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Financial Reflections

August 28, 2024 For years, I (Je’Lisa) thought I had my spending habits under control, but when I took a closer look at my finances, I realized there were areas where I could make significant improvements. Little by little, I began to tweak my spending habits, and the results have been eye-opening. Here’s how changing my old spending patterns has saved me more money than I expected. Bad Habits My usual mindset was if there’s money in the account, there’s money to spend. Not putting away anything for a rainy day at all (and yes, those rainy days will come). This usually left me overspending and underprepared for those unexpected life events that tend to always creep up on us. Recognizing the Patterns The first step was acknowledging where my money was really going. I used to justify small, frequent purchases because they didn’t seem like a big deal—a daily snack run, grabbing lunch at work or buying the latest gadget. But when I added up these “minor” expenses over a month, they turned out to be anything but small. I realized that my spending habits were more about convenience than necessity. Embracing Simplicity One of the biggest changes I made was embracing a simpler lifestyle. I focused on what I truly needed rather than what I wanted. This shift in mindset helped me avoid impulse purchases, which were often driven by trends or sales rather than genuine need. I started to appreciate the value of saving for larger, more meaningful expenses rather than scattering my money on smaller, less significant things. The Results The result of these changes has been a gradual but steady increase in my savings. It didn’t happen overnight, but with each passing month, I noticed I had a little more money left over. This extra cash has allowed me to build an emergency fund, invest in experiences rather than things and feel more secure in my financial situation. You might also be interested in As we wrap up our Project Money experience, we want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come—emotionally and financially—and share our journey... This past week, our family participated in a door and patio decorating contest hosted by our apartment management company. The grand prize? A $200 gift... Over the past year, my family has been making deliberate choices to save money and focus on our financial goals. One of those decisions recently involved... As we approach the end of our journey with the Project Money program, Cory and I (Je’Lisa) took some time to reflect on how we can apply the financial... Every now and then, life throws a financial curveball—in this case, it was a pleasant surprise. We received a refund from our gap insurance since our car... This week, we faced an unexpected hiccup with our insurance: A doctor charged us for a 2023 appointment because they had outdated information. It was frustrating... Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family and of course, a feast. But let’s be honest, hosting a traditional Thanksgiving can come with a hefty price... This weekend, we decided to take a quick overnight trip to Minnesota. It was to record some music and spend time with friends, but we were determined to... This month marked a milestone for our family: It was our first month without a car payment after refinancing our vehicle through Summit Credit Union. With...
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