Own Your Money

Contents Introduction  The Hardest Years of My Life Were the Best Thing That Happened to Me  Lesson #1: Once the Bills Start, They Never Stop  Lesson #2: If You’re Serious About Saving, You Must Prioritize and Make Sacrifices  Lesson #3: Your Life is a Result of Your Choices  Lesson #4: You Can Find Happiness Working a 9 to 5 Job  Chapter 1: Get Organized, Get Started Pull the Blinds Back: What is Your Financial Situation Right Now?  Your Financial Snapshot  Phase 1: Laying the Groundwork  Phase 2: Assess Your Cash Flow Phase 3: Your Monthly Output Phase 4: The Details  Financial Framework for Success Net Worth: The Most Important Measure of Your Finances  What is Net Worth? Ways to Increase Your Net Worth  The Bottom Line  Chapter 2: Budget Is Not a Bad Word  Budget Myth-busting  Building a Foolproof Budget  Step 1: Zero-based Budgeting Step 2: The Three-bucket Budget Step 3: 50/30/20 Budgeting  Budgeting Tools  Budgeting Spreadsheets  Budgeting Apps  Chapter 3: How to Set and Reach Your Financial Goals Setting Financial Goals the Right Way  SMART Goal-setting Method  Specific Goals Measurable Goals Achievable Goals Relevant Goals Timely Goals  Incorporate Your Goals into Your Plan Prioritize Your Goals Order of Operations  Saving Beyond the Order of Operations  Financial Goals Examples  Chapter 4: Spend Your Money on Things That Matter  Stop Spending Money on Sh*t You Don’t Care About 1. Overspending 2. Treating Your Credit Card Like Free Money 3. Emotional Shopping 4. Lifestyle Inflation 5. Avoidance The Benefits of Conscious Spending 1. You Don’t Have to Focus on Spending Less Money  2. You Can Buy Things You Actually Want  3. You Will Have Money to Fund Your Goals  4. You Will Feel More Financially Confident  Chapter 5: Investing? Never Heard of Her Saving Isn’t Enough  Compound Interest: The Eighth Wonder of the World Set Yourself Up to Invest  Layer 1: Employer 401(k) + Match  Layer 2: Individual Retirement Account (IRA)  Layer 3: Taxable Investment Account  Optimize Your Strategy with Automation  Investment Types Stocks: An Individual Flower Mutual Fund: A Fancy Floral Arrangement ETF (Exchange Traded Fund): A Bouquet  Bonds: A Gift Card to the Flower Shop Do You Need a Financial Advisor? Chapter 6: Success is Hidden in Your Routines  So You Want to Change Your Life? Whip Your Assets Into Shape Financial Routines Weekly Money Review  Payday Routine  Monthly Money Review Signature Money Management System Money Mapping Money Flow  Accountability Plan  Financial Self-care  Chapter 7: Career Conundrum Your Dream Job Doesn’t Exist What is Your Definition of Success?  Task-tracking at Work Track Your Daily and Weekly Responsibilities and the Value-add for Each Implement Monthly Career Reflections  Identify and Evaluate Your Accomplishments on a Set Cadence  Learning vs. Earning  Navigating Career Pivots Phase 1: Determine What You’re Looking For  Phase 2: Change With Confidence  Chapter 8: Increase Your Earning Potential  Asking for a Raise or Promotion  Preparation for a Promotion Timing is Everything: Performance Conversations  But Wait! What Not to Do  Changing Jobs  Side Hustles Find Your Side Hustle Balancing a Side Hustle with a 9 to 5 Job  Closing Thoughts Live Life Outside the Spreadsheet  Don’t Be Afraid to Spend Money to Make Money  Say Yes to Life (Thanks to a Financial Plan)  What is Financial Success to You? Resources Acknowledgments Index About the Author