Move Towards The Light!

I have encountered a lot of people that do not save their money, and it blows my mind. Some of these people just spend every penny they have, and some  just do not know what saving money means.

If you are either of these types of people, please--- move towards the light. 

Move towards the light? Yes, the light at the end of the dark tunnel that you feel yourself walking down. If you are a spender or saving-illiterate, your cash flow probably causes you stress, and may even make you feel like you're never going to get out of this dark tunnel. I know. That was me, and it was definitely a terrible tunnel to be traversing. 

Never fear--there is a solution. But first... 

Pull your head out the sand and quit believing the lies you keep telling yourself, like: "But I just don't earn enough money to save any of it, I just can't." Anything along those lines--Forget it. That is the self-pity that got you in this mess in the first place. One slick solution to your money problems is to get another job. That's what I did, and I can save my money a whole lot easier now that my income has increased. If your excuse is that you just don't know how, please also pull your head out of the sand. There are resources everywhere. I've found some pretty good ones that you can check out on my What I Read page. Lucky for you, you've landed here, where I'm going to break it down for you. 

Here's the process:

Estimate: Sit down near the end of a given month and estimate how much you will make and what your monthly costs are going to be for the next month. You can separate these by bills (rent, car loan, electric, etc), but you also need to break them down into categories like entertainment, groceries, and gas. You can create as many categories as you think you need. Congratulations, you've just created a very rough budget! 

You deserve this--creating a budget is some serious adulting. Just don't break your computer screen.

Track: Every. Single. Transaction. You make. Cash, check, card, credit, anything. Yes, this takes some work--welcome to being a financially responsible adult. Every expense should match up to one of the categories you created when you estimated your monthly income and expenses. You need to track your expenses and your income because you need to become mindful of your cash flow and your spending habits. You can do this in a notebook, on a spreadsheet, or even in a smartphone app. 

Calculate: Alright, so you've made it through a whole month of tracking. Gold star. Now it's time to do a little bit of math. 

• Add up all of your transactions for each category. You can go further and calculate percentages. Most spreadsheet templates and smartphone applications will actually make those percentages into a pie graph, which can be really helpful. 
• Add all the categories together, and subtract them from your total income. 

Consider: Just take a good long look at these calculations and ask yourself: 

• Where is your money going? 
• What category is the biggest, besides your rent/house payment?
• Which category's total surprises you the most?
• Are you spending within your means? As in, are your total expenses less than your total income?

Your face when you realize how much you're spending. It was definitely mine when I did this the first time!

Cut: This is the hardest part for some people, because they actually have to engage their willpower and change their habits. Some will throw their hands up, flip their middle finger, and walk away--consequently walking away from a more secure financial future. Here's how this one works:

• Find a category where the expenses can be reduced. Most common are categories like Entertainment, Eating-Out, and Clothes/Shopping. Trust me, you can cut expenses here. 
• Set a goal to reduce spending in that category for the next month. I suggest starting small, maybe +/- $20, because it's easier to deal with small amounts if you've never cut expenses before. Think of it like a financial diet. If you go into a diet completely cold turkey, you're far more likely to make unnecessary errors. If you start cutting expenses big-time and aren't mentally prepared for it, you're likely to stumble a whole lot more.
• Actually cut your spending. Time to walk the walk! One less trip to Starbucks, cook a couple more nights a week, and/or pack a lunch--all of these things can help you cut your spending in Eating Out. If you're struggling to figure out ways to cut costs to meet your specific goal, use this wonderful invention that you are cruising right now: the Internet. Pinterest, specifically, is extremely helpful, though extremely addicting. :)

Save: Don't give up on me yet, this is the part you've been waiting for! Let's say you set a goal to cut your expenses in Eating Out by $20, and actually did that. Congrats! Now don't spend that money-- SAVE IT! I personally recommend putting it a savings account that is not attached to any debit or ATM card, so you are not tempted to pull it out. Some financial people will recommend an automatic transfer into savings, so you don't spend that money without realizing it.  Talk to your credit union Member Service Representative or your bank Personal Banker to learn about your options. Here's what you can do with those savings:

• Short-term savings goal: This is usually something that you will be paying for in less than a year. This tends to be a vacation, someone's gift, or perhaps some new furniture. It can be easier to save for these over time than to pay for them out of one paycheck. I save half the cost of my rent from each paycheck so I can ensure I pay my rent in full at the end of the month. I also save bi-weekly for my car insurance which comes due every six months. I saved up for my soon-to-be-done tattoo this way too!  
• Long-term savings goal: These can be as long-term as retirement, or a little shorter, like yearly property taxes. If you have children, their college fund also falls into this category. I save bi-weekly for my eventual move across the state. 
• EMERGENCY SAVINGS: For the love of everything financially holy, create an emergency savings account! Life is unpredictable, and tend to throw out a few expensive curve-balls. An emergency savings is meant for just that--an emergency. It should be able to pay for 2-3 months of your expenses if you lose your job. It will also come in handy to pay unforeseen medical bills or car repair bills that could pop up. I've been slowly building my emergency savings, and I can say that I could definitely live for at least one month off of what I have saved. I still have a ways to go, but I'm keeping at it! 

Evaluate: So, you've done this whole process and managed to put some money away. Reflect on your experience, and consider the following questions:

• What have you learned?
• Where did you struggle?
• If you made mistakes (we all do!), how can you avoid them?
• How close are you to your savings goals?
• What can you do to save even more?

When you start to see your savings balance increase.....

Repeat: This is not a one-time deal. This is a perpetual process that will, if you stick to it, lead you to build a healthy savings balance. You will find yourself completing these steps simultaneously--you will track as you cut costs and save money. As you continue to repeat this process and become more comfortable with it, you will probably modify it. For example, I used to track my expenses physically . I no longer do so, but I do keep a general ledger in my mind. Since I used to physically track those expenses, I know what my theoretical pie chart will look like if I go outside of a spending limit in any one of my categories--and it's not good!

There you have it. It's no longer a mystery. Now you can move towards the light at the end of that long dark tunnel, and join the rest of us who have decided to use our money for our future, and not just our present! Welcome--it's a great place, isn't it? :) 

Slightly Controlled Chaos :: My Working Student Survival Guide

I know I'm not the only working student out there. I've got friends who do the same as I do--and some of them have it even harder than me! They've got kids, car troubles, or other troubles. I feel the struggle, but I know my struggle could be harder.

Now that that's out of the way, let's be real--being a working student sucks!

Unless you're one of those "naturally talented" people, university classes can be tough and time-consuming. They're stressful at times. Add into the mix two part-time jobs and the need to fully self-support, and you've got a very interesting recipe.

I have had people ask me how I do it. Usually I answer with, "I don't know, I just do." This is fairly accurate, but I realize that doesn't really answer the question. There's certainly a nutshell version, but that wouldn't make for a very fun blog post, now would it? ;)

So, how do I do it?

This was April 2016.... see what I mean? :)

A LOT of Planning and Time Management-- Work shifts from two separate jobs, classes, homework, shopping, chores, appointments, and various other things all require time. I used to schedule everything in Google Calendars, but I've found I do better with a large book-style planner. Everything is written in and a majority of it is color-coded so I can make quick assessments regarding my day, week, and month. I also write down my bills and their typical due dates, because those dates tend to creep up. I've also got notes for myself regarding the dispersal of my paychecks, so I can make sure that I save for everything I need. It's important to stay on top of my money as well as my time!


Open Communication-- I do not hide the fact that I juggle two jobs and university classes. Both of my employers are aware of my situation, and I make sure that all of my project group members, and even some of my professors (if necessary), know too. This way, if I am unreachable or hard to schedule, they know why. People aren't always happy to hear this, but they tend to understand.

Prioritization and  Sacrifice -- In order to perpetuate this organized chaos without having it fall apart, I have to prioritize and sacrifice. My priorities are 1. School 2. Work  3. Social Life. Truthfully, 1 and 2 flip-flop depending on my circumstances, though I try to keep school first so that I can get done with it faster. Outside of school and work, I don't socialize all that much. I'm usually at home studying, sleeping, or cleaning.

Balance-- I just listed school as my first priority, but the truth is that I am my first priority. If I don't strike a fair enough balance between all of the things on my calendar, things tend to go badly. If I work too much, I will get sick, get migraines, and/or get very depressed. If I get too wrapped up in schoolwork, I can go a little postal. This balance is a constant struggle, but the closer I get to it, the better I feel. The better I feel, the more likely I am to survive the day with any semblance of sanity.

Hollywood Undead as my Fall 2015 pre-game. Please excuse the sh***y quality pic!

Rewards-- Even though sacrifice is required, rewards are too. If I'm going to work my tush off day in and day out without rewarding myself now and again, I'm going to burn out and break down a whole lot faster. I like to set up some short-term rewards, like going to my favorite restaurant, seeing a movie, or getting a new purse or item of clothing (if I know I can afford it!). I also like my pre-game/post-game ritual with my school semester. Before semester starts and after it ends, I treat myself to a really nice dinner, a concert, or anything else (within reason). It helps me look forward to the semester, and it really feels good when semester ends! Really though, a reward doesn't have to mean going out. Sometimes, it's really rewarding to have a day where I can sleep in, or maybe I get to sit and watch my favorite show for a while, instead of doing homework. I can't constantly reward myself, but if I do it regularly enough, it helps me get through.


Relaxation-- It's really easy to get wound up when you're a working student. Double shifts, no weekends, long days, and endless homework can be taxing. So, I do my best to make sure I get to relax. Imbibing an adult beverage or three is one way, but it isn't the only way. I like to head to the aerial studio when I get a chance. I get to be around some great people and I get a little exercise, and I always feel better when I leave. Sometimes I will write, and there are just some days where it's nice to just lay down in a quiet room and just breathe. When you're always surrounded by people at work or at school, and your brain is always running between everything, it's nice to have a moment where you can calm it.

Also this. This happens when I lose it.

Just Lose It-- There are some days of exceptional stress where I lose it. I get angry that I'm always working and can't do somethings that I would like. I get stressed over what needs to be done. I get frustrated because I feel alone and like I'm never going to be done with this work-work-school-work scenario. I will break down in tears, and I let myself get mad, sad, frustrated--whatever I need to do. I can't keep it together all the time, and losing it for a little bit helps me keep it together the rest of the time.


Suck It Up, Buttercup-- After I've lost it, I remind myself that I still have a lot to do. It was OK that I lost it, but now I have to suck it up and keep going. The world hasn't stopped turning, and there is still homework to be done and bills to be paid. I don't like having to juggle this, but this is how it is and I've got to just pull myself together and get it done. No excuses.

My support network is. For sure.

Support Network-- This is, by far, the biggest reason I'm able to do the working student thing. Anyone who has to undergo this kind of stress needs to have someone, and hopefully a number of someones, to turn to in their darkest hours. I know that I can talk to my family and they will help me keep things in perspective and remind me that I CAN do this. I don't see my friends much anymore, but thankfully they understand what I'm doing and they've been there to listen and motivate on occasion, and their presence is a pick-me-up too. Just being around the ladies at the aerial studio is great, and the fact that they greet me so kindly every time they see me means a lot!  I know I could turn to them if I needed to. I've also founds some pretty great classmates who are great listeners and fun to be around. I also try to be supportive to others, because I'm so grateful to receive the support I do have. Listening to others helps me put my own things in perspective!


So there you have it! That's how I do it. I hope this helps you if you're going through this or are about to. I hope it gives perspective to those who don't have to do this.

It can be extremely stressful, but the rewards are that much greater. To all my working students--we got this! We can do this! :D

If a Teller Could Tell...

When most people think of a teller (or, in my case, a Member Service Representative :) ) position, they assume it is a boring job where you give people money and take money in. Most folks thinks that we perform that basic task, and that's it.

Well, they're wrong. 

We see a lot more than you think! You don't think we're watching you? See above!

I've learned a lot from my duties, but I've learned even more from listening to and observing the members I work with. There are a few things that I'd like to share with you!

You Have Resources: No matter what financial institution you go to, you have a wealth of resources, and your best resources are the staff. As a teller, I have a general knowledge of all of the products we offer, and I can help assess what best suits your situation-- just talk to me! In a bind? Let me connect you with a loan officer! They're all knowledgeable, though I know which one would be the best one for you! Want to know how to avoid fees? Ask me! Also, most financials have a TON of links to useful stuff on their websites!

You Have Power: You have it, and you need to exercise it, This is your money. There are certain limitations to today's financial technology, but your basic needs can often be met with click of a button or the swipe of a card. I tell members day in and day out that they have as much, if not more, control than I do over their account in their online banking and/or with a debit or ATM card. This is true no matter where you go! You can change how your money moves, change your information, and, for some places, even open an account and/or start a loan online. This is YOUR money--take control!

You Need to be Careful: Fraud is so common right now and a lot of it is motivated by the upcoming EMV conversion.  I process debit card disputes quite regularly, and it's frightening. Though there are certainly cases where people are unlucky, there are just as many cases where people made foolish and/or unfortunate decisions. NEVER EVER give out your debit card number or account number to someone (even a business) that you have not done your due diligence on! To avoid unlucky mistakes, stick to cash and credit. Credit cards tend to have less liability, and they're not directly attached to your account.

In this situation, you are the baby and the fraudster is the bunny.... and the cookie is your money. 

Bonus Advice: Avoid paying at the pump for your fuel if you can. The key for all of those units are universal, and the number-stealing card readers are often sneakily installed inside those pumps by crooks. Pay inside to keep your card information safe!

My Job is Highly Regulated and Highly Technological: Off the top of my head, I can list six federal standards that I have to abide to daily, and I know I'm forgetting the names of a few. If I break any of those standards, I can lose my job, be find hundreds of thousands of dollars, and/or serve jail time. I have been on the receiving end of some nasty phone calls blaming me for not doing something that "I should have done." One example that comes up more often than it should is post-dated checks. First, folks, you can't do that. That's a bad and outdated practice. Second--once that check is electronically scanned into the Great Unknown Land of Checks, you are S.O.L. because no human ever sees that check again. Your money comes out electronically. Are you starting to follow me here? Don't blame--learn. 

Things Are A'Changing: I've always grown up in the land of plastic, but it didn't use to be that way. Today, the financial world is making advancements in card security and person-to-person payments. The rules need to be changed to suit the new technology. Get informed, and prepare yourself. You will be dealing with government red tape, BUT you will also get to witness some of the greatest advancements in financial history.