Journey To Launch

Money is a leading cause of stress. How you spend and manage your money directly stems from what you think about and how you feel about money. In this episode, I talk to Emily Guy Birken, an accomplished finance writer whose latest book "End Financial Stress Now" walks you through the exact steps on how to achieve the mindset of financial flexibility and improve your financial outlook. Even if you don't feel overly stressed about your money, the concepts explained in this book will help you understand your relationship with money.    Here are just some of the things we discuss in this episode: Why it's important to put a space between our finances and how we FEEL about our finances How to figure out what money means to you How to use the "Five Why's" exercise to get to the root of your money problem The emotional meaning we assign to money and how that translates into how we treat money How to rid yourself of the scarcity mindset The Four Money Scripts and how to identify which one you use in your life  Actual steps to take to improve your financial outlook plus so much more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get a copy of Emily's book- End Financial Stress Now  Where Are You On Your Financial Journey? (How To Identify Your Journey Position)   www.asktrim.com www.truebill.com YNAB -  You can try it free for 34 days and after that its $5 a month or $50 a year. I recommend you at least sign up for the free trial. If you don’t want to continue after the trial, you will have at least practiced active budgeting for a month. If you sign up beyond the 34-day free trial using my referral link, you’ll get a month free and I’ll get a month free, seems like a win-win to me! Connect with Emily: www.emilyguybirken.com Emily on Twitter Emily on Facebook  Connect with me: Journey To Launch Instagram Journey To Launch Twitter Journey To Launch Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group    

Before you can begin to truly focus on building wealth, you have to get serious about paying off and staying out of debt.  Follow these 8 steps and you will be on your way to debt freedom.  Here are some of the things I discuss in this episode: My experience at Podcast Movement from recording my first LIVE interview with Patrice Washington which will be released soon, recording another guest appearance on the award winning Stacking Benjamins podcast and meeting a woman I truly admire in the personal finance and podcasting arena, Hilary Hendershott. My own debt journey of paying off $80,000 to $100,000 of debt  The 8 Steps to Paying Off & Staying Out Of Debt (click here to see the steps) How being uncomfortable and staying the course on your journey will allow you to reach your ultimate goals.  Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: The original blog post- 8 Steps To Pay Off & Stay Out Of Debt 3 Ways To Use A Home Equity Line To Reach Financial Freedom  Click here to get the FREE Debt Payoff Blueprint to help you annihilate that debt.   YNAB -  You can try it free for 34 days and after that its $5 a month or $50 a year. I recommend you at least sign up for the free trial. If you don’t want to continue after the trial, you will have at least practiced active budgeting for a month. If you sign up beyond the 34-day free trial using my referral link, you’ll get a month free and I’ll get a month free, seems like a win-win to me!   Connect with me: Instagram Twitter Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group

Income is the driving force of the wealth formula. If you want to get out of debt, save or invest at an accelerated rate, the fastest way to do it, is through earning more money. Would you like to learn insider HR tips on how to ask for a raise and get paid your worth? Better yet, would you like to hear how one woman negotiated a $25,000 raise?  In this week's episode, I talk to Dorianne St Fleur of YourCareerGirl.com. Dorianne is an HR professional, certified business and career coach whose work focuses on teaching professionals how to unlock authentic and fulfilling careers. Her work has been featured on Business Insider, Huffington Post, Inc., Fast Company, The Muse and Working Mother.  Dorianne is breaking the Human Resources code and sharing all the insider secrets on how to negotiate a higher salary at your job. Even if you're not working in the corporate world, this interview is jam packed with great tips and actual scripts you can use when having the salary conversation with your boss or while on the hunt for a new job.  More of what you can find in this episode: How to research your salary and figure out if you're being underpaid What to say when you have that awkward salary conversation with your manager 3 things you can do  optimize your Linkedin page and land job offers in your sleep Strategies to become a top earner The best ways to achieve the elusive work-life balance plus lots more! Dorianne's website-YourCareerGirl.com Dorianne's podcast- Deeper Than Work (Subscribe on  iTunes  SoundCloud) Glassdoor YNAB -  You can try it free for 34 days and after that its $5 a month or $50 a year. I recommend you at least sign up for the free trial. If you don’t want to continue after the trial, you will have at least practiced active budgeting for a month. If you sign up beyond the 34-day free trial using my referral link, you’ll get a month free and I’ll get a month free, seems like a win-win to me! Connect with Dorianne Follow Dorianne on Facebook  Twitter , Instagram, Linkedin Connect with me: Instagram Twitter Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group

To reach your personal finance goals you have to develop a positive mindset. I talk with Fifi Buchanan of the Divine Hostess blog and the Wonderfully Made podcast. Fifi focuses on a holistic approach to wellness, cooking, and lifestyle improvement. On her podcast, Wonderfully Made, Fifi provides tips on how to live a more balanced and fulfilled life by improving daily habits and pursuing wellness. I first met Fifi on Instagram. I announced that I was launching my podcast and needed supporters for my launch campaign. Fifi, without knowing me, graciously signed up to lend her support to my campaign and gave me words of encouragement. She also mentioned that she had a podcast and I immediately went to check it out. Once I started listening, I was enthralled with Fifi's calming approach to overcoming internal obstacles and her wellness tips. I saw the importance of the topics that Fifi talked about and how it related directly to one's Financial Journey, so I invited her on the podcast. Here's just some of what we discuss: The limitations that come with comparison and how can we stay focused on our own journey. Tips to overcome negativity, doubt, and fear so that we can move toward our goals. How to make peace with where you are and where you want to be without getting discouraged and angry. How to forgive ourselves for past mistakes. How to stay focused on goals that seem so far away The importance of treating ourselves and self-care How to eat well on a budget plus so much more! Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Fifi's blog- The Divine Hostess Fifi's podcast- The Wonderfully Made podcast (Subscribe on  iTunes  SoundCloud) The Three Thieves & The Limitations that Come with Comparison episodes from the Wonderfully Made podcast YNAB -  You can try it free for 34 days and after that its $5 a month or $50 a year. I recommend you at least sign up for the free trial. If you don’t want to continue after the trial, you will have at least practiced active budgeting for a month. If you sign up beyond the 34-day free trial using my referral link, you’ll get a month free and I’ll get a month free, seems like a win-win to me! Connect with Fifi: Follow Fifi on Twitter , on Instagram, YouTube Connect with me: Instagram Twitter Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group

Is it possible for a millionaire to become a teacher salary? In this episode, I talk with Ed the Millionaire Educator. I first learned about the 457 plan from Ed when he was a guest on another podcast. If you listened to Episode 2, How We Saved $85K, you'll know that I credit access to a 457 plan through my husband's job as one of the ways we were able to maximize our savings last year. It really changed the game for us.  In this episode with Ed, we discuss: How he paid off $45,000 and saved $100,000 in 5 1/2 years The benefits of a 457 Plan and how to figure out if you have access to one Why the fees that you pay on your investment accounts matter How to become more tax efficient and how tax planning can substantially increase your ability to save and invest Ways to save and invest no matter your income How to live a good life while saving more than half of your income Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Ed's post's- 2017 Free Money , How We Saved $500,000 in 4.5 Years, YNAB -  You can try it free for 34 days and after that its $5 a month or $50 a year. I recommend you at least sign up for the free trial. If you don’t want to continue after the trial, you will have at least practiced active budgeting for a month. If you sign up beyond the 34-day free trial using my referral link, you’ll get a month free and I’ll get a month free, seems like a win-win to me! Connect with Ed: millionaireeducator.com Follow Ed on Twitter Connect with me: Instagram Twitter Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group  

Get 25 ways to improve your finances right now. This episode gives you 25 actual steps that you can take today in order to start making strides towards your financial goals. To make the list more manageable, select 2 -4 things you can do per day over the next few days.  Some of the tips I discuss are: Download and organize your banking and personal finance apps Set aside time for a “Money Check-in” Improve your financial circle of influence Place more value on experiences, not things Find the full list in the related blog post: 25 Ways To Improve Your Finances Right Now Click here to sign up for access to the Resource Library and download the FREE 25 Ways To Improve Your Finances Right Now Checklist to help you keep track of what things you implement.   

I talk to Cassandra Cummings, president of RC Wealth Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisory firm and the Founder of The Stocks & Stilettos Society, an investment community of women. She’s been working for over 10 years to transform financial lives. I first connected with Cassandra on Instagram. She came on my IG LIVE broadcast to leave a positive word of encouragement when it came to starting and running a business. Later on, we connected in a Facebook group we are both members in and I did a Facebook LIVE in her Stocks & Stiletto’s group discussing my own investment strategies. Since then, I’ve considered Cassandra my virtual #goalmother. I admire the way she runs her businesses and the way she cultivates and helps her community. Her Stocks & Stilettos group ride hard for her! In this episode we cover: The different types of investments to invest in How to begin if you have only a little amount of money to invest What someone should do if they have no idea where to begin Why even if you have debt you shouldn’t wait to start investing How to evaluate a company you want to invest in What’s the next “big” thing you should invest in How to start your kids on the path to wealth by teaching them about investing plus much more Related Blog Post: http://www.journeytolaunch.com/why-i-finally-started-index-investing-how-i-got-over-my-fear/ Investing apps/platforms mentioned in the episode: Acorns Stash Robinhood Vanguard Recommended Investing books: Girl Make Your Money Grow Rich Dad's Guide to Investing Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl: And Why You Should, Too Connect with Cassandra http://cassandracummings.com/ http://stocksandstilettos.co Stocks & Stilettos Facebook group Cassandra on: Instagram Twitter Facebook Connect with me: Instagram Twitter Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group     Find the show notes and more www.journeytolaunch.com/episode3

Find out how we saved $85K in 12 months. In this episode you'll learn: How I got over my fear of sharing the actual numbers to the “world” The types of savings and investing accounts we used How budgeting and the 457 Plan changed the game for us and allowed us to invest even more How to create, set up and stick to your own savings goals   Other related blog posts mentioned in this episode: How we Saved $85,000 in 12months + Tips on How you Can Save More Too Mid-year Update on our $93,100 2017 Savings Goals + Takeaways to Apply to Your Own Goals Are you on Track to be Broke or Financially Free in Retirement + 25x Rule Explained YNAB -  You can try it free for 34 days and after that its $5 a month or $50 a year. I recommend you at least sign up for the free trial. If you don’t want to continue after the trial, you will have at least practiced active budgeting for a month. If you sign up beyond the 34-day free trial using my referral link, you’ll get a month free and I’ll get a month free, seems like a win-win to me! Connect with me: Instagram Twitter Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group Get the full episode show notes and more at www.journeytolaunch.com/episode2

Learn more about myself and what Journey To Launch is all about. I cover: My backstory, where I grew up and how being raised by a single mom help teach me the value of money at an early age My crazy 3-4 hour driving commute and the mental breakdown that occurred when I was pregnant with my first son and how that made me want to figure out a way to retire early Why I started Journey To Launch & why I started the podcast What you can expect from the podcast, what the show format will be and the types of topics that will be discussed  P.S. I recorded this introductory episode at least 4x already but I’ve made up my mind that the one you are hearing now will be the last take. I realized that I was being too critical of myself and that I couldn’t get everything to be perfect as I’d like. But that’s the beauty of this journey. Everything doesn’t have to perfect, you’ll get better the more you do and push yourself forward. Other related blog posts mentioned in this episode: Behind The Scenes of The Journey To Launch Podcast - part 1  & part 2 My Journey To Launch 10 Interesting Facts About Me  Connect with me: Instagram Twitter Facebook Page Join the private Facebook Group