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

Life goes by faster than we expect, which is why  I always try to make the most of my time. I think setting and working toward goals is a great way to make the most of your time. In this episode, I'm sharing 10 different goals you can set to make the most of your life in the new year, or at any point in time! Here's a glance at this episode: [06:35] A personal goal that can make a huge difference...

Coming from the girl who's gotten herself into and out of debt multiple times, I know a thing or two about the debt payoff process. Could now be the time you pay off your debt once and for all? In this episode, I'm sharing some common mistakes to avoid when embarking on your debt payoff journey. Here's a glance at this episode: [03:40] You need a budget! Leverage your budget to help you determine...

I read Profit First back in 2018 and it completely changed how I managed my business finances. The beauty of Profit First is that it's  centered around the notion of "paying yourself first". In this episode, I'm sharing how anyone can apply Profit First to their life and business. Here's a glance at this episode: [01:35] Understanding a few key points of the Profit First model. [09:00] Don't be af...

There's a misconception among young people that there's no need to do any form of estate planning. As tough as it is to think about our untimely passing or incapacitation, we have to deal with those thoughts and get a plan in place. In this episode, I'm talking with Crista Hermance, attorney and founder of the Estate Planning Mom about what estate planning actually means and how millennials can ta...

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! From Hocus Pocus to pumpkin spice lattes  there are lots of fun and festive things to focus on, but there are also a number of scary things to discover! In this episode I'm sharing the spooky reality of millennials and money, with statistics that will truly turn your stomach! Here's a glance at this episode: [01:45] The terrifying truth about how and why y...

Are you ready for the holiday season? It's just around the corner and  the earlier you can start planning, saving and preparing for, the better. The holidays are meant to be fun, enjoyable, and stress-free. Not stressful and anxiety-inducing. In this episode, Discover how to prep your budget for the holidays and keep your spirits (and bank account balances) high! I'll even be sharing some bonus ti...

To all my millennial friends out there, the time to start thinking about retirement is now. And a ctually, that goes for everyone! Trust me, I get it – the younger you are, the further way retirement seems.  Who knows what life will look like then? In this episode, I'm sharing why you need to start thinking and saving for retirement now and breaking down some numbers to help drive home my point. H...

I'm a firm believer in the power of the mind. Think positive and positive happens. Think negative and negative happens.  Whether you believe in the power of positivity or not, a shift in how you think about money or your situation can spark amazing change.  If negativity is your go-to state of mind, it's time to change things up. In this episode, I'm sharing 6 negative thoughts that could be hurti...

I'm not a mama…yet. I mean, who knows what the future holds. However, if I were a mom, I suspect my budgeting practices would be taken up a few notches to ensure my kiddos, my priorities,  and my goals were covered! That's why I'm so excited to talk with Dyana from Money Boss Mama in this episode.  Dyana shares how she budgets as a single mom, makes time for herself, and helps set her kids up for...

I'm actually a very private person.  I've had this  subconscious guard up for as long as I can remember. In today's episode, I'm challenging myself to break down that wall, and get intimate about my life.  I'm sharing stories from my past and how they've shaped me. Why? So you can get to know Raya, founder of City Girl Savings, on a much more personal level.  It's because of the incredible City Gi...

If you take a second to think about it, challenges can be extremely effective! You have someone guiding you through. You have other people participating, which increases accountability. You have new tools and ideas to do things differently. Essentially, all the things you need to succeed. In this episode, I want to focus on money saving challenges and why you should give them a go. I'm sharing 5 r...

Honestly, there's no better feeling than taking a vacation, not worrying about money and coming home knowing your bills are taken care of. I've experienced traveling that way. I've also experienced traveling where money is a constant stressor both during and after the vacation. To make the most of any trip, I plan the financial before, during and after. Since I'm fresh off a vacation and I stayed...

Mental health is a serious matter, and it's an incredibly hard topic to talk about.  There is also a direct correlation between money and mental health. In this podcast episode, I'm talking with Lisa (who has wished to keep her identity private) about her struggle with money and mental health. Lisa talks about the impact her mental health struggles have had when it comes to money, budget, career a...

Delayed gratification is the ability to say "no" to current wants in the present in order to say "yes" to true desires for the future.  Essentially, it's your willingness to practice self-restraint towards the things that you currently want because they don't help you achieve your future goals. I've implimented this practicing for years now, and it's been a total game changer in the success I've e...

Believe me when I say nothing sells better than YOU! I used to hide behind the City Girl Savings brand.  Instead of putting my name and face out there, I'd act as if I was The CGS Team.  I never let anyone see or hear from me…from Raya. It wasn't until I started coming out of the shadows that my business truly started to take off. That's why i n this episode, I'm sharing how you can put more of YO...

I need to stress something for a second… being "broke" is not something anyone should speak into their life.  We are what we think about, and if we're constantly thinking we're broke or don't have enough, that becomes our truth. What if we try something different, and choose the belief say I am  a work in progress! Outside of removing "broke" from your vocabulary, in this episode, I'm sharing how...

At the end of the day, it's not about how much money you make…it's about how intentional you are with your money. A person who makes a lot but spends a lot is less effective than the person who makes less while also spending less. Regardless of how much you make, as long as you're intentional with your money, you will see results.  Are you thinking through each purchase? Are you leveraging your mo...

Social media has been a true game changer! In fact, there's a whole industry around influencer marketing that has made regular people very wealthy. Whether you want to be an influencer or not, social media can be leveraged to help build your personal brand, or the brand of your business. In this episode, I'm speaking with CGS client turned business owner Ebony Smith.  Ebony took her social media m...

At some point in time or another, most of us have been obsessed with looking at our credit score. Thanks to Credit Karma or monthly score tracking, keeping tabs on our credit scores is easier than ever.  While I do think knowing your credit score at all times is beneficial, I don't think it's as important as people make it out to be. In this episode, I'm sharing why you shouldn't focus too much on...

With the rise of social media, we have a direct line of sight into the lives of our favorite celebrities, influencers, and even our peers in life and business. This can be dangerous. Seeing what other people have can bring up feelings of jealousy, inadequacy or a slew of other negative emotions. Over the years, since starting City Girl Savings, I've managed to combat the competition mindset that c...

If you're like me and love new experiences or visiting new places, then this episode if for you! I've learned over time that I find so much joy exploring new places, new foods, and new cultures. And the more I travel, the more I want to travel. As a money coach, I know the importance of budgeting for a vacation. Today on City Girl Savings , I'm sharing how I plan and save for travel, and some of m...

My life did not go according to my original plan.  But you know what? I'm not alone! A lot of people experience unplanned changes.  Being able to recognize when you need to pivot and then embrace that, is key to keeping spirits high. Today's guest Bailey Lang of The Writing Desk shares how she has adapted to changing circumstances with grace and ease.  Life has thrown Bailey some major curveballs,...

Do you feel like you should be further along in your financial journey or  wishing your money situation was different? Not to sound too harsh but, what are you doing about it? The cold hard truth is that you, and only you, are responsible for how things turn out in your life and in your finances.  You have the power to free yourself from your money situation. It's of course  easier said than done,...

Have you been struggling to get to the next level in your finances and  finally break free with your money? I firmly believe there are 3 things EVERYONE must know to breakthrough with their money and start seeing the progress they truly want.  Money management is about knowing where your money is going and why. You are able to control what your money does at all times, putting you in the driver se...

I've been in the personal finance game for a long time, and  I have plenty of experience with what does and doesn't work. There are certain money management principles that always hold true for me.  When I started following them, things began shifting for better! Learn all seven money management rules that have changed the game for me  in today's episode of City Girl Savings! Here's a glance at th...