City Girl Savings | Budgeting, Money Management, and Goal Setting Tips for Women

Managing finances for a single person is hard enough, so you can imagine how managing finances for a household is an even bigger feat! While I'm currently a household of 2, my boyfriend and I – as our pups have no financial skin in the game, I'm very excited to chat with fellow CSUN alumni Sahirenys Pierce of Poised, who manages a household of 4. We're talking all things motherhood, money and mana...

According to a MarketWatch report, about 49% of Americans are "concerned, anxious or fearful about their current financial wellbeing". For a money coach like me, that's alarming! The reality is that everyone can have peace in their finances. And that's where financial wellness comes into play! Financial wellness is caring for the wellbeing of your personal finances. It all starts with knowing what...

No one is perfect with money. Let me say that again for the folks in the back: no one is perfect with money! We all make mistakes in finances and in life, but mistakes are how we learn, grow, and improve. Mistakes help us know what not to do in the future. Mistakes can flip the script and change the course of our lives. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 reasons why you should stop blaming yourself fo...

My degree is in finance, but it wasn't until I had learned from terrible money experiences that things started to improve. Seriously, from 18-21, I was going to class every day, learning about money and finance and analysis, but after school, I was out spending money and accumulating debt. I was not implementing a drop of what I'd learned and in hindsight, I've realized that there is so much more...

I paid off my dream car! OMG! It was one of my goals for 2024 and I got it done first thing. Mostly because I was so close to being done with the loan (I had about a year and a half left) and because I wanted to add my car payment back into my budget for 2024. So, I got it done! In this episode, I'm sharing how I was able to purchase my dream car (the Lexus RX350) brand new and pay it off early. I...

April is Financial Literacy month, and what better way to kick off this month than by putting all the focus on your finances! Whether you're just dipping your toes in the money management waters, you're seasoned at making (and spending) money or you're ready to tackle your financial situation head on, there's no better time than right now! And to help, I'm bringing Kara (also known as "Aunt Kara")...

City Girl Savings launched January 1st 2015, but I didn't end up going full-time until May of 2021. That's nearly 6 and a half years where I was working in corporate while trying to grow this business. As I say that, I wonder how I got it done and still found time to travel, see friends and family, and focus on my health. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. In this episode, I'm sharing how I grew...

You were blessed with extra money – how exciting! Maybe it was an unexpected bonus, commission check or tax refund. However the extra money came your way, you want to be smart with it. I don't know about you, but extra money doesn't always fall into my lap, so when it does, I plan to make the most of it. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 smart ways you can leverage extra money that comes your way. Us...

There's no denying that investing is one of the best ways to build true wealth. You can save money your entire life, but nothing beats the power of compounding interest returns that come through investing. Seriously, I'm talking about historical returns of 10%, regardless of federal interest rates. So, it's no longer a matter of should you or shouldn't you invest but are you ready to start investi...

If I'm being honest, working my way up the corporate ladder was exciting and a major confidence boost. If I didn't feel that City Girl Savings was my life's purpose, I would've happily stayed at the major financial institution I was working for and continued to work my way up. I've always been a reliable, dependable worker, but once my mindset shifted to the value I brought to the table, that's wh...

Money doesn't buy happiness. I firmly believe that. But, I also believe that money buys you options…and having the option is what breeds happiness. Having the option to take a trip, bless a family member, leave your job, start a family, and so much more. Money makes those things easier. Money allows you to have more and more options. Now, while I don't think money buys happiness, I do think there...

I started consistently journaling back in 2018. The benefits that have come over time through consistent journaling are truly amazing. I eventually was able to quit my corporate job and run City Girl Savings full-time. I was able to see the growth in my thought patterns over time. I'm able to look back on old journal entries and feel pride and gratitude.  Because journaling has brought so many ble...

As I've gotten older, I realize there's nothing more important than my peace…and protecting it at all costs. I used to spend time with people who thrived on gossip and drama, until I realized how much of my personal energy that time cost me. Now, I limit my time and interaction with people, places and things that drain my energy. I also set firm boundaries on protecting my mental wellbeing, and wh...

One thing I've learned over time is that ignoring your past traumatic experiences and running from the feelings gets you nowhere. Acknowledging your inner child and revisiting your past, as hard as it is, is a necessary step in loving yourself and living your best, happiest life. Self-Love Coach turned Business Mindset Coach Asia Hilario is joining us on the show today to help teach you how to hea...

The time is now to build the life of your dreams! We're living in a time where women are making more, out-earning their partners, investing for the long-term and building true wealth. It's a wonderful time to be a woman making money, but with the lack of financial education growing up, it's up to us to bridge the knowledge gap. When it comes to budgeting and money management, certain activities ar...

"Hi, I'm Raya and I'm a recovering structure addict". Like most Type A individuals, I thrive on structure, organization, and time-specific tasks. Unfortunately, my need for structure got so bad that I started dreading quality time with friends and family. Thankfully, I've found ways to stay organized that suit my personality, but those ways are no longer at the expense of anyone or anything! In th...

Let's be real. Finances are still a very personal topic. While we've made strides towards having open money conversations, we have a long way to go. Since financial literacy isn't included in standard education curriculum, you can't blame yourself for not being great with money. You likely learned a lot of your habits from your parents. And that may not be a good thing. In this episode, I'm sharin...

Have you ever felt like you're on the verge of breaking through to the next level? Almost as if you've mastered everything you can master at this point in your life and to move forward, you must grow in new and different ways? Well, I'm in that spot right now. I feel like I'm at the cusp of a new level and to enter it, I need to let go of things that no longer serve me and start new habits and rou...

It's 2024 and if you haven't started investing, in any way, shape or form, then let's make this year the year you add investing to your money goals! While there are a variety of ways to build wealth, I firmly believe that long-term investing is one of the best ways to do it. Whether it's contributing to a retirement plan or leveraging a general investment account, consistent investing is a must. T...

Happy Holidays! Have you ever wondered what a money coach gives and asks for Christmas? Well, you'll learn today! While I love every holiday following the Fall season, Christmas holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, it was a time of the year that brought so much joy – not because of the gifts, but just the energy from that time of year. I would sit at home, alone, watching Christmas carto...

You may remember I did an episode at the end of 2022, sharing my personal and business goals for 2023. I got such great feedback on that episode, that I decided to do another one sharing my 2024 goals!\ As you probably know, during the last quarter of every year, I like to sit down and set my personal and business goals for the next year. I usually reflect on the progress of my current goals and t...

While the statistics vary, it's believed that 55 to 63 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Plus, One-third of U.S. consumers say they aren't currently saving any money and, of this group, 60 percent don't have savings. This is a problem. Over half of our country is struggling to get by. Not to mention, if an emergency were to come up, the majority would be S.O.L! You may fall int...

Brands aren't just for businesses and business owners. We all have a personal brand. Whether we work for ourselves, work for a company, or don't work at all, our personal brand exists. So, the question becomes, what do you want people to think of when they hear your name? If you don't know the answer or you want to change your current personal brand, this episode is for you! Today, I'm chatting wi...

If you practice gratitude on a regular basis, then you know that things will always be okay. No matter how bad something is, there's this light at the end of the tunnel. You appreciate the good times, you learn from the bad times, and you stay humble. It's a magical thing. If you don't practice gratitude on a regular basis, you may find that things always seem bad. Nothing ever seems to go right....

Just 3 months before you're listening to this episode, my sweet, kind, genuine mom, my last parent passed away. She had been terminally ill for years and it finally took her. 10 years before that, my dad was killed by a drunk driver at 4 in the afternoon on a road he'd driven on just about daily for 25 years. Those are two of the worst things that have ever happened to me.  And unfortunately, ther...