It’s that time of year again — your inbox is probably full of Black Friday sales, deals, and special offers that promise to save you money. Between rising prices, constant ads, and holiday pressure, it’s easy to overspend without even realizing it.

But not this year.

This year, you can walk into Black Friday and Cyber Monday with a plan, not pressure.

In the latest episode of Light Up the Mic, I share my favorite ways to shop smarter — from setting a holiday budget to knowing when a “sale” isn’t really a deal. I truly believe saving money isn’t about saying no to joy; it’s about being intentional with what matters most.

When we plan ahead, comparison-shop, and track what we spend, we make room for peace — not stress — this holiday season.

Besides, the best gifts aren’t always found under the tree. They’re the memorable moments that you share — laughter, good food, and time with the people we love.

So, if you’re ready to shop smarter, protect your peace, and make this season meaningful, give this a listen today. In this episode, I break down 10 powerful strategies to help you shop smarter on Black Friday and Cyber Monday so you can save more, stress less, and protect your wallet.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and hear: How to Shop Smarter on Black Friday and Cyber Monday — available now on the Light Up the Mic podcast.

Because the holidays aren’t about how much you spend, they’re about the special memories you make. 💛

Happy Shopping! 🛍️

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving also. I hope yours is filled with love, peace, happiness and anything else your heart desires.

If you’re on social media, you’ve probably bought something that caught your eye on it. The other day, I spoke to someone at the grocery store who told me that she has to stop scrolling. Because she’s spending too much money on social media. And it’s really starting to add up.

It’s easy to get caught up in all those enticing ads all over the place to grab your attention. But those deals don’t feel like steals when they start hitting your bank account. Do you feel like social media is draining your wallet?

Is Social Media Draining Your Wallet?

If so, I encourage you to check out my 20^th Light Up the Mic podcast episode to get some tips on how to stop the spending cycle. I got a chance to sit down with Todd Christensen, financial educator and author of Everyday Money for Everyday People, and dive into the digital spending trap millions of Americans fall into every day.

Todd unpacks the psychology of online spending, the emotional triggers behind impulse purchases, and simple ways to become a more mindful consumer. He also discusses how ads, influencers, and algorithms are shaping what we see — and how we can drive change. He breaks down how to spot manipulative algorithms and the small shifts that can help you take control.

Social Media Scams are Costing Us Billions

In closing, I share a recent FTC alert on the $1.9 billion lost to social-media scams, plus actionable tips to protect your wallet and your peace of mind from scammers online.

The Key Takeaways from the Is Social Media Draining Your Wallet? How to Break the Spending Cycle episode:

1. Awareness breaks the cycle. Recognize your spending triggers and how social media works.
2. “Buy Now, Pay Later” isn’t your friend. Todd’s theme-park analogy reveals why instant gratification leads to long-term regret.
3. Curate your feed. Unfollow the noise and follow accounts that uplift, educate, and empower.
4. Have a spending plan. This isn’t a restriction — it’s direction.
5. Pay yourself first. Save money in a different account.
6. Protect yourself from scams. Research sellers, use credit cards for protection, and question “too-good-to-be-true” deals.
7. Scroll with purpose, not impulse. Mindful scrolling saves both your money and your mental space.

Have you ever bought a ticket on a secondary platform like StubHub, Vivid Seats, or SeatGeek? We’ve always done this for college games, and it’s worked like a champ. Sometimes you score cheaper prices and better seats too. But buyer beware, because some “ghost tickets” may show up on these platforms also.

What’s a ghost ticket?

A ghost ticket is when you buy a ticket for sale on this platform, but the seller doesn’t actually have the ticket. These tickets are speculative in nature because the seller may be banking on getting the tickets. But when they don’t deliver them, your order may be cancelled or just go unfulfilled.

This ticket-buying scenario usually results in a refund. That’s the good news! The bad news is that ticket you thought you had in hand is not there. So, you could miss out on an event you’ve been really looking forward to when this happens.

Business Insider: The ‘ghost tickets’ flooding StubHub and SeatGeek

Secondary Ticket Platforms Usually Work, But…

We’ve been buying tickets on StubHub for decades and have never had a problem. Until this summer—when I could not locate my tickets on concert day. The seller never sent them to me. I raised the issue with customer service, who launched an investigation and told me they’d give us alternate tickets pending their findings. Unfortunately, the concert started before I ever heard back from customer service.

Thankfully, my friend and I were able to score an upgrade floor seats. These new concert tickets were an unbelievable price – FREE! It was a real blessing that another concertgoer (VIP) was kind enough to gift them to us, especially given the circumstances. Not to mention we flew out-of-state for the show and racked up travel expenses (airfare, hotel) to be there. In the end, StubHub gave me an apology and a full 100% refund for the tickets.

Although that was a terrible buying experience, we decided to give it another try a month later. I purchased two tickets for a college football game on StubHub. And I’m happy to say the seller delivered our tickets within 24 hours.

So, while most of the time it works. I just want you to know about ghost tickets out there.

New Ticket Industry Changes for More Transparency

Not long ago, consumers seemed to reach a boiling point with ticket prices. Many of them wanted more disclosure of the fees. This resulted in new “junk fees” changes that make it easier for consumers to understand all the fees upfront. A CNBC article highlights these changes:

The Federal Trade Commission’s new rule requires ticket sellers to disclose total prices upfront, including fees, prohibiting them from concealing add-on charges until the last minute.

I definitely appreciate more transparency in pricing on Ticketmaster and other secondary ticket-selling platforms these days. Now there is hope that more improvements will be made in the ticket industry to eliminate any ghost ticket sales next.

Are you feeling anxious about money? You’re not alone. A recent Northwestern Mutual Financial Planning & Progress Study showed “Nearly 70% of Americans Say Financial Uncertainty Has Made Them Feel Depressed and Anxious.“

When you’re feeling stressed, anxious or depressed about your finances, it can negatively impact your life:

• Relationships (money fights are the worst!)
• Wellness (physical health)
• Mental Health (stress, anxiety, depression)
• Rest (restless nights)
• Work (productivity, performance)

Money worries are real. The economy was one of the biggest factors in the 2024 presidential election. Still in 2025, many surveys continue to show finances as the #1 cause of stress in people’s life.

Especially since there are many things like new tariff charges, job losses, and higher prices at the store that are out of our control. Some generations are more anxious than others. But some people wonder if they’ll ever be able to afford a new house or buy a car at a reasonable price.

Unfortunately, this is the reality we live in.

Finding Financial Peace

The truth is you can only control what’s within your control. And taking certain actions today can help you have more peace of mind later on. So, you may want to consider taking some of these money management actions (if needed):

• An emergency savings fund will give you more peace of mind when you have at least six months of your living expenses saved and available to use for the unexpected. That way you won’t be tempted to run up credit card debt if you need to fix your air conditioner.
• A budget will give you more visibility into where your money is going. You can use your budget to control your spending and trim any unneeded expenses also.
• The willingness to do revenge saving today to help put you in a better place financially tomorrow. Choosing to live a more frugal lifestyle can do wonders for your savings goals.

Are You Stressed about Money? Check out for some proven stress relievers.

In my Financial Stress Got You Down? podcast episode, I share some proven, practical and effective stress management techniques to help you feel better.

This episode emphasizes the need for managing stress, having a positive outlook and some actionable steps to help you improve your mental well-being and financial health.

How to Ease the Stress in Your Life

If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or depressed about your finances – consider focusing more on what you can control and this simple activity. In this CNBC article, 7 in 10 Americans are anxious about money—and earning more won’t necessarily help, financial therapist Megan McCoy reveals some practical and simple steps you can take to reduce your anxiety about finances.

Hello 2025, we’re 25 days in. A new year gives us a chance to reflect on the last one and do better in the next one. It’s the perfect time for goal setting. And the SMART goals strategy could be just what you need to achieve success this time around.

Having a plan and being intentional can help you reach your goals.

What are SMART goals?

SMART is an acronym for setting goals that are:

• Specific – Say you want to save money, how much money do you actually want to save? Be exact. Like, I’d like to save $4,000 by December 31, 2025.
• Measurable – Is the goal you set measurable? That’s the only way to track your success. Sticking with the savings goal above. You may decide to contribute a specific amount every pay period to reach your goal. So, you’ll be able to check every month or quarter to see if reaching your goal is possible and adjust if you need to.
• Attainable – Is the goal you set even possible? The quickest way to lose steam is when you set a goal that is impossible to reach.
• Relevant – Does the goal that you set align with the personal vision you have for yourself. If not, you may want to consider setting goals that put you on the path for realizing that vision.
• Timebound – When do you expect to reach your goal? Make sure to set a target date. You may have short term and long-term goal. The important thing is to manage expectations and keep your goals out in front of you.

Some steps to help you reach your SMART goals:

• Look at where you are and where you want to be. This is your vision for what you’d like to accomplish.
• Create financial goals that align with your vision. Say you want to buy a house. Your goals may be to raise your credit score or set aside a specific amount of money for your downpayment.
• Write your goals down. It’s been proven that when you write your goals down with paper and pen/pencil they stick better. There is just something about physically writing them down. I encourage you to give it a try and see what you think for yourself.
• Every serious effort requires a game plan or strategy. Think through the actions needed to achieve your goals. Craft your plan with the steps you’ll take to make those goals happen.

Stay Positive and Don’t Give Up on Your Goals

Believe in yourself and stay focused on your goals. If you struggle in this area, you may want to find an accountability partner to help you on this journey.

Seeing is believing – If you’re saving for some new furniture, posting images on your fridge can help keep you motivated to achieve your goal. Paying down debt? Keep a visual that shows you how much you’ve paid off and update this visual monthly.

Life Happens. And it’s important to understand that sometimes we have to shift our goals when something out of our control happens. We must be willing to learn the lesson and do something to put ourselves in a better position the next time. For example, funding an emergency savings account for unexpected expenses that may pop up.

Lastly, understand that money is not as simple as knowing: 1 + 1 = 2.

Behavior is a big driver, so practicing Discipline and Self-control can help you make your financial goals a reality.

Best wishes!

Don’t miss out on my Black Friday Deal! For only $24, you can grab BOTH of my top-rated personal finance books – a perfect duo to help you or your loved ones master money. 🎁 These make incredible holiday gifts and are the perfect way to kickstart the New Year with financial confidence and success!

That’s a copy of Get Your Money Right & Drop the Debt Weight for $24. Act now, because this deal won’t last long! ⏳✨

Click Here to order your set today.

Wishing you and yours all the best this holiday season!

Yesterday my friend texted me to ask some questions about debt. She wasn’t asking for herself, but a friend of hers who she’s helping to get out of debt. I love this, especially since having money conversations can be difficult.

A few weeks ago, I participated in a great Experian #CreditChat discussion on X focused on “Breaking the Money Taboo.”

While many people may think talking about money is taboo, being willing to have the conversation helps us to grow. Here are tips on how you can start the conversation and some nuggets of wisdom from that conversation.

Why Having the Money Conversation Matters

• The more you know, the more your money can grow. Having the money conversation can help us learn more and do better. How to Talk About Money With Family – And Why It’s Important
• There are so many reasons why it’s important to be willing to talk about money. Talking about it could help your money grow. Over 60% of Americans don’t talk about money—here’s why that could hold you back from building wealth
• During our #CreditChat, Leslie H. Tayne, Esq suggested, “Common taboo topics include debt, income, inheritance, and financial mistakes. People often feel shame or embarrassment about these issues, but open discussions can lead to support, advice, and better financial outcomes.”
• When it comes to talking about money with your partner, Just start the conversation. You may ask him/her how they learned about money and about their financial goals. Then, schedule regular meetings (monthly) to discuss your finances and work towards your goals together.
• Having open conversations about money is how we learn and grow. Financial literacy has proven to build financially stronger communities, improve credit scores and lives.

You don’t know what you don’t know. Stay curious and seek knowledge. Be open to talking about money more. If you’re struggling with your finances, be willing to ask for help. There are some great nonprofit organizations out there like Operation Hope and NFCC.