Seek Wisdom, Find Wealth

3 Questions to Ask Your Honey About Money

2012-02-07T14:24:00.000-05:00

We all want it. We all need it. But for one reason or another, most of us find it difficult to talk about money – especially when the conversation involves our significant other. No matter how hard the talk is to have, the reality is that you can’t create a truly great relationship until you can openly communicate about money. Think about dating relationships. Money is the one subject people will

No Buy Month is Here!

2012-01-31T09:50:00.003-05:00

If one of your financial goals this year is to save more money, participating in “No Buy Month” might just be one way to bring you one step closer. February is “No Buy Month” as declared by Natalie P. McNeal, author of the Frugalista Files, a delightful book that chronicles how the blogger got out of debt while maintaining her fabulous life. She also reveals how not spending extra money for just

How to Create Wealthy Habits - Part 2

2012-01-24T10:34:00.001-05:00

As I shared last week in Part 1 of How to Create Wealthy Habits, we are never in a state of "trying." We are either doing what we need to do or we aren't. Once we recognize that there is no in between, we can begin to take charge and implement the habits that will create the success in our finances and lives we desire. Here are more ways to create wealthy habits today: SEE AND BELIEVEWriting the

How to Create Wealthy Habits - Part 1

2012-01-17T09:53:00.002-05:00

Most people understand the saying that we are “creatures of habit.” The part they don’t get, however, is that habits come in two forms: doing and not doing. Many of us can think of the things we actively do each day as habits which may be either good or bad. But, when you don’t do the things you know you should be doing, then you are practicing the often unnoticed habit of simply not doing,

How to Recover From Holiday Debt - Part 1

2012-01-04T12:47:00.000-05:00

So, if you didn’t take my advice in 2011 and use a Christmas fund to complete your shopping or incorporate the returned gift of lay-away to keep your budget intact, there’s a great possibility you might have more debt today than you did about 30 days ago. So, while you genuinely enjoyed the traveling, gift-giving and extra time spent with family and friends this past holiday season, if you’re

5 Last Minute Tax Tips

2011-12-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

Time is winding down, but if you are proactive instead of reactive, it's not too late to take advantage of a few tax tips that can save you big bucks on your tax return! Any tax professional will tell you that the most beneficial tax preparation won't take place in April; it begins in December. So, make 2012 less taxing on yourself by getting things together now. 1. Save money by prepaying

3 Ways to Avoid Additional Debt this Season

2011-12-14T14:32:00.002-05:00

I’m not a fan of debt, but if you lost your job, I totally get it. Or, if something happens with your automobile . . . understandable. But, accumulating debt because of the holidays? Nope; can’t get with it at all. . . . For one, the holidays are not a surprise. We know that Thanksgiving and Christmas are bound to roll around again when we set out on January 1st. So it couldn’t be that

How to Negotiate a Higher Salary

2011-12-01T05:39:00.001-05:00

If you’ve already cut down weekly beauty regimens and Friday nights out on the town or totally cut off the luxury of cable television and still don’t feel a little relief, then the problem may not be your “outgo,” but your income. The recipe for financial success is the highest income you can achieve coupled with the lowest expenses you can maintain for your personal standard or quality of life.

Your Ultimate Black Friday Survival Guide

2011-11-22T21:32:00.000-05:00

As Black Friday nears, some are excited about the deals and steals the day promises to offer, while many others are deathly afraid of the prospect of being pushed, shoved and trampled amidst the frenzy. I tend to side with the latter, but either way, here's your Guide to Surviving Black Friday! Get Your Mind Right Sale or not, if you don't have the money to shop, then don't shop! Remember,

Financial Book Review: The One Week Budget

2011-11-11T09:30:00.002-05:00

Let’s face it. No one adores paying bills. As a matter of fact, most of us downright hate the mundane and tedious task of physically paying multiple bills. That’s why Tiffany Aliche, aka The Budgetnista, author of The One Week Budget stopped paying her bills all together. Why do something you hate doing when you can spend the same time doing the things you love? Aliche wrote The One Week Budget

The Right Way to Fire Your Bank

2011-11-03T15:42:00.000-04:00

The reason banks continue to create junk fees is simple: they understand that consumers are creatures of habit; slaves to our own laziness. Just think about the fees you “agree” to pay when you use an ATM outside of your banks network. Ever paid $4.50 to get $20 out of the machine? Hurts, doesn’t it? And yet, you do it again and again anyway! I know the thought of trying to move your money and

Occupy Wall Street: A Movement on the Move

2011-10-25T13:53:00.000-04:00

If you thought Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was just a fly by night initiative, think again. What began September 17, 2011 as a series of minimally publicized demonstrations in the financial district of New York City has blossomed into a full blown movement which has not only swept the United States, but crossed into international terrain, as well. The participants' slogan "We are the 99%" refers

Bank Transfer Day: Are You In?

2011-10-13T06:57:00.004-04:00

The concept of Bank Transfer Day only sprung up this past weekend and already the social media driven initiative has gone viral and gained media attention worldwide. The Facebook campaign is urging Americans to close their accounts at large banks and place their money in local credit unions by or on November 5th in order to show contempt for bank conglomerates, such as Bank of America, who are

Do "Mean Girls" Make More Money?

2011-09-29T11:30:00.015-04:00

Just when we were starting to accept that pretty people made all the money, we get hit with yet another study. First, we were told that attractive people are paid $230,000 more over a lifetime based solely upon appearance and not experience. If that wasn’t depressing enough, a more recently published study is saying that people who are ruder make more. Does this sound crazy to you?The study,

Are You Ready for a Disaster?

2011-09-20T17:12:00.002-04:00

Ever heard the saying, “Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready?” . . . Well, with the ambush of earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and tornadoes we’ve experienced since the beginning of the year, you should’ve seen enough by now to know how devastating the effects of any disaster – natural or man-made, can be. Since January, FEMA has confirmed over 80 major disaster declarations in the United

Is it Time to Start Christmas Shopping?

2011-09-07T11:35:00.024-04:00

If you’re one of those people who seem to be taken by surprise every holiday season, then yes, it’s time to start Christmas shopping! I know, I know. Labor Day is still on the tips of our tongues and you haven’t even thought about the kids Halloween costume yet. It may feel too early, but unless you’re expecting some type of financial windfall between now and December, it’s definitely time

Financial Book Review: The Frugalista Files

2011-09-01T09:23:00.002-04:00

“I don’t leave my low-paying, dead-end job, because I need money to pay down my rent, car, and school loans, and to bring down my credit card bills.”Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. And that was the great part about reading Natalie P. McNeal’s The Frugalista Files: How One Woman got Out of Debt without Giving Up the Fabulous Life. Knowing you’re not alone in getting a possibly

10 Ways To Avoid Overdraft Fees

2011-08-24T10:34:00.001-04:00

US Banks take in over $38 billion in overdraft fees, which equate to more than 75% of the fees they charge on consumer deposits period. With the economy so tight these days, do you really have additional money to throw out the window? As I often remind my clients, banks are not charities; they will capitalize off of you as much as you allow them to. Sure it’s highway robbery to be charged an

Birdman: Birdbrain or Businessman?

2011-08-17T03:49:00.002-04:00

By now you’ve probably heard the story. A few months ago, Bryan “Birdman” Williams tweeted about purchasing a one of a kind Maybach Exelero coupe for a whopping $8 million. Blog forums were filled of comments which condemned the Cash Money CEO for hardly ever being in the news concerning any philanthropic efforts, but instead for highlighting Gucci shopping sprees and a massive car collection

5 Business Lessons from Tyler Perry

2011-08-10T10:06:00.004-04:00

Love him or hate him, Tyler Perry is not just a Black man; he’s a household name who has created an international brand in less than 20 years. A little over a week ago, I attended the White House’s Atlanta Urban Entrepreneurship Forum where the actor, producer, playwright and media mogul delivered the opening speech to a sea of would-be black and brown entrepreneurs, giving a candid account of

5 Ways To Save on Back to School Shopping

2011-08-03T14:04:00.002-04:00

The summer is quickly coming to a close and schools all over the country will be opening in the weeks ahead. From knowing what you already have to taking advantage of tax holidays, here are 5 simple ways to save on all of your Back to School needs: 1. Take inventory. We usually do ourselves more financial harm than good by running out and buying every school supply we can find. If you found

5 People Who Shouldn't Buy a Home

2011-07-27T17:31:00.006-04:00

Despite what you've heard, buying a home is not for everyone. Pre-Depression, many people who shouldn't have purchased homes in the first place, went against their better judgment by doing what "so and so" said they should do and ended up worse off for it. The old-school home-buying rules (well, not your granny's old school, more like 7 years ago old school) told us: A. To buy as

Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend: A Lesson in Giving

2011-06-24T17:26:00.001-04:00

Attending Steve Harvey’s Mentoring Weekend for Young Men this past weekend taught me many lessons about life, myself and people, in general. Beyond the 125 or so young men who were chosen to attend the jam packed weekend of inspiration, reflection and just plain real talk, I think every person who stepped foot on the Harvey Town, 400+ acre ranch outside of Dallas, TX has forever been transformed.

Are You Enabling Your Loved Ones?

2011-06-07T15:01:00.000-04:00

An enabler is one that enables another to achieve an end; especially: one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior. Before you move on to your next post feeling some peculiar air of superiority,

FEMA Wants It's Money Back

2011-05-12T07:18:00.000-04:00

Really, FEMA? You want American people undergoing one of the worst recessions of our time to simply pop over $22 million dollars in the mail within the next 30 days? In the words of DL Hughley from the Original Kings of Comedy, “You can expect payment anytime you want!” The Federal Emergency Management Agency began sending out letters to thousands of people who received disaster aid asking for