Investor Mama

Connect with the Investor Mama Tribe

Samantha Barkley, founder of A Mom Around Town, is an engineer by day and a mom blogging, resource finding, motivation junkie by night.  A Mom Around Town helps moms navigate through pregnancy and parenting to find peace amongst the chaos of mom life.  Her own experiences with a newborn left her needing help finding breastfeeding support, sleep guidance, and someone to have coffee with on a Tuesday morning!  She created A Mom Around Town to help other moms find confidence in themselves and the best health, wellness, and parenting resources to help them get there.

She loves doing anything active outdoors, is completely not stylish, and always has a song stuck in her head.

The number one thing, which isn’t surprising, and is to prioritize. My recommendation is to create a key list of things that have to get done today. You should only have two to three things, and that’s it. I know some people would say, I can only get two or three things done, but if they’re the most important things that you have to get done, just focus on those things and get them fully done.

The other half of how that works is that you have to have a deadline. We keep on this perpetual treadmill to try to find the perfect or getting something done perfectly instead of getting it done to what is, the best that we can in the time that we need to do it.

When I start working on, something I literally set a timer and say, I have 45 minutes to get this done and then I’m done with it. When the timer goes off., I stop working, and I take a break. Giving yourself a deadline makes you laser-focused, to finish so you can move on.

I think is really critical to use work blocks when trying to get something done. For example, let’s say every Monday from 1-1:30, I schedule a time to get my 2-3 priority items done time. I would look at my calendar and just block that time for certain things.

Emails are a good example of a time suck. Often throughout the day, we disrupt whatever we’re doing because an email pops up and we respond to it. To stop looking at your emails so frequently, schedule time in your day to focus on them.

Taking a break may sound counterproductive, but the optimal work time or attention span that we have is 52 minutes or something kind of random like that’s just under an hour. When you set these blocks of times that you’re focused and working on something, set that alarm between 40- 50 minutes or 50-60-minute mark. When the alarm goes off, stop even if you’re not done, even if it’s something that’s going to actually take you four hours to get done, set those blocks, and then take a 10-15 minute break.

If you don’t have time to take a whole 10-minute break, still push back from your computer or stop whatever you’re doing, and actually take a deep breath, maybe close your eyes for a second, and breathe it out. That’s a micro-break and it’s just a little tiny thing to reset your mind. When you go back to work, you will be more focused and ready to go.

If you use your phone as a timer, it can be convenient but a phone can be a terrible distraction. Try to use an egg timer a watch or a Fitbit instead. If you have to use your phone, put it away from you, literally hide it.

Keep a post-it note or notebook near you while working. This way, if something pops in your head while you are focusing on something, write it down to get it out of your head and then go back to what your primary focus is.  You can come back to this new thought later and you won’t lose it, but don’t stop what you’re doing to go take care of that.

I actually spent a year on an Island called Trinidad and Tobago, right after college doing research. While I was there, we went on an alligator, excursion, and watched for alligators. That was one of my favorite things that I did while I was there.

My mom

I think being on the same page as whoever you’re with in life, whether it’s your spouse if it’s just you then rock it, maybe it’s your kids that you need to get on the same page with.

However, I think if you are going to really strive towards financial independence, getting debt free, building a business, or whatever it might be, you have to be on the same page as the people supporting you and around you. You have to be going towards those goals together. If you’re doing something and your spouse is counteracting, you’re not going to get there. Get aligned with whoever is with you in your journey towards your goals.

Facebook

Linked In

Instagram

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, by Tim Ferris

Learn how to make $1k-$2k a month on the side with the Facebook Side Hustle Course

Show Notes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Connect with the Investor Mama Tribe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Show Notes

Connect with the Investor Mama Tribe

Tiffany Thomas became lean financially free at age 38 by investing in herself, the stock market, and real estate. She inspires, educates, and mentors women to joyfully fast-track their financial freedom. She is an author, course creator, and YouTube personality.

1. What is one fun fact about you that not many people know?

I love tigers.  

2. Who inspires you the most and why?

The person that inspires me the most is one of my old bosses, one of my mentors, that invested in real estate. I just find him really inspiring because he started multiple businesses on his own. He’s so successful with real estate, but he really takes the time to mentor people and he definitely mentored me and took the time to answer my questions and it really helped, not only me, but I saw him help other people as well.

3. What book are you reading now or have read that you’ve loved and recommend?

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

4. What is one actionable tip or piece of advice that you can tell our moms out there to help them on their path to financial independence?

I would say just take it one step at a time, one day at a time. It’s really easy to get overwhelmed and I’m sure, especially when you have kids and a family that you’re taking care of, but if you can focus and think, okay, what’s one action I can take today to get me closer to financial independence?

To give an example, if there is a mom that’s interested in real estate, for one day, she could read a blog article about getting started in real estate investing just for 10 minutes. So really it’s about taking one step at a time because those really add up over the long haul.

Information on her one on one coaching session

Check out her book!

YouTube

Instagram

Linked In 

 The House Hacking Strategy: How to Use Your Home to Achieve Financial Freedom by Craig Curelop

Tiffany’s Course: Budgeting Bootcamp

Learn how to make $1k-$2k a month on the side with the Facebook Side Hustle Course

 Connect with the Investor Mama Tribe

Tiffany’s Bio

Tiffany Grant is a single millennial and money strategist. She has successfully juggled completing her MBA and studying for the Certified Financial Planner certification all while taking care of two young boys. She has been budgeting for years and, as a result, was able to buy her first house at the age of 26. Tiffany has also paid off over $50,000 in debt in a little over one year! She loves talking about money and encourages others to do the same. In December of 2017, Tiffany launched the Money Talk With Tiff blog with the sole purpose of helping other people increase their financial literacy and take control of their money. She is on a mission to be debt-free by 30 and wants to help others along the way.

Tiffany Grant has received a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Management, a Master of Business Administration, a Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional certification, and a Lean Six Sigma certification. She possesses a broad range of knowledge in many different industries and sectors.

Debt Pay Down Strategies 

1. Debt  Avalanche Method 

The avalanche method is when you look at what has, the highest interest rate and you pay that down first. Then you use the amount you were paying on that, and roll it over to the next one. So you go from from the largest interest rate to the smallest and then you just keep rolling it down.

2. Debt Snowball Method What is a 529 Plan?

The snowball method is when you take the lowest balance first, it doesn’t matter what the interest rate is, just the lowest balance, and  you pay that one off first.  Then you use the amount you were paying on that one and put it toward the into the next highest and the next highest, and so forth.

The snowball method is more psychological. When you start seeing those debts being paid off you’re like, oh my gosh, I got this, and it propels you to the next one, because with the avalanche method, what if your highest interest rate is the biggest amount as well? Then you’re going to feel like you’re paying forever and might get discouraged. So that’s why she did a combination of the two, just depending on what the debt was.

What is a 529 Plan?

A five to nine is an educational savings account, that you can open for anyone. It doesn’t only have to be for your kids. It can be for yourself, grandchildren,  be nieces, nephews. It doesn’t matter who you open it for, but you can use it for any education expense including tuition, room and board supplies, things like that. And also they made it so that you can use it for K through 12 education as well. You can open it in any state. You don’t have to open it with your state’s 529 if you don’t get any tax benefits for doing so. 

1. What is one fun fact about you that not that many people know?

Tiffany is a gamer and loves guns.

2. Who inspires you the most and why? 

Her two boys

3. What books are you reading now or have read and loved that you’d recommend?

I will Teach You To be Rich by Ramit Sethi

4. What is one actionable tip or piece of advice that you can tell our mom’s out there to the help them on their financial independence journey?

Just start. It doesn’t matter where you are just get going.  Especially as moms, we get into this analysis paralysis, like we have to make sure we get everything right. When it comes to raising our kids, when it comes to tackling our finances, or when it comes to being a good spouse or partner or girlfriend, whatever you are. We feel like we have to get it right all the time. And the thing is, if you just start, if you just do it, and then learn as you go, you’ll make more progress than if you were to just analyze everything and wait. And then get started. So that’s the philosophy I live on.

Connect with Tiffany

Facebook

Money Talk with Tiff

Money Talk with Tiff Podcast

Tiffany’s Episode on ways your student loans can be discharged or forgiven.

Learn how to make $1k-$2k a month on the side with the Facebook Side Hustle Course

Show Notes

On this week’s episode, I interview Aminta Demadura. Aminta is a mom and blogger of She’s Got Cents. It is a personal finance blog for women. You can check it out here.

Aminta’s money story began after college around 2008 where she and her husband started off with $16k in debt. They eliminated it by living with roommates, owning a pet grooming business, and flipping items such as Lego collections.

• Stop trying to do it all yourself.

Aminta did that for a long time and it lead to burnout. For moms out there who are trying to work and raise their kids, just try to get as much help as you can and that can be hired help. So, for example, one thing she did when her son turned two is she put him in preschool. You can also send your kids to some form of programs, hire a mother’s helper to come watch the kids while you’re working, or, hire a nanny if you can afford it.

• Put your phone out of site where you can access it. This will help you be present on your family when it’s family time.

• Aminta is teaching her two year old about hard work as a foundation before bringing the topic of money into the equation. Hard work is rewarding and makes us happy in the long run. Her son picks up laundry around the house, “helps” make dinner.

• Gamify things with your kids to make it fun.

• One of the best things you can do to start your money journey is to take control of your finances.

Facebook

You Need a Budget (YNAB)

Learn how to make $1k-$2k a month on the side with the Facebook Side Hustle Course

 Show Notes

On this week’s episode, I interview Aminta Demadura. Aminta is a mom and blogger of She’s Got Cents. It is a personal finance blog for women. Definitely check it out!

Aminta’s money story began after college around 2008 where she and her husband started off with $16k in debt. They eliminated it by living with roommates, owning a pet grooming business, and flipping items such as Lego collections.

Aminta uses make up dupes which is when you are able to replace an expensive high-end brands by using cheaper products with the same ingredients.

For example, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer usually costs around $36. Anti chafing gel have almost the exact same ingredients except for fancy seed oils and a few other minor ones. You can get it for only $6 instead of $36.

Another example is using sensitive fragrance free baby wipes instead of makeup wipes. Makeup wipes can cost $9- $12 a package and you get maybe a hundred wipes. You can pick up 500 baby wipes for about the same price.

Aminta uses Ordinary, a very affordable skin care product that works as well as the more expensive name brands. They range in the $5-$12 range with ingredients that are high quality with very pure ingredients.

Aminta uses beauty schools’ beauty services from their students. It’s much more cost effective than going to a salon. She’s gotten mani’s for around $7 her hair glazed for 10 or 11 bucks. Just google beauty schools near you and many of them list their services online.

Groupon also offers great deals once in a while.

Aminta uses the capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a wardrobe where all of your top sand bottoms go together. People typically do this is by picking a color palette that they stick to. Aminta is pretty fair so her color palette is black, cream and blush.

She tries to buy almost all of her clothes in these colors and so that her tops always go with my bottoms. This allows her to pair any set of pants, jeans, or skirt with any top in her closet and any coat on the outside. Buying a lot of solids, may seem a little bit boring and lame but it works really well.

If you want to look, cute and really put together when you go out, your best bet is to buy solids in colors that go together and then dress up your and add accessories such as bracelets, necklaces, scarves, a cute hat, or a nice bag. This can go along way allowing you to save time, look good, and save money.

She buys all of her accessories at thrift shops and consignment stores. She also buys dresses or outfits that she knows she will only wear a few times a season such as a holiday outfit or birthday dress. If you don’t have access to a thrift store or consignment shop you can try ThredUp, an online thrift store. She has rule that she only buys things she absolutely loves in these types of stores since it’s easy to buy much more than you need when items are only $5-$10.

Aminta spends a little bit more to buy higher quality staple items in her wardrobe. She’s found it’s saved her more money in the long run.

Aminta is using Mint Mobile to save on her cell phone bill. She’s paying only $20 a month per phone for 8 gigs of data per phone.

1. What is one fun fact about you that not that many people know?

Aminta is an aspiring homesteader.

2. Who inspires you the most and why?

Monty Don, British gardener

3. What books are you reading now or have read and loved that you’d recommend?

You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero

4. What is one actionable tip or piece of advice that you can tell our mom’s out there to the help them on their financial independence journey?

If you want to reach financial independence fast, build a business. It’s not for everyone, but if you are have that type of personality, then go for it. Investing will get you there too, but it will take you longer.

Facebook

She’s Got Cents

Additional Resources

Mr. Money Mustache

Frugalwoods: Tips for saving on your cell phone plan

You Need a Budget (YNAB)

Show Partner

Learn how to make $1k-$2k a month on the side with the Facebook Side Hustle Course

Show Notes

Ali Kafie is a financial advisor who helps empower home managers to manage their finances and manage their homes to achieve financial independence and the peace of mind they deserve.

Ali is a Bachelor of Science and Letters from Sampedrana International School and has a Bachelor of Finance, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Born on March 17, 1980 in Honduras, Ali is married, has four children, and after her family, her passion is to be able to create an impact on the lives of the people she helps.

Ali is part of the Vital Voices Program and currently offers one-on-one basic support sessions for managing your personal finances, business workshops, and conferences. To date I have worked with Women Entrepreneurs, companies such as Lacthosa, Banco Ficohsa, Terra Group, Chamer Industries, Flores Corporation, AHIBA, Dinant, Lotto, and others.

1. Put together a grocery budget before you leave the house

2. Create a menu for the week and write down your grocery items on a list.

You want to have list because so that you don’t buy things that you really don’t need, and that could increase your grocery budget.

2. Don’t eat out as much to cut costs and to be healthier.

3. Meal prep for the week so that you have leftovers.

Some meal ideas include pancakes, baleada (it’s similar to a tortilla and you put beans, avocado, eggs, and cheese.), cereal, and milk for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, you can do chicken and rice, spaghetti and meatballs, sauteed veggies with a protein, grape leaves, and grilled chicken, fish, or meat.

4. Buy in bulk to save

Other Money Saving Tips 

1. Use a budget to curb your spending

2. Pay yourself first and automate it

3. Track your expenses.  There are apps to help you with this such as Mint and Wally

4.  Teach these tips to your kids to pass it on.

Learn how to make $1k-$2k a month on the side with the Facebook Side Hustle Course

www.alikafie.com

Facebook

Instagram

www.mint.com

https://www.wally.me/

In today’s episode, I dive into the 4 reasons why someone wouldn’t be able to reach financial independence and how we can overcome them together as a community. The reasons are

Show Notes

Welcome to the Investor Mama Podcast, money conversations with a mom’s touch. I’m your host Jen Narciso and I cannot wait to connect with you! My goal is to educate, motivate, and inspire you on your own money journey. I will do this by providing valuable and engaging content each week through my amazing guests. In this episode, I give you a little bit of background on myself and go into the 5 pillars or the foundation of Investor Mama. This way you can get to know me a little bit better and provide a framework for the show.

1. Anyone can get out of debt

I truly believe that anyone can get out of debt. What’s in the past, in the past, and you can change your financial future. If you are in debt or you feel overwhelmed or burdened by money, I do believe that it does not predict what your future wealth will be. You can still create a wonderful money story for yourself.

I believe you need to spend less than you bring in. If not, then you have to figure out a way to cut your expenses or make more money.

If you are living paycheck to paycheck or worse, you’re living on credit cards or you’re spending even more than you earn, that’s not going to help you reach your money goals. We need to figure out a way to change it and there are really only two ways to do it.

You can either decrease your expenses, but that will only take you so far. Or, you can earn more and there are lots of ways to do that through side hustles, businesses, real estate investing, investing in index funds, and so forth.

I really, really believe, especially as moms that we have to get our financial house in order so that we can be an example for the next generation.

There are little eyes watching us, whether they’re our own children’s or somebody else’s. If we’re in debt and view money with a scarcity mindset, they’re going to grow up and have those same negative thoughts about money. I rather our children have an abundance mentality on wealth creation and being able to achieve their dreams, I want them to have big goals, go after whatever they want in life and actually achieve it. I believe they can do that too, but need to see me have my financial house in order first.  Actions speak louder than words.

I believe that you deserve wealth and abundance to create the life you want. You deserve to have time freedom and financial freedom. The issue is whether or not you believe that or not.

If you do not believe you deserve it, that’s something we’re going to have to change in your mindset and your attitude. However, I truly believe that you deserve wealth and can and actually go out and create it for yourself. You just need the right tools in your tool belt on how to get there and be educated properly, 

Money isn’t taught in schools and if you don’t talk about it in your homes and your parents didn’t raise you to learn about money and how money works, why be so hard on yourself? It’s not your fault. And so we’re going to change all that.

Number five is very important to me. The Investor Mama Podcast is geared towards moms, but I want to be very clear on how I  how I define a mom. I believe that you’re a mom if you have kids, if you’re struggling to have kids, if you have an angel baby or multiple angel babies, if you have babies that are not your own, or choose not to have kids, but maybe you are perceived as a mom to somebody else. If you fit into any of these categories, I believe you’re a mom and you deserve to have financial freedom, financial independence, and to have more time, more money, do all the things that you love and enjoy.

Thank you for tuning in! Please subscribe, leave a review, and sign up for my weekly email! Every week you will receive easy to read and entertaining content that you will actually want to open.