She Levels Up

Credit card offers keep popping up in your mail box and your bank is sending you emails with card offers while you have classes to get ready for and you are tired of the bus and train. Don’t break drastically from your regular financial set up because things are getting to you. The last thing you want to do is open a bunch of new lines of credit in a short period of time. Do not fall for the trap of “building your credit” by buying a new car and opening that credit card you were offered with the 50,000 point bonus if you don’t actually have the money for any of it! Imagine how hard and long it will be if you don’t have the money for these things now. That’s what financial institutions analyze when they pull your credit report and you will see it quickly with your credit score. The more hard inquiries you have (credit card applications, personal loan apps, etc.) the more of a risk you will seem when you do apply for something that you need and want. Step yourself up in a good way and build your credit organically as you need it. And aim to live below your means as you do it. Start out with a secured credit card. Your limit will be contingent on the amount of money you deposited available. Then after 6 or more months you can apply for one other new line of credit, either your standard credit card, small personal loan or line of credit, or that car loan. But the key is to take your time and pay in full at least the day before your due date and you will see a healthy credit report being to take form. #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com (at Jersey City Waterfront)

Look beyond and let go of any limiting beliefs you have and shut down any that other people have placed on you. The only person in control of you is you. #SheLevelsUp shelevelsup.com

If you have enough money saved and put aside to pay off one of you debts I applaud you and you should applaud yourself on accomplishing that. It takes discipline to do just that and you have clearly proven to be responsible. Celebrate that win! Know at the same time, you do not have to pay your debts all in one shot to reach financial freedom and actually, you probably shouldn’t right now. Think about the root cause that got you in the debt in the first place, no not you having to see what turned out to be a crazy expensive doctor, no not that last class you forgot you needed in order to graduate and the loan you had to take out to pay it. It’s the fact that you either didn’t have a financial safety net or a big enough one for you. Now this does not mean at any point you CAN’T go ahead and fork over a ton of money to your creditors to pay down your debt, you just shouldn’t try to move an entire mountain in one swoop if your arms are not big enough. Take your financial mountain on, rock by rock or cliff by cliff. As long as you are paying more than the minimum, as much as you can without compromising your other financial obligations and your health and your family is you are supporting one, then you are already on your way to paying your debt off faster than your creditors have planned for you and paying less overall in interest. Don’t be hard on yourself. Do what you can and seek out ways for you to increase your income so you can keep your savings and pay off more of your debt even quicker. #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com

Fear has no place alongside you and determination to reach your goal. Wisdom and intuition, yes but no fear. Fear is immobilizing and will delay your progress. You can shake it off from you at any time. Know that you are capable and trust in your ability. Allow yourself the courage to take the perceived risks associated with going after your goals. And be okay, heck get excited about failure -its going to come. It is a step along the way to lasting success. #YouGotThis #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com

I know it’s scary and it gives you anxiety and you get in a bad mood after it and feel overwhelmed but it is absolutely to know who you owe, how much you owe them and where or what options you have to pay them back. Knowing this is the first step to getting to owe $0 to all of your creditors – and it’s possible. Two of the biggest financial burdens to most millennials is student loans debt and credit card debt. The thing about these two types of debt are there are factors of both that if unchecked can cause you to owe significantly more than what you borrowed and make you feel like you’re swimming in a pool you will never get out of. Head over to the latest blog post for some tips on staying ahead of the curve. SheLevelsUp.com #shelevelsup

No matter what - keep pushing! #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com

When you're just starting out or just trying to get your credit on a better foot, chances are high you're going to be told no or you need a co-signer. You may not have a possible co-signers plus they are not for everyone. I personally have always felt strongly about getting money and business handled immediately and with little to no help so a co-signer has never been a part of my equation. I would caution you to do one of 2 things before diving into co-signers. 1. If you are negotiating something like car and you know you have a good credit score but maybe a short credit history, ask for your rep to talk to the bank again. I personally tried this with my second car and got a very pleasurable results. 2. Try building your credit up a bit with a secured card. It works like a prepaid card except what you do gets recorded to the credit bureaus. Since you can only spend what you've put into it, its a little better for someone starting out and helps you be responsible. #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com

If you are going to be great at something, you'll need to identify what you're good at first. You don't become great at something overnight, it takes some time to develop. Oprah wasn't built in a day so don't pressure yourself to be everything you dream of all at one time. Your road to greatness and massive success is a marathon and you win by adding up all the small efforts you make daily in whatever it is that you are good at and feels right to you. You got this!

Saving is important but organizing and properly delegating your funds is too. Do you have your 3-6 months savings combined with your vacation money or weekly spending money? Plan this week to give them some space from each other. Keep your long term savings separate from your short term savings and definitely don't put your emergency or backup living expenses in a place that you will be regularly accessing. #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com

If you're going to be great at something, you can't stay where you are; you've got to take a leap! Come off the ledge and go for it! Taking a chance on you is the only way you will grow. And when you allow yourself to grow, it will probably be a sweeter result than you've imagined. #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com

Just because you have money currently in your possession and you've paid all of your bills for the month does not mean you have to or should spend the rest of your earnings. Leaving a portion of your money for another day will be the difference between you staying in debt, getting in debt or you carving out a great financial future for yourself. Build the groundwork for you to not feel like you are living paycheck to paycheck. Live under your means. Put a portion of your pay away in savings. Students, put it away in a savings or CD account. If you're knowledgeable enough or have a knowledgeable and reliable teacher or mentor, look into opening a Roth IRA. Its never to early to start saving for retirement. Or do a combination of these suggestions or more in areas you understand. Just make sure you are not spending every dime of your pay. #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com

Growth is stimulated by what you expose yourself to so let the world be your teacher. At least one time each year, take some time to go somewhere you have never been before. It could be to another city in your state or another continent, its up to you. You'll likely feel refreshed and feel yourself having a new way to perceive the things around you - growth! I did just that over the past week or so and took my own advice and unplugged from the daily grind of social media. I allowed myself to fully be in the moment without worrying if I posted every landmark, every meal and ootd. I just WAS. Now I'm back to you and we'll have a great rest of the week! #shelevelsup SheLevelsUp.com (at Toronto, Ontario)

You grow by what you expose yourself to so let all of the world be your teacher. At least one time each year, go somewhere you have never been. It could be another town in your state even or another continent, its up to you. And you'll likely feel refreshed if for no other reason than the change of scenery. Over the past week or so I did just that and practiced some unplugging from social media. It felt great but I'm back to you now! #shelevelsup www.SheLevelsUp.com (at Toronto, Ontario)

When you're buying things, especially big ticket items like a car, take all of its financial requirements into consideration. Research and factor everything you can before you sign on the line. You should always have more money at your disposal than what the initial investment says it is. A car is a really great example since you'll remember to think about the monthly payment, gas and down payment but might let the insurance, oil changes and other maintenance slip past you. Go back and give those items some thought. They vary depending on the vehicle, age, prior driving history and even your credit. #shelevelsup www.SheLevelsUp.com

Everyone with breath from their lungs has something special within them. Regardless of who you are, how much money you have, how old or young you are- you have a purpose a reason for being on this Earth. Consequently there will always be someone who will be affected by you. You know every action has a reaction, same kind of principle. Once you've made any type of impact or impression on another's life, there will be an impression with your absence. Remember your presence is a choice and not mandatory. Listen to your gut and pay attention to who and what you expose yourself to and how it makes you feel and how someone is around others. If a flag is raised for you use your discretion and pick one of these 2 actions: 1. Talk to that person and see if there is a change after. 2. Walk away. The same way "No" can be a complete sentence, stepping away from a person or situation can be definitive and final. And if you need to be final, worry 100% of time about, just know your absence will likely be felt. #shelevelsup www.SheLevelsUp.com

There is an abundance of coupon codes and sites and apps that help you to keep some of your hard earned money in your hands. And bonus points – they are super easy to signup or visit and navigate or automate. So why have you not done this yet or made it a practice. Check the blog for the full list of free apps to get you saving money with every purchase! #shelevelsup www.SheLevelsUp.com

One of my favorite books about money says, He must pay his debts ail all his power; Not purchasing that for which he is unable to pay. The Richest Man in Babylon was always mindful of that simple principle no matter how much fortune he amassed and taught others that same principle so that they in turn could also be prosperous. That are your money habits? Do you assess what you have in the present before you commit to a new financial obligation? Do you spend on impulse way more than your income allows? Is your credit card your best friend who is by your side every time you see a new sale pop up? Take a second or five or eight and relax that spending. Yes that might be easier said than done but your first job with changing that is to change your mindset about money. It is something you should respect and you should only give it away to things, services, people that deserve yours. Check out the full blog post for how you can make the change. #shelevelsup www.SheLevelsUp.com