Girl Meets Financial Freedom

 Hey everyone - If you hadn't noticed, it is the holiday season. Yay. This year is already really weird and staying in 24/7 to avoid becoming the catalyst for a super spreading COVID event has been tough. Naturally, I've realized that one of my hobbies is surfing the web for good deals. Usually, though, I just add items to a cart, add more items, go to said cart, look at the total and think "No, this junk cannot be worth $956 dollars (even with the free shipping)". Also, I don't need anything right now. Right?  Our brains are really interesting. I'm going to tell you a story. Earlier this year (pre-pandemic), I was in New York City for my new job. I had an interesting day with new co-workers- these are the kind of 40-50 something men who believe that women like me belong behind a desk or at home with 2 babies on my lap. Safe to say that their actions made me second guess my worth at work- You know what that means... After eating my feelings at Capriottis on th...

 No matter your beliefs, religion, family tradition, or current COVID lockdown restrictions, this season can always add up quickly. I am convinced that I chose the WORST possible time to overhaul my finances. I'll be grateful in a few months when my frugality through this season will help me, but until then I feel so uncomfortable. Between needing a cosigner for my apartment, owing money to my MOTHER, and trying not to use credit for any purchases, I feel like a complete failure.  However, if I put all of my privileged first world problems aside, there is really a simple solution to handling the holiday season: being THOUGHTFUL and making decisions with INTENTION. I became so accustomed to throwing money at unnecessarily expensive gifts - not for the other person- but for my own belief that I could afford those. Yes- maybe in that one second when my card read as "approved", but NOT when the bill came. So, this year, I am trying something different. Here are some tips:  1....

 Spoiler- It's not been pretty. But, like anything, renewal and rebirth is always possible. I know a lot of people make New Year's resolutions, but this year, I am making a pre-New Year's resolution. I am working all this month (when work is extra slow and everyone has given up on 2020 completely) on setting myself up for success financially next year. I am 33 years old (YIKES) and it's about time that I start acting like an actual adult. Here are some of the reasons why I need to have this planning month - because psychological and emotional reasons still drive a lot of my spending habits:  1. Eating out and with delivery services. Literally so much money.  DELETED all delivery apps and started meal planning and shopping at the grocery store with my coupon strategy. Spoiler - I did this the other day and saved 52 dollars and ate the food all week for the price of 3 meal deliveries.    2. Consuming WAY too much TV and the ads, OH THE ADS. I cancelled our cable t...