52 Week Bingo Money Challenge Milestone

Published on April 5, 2016April 5, 2016 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

If I told you the last five days have been a whirlwind, I’m not sure you could even comprehend what I mean. In the past five days I served as a juror on a trial for two days, driven from Atlanta to Jackson, Mississippi, attended a funeral, got back on the road for the six-hour car trip home, just in time to make it to a Sunday wedding for my sorority sister. That being said, I missed last week’s check in and the March recap of the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge.

Check out a few pictures from the wedding!

For the first week of April, I decided to cross off $23.00 + a bonus of $75.00. My first April contribution, including the bonus, is only $4.00 less than my entire last month’s savings. I’d say I am off to a good start for month. Overall, I have a saved a total of $556.00 that I have been using to make extra payments toward my credit card debt. Every extra payment is helping me shave off the repayment term, shave of compounding interest fees, and is improving my credit score because my debt to credit ratio is increasing. I would LOVE to have my credit card balance under the $500.00 mark by the end of May. With a balance of $2400.00+, only time and discipline will tell. Until then, I will keep crossing off numbers on my BINGO money sheet.

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents | Hashtag #shemakescents

{Every Woman Should Have} The Protection of a Slush Fund

Published on March 29, 2016March 29, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

This is not a typical savings post, but a post that might just save you. I learned a very adult lesson when I was just a teenager watching a friend’s mother pick up the pieces after a messy divorce. To my knowledge, it was he who messed up…..so how in the world did she have to downgrade the lifestyle that they built together and he upgraded? The simple answer, he probably had the better lawyer. They shared an account but she didn’t have an account all by herself. At 15 years old, I learned that life happens and not everyone gets the happily ever after they were expecting. More importantly, I learned that every woman should have a her own money. I vowed that would NEVER be me. That was the year I started saving my own money.

The Protection of a Slush Fund

Creating a Slush Fund for yourself isn’t a selfish act nor does it have to be a sneaky one. In this post, Fortune Magazine author, Jean Chatzky, cites a study conducted by Princeton Research Associates for CreditCards.com. According to the study, “7.2 million Americans (4.4 million men and 2.8 million women to be precise) have a bank account or credit card that their spouse or live-in partner doesn’t know about”. That kind of omission in a relationship is not my personal cup of tea. I believe in the “yours-mines-ours” approach where the lines are clear and the division of funds works for both parties. This “Yours-Mines-Ours” strategy is me taking an active role in my personal finances and joint finances. Gone are the days where women are expected to blindly allow their spouses to run their financial house without know how the money is flowing in and out.

Regardless of your relationship status, YOU have a responsibility of building your financial house on a stronger foundation. Be proud of that. Be clear about your expectations. Be smart about your money. Every woman should have a protective slush fund because no one can protect you like you.

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

You’re married, so should you have your own slush fund?

{Monday Motivation} Refresh Your Priorities

Published on March 28, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason4 Comments

Happy Monday!!! Today’s Monday Motivation goes out to my family. This past Saturday, my eight year old cousin Kentric Stubbs Robinson had a wish granted by Make-A-Wish Mississippi; hours later, he lost his battle to a rare blood cancer. How lucky we all are to have someone that makes saying goodbye so hard. He was a fun, curious, and kind child who had a talent for dancing and was not afraid to show off this skills.

Today I motivate you to stop existing in this world and start living! Be like Kentric. Do something that feeds your soul; that’s where true happiness lies. If dancing is your passion, then dance. If reading brings you peace, make time to read. If your happiness is in the kitchen, cook. If helping others is your thing, go volunteer with an organization you admire. Just don’t waste the time you have left doing things that don’t feed you mentally, spiritually, or physically. Starting today, refresh your priorities. You will be a more fulfilled person for it.

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

SMC April Book Club: Year of Yes!!!

Published on March 26, 2016July 1, 2020 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

My favorite season is upon us… SPRING! This is a time for a rebirth of goals, visions, and overall positive changes. That being said, it’s time for yet another book selection for the upcoming month of April to get us motivated and inspired. The April book selection, written by the mega-talented creator of my Thursday night lineup, Shonda Rhimes, was actually a recommendation from shemakescents readers like you. That’s right, we are reading Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person. I have heard nothing but good things about this book and since I already ride the crazy Shondaland roller coaster every week, I figured why not dive deeper into the woman behind some of my favorite characters.

Starting April 1, 2016, we will start Year of Yes to see how saying “YES” changed Rhimes’ life. I am a firm personal advocate of the “It’s okay to say no” because I witness all too often how saying “yes” can allow other’s access to take advantage of you or a situation. However, I fear that by saying NO sometimes that I am blocking my own blessings from coming through. It has been said that her year of yes saved her life and that it will inspire readers to change their lives with one little word…YES. Join #shemakescents as we “dance it out, stand in the sun, and become our own person” with our April book selection. Shoot a picture of you with the book on Instagram| @shemakescents and on Twitter @shemakescents using hashtag #shemakescents for a repost.

Grab your very own copy (ebook/traditional style) of Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person here.

{Week 12} 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on March 20, 2016March 21, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

Hello Lovelies! I must say, this month is flying by. I am staying steadfast with my progress on the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge, presented by shemakescents.com. I crossed off $12.00 on my BINGO money sheet. Last mentioned in week 11, I am redirecting money this month in preparation for another money goal. That being said, I have crossed off some of the lower numbers this month. This thing I love about this version of the challenge is that I can adjust my savings based off of my current goals and progress. I started this year’s challenge with over $5,000.00 is credit card debt and I am down to $2650.00. Sometimes I feel like that number is moving slowly; however, I have refused to get discouraged.

What is Keeping YOU Motivated?

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

{Monday Motivation} Attract What You Expect

Published on March 14, 2016September 4, 2017 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

Happy Monday Lovelies! I hope it has been was a good one. I thought I would send you a little inspiration as you start your week off. This #MondayMotivation can be applied to your career, finances, love life, and friendships. It’s never too late the be the person you want to be.

Attract What You Expect

I take this quote to be a suggestion to be selective on who you bring into your inner circle. You can’t move forward if you surround yourself with stagnate people. Surround yourself with people who motivate you to keep moving not those who want you comfortable where you are. Another interpretation could simply be the Law of Attraction. For example, people who believe in doing affirmations to help them reach their goals. “I am a money magnet; therefore, money flows into my life abundantly”.

Reflect What You Desire

I desire to be credit card free by June 1, 2016. I have to continue to be diligent about paying extra over the minimum payment and not making any more purchases that can’t be paid off in full before the billing cycle. To do that, my actions must reflect my desires.

Inspirational Quotes

Become What You Respect

Be the type of person that you want surrounding you. For example, if you desire to deal with people who respect your time, don’t be the woman to show up late for anyone else. This is the ultimate, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

Mirror What You Admire

Use the best qualities of those you admire, put your own twist on it, and you will not only reflect admirable qualities, you will be the woman you want to be.

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

{Week 11 Recap} 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on March 11, 2016January 22, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

Happy Friday Lovelies! For whatever reason, this week has seemed to drift by slowly. I thought it was Friday at least twice this week (#epicfail). Now that Friday is actually here, it’s time to kickoff the weekend and share progress for the 52 Week BINGO Challenge. After scheduling bill payments and doing my zero-based budget for the next two weeks, I decided to cross off $11.00 this week. It was more important to me to focus my money toward savings, so I upped my savings contribution and lowered the amount I decided to save for this challenge this week.

Thus far in the challenge, I have saved a total of $432.00 and my credit card balance is down to $2800.00. I hate that I even got myself back into credit card debt with charges from the wedding and car repairs that happened months apart. But, hey, you live and you learn. I learned that even if you hit your goal, like I did when I got my credit card balance down to zero the first time, it is very easy to relapse into old habits or make poor decisions that get you right back to where you started. It happens. On the bright side, I have never been more focused on my financial goals as I am now and taking this step backward has inspired a new and focused momentum. What number did you cross off this week?

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

{Wise Words} Get What Your Soul Needs

Published on March 10, 2016March 10, 2016 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

This morning I checked my horoscope, as I do on most days. Today, however, I got advice that could be applied to a number of situations and experiences and I thought it was too good to share. To all of my fellow LEOs out there, take heed.

{Week 10 Update} 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on March 7, 2016January 22, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

This past week, I crossed off $30.00 on the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge. My hope was to cross off a higher number to I can pick up more momentum with the challenge; however, since I am on a zero-based budget, my money was allocated somewhere else. This brings me to a grand total of $426.00 saved so far doing this challenge. What I love the most about this is that it makes saving a little here or there super easy. Otherwise, I would have spent that on my Starbucks habit. How is the challenge going for you? Please share your progress below. If this is your first time hearing about the BINGO style challenge, click here for more information.

Embed from Getty Images

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

{February Recap} 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on February 27, 2016January 22, 2017 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

Happy Saturday Lovelies! I was about to do my regular weekly update when I realized that the month of February is technically over (based on our BINGO schedule). Oh how the time flies. This week I crossed off $25.00 on the shemakescents BINGO money sheet. Looking at my numbers, I was definitely able to save more in January than I was this month. I am very proud of my progress and commitment to this challenge and I am so very proud of those on this challenge with me. I have heard inspiring stories from college students, mothers, couples, and career millennials. This reveals to me that this challenge is helpful and fun for a diverse group of people. My goal for March is to exceed the savings from January (the month to beat). Since March 1st marks the 5th year anniversary for shemakescents.com I want to do it big!!