Money Tips to Thrive!...Affordably! by Jennifer Streaks

Money Tips to Thrive!...Affordably!
by Jennifer Streaks

It is a New Year and that means a fresh start and a great time to get your money under control! Follow these tips to take charge of your finances in 2016!

1.) Write it all down!  Figure out where your money is going. I can’t tell you how many people get to the end of the week or the end of the month and don’t know why they don’t have any money left. Get out all of your bills and expenses and learn how you spend your money!

2.) Get that emergency fund started.  Now is the time to start putting away money in case something like a job loss or illness strikes. I always recommend having at least 8 months worth of expenses saved in case of emergency.

3.) Get a free copy of your credit report.  Know where you stand with your credit going into the new year and if there are issues to be handled, get started. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report every year.

4.) Trim the fat.  This tip refers back to tip #1, when you grab all of your household bills to see where your money is going, you can also see where you can cut expenses.  You can reduce the cable bill, your cell phone bill, even electric and gas bills.

5.) Get a side hustle!  Do it now! We all have talents we can turn into income. Editing manuscripts, updating resumes, telemarketing from home. Find a way to get another stream of income in 2016!

6.) Keep a money journal.  Write down what you spend your money on and try to keep receipts. You can do it by the week or by the month. This will let you know in black and white where your money is going; 3pm coffee, happy hour, too many “quick” shopping trips, then you will be able to see where you need to make changes.


UP COMING BOOK:
Thrive!...Affordably by Jennifer Streaks

Life is meant to be enjoyed, but let’s be honest: It’s almost impossible to live a life of abundance when you are drowning in a sea of debt and suffering under the strain of financial struggle. So many people are not free to enjoy life simply because they don’t have control over their finances. As a result, they go through life surviving and not truly living.

Thrive!...Affordably, takes the headache and the guesswork out of financial management. It is a monthly “how-to” designed to help the reader meet financial goals one step at a time. The book offers tips, advice, and basic financial management lessons geared towards helping the reader highlight strengths, identify missteps, and take control over finances. If you are looking for a way to permanently free yourself from debt, this book is for you. Jennifer Streaks takes the mystery out of management, making financial freedom attainable for anyone willing to do the work.

You deserve to live your best life. Don’t just survive...Thrive!


About the Author
Jennifer Streaks is a smart and savvy journalist that covers personal finance issues and lifestyle topics. Her byline has appeared in Black Enterprise, Huffington Post, the Motley Fool, Women & Co. & Yahoo!Finance to name a few. Her new book Thrive!...Affordably, will be out in February, 2016!  She tweets @jstreaks and her website is JenniferStreaks.com.