Repeat after me: “This will be the best day of my life.”

Guys, I celebrated my fifth anniversary with my husband two months ago and I’m still on cloud nine. And all we did was hang around the neighborhood. Everything about our anniversary weekend was absolutely perfect. The crazy part about it was we were literally ten minutes away from home, but it it felt like we were hours away. I was convinced we were in paradise even though it was a staycation. It was truly the escape I needed minus the pricey flight (though I’m sure I would have found a discount on cheapoair), hotel taxes and heavy luggage. And though it was only a weekend, it was exactly what I needed to recharge, feel a bit of excitement and prepare for the week ahead.

Considering how great I felt during my vacation to paradise which wasn’t a vacation at all, I’ve been obsessed about finding out what made it all click. After all, it would be nice to know  how to recreate such a perfect day in paradise should I need to get away again and not have the time or money to board a plane. So in true form, I’ve decided to analyze and completely breakdown our magical anniversary weekend so I’ll know exactly how to turn an ordinary day at home into a paradise getaway when the time calls for it.

It is definitely possible to feel like you are on vacation in paradise without leaving home.

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Repeat after me: I won’t let pride get in the way of doing what I need to accomplish my goals.

Are you ashamed to admit you have a part-time job? Is pride getting in the way of you having a part-time job even though you may need one?

If you answered yes to either of those questions, I don’t blame you. It’s something I can totally relate too.

Having a part-time job when you are an independent adult is nothing most people want to brag about. Something else I can relate to. Mention the word “part-time job” and I’d duck and hide for cover.

It’s like “part-time job” has turned into a dirty word. No one wants to get one and if someone does get a part time job, hardly anyone wants to admit to it. Instead, the cool thing to have is a side hustle. But let’s be honest. Most of them are really the same ole thing with set hours, a boss and possibly a uniform wrapped up in a fancy term with a few exceptions here and there.

I know because I’ve been there. I’ve been the girl who’s worked a day job plus multiple side hustles — er I mean part-time jobs. Hell, I’m still that person. Except way back when I didn’t want anyone to know. So I either hid that part of life or did the trendy thing and called them a side hustle all so I could save face. And it still stung a little a bit even when I called it my side hustle.

It’s call a part-time job for a reason. It’s part of your life, not all of your life. Never be ashamed of it.

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Repeat after me: I only get better with age.

This post may contain affiliate links to some TERRIfic sites you should check out. Learn more about it here. 

If you follow me on instagram, you know that just over a week ago my husband and I celebrated five years of never falling in love with each other. In the last five years of marriage, we’ve learned, expanded, we’ve traveled, and we’ve developed a taste for wine!

It being our fifth anniversary I wanted to do something special. It is a milestone anniversary after all. However, I wasn’t really a fan of any of the ideas I found online. They were all either dull, too expensive or just didn’t sound like us. So we turned to wine…

Don’t let the price tag fool you. These cheap wine bottles are packed with rich flavor perfect for any celebration!

Thanks to my side hustle as a brand ambassador, I went from hardly ever drinking alcohol to a pseudo wine connoisseur (according to my husband.) So when I came up with up with the idea to celebrate the days leading up to the big day by toasting with a glass of wine that has been aged for five years, it seemed like a natural fit. Plus, the traditional gift for the fifth anniversary is wood and corks are kind of wood-ish… My husband wanted to have a glass of wine from all five bottles every night, but there’s no way I could drink that much at once! Of course that would leave the issue of of a bunch of unopened cheap wine bottles but I just used cork stoppers like this one to help keep it fresh as well as refrigerator wine organizers similar to this one. 

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Repeat after me: I’m richer than I think and capable of living even richer.

When was the last time you took an audit of your thoughts surrounding money? Chances are you’re probably long overdue for one. Let’s face it. Most of us want more money, but don’t realize that we have less than glamorous thoughts about it. It probably stresses you out, makes you become desperate and constantly say to yourself, “I never have enough money when I need it.”

Well as innocent as those thoughts and feelings may be, I’ve learned that it may actually be hurting your earning potential. It’s rare that people who are doing well financially actually have a good relationship with money. And it’s rare that people who don’t place a stigma on people who are wealthy are wealthy people themselves.Don’t believe you do that? If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at the money the Kardashians have for “doing nothing” or the 18 year old driving around Jaguar, you could be guilty of subscribing to the stereotype.

Whether you believe that you’ll never pay off your student loans, its impossible to save money or you’ll never make money because you don’t have money, it could be predetermining your future in the worst possible ways.Don’t let unhealthy thoughts about money keep you stuck in financial struggles. Since it’s financial literacy month I figured it was the perfect time to help you take control of your financial health. Now I’m no financial expert in the least bit. You all know I’m still trying to get a handle on some debt. However, I do know a little bit about thoughts shaping your future. Mom always said what you think and say becomes your future. So why not apply that same tactic to gaining financial freedom.

While I’m clearly not rolling in dough yet, I always feel better saying my personal money mantra “I attract opportunities and money is always flowing towards me. I will be debt free at 30” I’m hoping that since April is financial literacy month that my personal money mantra will hold some extra weight and some new act of congress will forgive student debt for anyone who’s got rhythm. (A girl can dream right?)

It’s possible you have negative thoughts towards money without even realizing it? Luckily, changing your attitude about money is as simple as saying it aloud. Check out these top money mantras

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Repeat after me: I didn’t come this far to only come this far. What’s for me won’t pass me by.

This blog is based entirely on the notion that positive thoughts reap a positive life.  Thanks to my mom, I grew up knowing that I can do the impossible and I can manifest my destiny. She taught me that speaking things into existence can get me the things I want in life. And it definitely does work. Believe it or not, I won my honeymoon to Mexico after speaking it into existence and I was able to earn my first byline in a national publication after saying it aloud. That’s why I say, “I attract opportunities and money is constantly flowing towards me. I will be completely debt free at 30” on a daily basis.

As much as I’d like to believe that it’s really as simple as just speaking it into existence, it’s not. Sometimes life sucks and things happen. Your car breaks down, you don’t get the job, you lose the contest and you don’t get accepted into the marathon. It’s disappointing but it doesn’t have to be the end. Speaking things into existence doesn’t always work when we want it to. What’s important is figuring out how to move forward when it doesn’t.

I’ve always been told that we can manifest what we want by putting it out in the universe and speaking it into existence. Here’s what to do when it doesn’t work.

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Repeat after me: No challenge is too challenging for me to conquer. 

So let me be completely honest.  Last month my husband and I decided to take on a month long no eating out challenge and we cheated a bit. For starters, February is a short month so in a way we had it a little easier. And we actually did eat on a few occasions, but I’ll tell you more about that later. However, regardless of the shortened month a few slips ups I think we did a pretty good job.  We saved money, ate better and got creative with our meals. All in all, I’d say mission accomplished. Regardless, I think we all know that a cold turkey challenge such as this one is not easy. Here’s how we made it work.

Could you go without eating out for a whole month? What if I told you it meant you could still have margaritas, and Taco Tuesday? It won’t be easy but with some fun and planning, you can totally nail a month long no eating out challenge.

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Everyone knows that I’m a big fan of cash back apps and reward programs. I never go shopping without using one. What I’m not a fan of is the threshold or limits you need to reach before you can actually redeem what you earn. You need to have earned atleast $20.00 before you can cash out from Ibotta, 300 points before you can earn an Amazon gift card on Swagbucks, and $5 to earn your big fat check from Ebates. Sure earning all that cash and those gift cards are great, but it really does no good if you have to jump through hoops and wait forever before you can take advantage of it. It’s even worse if you are in a bind and really need the money to help ends meet.

While you do need to earn a certain amount before you can redeem any points for cash or gift cards, I don’t usually have to wait too long to meet the requirement. On average, I’m able to redeem about $25 to $50 in reward each month from following some simple tips. No it’s not that much but any amount helps.

Redeeming points for cash back from Swagbucks, Mypoints, Ibotta and more doesn’t have to drag on forever. These tips will help you reach redemption requirements for cash back lighting fast

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This post may contain affiliate links to some TERRIfic sites you should check out. Learn more about it here. 

Repeat after me: I am always improving, but today I have all the knowledge I need.

Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a big bargain hunter. My motto is why pay for it when I can get it for free? That’s why the library and I go hand in hand. Once I decided to get serious about paying off my student loan debt and self improvement I’ve been making weekly trips to the library to find books to pique my interest for a while. I go there so much that if I’m absent for a couple of days my local librarians check in on me to make sure I’m ok. And they are always ready with new suggestions, which makes my book hunting job even easier. Sometimes, their book advice is so spot on that taking out a library book is just not enough. I need to own it.

If you are on a budget like I am, trying to pay off debt, and enjoy life at the same time, you might be hesitant to purchase a book. After all, one dollar spent on a book is a dollar taken away from your debt payoff.  However, think of these books as an investment in your future. Trust that I don’t take these suggestions lightly. The books on this list are so good that you’ll want to do more than just read them. You’ll want to highlight, dog ear, take notes and apply the tips to life –all things you can’t necessarily do when the book is borrowed from the library.

Here are five books I recommend you actually splurge on and not just borrow from the library.

Amazon doesn’t lie. Every book on this list has hundreds to thousands of reviews with more than 50 percent being positive. Sometimes a trip the library just doesn’t give a book or you justice. Some books are just too good and so life changing that you must own them.

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Repeat after me: Just Go.

Have you ever gone somewhere and never really experienced it?  It seems to be the story of my life. I feel like I’ve been to New York, Philadelphia, San Antonia, the Bahamas and so many other places without actually experiencing it. Despite living just about an hour from New York City, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never walked across the Brooklyn Bridge or even experienced a true New York City roof top bar.

What’s worse is that I’ve barely experienced all my hometown has to offer or the surrounding towns. The town I live in has 13 parks and walkways including a nature preserve filled with bird watching and I’ve only been to about three of those parks. Three!!! That’s pathetic. Plus, I live within a short drive of Princeton and rarely take advantage of it, other than when I teach my Zumba class at the university.

I want to see and do more. Can you blame me? I follow blogs such as The Thought Card, Thirty 30 Courtney, One Girl One World. Of course, I’d have the travel bug. Add the fact that I’ve been traveling internationally since I was about 4 years old, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.  Unfortunately once you grow up and start paying for travel yourself its not as easy to leave the country.

Yes, it’s possible to experience 30 different places in less than a year on a budget. That’s what my 30 before 30 list is all about.

Though I love traveling I’ve really only visited the same places multiple times including Trinidad, Bahamas, and Baltimore. And what’s worse is I rarely did anything new when I went to those places. It was always the same old thing.

Having realized I’ve seen so much of the world and barely experienced any of it, I’ve decided that I’d do my very own 30 before 30 list. From now until my 31st Birthday, July 2019, I’m challenging myself to visit 30 different cities and truly allow myself to experience them.

While it sounds crazy, recognize “cities” is the operative word there. When I’m on a mission to be debt free, it’s not exactly realistic to travel to 30 countries in a year. That’s why I’m doing this challenge my way. Who said travel, exploration and vacation can only be to far away destinations that require hours of air and drive time and overnight stays? It doesn’t have to be! My 30/30 list only requires that I visit 30 cities and truly experience them. How will I do that? To truly experience each city on my list I’ve decided I need to eat some where notable in the city, do an activity in the city, and take in some culture in the city. Culture can range from visiting a museum, to taking a guided tour or even strolling down Main street. It may not be the most glamorous, or exciting but I figure it will certainly be interesting as I truly experience cities in a way I never have before.

A few of the cities on my list include:

1. Princeton, NJ
2. Montclair, NJ
3. Atlantic City
4. Baltimore
5. Hamilton, NJ
6. Freehold, NJ
7. New York City
8. Philadelphia
9. New Hope, PA
10. Red Bank, NJ
11. Chicago
12. Asbury Park
13. Washington D.C.
14. Las Vegas
15. Pittsburgh
16. Ocean City
17. New Brunswick, NJ
18. Niagara Falls
19. Lambertville, NJ

To most people reading this list, it’s probably rather boring; especially since there’s so many Jersey towns on the list. But what can I say? I’m a Jersey girl on a budget, trying to experience as much as I can. And to be honest, I’ve actually been to most of the places on this list on multiple occasions. But like I said before, I didn’t really experience them. As much as I loved going to dinner at a friend’s house, it didn’t really allow me to see much of the city. And though these are all relatively small towns they all have a lot to offer. For example, Princeton is home to the university and   Albert Einstein tours while Asbury Park features the historical Stone Pony where Springstein got his start.

I’m still working on my full list of thirty places but I’m sure I’ll think of others soon enough. My list of fairly “local” places to visit allows me to stick to my budget goals so I can pay off debt faster, and allow me to fill my need to explore.

To those who of you who are approaching 30 rather rapidly, and still feel like you have yet to see the world, know that you still have time left. Even if thirty is only a few months or weeks away for you, there are still corners of your world that you can explore. I think people are so focused on traveling the entirety of the world that they forget that where they live is still part of it. And chances are they haven’t looked at where they live through a traveler’s eyes as yet. To that note, I suggest you do what I will. Think of the all the places you’ve been to before but never EXPERIENCED and challenge yourself to experience it. Take a walk in a nice park, take photos of the architecture and characteristics you never noticed before, and go to the quaint diner everyone is always talking about it.

Have you been to the places on my list and suggestion on something I should do? Are you not truly experiencing places you see often? Have you thought about making a 30 before 30 list.

TERRIfic Quip: Fill your life with adventures?

Repeat after Me: I am in control.

I think we can all agree that side hustle just might be the biggest buzz word  of 2017 and has spilled over into 2018. Everyone and their mama’s got one. Hell, even some babies have one. (I’m sure you’ve heard of baby modeling.) And if you do them right, side hustles can be amazing. They help you pay off debt, develop a new skill, follow dreams, meet new people, etcetera. Like most people I took a side hustle to help me pay off my debt faster.  However, my side hustle stories are interesting and not like most. One allowed me to find an additional career I wanted to pursue, the other made me lose focus and took too much time away from my career. While I still do both side hustles I found a way to make them work for me. If you don’t have a plan in place, your side hustle can end up working you rather than you working it. Regardless of your goal, make sure you set the terms of your side hustle early on. Here are a few things to  keep in when mastering rules for your side hustle

Thinking of starting a side hustle? Follow these rules before you’re in too deep.

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