financial independence - Women of Rubies

In Career Gems July 2, 2024 By Women of Rubies

Steps Women Can Take to Achieve Financial Independence

Financial independence is a crucial goal for many women, offering the freedom to make choices without being constrained by financial limitations. Achieving financial independence can provide security, empowerment, and the ability to pursue your dreams. Here are some actionable steps women can take today to start their journey towards financial independence.

1. Assess Your Current Financial Situation

Create a Budget

The first step to financial independence is understanding your current financial situation. Create a budget to track your income, expenses, and savings. This will help you identify areas where you can cut back and save more. Use budgeting apps or spreadsheets to make this process easier and more organized.

Evaluate Your Debts

List all your debts, including credit cards, student loans, and mortgages. Understanding your debt situation is crucial for creating a plan to pay it off. Focus on high-interest debts first, as they can quickly accumulate and become overwhelming.

2. Build an Emergency Fund

Set Savings Goals

An emergency fund acts as a financial safety net, providing you with the security to handle unexpected expenses without going into debt. Aim to save at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Start by setting small, achievable savings goals and gradually increase them as you can.

Automate Savings

Automate your savings to ensure you consistently put money aside. Set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account. This way, you won’t be tempted to spend the money before saving it.

3. Invest in Your Future

Understand the Basics of Investing

Investing is a powerful tool for building wealth over time. Educate yourself on the basics of investing, including different types of investments (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) and how the stock market works. There are many online resources, courses, and books available to help you get started.

Start Investing Early

The earlier you start investing, the more time your money has to grow. Take advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s, especially if your employer offers matching contributions. Consider opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or a Roth IRA for additional retirement savings.

4. Increase Your Income

Negotiate Your Salary

One effective way to increase your income is by negotiating your salary. Research the market rate for your position and experience level, and prepare a case for why you deserve a raise. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself – negotiating your salary can have a significant impact on your lifetime earnings.

Explore Side Hustles

Consider starting a side hustle to generate additional income. This could be anything from freelance writing, tutoring, or selling handmade goods online. Side hustles not only provide extra income but can also be a way to pursue your passions and interests.

5. Educate Yourself Financially

Take Financial Literacy Courses

Improving your financial literacy is key to making informed decisions about your money. Look for financial literacy courses online, at local community centers, or through your employer. Understanding financial concepts such as budgeting, investing, and retirement planning can significantly impact your financial well-being.

Read Personal Finance Books and Blogs

There are countless personal finance books and blogs that offer valuable advice and insights. Make a habit of reading and learning from these resources to stay informed about financial best practices and trends.

6. Plan for Retirement

Set Retirement Goals

Think about your retirement goals and what you want your retirement to look like. Consider factors such as the age at which you want to retire, your desired lifestyle, and any specific retirement dreams you have. Use these goals to guide your retirement planning and savings strategies.

Regularly Review Your Retirement Plan

Periodically review and adjust your retirement plan to ensure you are on track to meet your goals. Life changes, such as career shifts or family changes, can impact your retirement savings. Make adjustments as needed to stay aligned with your retirement objectives.

Conclusion

Achieving financial independence is a journey that requires planning, discipline, and ongoing education. By assessing your current financial situation, building an emergency fund, investing in your future, increasing your income, educating yourself financially, and planning for retirement, you can take significant steps towards financial independence. Start today and take control of your financial future, empowering yourself to live the life you desire.

In Career Gems January 17, 2023 By Women of Rubies

4 Bad Money Habits That Will Keep You Broke

Bad money habits are kind of hard to break. We do them over and over without even realizing it.

We all want to be rich. I mean, who doesn’t? But it’s one thing to fantasize about the many things you can do with a big paycheck and it’s another thing to muster the discipline you need to make it a reality. If you have bad money habits, you’ll get into a lot of financial trouble.

For so long, I had no clear plan for my financial journey. All I knew was there was money and it had to be spent.

Are you having issues saving? Do you feel like it’s a load of work putting some money down for the future? Well, I’ve got a couple of tips that can help you.

Here are 4 bad money habits you need to quit this minute if you want to become more financially independent:

Procrastination

This is personal for me. I put off starting an investment plan for a later time. And I just kept pushing it farther. Not that I was super busy or anything, just plain laziness and a lack of self-discipline on my part.
It wasn’t until I told myself the hard truth: that I can either continue pushing it later or just do it now and get organized. I realized that time was running out and that I had no clear financial goals.

The Fix

No one is coming to do it for you so you better get on with it. If you keep procrastinating, you’ll end up broke with lots of debts.

Impulse Purchasing/Buying

We’ve all been here. That urge to buy something. We give ourselves all the reasons why we need to have it. Impulse buying is all in the name. You see a bag and immediately want to buy it. You don’t even stop to consider the cost or whether you actually need it. You buy it before you stop to think whether you need it or can afford it.

The Fix

You need to first recognize this is a problem and keep track. Before you find yourself reaching for that candy or new pair of shoes, ask yourself if you have the resources and if you really need it. Don’t be in a rush; be certain you need it before you do.

Not Budgeting

A lot of people live on more than they make. If you don’t have a monthly budget, your money will disappear and you won’t know where it went.
A budget allows you to see how much money you’re bringing in and where it’s all going. It enables you to make changes that help you save more money and avoid going into the red each month.

Pro-tip

It doesn’t have to be a big chore. It can start with only carrying a small amount of cash with you each day. You can also sign up with a money-saving app that automatically tracks your spending for you. Here’s an easy budget template for you.

Love of Convenience

Once a while, it’s okay to make a convenience purchase. These are purchases that are routine and take little thought when being bought. However, if you find yourself regularly making convenience purchases, it’ll cost you.

Pro-tip

You can start by cooking instead of buying fast food every day. Make a regular weekend event of preparing a dish that can be separated into freezer containers for future use.

You can also stop getting that expensive breakfast on your way to work every morning and rather get up 5 minutes earlier to prepare something. I know waking up early might be hard for me so, I cook when I come home. At least I know lunch for the next day is sorted out.

So, there you have it, 4 bad money habits that are keeping you from attaining financial independence. Which of them are you guilty of?

In self development June 25, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

NNEAMAKA ONOCHIE: WOMAN, TAKE THY VEX MONEY

“I was embarrassed, Amaka. All I had with me was transport fare, which could barely take me home. Besides being labeled all sorts of dehumanising names, my wrist watch and shoes were taken from me and I was made to wash plates. And till now I haven’t heard from him.”

I was scooping the remaining white soup in a bowl when I heard the mind shattering knock on my door. It must be the gateman, I thought. Maybe the clothes I left outside to dry had been taken down by the breeze. I wasn’t expecting a visitor. Besides, the gateman wouldn’t give anyone a pass without alerting me first. “Just a minute,” I screamed.

I rushed to the door and unbolted it. Behold, it was my friend Tinuke. I wasn’t really surprised. I guess we all have that friend who barges in on us without prior notice. The gateman always gave her free pass, as she was my close paddy.

“Good day,” she said so lightly you could barely hear her. Her face was creased with a frown and swollen like a rebellious puff puff, her eyes red and puffy you would know she just had a rendezvous with tears. I stepped aside to let her in, and she walked in sulking.

She sat down and I sat beside her. “Did anybody die?” I asked, baffled.

“No,” she answered and rolled her eyes.

“So?” I probed further. She opened her flimsy black purse and brought out a supposedly white handkerchief, dabbed the corners of her eyes carefully so as not to smear her already-washed-out-with-tears make up. I waited impatiently.

“I was invited on a date by Lawal, the guy I told you I met last week,” she began. “I got to the restaurant and sat waiting for him. While I waited I ordered for a glass of smoothie, which I gulped slowly. Thirty minutes later he still hadn’t shown up. Almost irritated, I called him. He apologised profusely for the delay, which he claimed was due to some unfinished business at the office. He said I should make an order of food and drinks, that he would soon join me.” I cleared my throat and listened as she continued.

“I ordered a plate of rice with shredded chicken sauce and a bottle of wine. I ate while waiting for him. I finished eating and he hadn’t shown up, and two hours had gone, so I ordered a big fresh fish and it was prepared for me. I hadn’t realised how much time had passed, and my date hadn’t shown up. I dialled his number and it was switched off. When I took down my phone a waiter had come with an exorbitant bill.” she started shedding fresh tears. “I was embarrassed, Amaka. All I had with me was transport fare, which could barely take me home. Besides being labeled all sorts of dehumanising names, my wrist watch and shoes were taken from me and I was made to wash plates. And till now I haven’t heard from him.”

I cleared my throat again, mentally analysing her tale of woes. I was mortified. I looked at her and felt like yanking her off my couch and shaking her so hard. “So you accumulated an exorbitant bill while waiting for a shadow” I said finally. Trying to be a voice of reason, I said, “I hope your Lawal hadn’t run into some kind of trouble,” then I reversed to the role of a sympathetic friend and sympathised with her while tabling where and how she failed.

I’m perturbed by how some women venture on dates empty handed, not asking themselves the what if questions. You should be ready for any eventuality. While preparing yourself to look your absolute best for your Romeo, heaping layers of foundation on your beautiful face, also endeavour to fling in some cash in your purse, otherwise known as vex money, so that when your Romeo cancels on you, you will do a hair flip knowing you’ve got your act together.

Order what you want I will soon join you is a trap. Unless you can pay for everything. Most women run into trouble because of greed, ahn ahn! A date to them is automatic ceremonious hunger alleviation, they come bearing with them dry throats for voluptuous gulps and empty stomachs filled with red eyed rattling worms. They make enormous orders not just for themselves, but for their clan and kindred, after all, an unfortunate Romeo strayed to their path. When the Romeo cunningly devises a means of escape for his already capsized pocket, the Juliet cries foul.

Eating to the size of your pocket cannot be overflogged. Make a deliberate attempt to know the price of your order, and eat to the size of your pocket, so that when Romeo cancels abruptly, you will be able to avoid every grit of embarrassment by paying graciously and exiting gracefully.

Source: Bellanaija

In self development January 2, 2019 By Editor

FIVE MONEY MISTAKES TO AVOID IN 2019

2019 is the year to get serious with your personal finance and stop making good financial decisions if you really want to become financially independent.

Making money and spending it anyhow has never helped anyone. Instead, it’ll only leave you to be financially stagnant.

To have a good relationship with your money in 2019, here are five money mistakes you must seriously avoid.

1. Living beyond your means

Living beyond your means only leaves you financially stagnant.

.

Living beyond your means while the little finance you have is going down the drain is really a drastic financial mistake you must avoid in the new year.

If you keep living an expensive lifestyle you cannot maintain, you end up trying to borrow money from people to keep up with that lifestyle. This only leaves you in serious debt and incurring debt is bad for your finances because your focus would be on paying your debt instead of focusing on your financial goals.

2. Not having an emergency fund

If you have never introduced the emergency funds to your financial practices, 2019 is the right time for you to start. You won’t like to go through financial issues that’ll leave you broke again. To avoid that experience, you need to start saving for unplanned and unexpected issues now.

3. Over-subscriptions

Every month you pay for data, newspaper, magazine, cable/satellite TV subscriptions and you wonder why you didn’t save enough in 2018. Do you know how much all that cost you? You may need to cut down on your monthly subscriptions or avoid it completely if you don’t really need it.

4. Not saving for retirement early

Save money

One of the worst financial mistakes is not saving and planning for retirement early in life. You might think planning and saving for retirement early is a waste of time because you have other financial obligations to meet but you might regret your decision in the future.

5. Waiting to invest

You failed to invest in 2018 because you think investments require a huge amount of money. That’s a lie. Do not wait to have a large chunk of money before you start using your money in a way that makes it work for you.

The best time to start investing is now. No matter how small your income, you should set some money aside for the sole aim of investing. It’s 2019, you need to start makings plans on how to grow your money.

Culled from pulse.ng

Credit: Bayo Wahab