But I digress! I think that the one thing that has helped Nci and I in our financial goals is being able to be open and honest about our individual financial situations and talking about it a lot. So in today’s post, I wanted to dive in and share some tips on how to discuss finances with your partner. 

Start off slow and generally

Money is such a taboo and touchy topic even for family members, friends, coworkers, etc. So when you’re starting to bring it up in the relationship, you’re going to want to start off slow and in general. One way to start bringing up the topic of money is on dates. Do you feel like your partner is spending lots of money on dates and activities? Bring it up and see what they say. It’s a great way to open up about it and find a solution that works for both of you such as splitting the costs or cooking more at home.

Be honest

From the very beginning, there should be honesty and a “no judgement zone” when it comes to talking about finances together. You can decide together how much you want to share or not to share, but whatever you do share be honest about it. Do you have 50k in student loan debts or filed for bankruptcy before? Those are all things that are important to discuss with your partner when you are ready to share.

Plan your financial goals

I don’t know if it is just Nci and I, but we love making financial goals and being able to actually reach those goals. It’s something so exciting hitting your lofty money goals that you placed in front of yourself even if you don’t get to share it with others. During our regular money meetings, we like to plan and discuss our financial goals, how much do we want to save for each of those goals, and a rough timeline of what we’re hoping for.

Here are some great financial goals to get you inspired:

• 3-6 months worth of expenses for an emergency fund
• Pay off credit cards
• Pay off student loan debt
• Save for a vacation
• Pay off a car loan

Set a money meeting regularly

Once you’ve gotten comfortable with discussing finances with your significant other, set regular money meetings to be able to discuss your current financial state and make sure nothing needs to be adjusted. Sometimes things happen (such as emergencies, vacations that went over budget or any other unexpected expenses), and you may need to recalibrate to reach your joint financial goals. The more that you talk about money with each other, the less awkward the conversations tend to be overtime.

Make it a mission to keep up with credit scores

I’ve talked about credit scores before on the blog (one on how to build your credit and another on how to manage it), but you should be monitoring your credit score regularly. There are a ton of free credit services out there, but the one that I like to use is CreditKarma. They even have an app or you can sign up for email notifications to get alerted anytime there is an inquiry into report or any changes to it.

Talk about your saving/shopping styles

Everyone has a different saving and shopping styles, which is why it’s important to know what style you and your partner fall into. Some people are naturally penny pinchers and tend to save most of their income while others enjoy splurging and enjoying the fruits of their labor. While neither one is better or worse than the other, there does need to be a balance to reach financial freedom and overall wealth.

Personally, I tend to save a decent bit, but I also like to spend in smaller increments constantly. For an example, I’ll go to Target and buy something for $20, then go to Marshalls and do something similar, and so on. I don’t normally spend over $100 in on go unless it’s something for Ava, my health, or the cars that we own. While Nci will save, save, save and then drop a large amount when he needs to. We are very similar but also different which works for us.

Budget or no budget?

I think that a budget can be a good thing for a relationship if you’re serious about taking control of your finances, which in turn is good for your relationship. A budget basically allows you to see where your money is going every month and how you can adjust it to reach your goals. In theory, you will have enough money to pay your bills, save money, and have some left over to enjoy and spend. When it comes to budgeting, you can definitely have two separate budgets in your relationship if you prefer. Titi and I don’t have a budget (mainly because we’re lazy), but we have noticed that we naturally do a 50/30/20 set up if you were wondering.

Be willing to adjust when bumps come up

One lesson that I most definitely learned in 2020 is that life is unpredictable, and you have to learn to go with the flow. The same goes for your financial goals and your financial relationship with your partner. When things come up, be willing to adjust when they come up and keep pushing. For any large emergencies such as a trip to the ER or an unexpected car repair, I would recommend having an emergency fund that you can pull from. This way you won’t have to put the balance on a loan or credit card. It will also elevate some of that stress as well.

Those are my tips on how to have the money talk with your significant other. I know that sometimes it can be awkward and hard to talk about money in the beginning, but I promise it gets so much easier over time. Because at the end of the day, you and your significant partner are a team. In the comments below, share what is one financial advice that you’ve gotten that has changed the game for you?

The post How to Talk About The “M” Word With Your Partner appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

I can vividly remember being in my first year of pharmacy school and realizing that I literally had no credit score or history. I didn’t have a credit card at the time, no car payments, no student loans- nada! My friends at the time were mentioning to me about their credit cards and balances that I figured I should be more proactive with building up my credit. So I did what any college student would do, I went home that night and applied to the first student credit card that looked promising, which I was very quickly denied for. Thankfully after that incident, my mom sat down with me and went over the basics of what credit is, how to use it properly, and all the nitty-gritty details that are super important to know. 

Now I’m four years in and I’m proud to say that I’m almost at the 800+ club (I’m so close it hurts!). Most college students aren’t privileged enough to learn about credit before they enter college or graduate, which can lead to large debts and unpaid balances throughout the years. Today I am working with Lexington Law Firm to share some tips on how to manage your credit in college and after graduation as well as what you can do if you need your credit repaired.  

So What is Credit?

Credit is a numerical score that defines how likely you are to repay back your debts and how good you are at managing your responsibilities. Having a good or bad credit score will ultimately decide whether a bank or lender will give you a loan and what interest rate you will pay for that loan. Your credit score will range from 300-850 and is based on your credit history.

Why You Should Care About Your Credit Score

Unless you’re rich or have buckets of cashing laying around, you will eventually either now or in the future want to make a big purchase that you won’t be paying for immediately. If you ever plan on buying a big-ticket item or applying for any kind of loan, then you’re going to need a good credit score! Our financial market is driven by credit, which is why it’s so important to start building and managing your finances now in college. 

My Credit Goals

One of my biggest financial goals this year/next year is to pay off my student loans in full. I was lucky enough to only have about 35k in student loan debt for 6 years of college, which is definitely more manageable than what some of my fellow classmates are coming out with. I’m hoping that as soon I land my first job, I can create an emergency fund, go on a vacation, and get right to work on paying off my student loans. I know for a fact that I will be putting more than the minimum balance so that I can pay off my debt as soon as possible and be free from Sallie Mae. 

Tips on Managing Your Credit 

When I got my first credit card, I had no idea what I was doing (besides what my mom had previously told me about). I only knew that I shouldn’t make a late payment and that it takes time for your credit score to grow. So as you start managing your credit, don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than what you think it should take. Good credit takes time.

Tip #1: Pay your balance on time every month

One of the easiest ways to increase your credit score is to make all of your payments on time. A late payment or derogatory mark from a lender may seem harmless (especially if it’s only once or twice), but those marks can have long term effects on your credit score and even stay on your report for up to 7 years! If you have a terrible memory like me, set your accounts on auto-payment so that you never miss a payment or write the date into your planner.

Tip #2: Fix any errors on your credit report right away

Just like everything else in this world, errors and mistakes can be reported and ultimately affect your credit score. With Lexington Law, they believe that everyone has the right to a fair, accurate credit report and are willing to help you fix errors that may be reported on your report. I didn’t even know this was a thing until I started looking into Lexington Law Firm’s services. Some errors that may be reported are closed accounts that are reported as open, having old debts you’ve already paid off listed, and so much more. 

Tip #3: Spend wisely 

If you’re looking to build up your credit, then make sure to only utilize your credit cards for small or regular purchases that you can easily pay off. One of the easiest ways that people get themselves into trouble is by racking up a ton of credit card debt and not being able to pay it off right away. Treat your credit card like a debit card so that way you don’t overspend on your credit card. 

How Lexington Law Firm Can Help You Reach Your Credit Goals 

If you’re in a situation where your credit has taken a major hit, you should definitely reach out to Lexington Law Firm and allow them to see where they can help you repair your credit. I love Lexington Law Firm because they are not only the oldest and most respected name in the credit repair business, but they also have a long-standing relationship with the three major credit bureaus: EquiFax, TransUnion, and Experian. Each of the bureaus calculate your credit score differently, which is why it’s so important your credit repair company is familiar with each of the bureaus.

Another reason why I love Lexington Law Firm (and highly recommend them) is because the professionals that work there will work with you and go through your credit report with a fine-tooth comb. They will find different solutions to repair your credit and do most of the heavy lifting for you, such as contacting financial institutions and challenging errors on your behalf.. And if you’re like me, a woman on the go, they also have an easy-to-use app that allows you to quickly monitor and work on your credit from anywhere in the world. 

 Anything financial-related can be super stressful especially in your twenties. Don’t stress about it, but definitely take the time to become more educated and take any problem head on! If you’re interested in using Lexington Law Firm but you’re worried about the cost, they do offer different packages that can meet your needs now and in the future. 

The post How to Manage Your Credit in College and After Graduation appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

If you’re not a fellow blogger, then these might come off as quite strange. But let me explain why I want to start doing these reports for you all.      

1. Growth Tracking- These reports will allow me to see my growth in traffic and income over time. Most other bloggers only start posting these reports once they start making money, but everyone has to start from the bottom before they reach the top.  I hope that these reports help inspire other bloggers that you can eventually make money through blogging
2. Transparency- There are a ton of ways to make money through blogging, some that are honest and some that aren’t. I want to be totally honest in how I make money, where I get the money from, and that this blog is legit. No funny business here, I promise!

What I Did This Month

With concern to blog posts, I was able to write 8 posts for the month of August. This month I not only focused on making great content and connecting with other bloggers, but I also focused on setting up sponsored posts and creating my first media kit to send to companies. While I can’t go into too much details on the campaigns yet, you will be seeing them very soon here on the blog including a few giveaways!

This month, I also helped my apartment with move-in and went back to school at the end of August. While I won’t be able to post as often as I have been, you will be seeing a new post every Monday and surprise posts when I am able to have some free time to write for you all. But bear with me until I get into the groove of things with school being back in session.

I have also gotten better at my social media platforms, with the help of automating posts and social media reminders. If you want to follow me, then you totally can by clicking on the links underneath my profile picture in the sidebar.

August Social Media Report

This month, my social media standing and engagement has definitely grown, without me doing much work. Thankfully for the automation apps that help bloggers, like me, who are super busy stay on tasks when it comes to social media goals. I have also connect with some great fellow bloggers who have really shown me the ropes and have helped me learn more in-depth details of blogging.

Here is my social media growth for the month of August:

Instagram: 946 –> 1075        Goal for Next Month: 1,300

Facebook: 198 –>  254          Goal for Next Month: 300

Pinterest: 274 –> 361            Goal for Next Month: 400

Twitter: 119 –> 265              Goal for Next Month: 300

August Traffic & Income Report

This is my third month of officially blogging here on Uniquely Mickie so the fact that I am making a small income and getting quite a few Pageviews is incredible! Here are my stats for the month of August. My Pageviews definitely had a slight drop this month compared to last month, but we will definitely work on that during this next month. The goal for next month is to get 5,000 or 6,000 Pageviews!

Traffic:

Here is the screenshot of August’s traffic report, straight from Google Analytics.

Income:

• Sales from my E-book: $20
• Qapital (From this post here): $5
• Value Amount of Free Products for Sponsored Posts: $400
• Google Adsense: $11.35

Total: $36.35 plus $400 worth of free items for future blog posts

August’s Most Popular Posts

• The Ultimate List of Discounts for College Students                                                             Pageviews: 534
• The Hidden Secrets of Selling on Poshmark                                                                          Pageviews: 411
• How I Saved $2,000 in My 20s: College Edition                                                                   Pageviews: 379
• How to Have a Successful First Move-in Day: A Survivor’s Guide                                      Pageviews: 342
• 15 Savvy Ways to Save Money in College Without Cutting the College Experience           Pageviews: 171

What to Start Your Own Blog?

If you answered “yes”, then you totally should! It’s really not that hard to do, and it’s totally changed my life for the better. Let blogging do the same for you. I created an entire guide on my blog where I teach you step-by-step on how you can start your own blog, in less than 30 minutes! I promise it’s really simply, you just have to take that leap of faith to go for it! Click here to learn how.

You may also enjoy: July 2017 Income & Traffic Report and May/June 2017 Income & Traffic Report

The post August 2017 Traffic & Income Report appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Then I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw a sponsored post for Qapital. I was hesitant at first at trusting an app to help me save money, but it has totally changed the saving game for me!

What is Qapital

Qapital is an app that is an actual bank that is federally insured, so your money is safe with them! In the app, it allows you to set goals and specific rules that help you save money without you even knowing it.

Why I love Qapital and Why You Will Too!

The main reason of why I love Qapital is how simple and easy to use it is. Literally anyone can use it and understand how it works. When I first started using the app, I only used one rule per goal. But if you really want to save money quickly, then you’ll actually need to set up two to three rules per goal. My personal favorites are automatic, round up, and the apple health rule. Girl needs to get her steps in for the day!

Okay, so here are some more reasons of why I love Qapital and why I know you will too:

• Easy to set up your goals and rules
• Overdraft protection: your bank account will never go lower than $100
• Automatic withdrawals for your goals
• The encouragement: the app will send you cute pop ups announcing that you reached 10%, 25% or 50% of your goal.

How It Works

Step 1: Download the app and sign up with Qapital

The app can be found in the Apple or Android store and the logo is mainly white with a tri-color color. They also have a website if you want to access your account on your computer. Click the link here to sign up, on your computer or on your phone! If you use my link to sign up for Qapital, you’ll receive a free $5 deposit to your bank account once you complete your first deposit on the app.

Step 2: Connect your banking information

Once signing up for the app, you’ll be asked to plug in your banking information. Have your bank name, account number, and your routing number ready to enter into the app.

Step 3: Create a goal

Now you’re ready to start saving! Go ahead and think of some things or items that you want to save up for. Maybe you want to save up for a new pair of shoes, or go on a vacation, or just start saving. You can then create a goal! Qapital will ask that you set a cover photo, name the goal, set the amount of money you need to save, select the rules you want to add to the goal, and who are the savers for the goal. If you want to save with a friend for a spring break trip, you can totally can with the app and see how much each person has saved for the goal.

Step 4: Set up the rules for the goal

The biggest part of Qapital is the rules that you can set for each goal. These rules will dedicated how much you save and when you save. You always have the option to change or deactivate a rule for a goal, but the more rules, the more money you’ll save without knowing it.

Here are some examples of the rules that you can choose from:

• Weather: Save money every time a meteor flies by earth or if it starts raining in your local area.
• Automatic: Set up a schedule that the app will follow, such as save $10 a week, $50 a month, or save $1 every day.
• Round up: This rules rounds up each transaction that you make and rounds up to a dollar amount that you decide. I use this rule to round up every purchase to $2 and I save the change.
• 52 Week rule: Each week that’s the amount of money that the app will take out. For an example, week 1 the app will take $1, week 2 $2, and week 3 $3, etc and etc.
• Apple Health: Get rewarded every time you reach a health goal, such as reaching a step goal of 10,000 steps or walking a few miles a day.
• Guilty Pleasure: Every time you purchase at a location that you are trying to avoid, the app will take out a set amount. Don’t want to spend any money at Target or McDonald’s, then this is the rule that’ll work for you.
• Spend less: You get to set a budget and if you come under the budget, then you’ll save the difference.

Step 5: Let the savings roll in!

Once you’ve set your goal and activated the rules, you’re all set to start saving! Now you can go ahead and add more goals if you would like or you can just leave it at one goal at a time. It’s totally up to you!

My Money Saving Plan & What Worked for Me

I’ve been using Qapital now for about a year or so, and I’ve learned a lot about my spending habits as well as what savings plan worked best for me. By learning your habits, you’ll learn what rule and goal will work best for you on the app. For me, I do better when my money is automatically saved and when I have multiple goals going on at one time.

How I was able to maximize the use of Qapital:

• Setting multiple rules for each goal
• Aggressively wanting to save money
• Not touching the money until I had saved the entire amount
• Have multiple sources of income coming in: Learn how I made money from these two apps, Poshmark and Rover.

This is not only for college students; the app truly can help anyone save money without even batting an eye. If you sign up for Qapital using the link, please leave a comment below if you love it as much as I do. I honestly think you will, but I would love to hear your success stories.

The post How I Saved $2,000 in My 20s: College Edition appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.