@shemakescents – Page 6

{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!!

Recap By The Numbers

January- $286.00

February- by the weeks

Week Six: $24.00
Week Seven: $46.00 (Goal Reset)
Week Eight $15.00 (Get My Finances in Formation)
Week Nine: $25.00

Year to Date Total: $396.00

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

{Week 8 Recap} Beyonce’, Credit Cards, & the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on February 21, 2016March 3, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

Sunday- the end of the week or start of a new one? For me, it is the wrap up to week eight of 2016 and time for the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge. To chose a number for the week, I start by looking at my bank account and seeing how much I can afford pay on top of my bills and money envelopes. While I manage my money on a zero-based style budget, I do leave a little wiggle room for unexpected expenses and this BINGO Challenge. I then review my credit card statement, since that is how I am using the extra money from this challenge. Looking at the declining balance of credit card debt gets me right back on track when I start thinking about excess spending. For example, I was on the Ticketmaster site earlier this week determined to get BeeHive presale tickets for Beyonce’s Formation Tour that went on sale at 10:00am.

beyonce-10-dollar-bill

9:44 am….I had my credit card out on my desk and was ready to purchase up to four tickets on my card. But why? I love going to Beyonce’ concerts. “It’s about the experience”, is what I said to justify the “almost expense”. I have only missed one of six Beyonce’s World Tours, I Am…Sasha Fierce, so to say that I’m really missing out might be a reach.

9:58am… Credit card is in hand and I am watching the countdown clock for the start of presale tickets. I’m ready to risk my progress toward my financial milestone dates that I have set for myself as an individual and that my husband and I have set as a couple.

9:59:59… I hit refresh. Picturing me, hubs, and another friend couple having the time of our lives. Aww…the fun we are going to have.

10:00am…. I am entering my information trying to get tickets for the Atlanta show. So excited to tell the hubs that I got these tickets for us.

10:03am… “do not refresh or you will lose your place in line” Really Ticketmaster?

10:15am… The same message is on the screen when the phone rings and I have to stop #OperationFormationTour and take care of business. giphy

Looking back, I have to credit divine intervention for me aborting #OperationFormationTour. I was saved by the bell…or ring… especially considering I was prepared to spend up to $150.00 per ticket for this concert. If I am really being honest with myself, all of this was more about FOMO (fear of missing out) than seeing my fifth Beyonce’ concert. Dave Ramsey has famously affirmed, “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else”. There are a lot of broke people going to see Beyonce’ who are sacrificing responsibilities for what I am sure will be an epic experience. I’m okay missing this concert (unless someone wants to graciously gift me tickets), if that means I am making strides to get to the point where the question changes. I am staying steadfast with my goals and very soon that the question will change from, Should we spend $150.00 per ticket? to What country to you want to see this concert in? For now, I will focus on getting my finances into formation and I will cross off $15.00 on my BINGO money sheet.

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

{The Woman Behind the Brand} Danielle YB Vason of “She Makes Cents”

Published on February 17, 2016March 4, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

Hello Lovelies! Are you curious about the person behind the brand? Who is SHE? Well, I am very excited to invite you to check out my updated About Me page (click the picture below). So much has happened in my life and in the lives of my readers since I created my first about me page… that I was way past due for an update. Over the years I have enjoyed getting to know my readers and I have been inspired by your stories that you bravely share on the site and the personal ones that are emailed to me privately. I never feel alone in my journey because of readers like you are right there for every step toward financial freedom.

Photo Credit: Bri McDanielle Photography

Feel free to tweet me @shemakescents using hashtag #SMCmoneytalks or stop by our Facebook page to say hi, update me your progress, goals, and topics you would like to see more of. I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s Get Social!

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

{Week 7 Money Challenge Recap} RESET Your Goals = Success

Published on February 12, 2016February 27, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

“Personal Finance Really 80% Behavior and 20% Head Knowledge”- Dave Ramsey

We are closing out week 2 of February and I have a good feeling that people have started to forget the motivation that most feel at the very beginning of the year. Whether you have forgotten your goals, lost sight of your personal mantra for your year, or given up on your resolutions, know that it is not too late to reset. In the past three years, I’ve gotten off track more than a few times when doing this challenge. That’s why it’s called a challenge. It is not supposed to be easy. Lucky for us, my BINGO version of this challenge isn’t particularly difficult either. Making necessary changes to help you reach your goals, be it financially, socially, or vocationally is all about behavior. You have to retrain your brain and as soon as you start seeing results, you will begin to establish that positive change as a habit and one day you will look up and it will be a lifestyle. You can do it, whatever “it” may be for you. As far as this journey toward financial freedom goes, you are not alone. We are in this together. I’m proud of myself for going strong every Friday with the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge. Today I crossed off $46.00 on my BINGO money sheet for a total of $70.00 extra dollars that went toward my credit card debt (on top of the monthly minimum, of course) this month. Instead of spending $70.00 on my taco habit (Hi, my name is Danielle and I have an unhealthy LOVE of tacos) I invested that $70.00 into my financial goals.

Great job to those who are going all in and staying on the challenge like Alysa T. who check just about every Friday, Briana C., and Chris. C. I also want to welcome the newcomers to the challenge. The beauty of this challenge is that you can start or restart anytime, so if you have gotten off tract RESET today.

Twitter Check-Ins #SMCmoneytalks

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

{Wise Words}…From Beyonce’

Published on February 11, 2016February 10, 2016 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

People are still buzzing about Beyonce’s latest video, Formation, and trying to decide whether it’s provocative, political, entertaining or just another smart money move. While they are debating that…I will just LOVE on this quote below.

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

{January Recap} 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on February 5, 2016March 4, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason3 Comments

deuces to the week and hello to the weekend!

This past Friday I was flat out sick and unable to live blog the week 5 progress report for the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge so today’s post is a two-in-one. Last week I crossed off $41.00 on my BINGO money sheet giving me a total of $286.00 for the month of January. Think about it like this, I would end up with $3432.00 for this challenge by the end of the year if I kept repeating the same numbers from the month of January. While that sounds great for the extra money aspect of this, it isn’t that realistic for me since there were five Fridays in this month, I crossed off mostly of the larger amounts, AND did a $100.00 bonus box in week 3.

January Recap- By the Numbers

Week One: $35.00
Week Two: $40.00
Week Three $50.00 + $100.00 (bonus)
Week Four: $20.00
Week Five: $41.00

January Total: $286.00 Total Savings YTD: $310.00

Today is the first Friday of February (and my mom’s birthday….hi Mom!). I crossed of $24.00 today and applied it directly toward my first step in snowballing my credit card debt.

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

{Week 4 Progress Report} 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on January 22, 2016May 23, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason10 Comments

It’s the fourth Friday of the year which means it’s time for the 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge. Today I have crossed off $20.00 on my BINGO money sheet. This puts me at a total of $245.00 extra dollars to be applied to my credit card balance. What makes this challenge exciting to me is that fact that I’m saving little chucks of money that I don’t miss in my day to day life. I know with each passing week, those “little chucks of money” will start snowballing into something bigger.

Here is how month has broken down so far:

Week One: $35.00
Week Two: $40.00
Week Three $50.00 + $100.00 (bonus)
Week Four: $20.00

We are lucky enough to have five weeks in January, which is great because you gain an extra opportunity to save a little more while the momentum is good and people are still somewhat on focus with their 2016 resolutions.

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

How Much Have You Saved So Far?

Snowball Your Money with Affirmations with She Makes Cents

{Money Hack} Quick Guide to the Debt Snowball

Published on January 20, 2016January 22, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason14 Comments

If you are a frequent reader of shemakescents, then you will constantly hear me referring to a snowball, but what exactly does a snow ball have to do with personal finance? The snowball is a metaphor that represents my current financial goals. Picture this… someone picks up a small handful of snow and creates a ball. That ball is then pushed down a hill and with every rotation picks up more snow and speed. By the time it reaches the bottom of the hill, the ball has multiplied in size. Photo Credit: PM Images

Now let’s break it down…

Simply picking up the ice to form a ball represents motivation. Most people would have seen the snow but left it alone because it’s too cold to bother with.
The small ball, created from motivation, is a manifestation of the strength of my current financial situation. It’s small right now, but will grow with better money habits ahead.
The snow ball being pushed represents my obligation to myself not to settle or stay stagnant. You have to keep moving to make progress. With every rotation (aka payment above the minimum) the fight against debt gains momentum until it gets to the bottom of the hill aka “The Land of Financial Freedom”.

Financially speaking, it looks like this:

Current Credit Card Minimum Payment = $89.00
The Average Monthly Payment I Make = $450.00 ($300.00 per month + the average of the 2016 version 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge) will have me credit card free in 9 months at the longest.

Once the credit card has a zero balance, that money will be “snowballed” onto my monthly student loans. Instead of paying the $200.00 minimum for those, I will then pay $200.00 + $450.00 to equal $650.00 per month on student loan debt. Doing this will shave 12 years and 7 months off my expected repayment term and save me about $6,555.55 on interest alone.

Once the student loans are eliminated, I will then have an extra $650.00 every month. That’s an extra $7,800 per year that could be applied to savings, investments, or a down payment for a large purchase.

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

{Week 3 Progress Report} 52 Week BINGO Money Challenge

Published on January 15, 2016May 23, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason1 Comment

It’s Friday and week 3 for me for the 52 Week BINGO Challenge. This week I am crossing off $50 and my first bonus box for $100.00 for a combined savings of $150.00 for week 3 and a grand total of $225.00. Every day I receive emails with inspiring stories of people, their financial goals, and their progress of making smarter money moves. It makes me so happy to get check-ins on Fridays, especially from people who have joined the challenge. I hope is it shows readers of shemakescents that you are not on this financial journey alone.