Makeunder My Finances: Step 4

Welcome to the final installment of the refreshed "Makeunder My Finances" series, as inspired by Jess Lively's makeunder steps. Missed the first three steps? You can find one, two, and three here.

Step 4: Reflect and evolve

This should be the "easiest" step of a financial makeunder. The real work goes into creating a vision, exfoliating stuff, and identifying intentions. Once your budget, savings plan, and automatic deposits are in place, it's a matter of evaluating your progress. Are you being too strict in some areas or too lax in others? Does your budget need a little tweaking? Can you sock away some extra money to meet your goal early?

How often should you be evaluating? Part of that depends on your timeframe and if you've made dramatic changes. I would also take a closer look at things in the beginning to set a good foundation. Remember, you're setting yourself up for success. Don't set unrealistic expectations. In general, a weekly update and monthly review should suffice.

It's also a good idea to check in on your vision and intentions. As you grow and mature, you might realize that your vision and intentions have also evolved. As Jess says, "The more regularly you reflect on the vision the less you will need to create major changes going forward." For example, when I married John, I felt a shift in priorities. Our finances also merged, so my decisions didn't just affect me anymore. And as you achieve one financial goal, you'll have the confidence to save for something else.

In a way, this refresh of the series is like one giant exercise in reflecting and evolving. Where we were three years ago is almost a world away from where we are now. Our financial situation and responsibilities have changed, so it only makes sense to reevaluate our goals and approach to savings and spending. 

Good luck with your own financial makeunders. Small changes here and there can really add up. Send me an email at fiscallychic@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Have a great week!
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Makeunder My Finances: Step 3

Hi there! I hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend. We took some time to do a few projects around the house. Did any of you take a look at your finances as part of the "Makeunder My Finances" refresh? If you're just joining in now, Step 1 is all about creating a vision. Step 2 is taking a closer look at how you're spending your money. After walking through those steps, have you identified spending strengths and weaknesses? I hope so because this week is all about setting specific goals and intentions.

Step 3: Identify Intentions

In the first round of our financial makeunder, John and I were saving money for a down payment on a house. This time around, our larger vision is financial freedom. While we don't spend too much money on shopping or entertainment, we now have a new budget line for baby stuff. We value living simply and spending time with family and friends. 

With your intentions in mind, it's time to create some SMART goals for saving and spending:

■S = Specific

■M = Measurable

■A = Attainable

■R = Realistic

■T = Timely

Specific

How much do you need to save? And don't just say "I need to save more." What is "more?" If you don't have a specific amount in mind, how will you know when you get there? You probably have a good idea of the price tag based on your vision.

Measurable

Dollars are pretty easy to measure, but what happens when your "vision" dollars start to mingle with your "needs" or "wants" dollars? In order to properly measure your savings, it’s best to create a separate savings account. We like to use Capital One 360* (formerly ING Direct). It’s an online bank, so it has a higher interest rate (the good kind). We can automatically transfer money from checking to savings on my schedule and withdrawals take a couple days. That means we're less likely to pull from our savings on a whim. And with automatic transfers, we don’t even miss the money if it’s not available to be spent. You can find other savings accounts and interest rates at bankrate.com.

Attainable
Your monthly savings goal should be reasonable. Set yourself up for success. No need to drive yourself into the poor house trying to save for something enjoyable (i.e. European vacation). To stay motivated, set aside an amount that’s not too far out of reach. We’ve cut out a few extra frills by dining out less frequently and bringing our lunches to work.

Realistic
At the same time, your goal should be a little bit of a reach so that you’re willing to work towards it. That makes accomplishing the goal even more worthwhile. So set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

Timely
Set a timeframe and mark the date on your calendar. Again, be specific, not just "in the next 5 years." And be realistic. Automatic transfers are another way to stay timely. Schedule transfers for once or twice a month so you won't forget to stash the cash.



Print available from Mulberry Press Co.

Being SMART

John and I used Mint's goal tool to track the progress of our down payment. It’s as easy as entering our goal, setting a date, and linking a savings account. We then knew how much we needed to save each month, which is factored into our budget. Mint will email your progress every month and offers savings advice and information about the home buying process.

Now that we're focusing more on financial freedom by paying down our mortgage, increasing savings, and investing; we look at overall trends on Mint, particularly our net worth.

You can obviously track everything in an Excel spreadsheet or on a piece of paper, but I like the convenience of having everything online. That way I can access the information on the go and make changes as necessary.

Don’t be afraid to take ownership of your finances! The best way to become financially independent is to learn about the different resources and tools. And ask questions!

*Affiliate link for Capital One 360.

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Makeunder My Finances: Step 2

This week is Step 2 of the refreshed "Makeunder My Finances" series, as inspired by Jess Lively's classic makeunder steps. If you missed Step 1 (Create a Vision) you can find it here.


Step 2: Exfoliate Stuff

According to Jess, "this is the step where you dump the stuff that isn’t needed for the life you want to live. Just like our skin, there is a lot of dead ‘skin cells’ in our homes that are clouding the healthiest, best life we want to live. And by sloughing off that unnecessary layer of crap, we emerge brighter and more purposeful." Guess what? There might be some dead skin cells lurking around your finances as well. But first, you need to take a look in the mirror see what and where they are.

This makeunder step may be the most daunting since it involves accumulating the information that makes up your past and current financial situation. Sure you could pull up old bank statements, save receipts, and write down all of your spending on a sheet of paper, but it doesn't have to be that difficult. There are several online tools for tracking your financial data; and mint.com is our financial weapon of choice. Mint is a fantastic free and secure (!) site that offers personal finance and budget software, online money management, and budget planning. Mint brings all your financial accounts together online so you can see the big picture in a single click. We have our checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgage, and 401(k) and investment accounts all feeding into our Mint account.


Mint screenshot

With your assistance, Mint categorizes your transactions so you can see how much you're spending on rent, food, entertainment, shopping, etc. It also monitors income, loans, and investment transactions. I also love seeing how our net income and net worth have changed over time.

Once you've compiled your financial data, it's time to take a look at how your saving and spending habits align with your overall vision. I recommend looking at the largest bucket first and then go down the list.

When we first started using Mint over three years ago, I had no idea how much I (John is really good about bringing his lunch to work) was spending on lunches or coffee during the work week. I thought that the couple dollars here and there wouldn't make a difference until I saw the grand total at the end of the month: $130 even though we bought lunch food at the grocery store.

At the time, this was a large sum of money considering we were saving for a downpayment on a house. But looking through the lens of "financial freedom," this spending was an investment in our future. On the surface, I was going out to lunch and grabbing coffee with my coworkers. In hindsight, I was building my professional network.

Mint screenshot

After identifying your financial priorities and financial reality, it may be time to make some changes. There are as many spending/savings plans as there are diets. For example:

• 50% Needs, 20% Savings, and 30% Wants (per Daily Worth)
• Save to spend budget: 60% Monthly Expenses, 10% Retirement, 10% Long-Term Needs, 10% Short-Term Savings, 10% Fun (see Daily Worth)
• 35% Housing, 25% Living Expenses, 15% Debt, 15% Transportation, 10% Savings (from Jean Chatzky)
• Dollars per day for play (see Pete Mockaitis)

How much you spend in each particular area is up to you. Is shopping your thing? As long as you're automatically saving for retirement, have an emergency fund, and can pay off your credit card bill each month/pay in cash; who am I to judge if you buy expensive purses?

Maybe you've realized that your income doesn't support the lifestyle you desire. You now have a choice: you can spend less, earn more, or a combination of the two. I recommend the hybrid method where you can get the most bang for your buck: negotiate a higher salary, start a business, refinance your mortgage, negotiate lower monthly bills, and don't sweat the small stuff (like driving out of your way to save $0.05/gallon). In the long run, you can only cut expenses to a certain point. Earning more is more sustainable.

Next week is step 3: identify intentions. This will be your specific targets regarding savings and spending.

 

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Makeunder My Finances: Step 1

Shortly after starting Fiscally Chic, I wrote a 4-part series about makingunder our finances. This approach to saving and budgeting was inspired by Jess Lively and her steps for makingunder your life. A makeunder includes getting rid of the excess junk and clutter in your life to make room for nicer, more intentional purchases. Even if you aren't buying new things, your ratio of "nice" to "not nice" things will improve as you donate, recycle, or throw out the "not nice" stuff.

In a financial makeunder, cutting back on wasteful spending creates more opportunities to save and spend on the good stuff: retirement, giving more to your favorite charity, etc. In a sense, you can also makeunder the ways you earn money by negotiating a higher salary or increasing your rates or product prices.

When I first wrote about makingunder our finances, we were saving up to buy a house. Now that we've been living in said house for 2+ years, changed jobs, and have a baby; our financial situation has changed. So I thought it'd be helpful to revisit the financial makeunder steps. Additionally, I want to share the steps for those who may not have read the posts back then. Enjoy!

Step 1: Create a vision

Before overhauling your finances, think about your overall vision. Your vision could be for your personal financial situation: saving or earning more money to buy a home, for retirement, to go on vacation, or for your child's college fund. You might also want to payoff student loans, your mortgage, or credit card debt. Or maybe you're looking to buy a new car. If you have a vision of starting a business, you're probably creating a savings cushion before quitting your full time job.  

Creating a vision will set the focus for the next three steps; so get as specific as you'd like. John and I have an overall vision of financial freedom. This includes several supporting goals of paying down our mortage and saving for retirement. Soon we'll be starting a college fund for Monica. When we were saving for the down payment for our house, our vision included the neighborhood, cost, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and when we'd like to start the home buying process.

When creating and solidifying your vision, it's helpful to put together an inspiration board. Pinterest is a great place to collect images of your dream home or exotic travel destinations. If you want to go old school, write down your vision and post it on the bathroom mirror or refrigerator door. And if your vision has a deadline, write smaller goals and reminders on your calendar.

I hope you find this series helpful. As Jess puts it, a financial makeunder "takes the stress out of it in a way and doesn't make everything good or bad, but intentional or not intentional." The goal of this series is to help you examine why you spend money and your priorities instead of just "do this" and "don't do that." I want to help you put together a plan that works for your unique situation instead of just following a formula.

Next week, step 2: exfoliate stuff.
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Thoughts from an Estate Sale

We picked up an amazing dresser from an estate sale this past weekend. It's solid wood, has great lines, is in excellent condition, and only set us back $50. I couldn't find something like this on Craigslist if I tried.

Obviously such a steal is a win for us and buying something used is a win for the environment. But that isn't the point of this post.

The biggest thing that struck me from this estate sale is how much stuff this person had in their house. Additionally, John and I have both lost grandparents over the past few years and have heard stories from family members about sorting through the many belongings left behind.

Seeing a house full of stuff inspired me to take a harder look at all the stuff in our house. While I try to do my best about donating or recycling something I don't need anymore, I sometimes hold back thinking I'll need that item in the future. Plus, I feel guilty about sending something to a landfill. Though I realize that doing so turns my home into a landfill. Fortunately, Jess has all sorts of resources about making under or doing a "Throw Out 50 (or 100) Things" challenge. And by "throw out," ideally that means donating or recycling before throwing out.

To help guide the challenge, Jess uses "The Ventilator Test" to evaluate what to do with the stuff. The basic premise is:

If I was suddenly killed, moved to Timbuktu, or put into the Witness Protection Program at a moment’s notice; what would my family do with my stuff? Would they donate it to a charity? Send it to the recycling center? Sell it on Ebay? Or put it in the dumpster? If the answer is the latter, it’s safe to say that if you don’t throw away that really old prom shoe, someone else will.

Seeing and hearing about "The Ventilator Test" in action is eye-opening. Family members have enough burdens when a loved ones passes away. Cleaning out a house full of stuff from the past 50 years shouldn't be one of them.

I won't become a minimalist overnight, but I'd like to do a better job at exfoliating the unnecessary things I have and minimizing the unnecessary things I bring into our home. And it looks like I'm on the right track because I was driving to Goodwill to donate a bag of stuff and the mall to return a sweater when I stumbled upon the estate sale.

Do you have any tips to share when purging the stuff in your home? Or getting over the guilt of sending something to a landfill?

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I'm a MML Lifestyle Contributor!

Hi there! Just wanted to pop in and share some exciting news :)

A few weeks ago, Jess of Makeunder My Life (MML) shared her idea of having contributors on her blog. Jess blogs about designing her life with intention every day, and wanted to grow the conversation by having contributors who specialize in different areas of life (home, beauty, finance, and health/wellness, and wardrobe). They write each month about how readers can "make under" or just look at that specific area of their life more intentionally.

Guess who's the new MML Finance Contributor??? ME!!!!! (insert dorky, happy dance)

Swing by MML to read my introduction where I share a little bit of my background, intentions, and how I feel about designing my finances with intention. After this week, I'll have a monthly post on MML. The rest of the contributors are also amazing, so I encourage you to read their introductions and follow their weekly posts too.

And a warm welcome to everyone who came over from MML! Fiscally Chic is where I blog about "saving money with style" two or three times a week. I also post recipes, talk about running, and share other things that inspire me. If this is your first time here, I encourage you to make yourself at home and take a look around. We just bought a house, so decorating and home-related things seem to be the theme du jour. If you're looking for the cupcakes, they hang out with the other recipes.

Thanks again to Jess for the opportunity to share my knowledge.
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Welcome to Fiscally Chic!

Makeunder My Finances is currently being shared at Makeunder My Life......yay!!!!

Hi, Makeunder My Life readers! Welcome to Fiscally Chic! I blog about "saving money with style" two or three times a week. I also post recipes, talk about running, and share other things that inspire me. If this is your first time here, I encourage you to make yourself at home and take a look around. Here's a little more about me and about Fiscally Chic. If you're looking for the cupcakes, they hang out with the other recipes.

To give you a little history and my connection with MML, Jess is my first friend in Chicago. I began following her blog before moving to Chicago and met her in person at one of her Macy's trunk shows. At first we considered getting to know one another over coffee or wine, but I finally suggested going running. She's run a few marathons, I've run some halfs and a full, so I thought she would be game. Now we meet up for the occassional run (or brunch during the cold months) and dinners to discuss life and our dreams.

And if you're a regular at Fiscally Chic and haven't hopped over to Makeunder My Life, I would definitely recommend it! It just might change your life.

Jess, thanks again for sharing Makeunder My Finances!

PS - She also designs some super stylish jewelry. I recommend the Franklin "I LOVE YOU" necklace for Valentine's Day.

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Makeunder My Finances: Step 4

Welcome to the final installment of "Makeunder My Finances." Missed the first three steps? You can find one, two, and three here. And to give credit where it's due, I didn't come up with the makeunder steps. That's all Jess of Makeunder My Life. If you're looking to simplify your life and home, check out the makeunder steps in their original glory. I simply gave them the Fiscally Chic treatment.

Step 4: Reflect and evolve

This should be the "easiest" step of a financial makeunder. The real work goes into creating a vision, exfoliating stuff, and identifying intentions. Once your budget, savings plan, and automatic deposits are in place, it's a matter of evaluating your progress. Are you being too strict in some areas or too lax in others? Does your budget need a little tweaking? Can you sock away some extra money to meet your goal early?

How often should you be evaluating? Part of that depends on your timeframe and if you've made dramatic changes. I would also take a closer look at things in the beginning to set a good foundation. Remember, you're setting yourself up for success. Don't set unrealistic expectations. In general, a weekly update and monthly review should suffice.

It's also a good idea to check in on your vision and intentions. As you grow and mature, you might realize that your vision and intentions have also evolved. As Jess says, "The more regularly you reflect on the vision the less you will need to create major changes going forward." For example, when I married John, I felt a shift in priorities. Our finances also merged, so my decisions didn't just affect me anymore. And as you achieve one financial goal, you'll have the confidence to save for something else.

Tote from dearcolleen on Etsy

Real Life
John and I started to think more seriously about down payments back in the summer of 2010. We had already saved a good chunk of change, but really wanted to buckle down if we're going to take advantage of low interest rates and high levels of inventory. I signed up for Mint in August 2010 and created the goal shortly thereafter. It's January 2011 and we're still making changes to our budget. In the beginning it was a matter of watching the money. Now that we have a better grasp of our spending habits, we've implemented some changes (i.e. bringing lunches to work and making coffee at home). After a month or so of the changes, I can then adjust the budget further.

Good luck with your own financial makeunders. Small changes here and there can really add up. And send me an email at fiscallychic@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Have a great week!
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Makeunder My Finances: Step 3

Thanks for waiting patiently for the next step in "Makeunder My Finances." I began training for my next half marathon this week and decided I should get a good night sleep instead of editing a blog post. And to be honest, this post has been a little difficult to finish. This step is what Jess's Makeunder My Life is all about. Her middle name is pretty much "intention." So hopefully I'm doing her steps justice.

So with this extra time, have you created a vision? Have you taken a closer look at how you're spending your money? Have you identified spending strengths and weaknesses? I hope so because this week is all about setting specific goals and intentions.

Step 3: Identify Intentions

As a refresher, John and I are saving money for a down payment on a house. Our budgetary weakness is food and eating out. On the positive side, we don't spend much on shopping or entertainment. We value living simply and spending time with family and friends. Our intention is the whole premise of Fiscally Chic. Saving money with style and living life to the fullest.

Print from MursBlanc Etsy shop ($20)

With these items in mind, as inspired by Lauren, and with the help of Mint, we've implemented a SMART savings plan. Our plan is:

■S = Specific

■M = Measurable

■A = Attainable

■R = Realistic

■T = Timely

Specific

How much do you need to save? And don't just say "I need to save more." What is "more?" If you don't have a specific amount in mind, how will you know when you get there? You probably have a good idea of the price tag based on your vision.

Measurable

Dollars are pretty easy to measure, but what happens when your "vision" dollars start to mingle with your "needs" or "wants" dollars? In order to properly measure your savings, it’s best to create a separate savings account. I like to use ING Direct. It’s an online bank, so it has a higher interest rate (the good kind). I can automatically transfer money from checking to savings on my schedule and withdrawals take a couple days. That means I’m less likely to pull from our savings on a whim. And with automatic transfers, I don’t even miss the money if it’s not available to be spent. You can find other savings accounts and interest rates at bankrate.com.

Attainable
Your monthly savings goal should be reasonable. Set yourself up for success. No need to drive yourself into the poor house trying to save for something enjoyable (i.e. European vacation). To stay motivated, set aside an amount that’s not too far out of reach. We’ve cut out a few extra frills by dining out less frequently.

Realistic
At the same time, your goal should be a little bit of a reach so that you’re willing to work towards it. That makes accomplishing the goal even more worthwhile. So set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

Timely
Set a timeframe and mark the date on your calendar. Again, be specific, not just "in the next 5 years." And be realistic. Unless one of us wins the lottery, we probably won’t have a 20% down payment in 3 months. Automatic transfers are another way to stay timely. Schedule transfers for once or twice a month so you won't forget to stash the cash.


Purchase print from Ork Posters for $18



Being SMART

John and I use Mint's goal tool to track the progress of our down payment. It’s as easy as entering our goal, setting a date, and linking a savings account. I then know how much we need to save each month, which is factored into our budget. Mint emails me our progress every month and offers savings advice and information about the home buying process.

You can obviously track everything in an Excel spreadsheet or on a piece of paper, but I like the convenience of having everything online. That way I can access the information on the go and make changes as necessary.

Don’t be afraid to take ownership of your finances! The best way to become financially independent is to learn about the different resources and tools. And ask questions!

(Disclaimer: I haven't been compensated by Mint, ING, or bankrate.com for this post. These are simply my opinions.)

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Makeunder My Finances: Step 2

It looks like a few more people are joining us at Fiscally Chic. So a big welcome to my new readers! We're in the middle of my "Makeunder My Finances" series. This week is Step 2. If you missed Step 1 (Create a Vision) you can find it here. And of course I have to give props to the mastermind behind these steps: Jess of Makeunder My Life. Here are her classic makeunder steps. On with the show!


Print from Etsy seller bluebicicletta


Step 2: Exfoliate Stuff

According to Jess, "this is the step where you dump the stuff that isn’t needed for the life you want to live. Just like our skin, there is a lot of dead ‘skin cells’ in our homes that are clouding the healthiest, best life we want to live. And by sloughing off that unnecessary layer of crap, we emerge brighter and more purposeful." Guess what? There might be some dead skin cells lurking around your budget as well. But first, you need to take a look in the mirror see what and where they are.

This makeunder step may be the most daunting since it involves accumulating the information that makes up your past and current financial situation. Through the magic of the Internet and computer software, it doesn't have to be that difficult. I use mint.com to compile all of our financial data. It's a fantastic free (and secure!) site that offers personal finance and budget software, online money management, and budget planning. Mint brings all your financial accounts together online so you can see the big picture in a single click. We have our checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and 401(k) and investment accounts all feeding into our Mint account.


Mint screenshot

 So what do you do with all of that information? Mint categorizes your transactions (with some of your assistance) so you can see how much you're spending on rent, food, entertainment, shopping, etc. It also monitors income, loans, and investment transactions. It was pretty eye-opening even that first month of using Mint. I had no idea how much I was spending on lunches or coffee during the work week. (John is really good about bringing his lunch to work) I thought that the couple dollars here and there wouldn't make a difference until I saw the grand total at the end of the month. $130 even though we bought lunch food at the grocery store? Yikes! On the flip side, we didn't spend much money shopping.

After you've had a chance to dive into the nitty gritty, it's time to develop a budget! There are as many budgeting methods as there are diets. You never know what's going to work for you until you give it a whirl. And like a diet, if you're going to be saving money it's all about input vs. output. You can spend less, earn more, or a combination of the two.



Mint screenshot

I rely on Mint's built-in budgeting software to set our monthly targets for each major spending area. Mint also allows you to adjust your budget. For example, Mint first thought a good amount for Movies and DVD's was $20. We rarely go to the movie theater, choosing to rent from Redbox instead. I bumped that monthly budget down to $10.

Some other methods include:

• 50% Needs, 20% Savings, and 30% Wants (see Daily Worth)
• Save to spend budget: 60% Monthly Expenses, 10% Retirement, 10% Long-Term Needs, 10% Short-Term Savings, 10% Fun (see Daily Worth)
• 35% Housing, 25% Living Expenses, 15% Debt, 15% Transportation, 10% Savings (from Jean Chatzky) 
• Dollars per day for play (see Pete Mockaitis)

One of the other benefits of Mint is that it sends me alerts when I go over budget. They also email me weekly updates. It's like my personal accountability partner. Speaking of accountability, share your goals with a significant other or trusted friend. You will be more likely to succeed when someone is cheering you on and helping you over hurdles. 

Print available at MadebyGirl

John and I have been more open about how we spend our money over the years so that we can work towards a common goal of home ownership. I don't have to ask his "permission" about purchases, but if I'm wavering, I check in to see if buying something is "worth" more than saving for our goal. Plus, there will be fewer surprises or busted budgets.

Next week is step 3: identify intentions. This will be your specific targets regarding savings and spending.

What are your secret ways to cut costs or earn a little extra? Would it be helpful if I shared some ideas?

(Disclaimer: I haven't been compensated by Mint for this post. These are simply my opinions. But if you're out there, Mint, I wouldn't mind writing for you!)

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Makeunder My Finances: Step 1

Hello again! Welcome to a bright and shiny New Year! I don't know about you, but I think 2011 is going to be a big year. I've written down some goals and have renewed energy to tackle them. What about you? Do you have any big plans for 2011?

Two of the most popular resolutions revolve around improving your finances and improving your health. Hopefully I can help you start achieving these this January. First up is improving your finances. And to give credit where it's due, I didn't come up with the makeunder steps. That's all Jess of Makeunder My Life. If you're looking to simplify your life and home, check out the makeunder steps in their original glory. I simply gave them the Fiscally Chic treatment.

Step 1: Create a vision


A Frank Lloyd Wright home in Oak Park, IL (I can dream, right?)
(source)

Before overhauling your finances, think about your overall goal. Your goal could be saving money to buy a home, for retirement, to go on vacation, to have a cushion to start a business, or for your child's college fund. You might also want to payoff debt: student loans, mortgage, or credit card. Maybe it's for a new car. Your vision could be for your personal financial situation or for a business.

Creating a vision will set the focus for the next three steps. So get as specific as you'd like. John and I have several financial goals, including saving money for a house. This will be the example I'll use throughout the "makeunder" series. Our vision includes the neighborhood, cost, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and when we'd like to start the home buying process. Some of these items may change over time, but the overall vision of a home is the foundation. Feel free to put together an inspiration board that you can see everyday. Or write down your vision and post it on the refrigerator door. Maybe you'll write your goal and reminders on the calendar.

(source)

I hope you enjoy this series. As Jess puts it, a financial makeunder "takes the stress out of it in a way and doesn't make everything good or bad, but intentional or not intentional." The goal of this series is to help you examine why you spend money and your priorities instead of just "do this" and "don't do that." I want to help you put together a plan that works for your unique situation instead of just following a formula.

Next week, step 2: exfoliate stuff
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