieve the savings goal, but as your situation changed, and now the goal doesn’t mean anything to you. It’s perfectly fine to throw goals away that no longer server a purpose. In fact, I’d rather you throw them away! Otherwise, you’re putting your resources on goals that don’t mean anything to you anymore. #4 Consider extending your timelines Remember, your budget will tell you what you can realistically put towards your savings goals. With that information, you can assess if the timelines you’ve given yourself to reach the goals are valid. Another thing to keep in mind is that things come up. You may have been on track to reach one goal, but something popped up and required you to shift your focus to something else. In those cases, you’ll want to extend your original goal timelines. There’s nothing worse than having to shift your goals mid-way and then be reminded that you didn’t achieve it when you originally wanted to! A good example of this is when your goal is to pay off debt, but an emergency pops up. If you had savings to cover the emergency, your focus shifts to rebuilding that savings. It means your debt payoff is paused – not cancelled, just paused. #5 Follow the S.M.A.R.T criteria when setting goals You’ve likely already heard of setting S.M.A.R.T goals, and if you haven’t, you won’t forget it after this article! Here is what it means to set S.M.A.R.T goals: Specific – target a specific area for improvement. Measurable – quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress. Achievable – specify how the goal will be achieved Realistic – state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources. Time-related – specify when the result(s) can be achieved. When setting your money and savings goals, you want to ensure each of the criteria is met. Get specific with your particular goal. Think about how you can track your progress to ensure you reach your goal. Specify what you are going to do to reach your goal. Be realistic with your goal, in relation to your current situation. Give yourself a timeframe for when you can achieve that goal, remembering to be realist to your situation. Related: Establishing Your Wealth Goals Like I said, a little tweaking can go a long way in helping you achieve your savings goals! The tips above can help you revamp your money goals and make sure you put yourself on the path to making them a reality! If you have a goal you really want to achieve, do everything in your realistic power to reach it! It’s always possible. Do you have any tips for setting money goals? Share what works for you in the Comments section below! – … 5 Ways to Revamp Your Savings GoalsRead More »