{Reader Success Story} A Shockingly Easy Way to Save Money for Fun

Published on April 15, 2016April 15, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

In my posts on this site, I share my progress toward financial freedom sort of like a diary to the world. Sometimes the stories reveal my failures and the things I learned from the experience so you don’t make the same mistakes. More often than not, my stories are transparent accounts of gained confidence in regards to my financial literacy. Every week, I have diligently crossed off numbers on the 52 Week BINGO Money Sheet and I update you on how those funds are being used. As of week 15, I have saved $590.00 extra dollars that I have put toward my credit card debt. I am proud of myself but I am equally proud to know I haven’t been on this journey by myself. This week, I wanted to shift the focus off me and begin to share the stories of other smart women who are kicking debt’s butt and redefining the “fab life” for themselves. Our very first reader’s profile is from Alysa T., a 28 year Marketing and Communications Manager out of Washington, D.C. A friend referred Alysa to shemakescents.com about 3 years ago and interestingly enough, the BINGO Money Challenge was the first article that she read.

When asked why she decided to join the challenge, Alysa explained, ” It’s a very simple and kind of fun way to put aside a little extra money each year! I think checking off all the boxes appeals to my organizational side too. This year I’m putting [my savings] towards a vacation. I am recently SCUBA certified and want to explore the underwater world more! It is awesome to know that she is using the money saved for things that (if you follow the blog, you already know what I am going to say) FEED-HER-SOUL! Over the past few years, Alysa has become more than a loyal reader. She is my Twitter pen-pal/accountability partner who sometimes sends me her progress updates before I have the chance to check-in. I LOVE THAT! I love knowing that we are on this journey together. “In past years”, Alysa reveals, “I used it for a new computer and a down payment on a car”.

The journey towards financial freedom isn’t a easy one…if it was, no one would have debt and everyone would be building wealth. Alysa’s biggest financial goal is to get her emergency fund to a healthy level so she can put more savings towards fun things. I’d say with a savings of $515.00 year to date, she is well on her way.

How Much Have You Saved on the BINGO Money Challenge? Share Below

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

{World Recycle Week} How To Save On Purchases By Donating Unwanted Clothes

Published on April 14, 2016February 17, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

“90% of textile waste is recyclable”

Yesterday after my outdoor yoga class, my friend Dana and I found our way into H&M where the window featured signage about World Recycle Week. During the campaign period, April 18-24, H&M aims to collect 1,000 tons of unwanted or worn out garments from customers worldwide in its more than 3,600 stores. The initiative is part of H&M’s goal to close the loop in fashion, recycling unwanted garments to create recycled textile fibers for new products.

Woman Closet

The timing could not be more perfect because I have started a Purge, Edit, & Organize (post coming soon) overhaul for my closet. My plan is to sell the clothes that I no longer wear or fit properly. Whatever doesn’t sell will be split between the Goodwill and women’s shelters in Atlanta. Everything else, that I would have normally tossed, will go to H&M for recycling. I’m not sure if this is the case for all locations, but my local H&M is offering 30% off your entire purchase if you bring in items for recycling. This could be a win-win situation if you are in the market for a trendy new piece to add to your wardrobe or home.

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

{Time Management} How to Find More Time in Your Day

Published on April 14, 2016October 31, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

People are so into time management tips and tricks which is evident by one of our most popular posts, {Quick Tips} How to Be More Efficient. If you had an extra 5 or 10 minutes in your day, how would you use it? Would you hit the snooze one more time? Spend it doing something you love? How about 30 minutes? Would you try something new? Work later? I live my life according to an ever-changing color coded to-do list that keeps me organized in my 9 to 5, that helps organize 2 home renovations and of course, SheMakesCents.com. With a day packed with things that have to get done, I sometimes find it difficult to schedule time to do things I want to do.

Getty Images/ Digital Vision/PeopleImages.com

Admittedly, I am one of those people who wishes for more time in the day to do the things that “feed my soul” or at least keeps me from losing my marbles. Tuesday night Google launched “Google Goals” as a new calendar feature that finds unscheduled time in your schedule and devotes that time to work toward personal goals, such as pilates, updating your financial plan, reading the SheMakesCents Book selection, or girl’s dinner/date night with the boo. I’m more of a traditionalist with my paper calendar; however, I am open to using Google Goals as a FREE life coach for time management. It’s worth a try, especially for all of you whose phones are permanently attached to their hands.

Check out this video to see how it works!

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

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

{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.