The holiday season: when you’re either frantically running from store to store, scouring online sales, or on the verge of throwing in the towel and just sending everyone gift cards. (Hey, they’re useful, right?)
But what if this year could be different? What if we stopped trying to “keep up with the Joneses” and made giving all about meaning, not just money? Here’s how to bring intentionality—and a little less financial stress—back to holiday gifting.
Read MoreIt’s a scary thought: common money mistakes can jeopardize your wealth and financial health if left unchecked. But if you can identify and avoid these pitfalls, you can be smart with your money, protect your financial well-being, and work toward building a healthy and secure financial future.
Read MoreMoney is one of those topics that can feel a bit tricky to discuss with your kids. How much do you share? When do you start? And how do you ensure they understand the value of a dollar without overwhelming them? Whether you’ve got a toddler just learning about the concept of “more” or a teenager eyeing that first job, talking to your kids about money is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach them.
Read MoreRenovating your home can be an exciting yet daunting task. Should you channel your inner HGTV star and tackle it yourself, or is it wiser to call in the cavalry of seasoned professionals? Whether you’re eyeing a kitchen overhaul or just sprucing up the bathroom, making the right choice can save you time, money, and a heap of frustration.
Read MoreI recently had a heartfelt conversation with a friend who, with tears in her eyes, shared a significant milestone in her life. For the first time ever, she managed to fund her family’s vacation without resorting to debt.
In previous years, she had been caught in a vicious cycle of racking up credit card debt to fund their trips, only to spend months paying it off just in time for the next vacation.
As I joined in celebrating this meaningful moment with my friend, it prompted a moment of reflection on my own journey and the profound impact of managing finances wisely.
Read MoreA personal emergency fund can act as a savings buffer and help you face the unexpected without taking a significant financial hit. “Saving for a rainy day” and having emergency savings can give you peace of mind and offer financial security through uncertain times.
Just as unforeseen events can disrupt your personal finances, your business can also face unpredictable challenges that threaten its financial stability. It’s crucial to have an emergency fund for your business to help provide a layer of financial security — expecting the unexpected and being financially prepared can help your business survive any challenges that come your way.
Read MoreHere’s a tip that we often forget in the rush leading up to the end of the school year:
Plan ahead for the expenses of summer.
You’ll likely be thankful you did — preparing and planning can help you enjoy the season and focus on fun instead of finances. By creating a budget and saving early for certain seasonal expenses, you can make the most of your summer without the stress and worries of overspending.
Read MoreIf you find yourself frantically slashing expenses, racking up debt on lines of credit, or worse, dipping into your personal funds just to stay afloat during the off-season, it's time for an intervention. Your finances shouldn't be at the mercy of fleeting trends. You need to take control and implement smarter planning.
Read MoreWe've probably all been there at some point in our lives — staring at those bills, trying to figure out how the heck we ended up drowning in debt again. Whether it's unexpected emergencies, lack of planning, or just a case of the "I want it" taking over, debt can quickly spiral into a vicious cycle that can leave you feeling suffocated.
If this is you — it's time to break free from those debt shackles and reclaim your financial freedom.
Read MoreThe beginning of every new year is filled with a renewed focus on health and wellness: eating better, exercising more, prioritizing mental health, and practicing self-care. All these small changes are important to your well-being, and with commitment, they can help you build a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
The new year is also a great time to focus on financial health and improve your financial wellness. The benefits of financial wellness go far beyond financial stability alone. Financial wellness is a holistic approach to your financial health and brings with it lasting emotional and mental well-being that comes with effective money management.
Read MoreJotting down your goals and visualizing their realization is exciting, but it's merely the starting point. Genuine progress happens when we dig deeper and adopt a mindset and lifestyle that aligns with our goals.
This is where establishing financial intentions comes into play. Our intentions propel us forward, even if we temporarily veer off course from an ambitious goal we've set.
Hiring your first employee is like adding a new character to the story of your business. You want to ensure they're a perfect fit, someone who can help you achieve your goals and take your company to the next level. So, let's jump into the exciting world of small business hiring and the employee onboarding process.
Read MoreThe traditional concept of working a 9-5 job for approximately forty years until retirement is slowly losing its status as the standard way of living. Many workers are seeking time freedom, early retirement, flexible and remote working conditions, and ultimately, they want their money to work for them (not the other way around). If you want to step outside (or even just supplement) the traditional employment framework, discover our tips for obtaining a side hustle and creating multiple income streams.
Read MoreEven with the current economy of rising prices, high inflation, and feeling like our dollar isn’t going as far as it used to, Americans are still planning to spend lavishly on holiday shopping, with figures surpassing pre-pandemic levels. And even though they may be more discerning in their gift buying with higher prices and less purchasing power, almost 40% of consumers plan on spending more than they did last year.
Whether you plan on spending as much or more than you have in previous years or stick to a tight budget, minimizing your stress and maximizing your finances can be at the top of your priority list.
Read MoreIf you’ve never created a budget before and have no idea where to start, it can feel overwhelming and to be perfectly honest, not much fun. However, helping our clients create their very first budget is one of our favorite tasks because we know budgeting is the launching point of an organized and intentional financial life.
While a budget is not a cure-all for all the financial woes you may be experiencing — in fact, most Americans do have a budget and still struggle with overspending — it’s still helpful to craft and utilize.
Read MoreDebt can be a necessary tool that allows us to accomplish major dreams like getting a college education, starting a business, funding our first car, or purchasing a home. However, some consumer debts, like credit cards and personal loans, are sometimes the result of poor financial discipline and planning.
If you’re struggling with lingering debt and want to know how to get out of debt quickly so you can move on to bigger and better things, we've got you covered!
As parents, we want to provide the absolute best for our children. We want to give them every opportunity to learn, grow and thrive, especially when living under our roofs.
We want to give them a curated, challenging education, a joyful childhood, encouraging friendships, engaging experiences, and a solid financial foundation for their future.
However, as much as we want to give them the world, we also need to be responsible for our own financial goals and futures that can be a delicate balancing act. How do we help them understand that our “no” today is allowing us to say “yes” to bigger, more meaningful things in the future?
Read MoreThere are many differences between men and women, particularly when it comes to physical, behavioral, and emotional characteristics.
Men are typically taller, stronger, and have more muscle mass than women, while women are typically more nurturing and empathetic. Men tend to categorize the world by tasks and keep their emotions under wrap, while women tend to categorize life by relationships and openly share their feelings.
Each gender has its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to understand how these differences can lead men and women to approach certain topics, like personal finance, in unique ways. As women, this allows us to capitalize on our strengths and natural skills.
Personal finance for women is one of our favorite topics to talk about, so let’s dive into some areas where women approach money differently and three financial obstacles they must overcome!
Read MoreA common misconception is that if only we earned more money, we would have a comfortable lifestyle, financial security, and the ability to afford all the luxuries we could possibly imagine. We would be happy and healthy and certainly not be living paycheck to paycheck.
According to the paycheck-to-paycheck report from September 2022, approximately 45% of Americans earning over $100,000 say they live paycheck to paycheck. While approximately 47% of those making between $150,000 and $200,000 and 28% of those earning over $200,000 also report living paycheck to paycheck.
It would seem that getting ahead financially is not simply a numbers game…. “earn more money and everything will be okay.”
Read MoreWhen it comes to intimate relationships, money is often considered a topic to be avoided at all costs. We always think we should stay away from the subject for fear that it might put others off. Why bring up something that could make someone uncomfortable? Why bring up something so serious?
One of the top-cited reasons for divorce and breakups is financial differences or arguments about money.
Read MoreThe first step in building personal wealth is to understand our beliefs and values surrounding money. We can know all the best tips and tricks to implement, but if we don’t first believe we can build wealth, we won’t succeed. This positive mindset allows us to take on the challenge of wealth-building and surpass our wildest financial dreams.
We also need to understand that money is a tool. Money should never be a goal in and of itself, but rather a means to accomplish our ultimate dreams.
With all this being said, you’ll want to look out for these common stumbling blocks that can get in the way of personal wealth building. We want to dive into five financial mistakes that we often see so you can be on your way to building the life you always dreamed.
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