Beautiful & Broke

I refuse to be beautiful and broke

I don’t know about you, but I love to shop, and I like nice things. It’s like an addiction, and I need to stop, but why stop when I can manage my money? It’s easy to splurge on myself because I have been a retail manager, and currently a beauty advisor. I have an excellent eye for fashion, and I’m currently experimenting with some of the drug store and prestige makeup brands. I’ve realized now that overspending is not healthy, and I have found ways to be fabulous and still manage my money.

How do I manage my money?

It’s simple! When I get paid, I make sure to take care of my business first. I see how much I got paid and then I take out a pen and paper. I make a list of everything that I know I need to pay. I always pay down on my bills first, add to my savings, transfer money to pay off my credit card, tithing money, and anything else that is important. I then see what money I have left over to spend. Another tip that I skipped is making sure I leave a certain amount in my checking that I can’t go under. Bonus: I also decided not to use my credit card anymore, unless it’s an emergency.

SELF CONTROL!

Self-control is super important. It’s easy to spend on things you think you need, but it’s just something you want. Wants are fun too, but if you’re buying too many unnecessary things, it can shrink your bank account. I use to go in a store to buy one thing and end up leaving with five. I know I got to do better, It’s sad that while I felt beautiful, I was slowly watching my bank account decline. Thankfully, I now have control of my money.

What’s on Clearance/Sale?

If you’ve ever been shopping with me, then you know that I’m quick to walk in a store and go straight to the sale racks or clearance signs. When you’re in Grad school and working a retail job, trust me, you won’t be ashamed. It’s honestly nice to go to my favorite stores and shop the good deals, and it’s so easy to catch anything on sale. Also, there are plenty of apps to find coupons for stores. My favorite one is RetailMeNot. The problem with a sale and clearance items is when spending too much on things that are great deals.  Buying a lot of good deals at one time is easy. But good deals can drain your account if you buy too many of these sale/clearance items.

Remember to save!

My sister use to tell me “Aeriel put in your savings account!” I see what she means now! It’s so easy to spend and sometimes saving is easy to forget. The older I get, the more I want to save more. I want to travel more, prepare for my dream car, and have a lump sum that I can always rely on in a time of need. By saving more, I will never have to worry about being beautiful and broke. The goal is to be beautiful and controlling my money!

Ladies, It’s no fun being beautiful and broke. It’s time to keep our bank accounts healthy and mature.