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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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