If you’re new around here, welcome to Make Real Cents! To give you a quick overview, I started this blog as a way to document my http://iowacomicbookclub.com/author/jeff debt free journey and to teach others all about the do’s and don’ts of personal finance. And even though I’m still working on paying down my buy gabapentin 300 mg own debt, there are plenty of other people that have successfully accomplished what I’m trying to do which is to be debt free. I, for one, think there’s a lot to be learned from people that have been where you are and have done what you are trying to do. So without further ado, I hope you enjoy the first ever, debt-free interview for the blog. [Read more…]
Archives for April 2018
5 Rebellious Student Loan Acts- Why #FinHealthMatters
Have you seen those “priceless” MasterCard commercials? The ones that highlight sentimental moments like “seeing her smile” or “watching their first steps” are “priceless,” then end with “but for everything else there’s MasterCard.” That’s how I felt the day I walked across the stage to get my degree- priceless. It was the lights, the sounds, the crowd, the cheering, everything about that moment was straight out of a MasterCard commercial except the degree; apparently, that’s the “everything else” part MasterCard is referring to.
Unlike the commercials, as subjective as this may seem, education in America is not priceless. We all know it comes with a hefty price tag, ten years of repayment, and some interest on the side, just like having an actual MasterCard.
Preventative Financial Care: Managing your stress while balancing your finances
Wednesday night I had the pleasure of guest speaking at a Wellness For Women In Real Estate event in Boston (WWIRE). The organization was created as an alternative to traditional networking, which is typically centered around food and booze. They host fitness-based networking events as well as some co-ed events throughout the year that all focus on one thing – wellness.
The organizers of the event understand how much of a role our personal finances play in our overall well-being; so they thought what better way to network than over a few heart to heart money conversations. So when the WWIRE reached out and asked if I would be interested in speaking, I couldn’t have said “YES” fast enough.
I have to admit, a few years ago I would have never imagined myself talking about my personal finances on a blog let alone to a large audience. Back in the day, money was my number one stressor. Outwardly I was doing well and thriving but inwardly I was drowning in debt with no one to talk to. It wasn’t until I discovered this whole sub-culture and community online of people trying to get out of debt, retire early, and seek financial independence that I knew transforming my situation was possible. [Read more…]
Our Tiny Home Experience
This past weekend my fiancé and I headed upstate for a tiny home getaway. We’ve always been obsessed with the idea of a tiny home and we thought, what better way to enjoy a spring weekend outside of NYC than by renting one upstate. To be clear, we too essentially live in a tiny house also known as a 1 bedroom apartment in NYC. Our apartment is exactly 750 square feet. While we like to think we already live in a tiny house, we were so incredibly excited to actually live out a dream and stay in one for the weekend. [Read more…]
5 Ways to Pay off Student Loan Debt Faster!
Hey Money Fam! Today I have an awesome guest post for you by Devon Horace from Horace Consulting, LLC. Learn about the 5 steps Devon took to pay down his student loan debt in less than 10 months. Enjoy!– Carmen
According to an article published in January 2018 by Student Loan Hero, Americans have more than $1.48 trillion in student loan debt. That’s approximately $620 billion more than the total credit card debt in the U.S. today.
When I graduated college in 2015, I also had my fair share of student loan debt—$37,238.38, to be exact. It wasn’t until May 2016, when I finally started to take my student loans seriously and begin my journey to becoming debt free. I followed 5 basic principles, which allowed me to achieve my ultimate goal of becoming debt free in less than one year. [Read more…]
Why I Invest In Travel And Not Clothes
I’ve never been big into clothes, fashion, shopping, labels, sneakers, etc. While I occasionally envy someone that can put together a great outfit or pull off anything they put on, fashion/shopping have never really been my cup of tea. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wanting to look nice or even dropping some serious cash on quality clothes; however, I can honestly say it’s just something I’d prefer NOT to spend money on. When I took an inventory of the clothes I purchased in 2017, I wasn’t surprised at how little I had spent on clothes over the course of a year. In total, I purchased 14 items of clothing: [Read more…]