6 Ways to Make Working Out Consistent Working out now more than ever should be easier, or so they say! Personal health does not have to become a daunting task. Maintaining a consistent fitness routine on top of being a productive person may seem impossible. We are here to share that it is not!  Stop finding excuses to skip activity altogether, because otherwise, you will reach the day when you feel like you have missed your window for working out. Here are six ways you can work out consistently. #1  Take Baby StepsWorking out for most folks is something that doesn’t come easy. If you ask anyone if they would rather work out to lose weight normally or take a pill that can get them their perfect body, and we are almost a hundred percent certain they would go with the latter option. Not saying there is anything wrong with that, as we would do the same exact thing!  Working out is more than just working out physically, it takes a toll on you mentally and emotionally as well. Taking baby steps and gradually increasing the challenge of your workout is good. This will help you love and enjoy the process of building yourself up and help avoid burning out or being discouraged.  It is very rare for individuals to just jump headfirst into something they are not used to doing. Taking baby steps ensures you are making a lifestyle of working out, not just doing something for quick results, and burning out, instead.  #2 Work Out with a Friend When you have a friend to work out with, it makes the workout seem less like a workout and more like friends that are just hanging out. If you are the type of person that prefers working out alone, try home videos, or even YouTube workouts and pretend those folks in the video are your friends.  Make your exercises into games or mini-competitions to make them more fun instead of routine and boring. We all know how inspiring a little competition can be! Having a person join you and work out with you on this new lifestyle journey is less lonely. Get the “me against the world” mentality our of your head.  Friends literally make everything that was meant to be boring feel exciting instead! Not only can they push you to do better, but they also hold you accountable. You may not be in the mood to work out all the time, but they will be right there beside you to encourage you and motivate you to get it done! When working out with a friend your chances of you sticking to it and being consistent is higher. So grab ya amiga and hit the park! #3 Multi-task  For those of us that are sheltering in place, who said you cannot multitask and get a quick HIIT workout in while replying to emails? You can set time aside in your day to do a quick workout, whether it’s thirty second jumping jacks between replies or getting some crunches in while listening in on a call. Multitasking is the new switch up.  When you find yourself feeling a little overwhelmed from working in your home all day, simply get your workout bands and knock some squats out. Not only are you including this into your healthy lifestyle, you are making stress leave your body.   #4 Utilize your planner Whether your planner is on your phone or if you prefer the old school was and have a physical planner, we encourage you to use it. Plan your day around what time works best for you to exercise.  Scheduling and sticking to a weekly exercise reminder or an exercise block of time will get your body used to working out. Seeing this item regularly on your calendar will decrease the odds that you’ll skip out on a commitment you’ve made to yourself.  Our perspectives on life shape our reality more then we realize. Therefore, if we see there is something we need to, then we are more likely to do it. #5 Get Rest Believe it or not, rest is one of the major elements that can help us make working out more consistent. Exercising, sleeping, and healthy eating are all components that help people find a rhythm of working out more consistently.  Studies have shown that healthy sleep habits can help you keep your waistline under control—that alone is something we can’t argue with! When you sleep smarter, you are not only resting your mind but you are rejuvenating your body for the next day and all that entails.  Getting your rest is vital in ensuring you stay consistent with your workout goals. Intelligent sleeping starts with self-discipline. #6 Try Something New That feeling of fun is what puts us in a position to make the most progress as well as achieving the best results we can. No matter what, fitness should always be fun and enjoyable.  Finding fun and creative ways to work out even when we experience challenges during the toughest workouts is essential. When you do the same workout over and over, the chance of you being over it is extremely high.  The moment you find yourself bored with doing the same thing, you will find a million and one reasons to try and get out of it. Keep things fresh and fun by doing something new, and you will find you are motivated like never before. Related: Ease Your Way Into Working Out The more we enjoy our workouts, the more we want to do them without pulling our hair out. We are the gatekeepers to the changes we want to see.  Everything is a mindset, and the worst thing you can do with a beautiful mind is losing it in the trash because of laziness. Would you try these six ways to help you stay motivated and consistent in your workouts?  Like and follow our City Girl Savings Facebook page! And stay up to date on all things finance, budgeting, and beauty via our IG and Twitter accounts @citygirlsaving … 6 Ways to Make Working Out ConsistentRead More »

The One Thing You Need to Change Your Finances for the Better When it comes to your finances, it pays (literally) to have the right mindset. In fact, it pays to have the right mindset in any area of life. The one thing you need, more than anything else, to change your finances for the better is the right mindset. Your mindset makes all the difference. How you think about your money determines how you act with your money. How you think about your situation determines how you change (or don’t change) your situation. Keep reading as I dive into why mindset is so important for your finances…and your life! Breaking Down “Mindset”If you’re not familiar with the term “mindset”, or haven’t quite grasped what I’m really getting at, I want to make sure you walk away feeling confident about it. According to the dictionary, mindset is the established set of attitudes held by someone. Basically, their philosophy on life or any particular situation. How you think and feel about things determines how you act with such things. For example, if you think eating a piece of cake will make you fat, you may not eat that piece of cake – if you don’t want to be fat. On the other hand, if you think eating a piece of cake will taste good, and you’re in the mood for a treat, you may eat that piece of cake. My point is that how you think about things, whether those thoughts are accurate or not, will impact your actions. That’s why mindset is such a powerful force. The scary thing about it is that if you’re not aware of how you’re thinking (aka your mindset), you may be doing things that aren’t truly helping you long term. However, you wouldn’t know that until you become aware of your mindset. It All Starts with Awareness When acknowledging, and even changing, your mindset, it all starts with awareness. If you’re not privy to what you’re thinking, you won’t be able to recognize and change your patterns of behavior. You may be wondering, “how do I know what I’m thinking?” Well, you notice it! It’s actually pretty simple, once you think to do it! Start asking yourself “what am I thinking?” throughout the day. Then, answer the question. You may be thinking you’re hungry, you’re tired, you want to buy something…the options are endless. The point is to start recognizing your thoughts. Once you recognize them, you can have insight into them, and eventually change them if you need to. How to Start Changing Your Mindset In order to change your mindset, you need to change your thoughts. In order to change your thoughts, you need to recognize them first. When you recognize your thoughts, you can dive deeper into if they need to be changed or not. Here’s a great example – let’s say you have been wanting to work out for awhile now, but haven’t been able to get into the routine. You could never figure out why. Your plan is to wake up early and work out, but no luck. The next time you wake up, when your alarm goes off, pay attention to your thoughts. You’re probably thinking “I’m too tired to work out”, or “it’s too cold to get out of bed.” Now, you know what’s keeping you from working out in the mornings – sleepiness and temperature. You can go to bed an hour earlier, so you wake up feeling rested. Or, you can turn the heat up a degree or two, so you aren’t too cold getting out of bed. Up until you recognize your thoughts, you don’t really know what’s stopping you from doing something you really want to. Also, you don’t know what’s contributing to you keeping bad habits. When you start to recognize your thoughts, you can start changing them. You can counter them. You can offer up alternative thoughts or solutions. The same applies to your finances. If you are constantly thinking that you’re broke, you’ll never get ahead or you’ll die with debt, you’re going to keep doing the things you’ve always done. You’re not going to proactively change your situation. Change your mindset and you’ll change how you do things. Obviously, like with any new habit, it’s easier said than done. However, you’ll get better over time. Here are a few recommendations I have that can help you start changing your mindset instantly: Listen to the Life Coach School podcast by Brooke Castillo (total game changer). Start writing daily affirmations. Affirmations are a list of things you want to be true about yourself. (i.e. “I always have what I need”). Work with a therapist or coach Start paying attention to your thoughts, by asking yourself “what am I thinking?” This list will get you going, but it will be a conscious effort. It’s worth mastering, so don’t give up! Because mindset is so important for your financial success, it’s the first module of the Money Management Mastery for Working Women program. This self-paced online course teaches you everything you need to know about mastering your money, including changing your mindset! Get started today! Related: 4 Money Manifestations to Start Today  If you do anything to change your finances, change your mindset! Start thinking about your money differently. Start approaching it from a place of abundance, as opposed to scarcity. You will start to see a huge difference in your quality of life! How would you rate your money mindset? What have you done to start thinking positively about your fin … The One Thing You Need to Change Your Finances for the BetterRead More »

2020 Year End Money + Goal Recap When it comes to your financial situation, it’s important to set goals and keep tabs on your progress along the way. If you aren’t setting goals, then what are you really working towards? And, if you aren’t keeping tabs on your progress, how do you know if you will actually reach your goals? The ability to pulse check your money at the end of each month will help! I am a firm believer in pulse checking your money and progress at the end of each month. I do month end money pulse checks myself, I help clients complete their month end money pulse checks, and in January of 2018, I started to go live at the end of each month to share my results. Every month, I quickly break down exactly how to pulse check your money, and share my month end money pulse check results. If you want a more in-depth overview of how to pulse check your month, watch the How to Pulse Check Your Money video. I hope this encourages you to start pulse checking your money each month. It’s a great way to pinpoint areas of opportunity, celebrate wins, and make sure you are on track to reach your goals. Here is a quick recap on how to pulse check your money: Refer to your budget Refer to your spending Refer to your goals Then, ask yourself the following questions: Did anything unexpected come up to throw off my budget? Should I budget for it moving forward? What areas did I overspend in? What areas did I under spend in? Did I spend more money than I made this month? How much did I contribute to my goals? Am I on track to reach my goal savings amount by my deadline? Your answers will help you plan your budget better for next month! You may even realize spending patterns you didn’t know you had. This will allow you to make changes to help you save more and manage your money better. 2020 Year End Review Stayed consistent with my workouts (5x per week) Saved 15 months’ worth of expenses Maxed out my ROTH IRA Grew revenue CGS by 50% Bought my dream car Credit score hit and maintains above 800 Traveled to new places (Antigua & Alaska) 2021 Goals Body fat % to 20% Stay consistent with workouts Master my diet Help many more women Almost double CGS revenue Journal every day Max out my ROTH IRA   Like I mentioned earlier, I hope my pulse check tutorial and results helps you to start this habit on your own! I will be going live at the end of each month on the City Girl Savings Facebook group to recap how to pulse check and sharing my results for the month. More money pulse checks are coming! -RayaThe CG … 2020 Year End Money + Goal RecapRead More »

CGS 2020 Year End Goals Recap 2 … CGS 2020 Year End Goals RecapRead More »

10 Money Mantras to Spark Financial Motivation You don’t have to be “woo woo” to appreciate the benefits that come from speaking things into existence. There’s something to be said about putting your intentions out into the world, saying them aloud, and believing those intentions can come to fruition. Even if you don’t quite believe in it, wouldn’t it be worth trying? Just in case it does work? I’m all about doing whatever it takes to reach my dreams. If you’re the same, I’ve got something special for you! I’m sharing 10 money mantras to spark financial motivation and get you into the space of receiving your blessings. 10 Money Mantras to Spark Financial Motivation Money flows swiftly and easily into my bank account This mantra sets the intention that you can make what you need with ease. Money can enter your bank account at any time and at your own discretion. I always have more than enough This mantra affirms that you have an abundance mentality, as opposed to a scarcity mentality. There is always enough and there is more than enough to go around. I am grateful for everything that has happened and will continue to happen in my personal, professional and financial life This mantra shows your undeniable gratitude for what has happened and what will happen. You’re grateful and grateful begets more and more blessings. My bank accounts are overflowing with funds This mantra sets the intention that you will never be without. You will have enough money in your bank accounts to not have to worry about money ever again. I can travel the world and not have to worry about the cost This mantra sets the intention that you can do the things you want, enjoy life, without having to worry about how you will have to pay for it. You can truly be at ease. I am the kind of person who sets goals and achieves them This mantra affirms that you’re the type of person who sets and achieves their goals. You aren’t afraid to work for the things you want. You stay disciplined and do what you need to in order to succeed. I am the kind of person who doesn’t give up, even when things don’t go as planned This mantra affirms that you’re the type of person who doesn’t let setbacks or challenges stop them from doing what they need to do. You find solutions and avoid spending too much focusing on the problems. I do things most people won’t do to get the results most people won’t get This mantra sets the intention that you’re willing to go above and beyond to achieve your goals. You are willing to put in the manpower and turn down things that won’t help you reach the finish line. You understand the grind is temporary but necessary. This year will be my most prosperous year financially This mantra sets the intention that financial blessings are on the way. This year will be your best money year yet and opens the door for your money to accumulate more than it ever has before.  I can help those in need and change their lives The mantra affirms that you’re in a position to help people change their lives for the better. Whether it be through financial means or motivational means, you’re capable of helping those who truly need it. Related: 4 Money Manifestations to Start Today I want you to say these mantras out loud on a regular basis. You can even record yourself saying them and then play it back to start your day. The point is that we want to speak our intentions. We want to put them out into the universe and allow opportunities to open. I use affirmations on a daily basis and it has brought more to my life than I could imagine. I think that when we state our intention, our brain starts thinking like we’ve already achieved the intention. Then, our brain starts acting like we’ve achieved it. That means we’re doing things as if we’ve achieved our dreams! It’s such a crazy concept, but I’ve experienced it firsthand. Do you journal or write daily affirmations? Which of the money mantras above resonates the most with you? Share in the comments s … 10 Money Mantras to Spark Financial MotivationRead More »

5 Money Goals to Set for the New Year Another year, another dollar! Well, that’s how it should be! Every year we should be getting better and better in our financial situation. In order to do that, we need to set realistic goals. This applies to all area of life, not just finances. Setting goals and working towards them allows everyone the opportunity to improve their life. If you’ve never set money goals before, why not start now? I’m sharing 5 money goals to set for the new year so you can start reaching the life of your dreams! 5 Money Goals to Set for the New Year #1 Start Investing on a Small Scale There’s no doubt about it – investing is one of the best ways to build wealth over the course of time. The rate of return you get from the stock market is 2-8x better than what you’d get from a regular savings account or CD. With that being said, you have no time to waste! If the thought of investing in the stock market terrifies you, don’t worry…it’s easier than you think to get started! I would recommend opening an account with Betterment (you get a year free of management fees for signing up with my link). Betterment allows you to determine what you want to save for and when you want to reach the goal. Once your goal is set with Betterment, the platform will show you how much you need to invest each month to reach that goal. This gives you line of sight into what you should invest. Whether you can afford the amount or not, at least you know what to expect! Betterment invests your money for you, based on your goal. It picks the appropriate funds to help you reach your goals. You can leverage that platform to start monitoring the market, researching the funds they invest you in and open multiple accounts for different goals. Investing doesn’t have to be scary, but you do need to take the leap and get started. #2 Increase Your 401k or IRA Contribution Saving for retirement through a 401k plan or IRA is another form of investing! If you’re saving for retirement, you’re an investor! However, there is likely a need for you to increase your contribution rate. I probably don’t have to tell you that at minimum, you should be contributing up to what your employer will match. However, your employer contribution shouldn’t be your maximum. In fact, your contribution plus employer match is not enough to ensure you’re completely secure at retirement. I’m not saying jump the gun and contribute the annual maximum (currently at $19,500), but you should strive to reach that maximum over time. If you don’t have a 401k through your employer, you’re not out of luck. An IRA is your next best option and it requires nothing to get started. Again, you can open an IRA with Betterment (aren’t they great?), but many financial institutions offer them. The annual limit to contribute to an IRA is currently $6000. Don’t forget, you can have both an IRA and a 401k at the same time! #3 Finally Master Your Budget If you’ve been following me for awhile now, then you’ll know just how important I believe budgeting is for financial success. A budget is a tool that shows you what should be happening with your money. Granted, you’re the user of that tool. This means that the tool doesn’t do its job unless you do. A top priority for next year (or any year, for that matter) should be mastering that tool (AKA your budget). Get into a good rhythm with your income and spending. Control yourself when it comes to buying things you don’t need. Work towards a profit every month and use that profit to help you reach your goals. To master your budget requires you to track your spending. There’s no other way to know if you’re sticking to the budget you’ve created. Start trying different tracking methods. You can physically write your spending, use an app or enter your spending into an excel spreadsheet. Building the habit is most important, so find what works best for you. #4 Save 1, 3- or 6-Months’ Worth of Expenses Everyone is at a different stage of their financial success journey. Because of that, you don’t want to stretch yourself too thin, or focus more time than necessary working towards a goal. If you don’t have anything or much saved, make it a goal to save one month’s worth of expenses. This is a realistic and achievable goal.  If you don’t have debt, or you have a handle on it, your next goal should be to save 3 months’ worth of expenses. Depending on how much you currently have saved, this could take some time. That’s perfectly fine. You’ll feel so much more secure when you reach this goal. It’s worth the time it takes to achieve it. Rounding out the milestones is 6 months’ worth of expenses. Having this number in your savings, as your true emergency fund, will cover you if something major were to happen. There’s no better feeling than having your emergency savings fully funded. This should be a goal for everyone. You can even take it a step further and save 1 years’ worth of expenses. #5 Stop Accumulating Debt and Start Paying it Down Debt is draining. Debt is heavy. Debt is expensive. Debt is something we should all be working to get rid of. Just think about how much you currently send to your debt payments every month. Imagine if that money was back in your pocket. Imagine if that money was allocated to the things you want to achieve! That’s why it’s critical to stop accumulating debt (first and foremost) and then start paying it down. The goal is to be debt-free. It may seem like decades away, but that doesn’t mean you don’t work towards it anyways. You never know what could happen in the future to help you pay it off faster. Do the right things with your money, and the right things tend to work out in assistance. Once you’ve stopped accumulating debt or using credit cards for spending, you can craft a plan to help you pay it off. I personally recommend the snowball method. However, there are a few debt repayment strategies that can be used. The goal is to be debt-free and to get there the smartest way possible. Related: 5 Money Resolutions to Make Right Now The money goals listed above are things everyone can and should work towards. The goals will help anyone improve their financial situation, no matter where they currently stand. Make it a point to work towards one or all of the goals on this list. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it later! What money goals do you have set for the new year? What helps you stay motivated? Drop a comment below to share your thoughts … 5 Money Goals to Set for the New YearRead More »

Video: How I'm Using Digit to Save Money *This post is sponsored. All opinions are my own. If you read the article How to Use Digit to Reach Your Money Goals, then you know what Digit is all about. In case you haven’t read it (do so), but let me fill you in. Digit is a financial health app that helps you save for your money goals. Whether your goal is to pay down credit cards, pay your phone bill on time, or anything else, Digit makes it easy to save for those goals. The app transfers small amounts of money from your primary checking account (small enough that you don’t even know it’s missing), and transfers it to your Digit account. I can go on and on explaining what Digit is and how you can use it to reach your money goals. However, sometimes it’s better to show than tell. In the video below, I’m sharing all about Digit and how I’m currently using it to reach some of my money goals. You’ll get a good understanding of the app and how you can start using it for your goals. As I mentioned in the video, new Digit users get a free $5 if they sign up with my link! If you’re new to Digit and want to give it a try, an extra $5 can be your incentive! Sign up for Digit now! If you already use Digit, what do you think about it? Are you leveraging it for specific money goals or just seeing what you can save with it? Drop a comment below … Video: How I’m Using Digit to Save MoneyRead More »

5 Ways to Add More Income Streams The average millionaire has 7 streams of income. Good for them, right? You may be struggling to make your schedule work with your 1 stream of income! Trust me, I know the struggle. To take on multiple streams of income requires a different kind of motivation, and a very good accounting of your time! But, guess what? It can be done! If you haven’t been able to add more income streams to your repertoire, I’m here to help! I’m sharing 5 ways to add more income streams to your busy life, so you can start reaching those financial goals! 5 Ways to Add More Income Streams #1 Get clear on how much extra you want (or need) to make It’s one thing to take on multiple side hustles for a short period of time, it’s quite another to take them on with a strategy. If more income streams are in your indefinite future, then you’ll want to get clear on what your goal is for them. When do you need to add more income streams? What goal are you trying to reach? When you know what you’re working towards, it helps you keep fighting through. More importantly, when you know what goal you’re trying to reach, you can get clear on how much you need to make. This will help you time your additional side hustles. For example, if your goal is to save an extra $250 a month so you can take a trip, you would want to earn $65 a week. When you put your goal into digestible amounts, it makes taking on more income streams a lot more bearable! #2 Take an unbiased look at your calendar After you’ve determined what you need to make every week or month, you can start planning your time accordingly. If you’re an Uber driver, you’ll need to take about 10 rides a week to hit your $65 per week goal. How can you factor those 10 rides into your calendar? Will you do 5 rides 2 times per week? How does that align with your schedule? The point is that you want to do your best to manage your time from an unbiased perspective. You’re probably already very busy, so I want you to be as neutral as you can be when planning your week. Where do you have blocks of time to focus on your additional income streams? As tough as it may seem, you can make it all work. The best way to do so is by planning your time accordingly. I personally live by my Emily Ley Simplified Planner, along with my iPhone calendar. Nothings is always smooth, but the more organized you are, the better. Read 6 Ways to Use a Planner to Stay Organized for some great tips. #3 Mentally prepare to be disciplined Once you have your financial goal determined and your calendar mapped out, it’s time to get your mental game right. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re adding more responsibilities to your plate, so mentally preparing yourself is key. Reminding yourself of your goal can help you fight through the overwhelm and keep you disciplined. That’s why allocating what you need to make to reach your goal is so important. When you know what you’re working towards, you can see it. It’s definite. When you don’t have a goal set, it seems so far away to get where you want to go. Also, remember that this season of your life is temporary. You won’t always need to add more income streams to your situation, but you’ll need to do it to get ahead. That’s okay. You’ll get where you want to go faster by bringing in more money. There’s no doubt about it. Stay the course and you’ll see the results. #4 Level set with the people in your life Nothing is more frustrating then your partner, friends or family giving you grief for turning down an invitation to hang out. Instead of constantly feeling like a disappointment, level set with them. Let them know what your plans are – what you’re working towards and why. Make sure they understand this season of your life requires you to focus on getting ahead. If your friends and family want the best for you, they’ll understand. It’s when we’re not clear with our loved ones about our intentions that they feel the need to complain. That is our own fault. We should be honest with what’s happening and welcome the support. What’s better is that when you reach your goals, you’ll have people who can’t wait to celebrate with you! #5 Take time for yourself in between the grind My final tip for adding more income streams to a seemingly-busy schedule is to make sure you find time for yourself. Even if you have to add it to your planner or calendar, give yourself time to unwind and relax. Give yourself time to do the things you enjoy. We all need a break from time to time. If you want to beat burnout, you’ll need to make sure you’re giving yourself relaxing breaks. I like treating myself to a movie after a long couple of weeks of grinding. I also go months working hard to enjoy a nice vacation. I try to take 3-4 trips a year, with 1-2 of them being international. Knowing I have a trip coming in the future helps me stay focused to work hard. The unwind time I get on vacation fills my battery up for another stretch of work. Everyone’s situation will look different, so don’t feel like you have to take trips to unwind. Just make sure you’re giving yourself time to do what you love and mentally recharge. You won’t be disappointed for taking care of yourself, especially when you’re reaching your goals in the meantime! Related: 12 Steams of Income to Consider Having There’s no denying that we all need multiple streams of income to keep up with the cost of living. Prices are going up, and magically, salaries aren’t. That means taking matters into your own hands. If you feel like you can’t add in a side hustle, the tips above can help. It’s going to take dedication and discipline, but anyone can make it happen! Have you been contemplating a side job? What’s holding you back? Share your feedback in the comments section below. -RayaThe CGS … 5 Ways to Add More Income StreamsRead More »

6 Tips to Stay Consistent with Using a Planner There are two kinds of people in the world: those who have a planner to look like they are serious, and those who have planners because they take their lives seriously.  Mind you, there is nothing wrong with not having a planner or better yet not seeing the need to use one.  Believe it or not, there are folks in this world who can live a functional life and not have to write a single thing down!  However, I am not that type of person. Everything I do requires a schedule – some call it crazy, but I like to think of it as practical. If you are anything like me, check out these six tips on how you too can stay consistent with using a planner. #1 Schedule it As soon something comes up or crosses your mind, jot it down in your planner right then and there. The chances of you remembering to add it later are slim to none.  There are so many things that come up within the functional eight-hour workday that an item can easily slip through the cracks.  Many times folks don’t even bother to schedule an agenda item because they don’t think they will make it, only to turn around and find themselves trying to squeeze something in at the last minute.  To become consistent with your planner you have to be willing to use it regularly.  #2 Use Checklists Checklists can be fun and beneficial at the same time. Having a checklist in your planner keeps you on track by providing a visible list of the items that you have gotten done and the items that still require your attention.  Sometimes we have multiple things to do in a day, and think we can remember the full list without writing it down—but instead, other tasks get piled on and we get buried.  When we use our checklist in our planner, we can refer to which items have been completed, which items are still pending or can wait for another day, and easily add new items as they come up.  #3 Know Your “Why” Whatever we do in life, there is a “why.” We eat because we are hungry, we sleep because we need rest, and adding items to your planner should be no different.  When you add things to your planner, it is to remind you of something important or to keep it on your radar for when the time comes to act on it. It is important to know why you are adding things to your planner and how those items align with your larger goals, relationships, and career plans. Planners are often used for things like remembering birthdays, paying bills, and scheduling meetings. Although we have smart devices to carry out those actions there is something about writing things down by hand that can keep us focused. #4 Keep It Simple There is no single rule to this planner thing. Whatever floats your boat—and by that, I mean everyone has their own preferences for how they like to be reminded of things.  When you commit yourself to do an activity or task at the same time every day without fail, you are at that moment building a powerful habit that will grow and help you to get the desired results you are after.  Some prefer to highlight things in the same color to make the connection of the item while others prefer to use stickers, or different colored inks. Find a simple method of organizing planner entries that works for you! #5 Plan For Failure When you plan, you should also plan for failure. When you run into a problem, you get an opportunity to learn how to fix problems. You are not jinxing yourself when you are preparing for the worst.   We run into obstacles all the time, but how we approach them is what defines us. It is important to not allow yourself to get emotionally down.  Life happens, so if you get sick and stop planning for a week, or God forbid if you lost your planner do not let this discourage you—you will find a way to bounce back. Every time you write something down, do so with intention and be as detailed as you can. #6 Keep It Visual  Planners are fun, and being creative with your planner will help your productivity as well. If you want to be more organized, color-coding is highly recommended and may be helpful. Remember, using a planner is all about improving your life and making it easier.  Out of sight, out of mind can keep you from really utilizing your planner to its full ability. When your planner is visible and easily accessible, that will help you use your planner more consistently.  Related: How to Properly Plan Your Week Staying consistent with using a planner is easier than one may think. My advice is to get one that can go anywhere with you! Finding a planner that has all the functionalities you require will ensure you use it and keep your work-life balance on point.  Planners come in all shapes sizes, and colors so I like to find one that can fit in my bag and that is easily accessible when on the go. What types would you share with the City Girl Savings community that you found helpful? Do you use a planner? If not, how do you stay a boss babe?  Check us out on our Facebook group, as well as our other social channels via Instagram and Twitter @ … 6 Tips to Stay Consistent with Using a PlannerRead More »

5 Ways to Financially Prepare for the New Year Welp, another year has come and gone. And, unless you’ve been living under a rock the past year, it’s time for another year! There’s something about a fresh start (like a new year, a new week, or a new month) that just gets me motivated. Granted, to be successful, we need to be motivated all the time. However, a new year is the best time to get the momentum flowing. I want you to make the most of the new year, and I know exactly how you can do so! Check out 5 ways to financially prepare for the new year. 5 Ways to Financially Prepare for the New Year #1 Do a deep dive of your current financial situation There’s nothing like having clarity in your situation before moving the direction of your goals. You don’t want to stay in the same spot year over year, so you need to know where you currently stand before you can move forward. In order to financially prepare for the new year, you’ll want to deep dive your financials. If you want to get clear on your current financial situation, I walk you through conducting your deep dive in the article How to Complete Your Year End Money Review. To deep dive your financial situation, you’ll want to look at how much money came in over the course of the year and how much money went out. Did you reach any financial goals? Did you add to your savings? Don’t worry if things don’t look how you want them. You just need to know what they look like, so you know how to move forward in the new year. This activity may take some time, so block out a few hours to ensure you get through it. This is one of the best things you can do to prepare to make money moves in the new year. #2 Set a financial goal or two What do you want to accomplish in your finances in the new year? Setting a financial goal gives you something to work towards. You’re moving with intention in your finances, and that’s a recipe for success. When you create goals, you take your dreams up a notch. You make them attainable, in the form of a goal. There are certain prerequisites for successful goals, though. Successful goals need to follow the SMART criteria. They need to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-specific. If you want some guidance on setting money goals, read The Best Way to Set Your Money Goals for the New Year. I walk you through getting clear on your goals. I always like to advise my clients to focus on 1 goal at a time, especially if things are already tight with their budget. When you focus on too many goals at once, you spread your resources thin. That slows you reaching all of the goals. Instead, focus all your resources to one goal, so you achieve it faster.  If you have a large monthly profit in your budget, you can get away with focusing on two financial goals at once. This is a great place to be, and a great place to work towards. You’ll get into a rhythm with your goals and will know if you can afford to focus on more than one at a time. #3 Make sure you have all of your systems in place I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity! Yes, you absolutely can have systems in your finances. In fact, you’ll want to have them. Systems are things that help make managing your finances a little easier. Think things like direct deposit, automatic savings transfers, and automatic bill pay. You can also leverage different bank accounts to build systems in your finances. For example, you could have a checking account for your bills and a second checking account for your fun spending. Transfer exactly what you need to spend on fun into your fun spending account. The rest goes to your bills checking account. Viola! You have a system for managing your spending. Have you been putting off getting certain systems and automations in place? Get them in order for the new year, that way it’s one less thing to worry about. Since you have your goals identified, you’ll know how much you’ll need to get your systems up and running. Before you know it, you’ll have a well-oiled machine in pace for the new year. Read Automate Your Finances in 5 Steps for more details. #4 Move into the new year with money in your account In the past, the holidays would run me dry. I’d spend too much money on gifts for other people, and worse, myself! To help me get a handle on my holiday spending, I started the Frugal Fall Savings Challenge. There’s no better feeling than know the holidays didn’t leave you broke or with extra debt. I want you to move into the new year with money in your account. When you do so, you’re starting the year ahead, not from zero. Not from behind. If you want to prepare for a financially successful new year, the best way to do so is with money already being in your account! How do you do that? Don’t overdo it on the holiday shopping! Create a budget and stick to your limits. #5 Get rid of any excess financial baggage (subscriptions, expenses) Finalizing the list of ways to financially prepare for the new year is getting rid of any excess financial baggage. Do you have subscriptions you aren’t using? Do you have certain bills you’ve been meaning to get rid of but haven’t done so? Now’s the time to let go of any unnecessary bills and expenses. When you’re doing a deep dive of your current financial situation, make sure you run through your recurring bills. That way you can keep an eye on things that shouldn’t be there. You’ll feel so much lighter ridding yourself of useless expenses that are taking your money. Related: 5 Money Resolutions to Make Right Now The new year is coming, whether you like it or not, so you may as well set yourself up for success! The ideas above will help you financially prepare for the new year and start January with a bang. When it comes to your finances, motivation and preparation make all the difference. Do you have any resolutions set for the new year? I’d love to know! Drop a comment below to share and put them out i … 5 Ways to Financially Prepare for the New YearRead More »

November 2020 Money Pulse Check When it comes to your financial situation, it’s important to set goals and keep tabs on your progress along the way. If you aren’t setting goals, then what are you really working towards? And, if you aren’t keeping tabs on your progress, how do you know if you will actually reach your goals? The ability to pulse check your money at the end of each month will help! I am a firm believer in pulse checking your money and progress at the end of each month. I do month end money pulse checks myself, I help clients complete their month end money pulse checks, and in January of 2018, I started to go live at the end of each month to share my results. Every month, I quickly break down exactly how to pulse check your money, and share my month end money pulse check results. If you want a more in-depth overview of how to pulse check your month, watch the How to Pulse Check Your Money video. I hope this encourages you to start pulse checking your money each month. It’s a great way to pinpoint areas of opportunity, celebrate wins, and make sure you are on track to reach your goals. Here is a quick recap on how to pulse check your money: Refer to your budget Refer to your spending Refer to your goals Then, ask yourself the following questions: Did anything unexpected come up to throw off my budget? Should I budget for it moving forward? What areas did I overspend in? What areas did I under spend in? Did I spend more money than I made this month? How much did I contribute to my goals? Am I on track to reach my goal savings amount by my deadline? Your answers will help you plan your budget better for next month! You may even realize spending patterns you didn’t know you had. This will allow you to make changes to help you save more and manage your money better. My November month end money pulse check results: I had more money come in than expected (which is always nice). I profited $300 for the month. I saved extra, thanks to the Frugal Fall Savings Challenge I was overbudget in Personal Bills, Meals Out and Fun Spending I invested my profit via the Robinhood app Like I mentioned earlier, I hope my pulse check tutorial and results helps you to start this habit on your own! I will be going live at the end of each month on the City Girl Savings Facebook group to recap how to pulse check and sharing my results for the month. More money pulse checks are coming! -RayaThe CGS … November 2020 Money Pulse CheckRead More »