Could I Be Any More Broke?

photo source: emmagem.com

This summer has been quite been quite a challenge financially. I made a huge accomplishment by purchasing my first used car in April (yayy me!) . However, it made a huge setback in the comfortability of my finances.Of course, I thought purchasing the car was all I had to get done. Haha, yeah right! After paying those inspection fees, temporary and permanent tags, car insurance, and minor car repairs, I was drained.

Here's the thing. I decided to pay for school this semester. So when I took the monthly school payments, plus all the car expenses, in addition to my cell phone bill and other personal expenses, I felt as if I was stuck in a corner.

This is when I had to put myself in check. I was so used to only one bill [cell phone] that once I started tackling more bills, I was clueless. I went into research mode for the past two months, trying to create a plan that would keep me on track and in control of my finances.

Budgeting: This is immensely important for us college students. Unfortunately, very little of us know how to. The fact that my school payment is only temporary [two more to go!], I drew out a financial plan until then. If your income arrives Bi-weekly like mine, then give this a try:

• The total amount of your monthly bills divided by 2 = the amount taken out the bi-weekly paycheck

For Example---> $500 [monthly bill amount] / 2 = $250

If you make $400 bi-weekly, then you subtract $250 from it. [$400-$250=$150]

• The remaining amount can be used for personal expenses [i.e. savings,gas, food, etc.]

Saving: One of the biggest challenges for us college students is the art of saving [ there will be a series of that later ;) ] . There are so many ways of saving the money that you make. However, being on this budget plan has helped me save in the easiest way:

• With the remaining amount of your paycheck, subtract 10% of it and place it in your savings account [if you have one].

For Example---> If you have $150 left over, subtract 0.10 = $15

...So that means $150-$15= $135!

Can you imagine that?! Just saving $15 every paycheck for 6 months can give you $180 dollars in your savings account. Of course the more money you make, the more you can save. Which is actually very exciting!

I know that my finances may not seem like a lot, compared to others. I still live at home. Therefore, I felt that it was necessary to learn the concepts of basic budgeting and saving. I am still learning [far from an expert] and this technique takes time as more and more responsibilities will come my way [loans, rent, etc.] in the future. What's important is that I am "prepping" myself for one reason; Being financially independent! <---Don't we all :)

-M.Kay<33

It's been a while. Oh, the joy of Growing!

Nope . That's Not me. Just thought this pic was funky.photo source: nihcy.org (courtesy of Google)

So, I took a hiatus from my blog for a few months for many reasons. Most of my reasons turned out to be excuses.

• Excuse #1: I didn't know what to blog about.
• Excuse#2:I didn't have the time to sit and think about what to blog about.
• Excuse#3: I didn't like what i was Blogging about anymore.
• Excuse#4: I am not getting any followers. I don't know what to blog about.

Wow. It sounds ridiculous now that I think about it. I've been reading the past posts from my blog only to discover a lot that was missing from it. As excited I was to start writing this blog, I lost sight of the things that were important. I guess the writer in me is starting to bloom.

I've been doing a lot of reading this summer. (there is going to be a long review coming up for that) about different topics such as Finance, Writing, and other drama-filled novels that really put me back on track. I've also have been reading other great blogs (check them out on your right) about self-improvement and goal reaching motivation. I've learned that I myself had made excuses over the past year. I've been too lets say, "comfortable" (or lazy) in doing what I love best; Write.

It is obvious that you can't be good at something your born to do without working harder to be great at it ( OMG! did I just create a quote?). In the beginning, this blog was the foundation for my passion for writing. However, I was too worried about the number of followers I had everyday (IF ANY), and how many people were interested in my blog. I didn't put persistence and consistency in order to make those things happen. Moreover, I didn't put enough of ME to begin with. Sure, there is book reviews and fashion to watch out for the new season, but was that REALLY what I was all about? Of course not. I was so caught up on my reader's participation and appreciation to be over the work that I did not put heart into (isn't that what writing is all about?).

With this epiphany, I've decided to put my self check to the test. And what did I do to fix my screw-up (not cry and ball up under my covers in bed..)? I initiated a new beginning. I decided to give this blog a brand new makeover. I changed the name a little bit, and decided to give this blog some purpose. Focusing on sharing life's great bits of self-discovery, personal control and growth, food, travel, health, hair, relationships, and of course clothing. so NO MORE making excuses, I've made reasons instead:

• Reason #1: I love to write.
• Reason#2: I aspire to inspire, so why not.
• Reason#3: I'm going through the same journey as everyone else: life. And I want to share it with you.
• Reason#4: Private Journals (the ones tucked under your pillow with a lock on it) are so played out :]

Just by changing my excuses into REASONS, I feel increasingly motivated to keep trying new things, reading more, learning more, kind of similar to life's journey; as opposed to altering them all into EXCUSES.

-M.Kay<33

My Latest Real Girl Creation lol :

So, I've been feeling very "crafty" during my spring break. I decided to head over to my local Michael's and make homemade flower hair clips. I always refused buying these at the stores because I knew I can D.I.M. [do it myself]. Any who, here are my results:

Materials: glue gun, scissors, felt paper, decorative flowers, and a little creativity :)

What do you think???

-M.Kay<3

Nails,Nails,Nails!!

I don't know about you all...but I've have seriously been on my nail game these past few months. I'm mean, I've been somewhat building a collection of nail polishes and all of the products to do the best manicure. How did this all come about? I guess from me NOT wanting to go to a nail salon every week to pay $12-15 dollars to do my nails...now I can D.I.M.(do it myself lol). I'll post more pics in another post...STAY TUNED!!!

-M.Kay

A Real Read!!

Oh my! This is a great book for all of you girls that are getting prepared for college and those that are currently in college. It was written by a University of Maryland alumni, Sheryl Walker. She graduated with high honors and was a member of numerous clubs and organization on campus. In addition, Walker also had numerous internships and now is an accountant working at a firm in New York.

This guide will provide the proper do's and dont's in college and also touches on subjects such as, relationships, how to survive financially in college, maintaining a high GPA, and in my opinion a very important subject, TIME MANAGEMENT. As a sophomore college student, I'm trying to get rid a horrible habit that is called procrastination. With this guide, Walker breakdown great overviews of how time should be used while in college. With this college guide, I promise you all will benefit from it.

*For more information go to http://www.theblackgirlsguide.com/

-M.Kay<3>

Have A REAL Heart<3:

As we all know, Haiti has went through a disastrous event a few days ago. The earthquakes in Haiti were at a 6-7.5 scale, which left Haitians with no FOOD,CLOTHING,CLEAN WATER, and more importantly, SHELTER. Now I was very sad about this tragedy, and being of West Indian background (My parents are Guyanese), I decided to do the right thing: I donated $10.00 to the American Red Cross for the Haiti Disaster Relief Fun which would provide these refugees with as much care as possible. With that said, I encourage all of you loves to donate at least $10.00 or whatever you can. Here are some websites and numbers to can reach.
*www.americanredcross.com
*TEXT 'Yele' to '501501' ($10 donation)
*TEXT 'Haiti' to '90999'

-Mkay<3

I Know I'm Late but....

<---- It's a new year, and I know we all make these resolutions that we never stick with...you know lose weight,eat right, get better grades in school, or the most common:EXERCISE. If these were any of your resolutions this year, the question is: How are you going stick to it? I think the best way to achieve your goals for the new year is to write a list of POSSIBLE things you can easily put effort into that can be achieved right now...kind of like short term goals.

As far as long term, or a resolution that might take all year to accomplish,like losing weight and adding fitness and healthy eating to your lifestyle. With a long term goal for the year, it will give you time to work on it and keep you motivated! As long as you separate the difference between your shorter goals and longer goals of the year...YOU will be better at achieving them:)

-M.Kay<3

Real Fun Read: L.A. Candy

<-----I just finished reading L.A. Candy and I surprisingly enjoyed it! If any of you are fans of The Hills (like me), then this will be a great guilty pleasure for you...just in written form. Now I don't want to give away to story, but it is ALOT similar to the author, "founding" star of the MTV reality show, Lauren Conrad. Now I could write a 10 paged essay how much respect and admiration I have for Lauren Conrad and how positive of a role model she is. L.A. Candy hit #1 on the NY Times Bestseller's list upon it's release date in summer '09. In addition, there is two more novels of the L.A. Candy series.

<-------Sweet Little Lies is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Also, the book will release in bookstores in February of this year. For me, it's like getting ready to watch a new season of The Hills. Be on the lookout for Conrad's new book. If you have not already go to your local bookstore or library and read the first one!

-M.Kay<3