Journey To Launch

Now that Christmas is officially over, how did you do? Did you go over budget or stay within budget or are you afraid to even check? In this week's podcast episode, I'm talking about how to start preparing yourself for next year's holiday season right now and then I dive into how to identify which of the four common money problem(s) you have and how to fix them.

Next week on January 4th at 9pm EST, I'm holding a free LIVE MasterClass/Webinar called:

How To Have Your Best Financial Year Yet- Tips To Save, Pay Off Debt & Invest In 2018

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

Reserve Your Seat at The Free MasterClass: How To Have Your Best Financial Year Yet

Blog Post: What's Your Money Problem

Final 2017 Year-End Saving & Investing Update of $84,100

Grab your seat at the Budget Boot Camp

Sign up for the 2018 Q1 Launch To Financial Freedom Mastermind Waitlist and get special early bird pricing.

Leave me a voicemail- Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!

Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12

My One on One Money Coaching Services - Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

It's the perfect time look back and reflect on your finances and do a year-end review.

In today's podcast, I'm discussing the 4 things you should set goals around in 2018, which are:

• Income
• Expenses
• Saving/Investing
• Habits

I'm also giving an update on where we ended up with our 2017 Savings/Investing goals. In my 2017 Mid-Year update, back in May we had saved and invested about $53,200. By the end of the year, we ended up saving/investing $84,100 talked about which is about $9,000 less than the $93,100 goal we set for the year.

I also hint at some of the major financial changes we are making next year and give more details about the Q1 2018 Journey To Financial Freedom Mastermind.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

Four Ways To Set Yourself Up For Financial Success

2017 Year-End Saving & Investing Update

Grab your seat at the Budget Boot Camp

Sign up for the 2018 Q1 Launch To Financial Freedom Mastermind Waitlist and get special early bird pricing.

Leave me a voicemail- Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!

Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12

My One on One Money Coaching Services - Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Millennials are often mischaracterized as being lazy and wanting things handed to them. I can't tell you how far from the truth that is, especially when it comes to Gwen & J from the FIRE Drill Podcast who came on the podcast today to talk about pursuing FI and the different aspects of paying off debt and being financially stable. Both bloggers have their own informative and successful blogs that share their specific paths to FI and are set on inspiring others to do the same.

I'm also super impressed by what they've been able to accomplish so far at such young ages. Gwen has saved $100k by age 25 and purchased her first rental property, a triplex, earlier this year. J has paid off nearly $100k of debt in two years and has saved over $200k towards retirement by age 28.

On the episode today, we explore the importance of savings and increasing your income. J explains how essential it is to have an emergency fund after what happened to her while she was paying off debt, and Gwen talks about why she has FU money. It was also interesting to hear their takes on real estate and how to get started with house hacking. This is a great episode on the importance of working towards FI and achieving financial goals.

I also announce the Budget Boot Camp Class & open the waitlist for the Q1 2018 Journey To Financial Freedom Mastermind.

Now here are the main topics we talk about in the episode:

• The FIRE Drill podcast
  • What the podcast is about
  • Their specific interests in finance
  • How FI allows a life of options
  • An interesting way to pursue FI
  • How their opinions have evolved since the beginning of the podcast

• J and Gwen's journey
  • How Gwen found FIRE in college
  • Why Gwen plans on quitting her job and be her own boss
  • The sacrifices involved
  • How J got inspired to pay off all her student debt
  • J's methods to pay off debt
  • Career hacking

• Reaching FI
  • How savings give you freedom and options
  • What is FU money
  • The importance of having an emergency fund
  • Getting started with real estate
  • 2 methods to achieve FI: savings and monthly cash flows
  • The irony once you achieve FI
  • Having a back up plan

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

Grab your seat at the Budget Boot Camp

Sign up for the 2018 Q1 Launch To Financial Freedom Mastermind Waitlist

Paula Pant: Afford Anything

Mad Fientist: HSA - The Ultimate Retirement Account

Bigger Pockets

Leave me a voicemail- Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!

Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12

My One on One Money Coaching Services - Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals

Connect with Gwen & J:

• Gwen's blog: Fiery Millennials
• Jay's blog: Millennial Boss
• Listen to the FIRE Drill Podcast

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Bola Sokunbi of Clever Girl Finance is on today's podcast sharing how investing in herself and starting her own business led her to the path of Financial Freedom. Bola is a Certified Financial Education Instructor, an expert on everything money and founder/CEO of Clever Girl Finance, a website, and business to help women manage their finances to talk about just that.

The talk I had with Bola was very inspiring, especially since I'd one day like to turn Journey To Launch into my full-time business. In this episode, we talked about the mindset involved when starting a business, the money management strategies and the sacrifices one has to be willing to take. We also discuss Bola's own financial journey and why she is so dedicated to helping women take control of their finances. This is a very informative episode for anyone thinking of starting up a business and who needs a bit of advice on budgeting, debt and overall money management.

Here are the main topics we talk about in the episode:

• Introduction to Clever Girl Finance
  • Why Bola focuses on financial wellness for women
  • How she helps women get to the point where they feel financially successful
• Bola's story with money
  • The great influence her parents had on her with money
  • How moving to America affected her financial habits
  • How she decided to do something that mattered and started a business
• The beginnings of Clever Girl Finance
  • The sacrifices she had to make to start her own business
  • How making a plan helped her manage her business well
  • The importance of taking your business seriously
  • The change of mindset that comes with investing in your own business
• The business mindset
  • How to plan for different possible outcomes
  • The benefits of investing in yourself and your business
  • Why you should have a clear business plan
  • What it means to put hard work into your business
  • Why you should find a support system with like-minded people
• Managing money in a business
  • The importance of having a solid strategy when taking on debt
  • Sometimes it's better to suck it up and first pay off your debt
  • Budget your business like you budget your personal life
• How Bola personally manages her money
  • How she designs her life around the lifestyle she wants
  • How to balance your goals with your current situation
  • Determining what a good life means to you

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

Leave me a voicemail- Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!

Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12

My One on One Money Coaching Services - Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals

The Wealth Building Manual - A step by step guide to building wealth

YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Bola

• Bola's website: Clever Girl Finance
• Bola's podcast: Clever Girls Know
• Find Bola on Instagram, Facebook , Twitter and Youtube

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Today's podcast is an interview with the amazing Hilary Hendershott. Featured in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is a Certified Financial Planner and podcaster who advises women when it comes to managing their finances.

It was my pleasure to interview Hilary because I'm a big fan of her podcast, Profit Boss Radio and she really knows her stuff as you'll be able to hear in the interview.

Here are the main topics we talk about in this episode:

• Hillary's financial troubles
  • Her personal financial struggles even as a Financial Planner
  • How she changed her behavior from pretending to be rich to being open about her money issues
  • The importance of having the right mentality
  • What financial integrity really means
  • How she became responsible for her own financial future

• Her work with women and finance
  • The reasons people outside the personal finance world struggle with finance
  • Why the money conversation isn't happening where women are
  • The importance of taking control of your finances

• The 7 steps to wealth
  • Hillary's 7 steps to wealth, from having the right mindset to learning how to ask for what you want and need
  • Why these are the building blocks of wealth

• Certified Financial Planners (CFP)
  • What is a CFP?
  • What to watch out for when hiring a CFP
  • At which point you should you get professional financial advice

• The Mindset
  • What is a money operating mindset
  • Why you should get rid of the 'I can't afford that' thought
  • How to use the power of words to change your mindset

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

Leave me a voicemail- Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!

Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12

My One on One Money Coaching Services - Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals

The Wealth Building Manual - A step by step guide to building wealth

YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Hilary

• Hilary's podcast: Profit Boss Radio
• Hilary's website: Hilary Hendershott
• Profit Boss Live Event

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

I decided to finally record a podcast with my biggest supporter and the silent partner of Journey To Launch, my husband.

Not only will you get to know me a little better because I'm giving you more of a sneak peek into my personal life but it may also help you think of ways to talk to your partner about finances.

Here are just some of the things we discuss:

• His personal relationship with money and what he did and didn't learn from his parents about money growing up
• How he felt when I first told him I wanted to retire early and leave my corporate job
• What made him feel comfortable with raising his retirement contributions from 3% to 50% of his paycheck
• If he still want's to work after I "retire"
• His desire for a new car and if he feels our financial goals are too restricting
• How he thinks having a 3rd child will impact our finances
• If he supports Journey To Launch plus much more!

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

The Online Budget Boot Camp - It's time for you to take back control over your finances once and for all and start to feel confident and sure about your finances. Stop living paycheck to paycheck and get ahead of the bills that keep piling up so that you can create the extra cushion in your cash flow to pay off debt and start investing. Grab your seat at the Budget Boot Camp to conquer your budget once and for all!

The 3 Budget Killers Video - Check out the three costly budget mistakes to avoid so that you can finally start to feel confident about your finances!

What Kind of Journeyer Are You? - Take the quiz to find out where you are on the Journeyer scale.

Watch me on News12

My One on One Money Coaching Services

The Wealth Building Manual

YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

What is Financial Independence and how can you reach it? Today I sit down with the guys from the Choose FI podcast to talk about the pillars of Financial Independence (FI) and the practical steps you can take to attain this goal.

In today's episode with Jonathan & Brad, we talk about the following:

• The backgrounds of Jonathan & Brad from Choose FI and what prompted them to get off the hamster wheel
• Jonathan graduating with $168,000 in student loan debt and how he paid it off
• What FI is and how do you know when you've reached FI
• The Pillars of FI
• How can someone begin to work towards FI even while still in debt plus so much more!

On last week's podcast episode, I talked about making my TV debut here in NYC as the personal finance expert on a weekly segment. Check out the preview below and watch the segment online here.

If you're local in NYC, you can watch me every Wednesday on Making Cents w/ Kristie on News12 Bronx at 4pm and News12 Brooklyn at 5pm on Optimum (channel 12) & Spectrum (channel 212) cable networks.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

My One on One Money Coaching Services

The Wealth Building Manual

YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Choose FI:

• choosefi.com
• Choose FI on Facebook
• Choose FI on Twitter

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Money is one of the leading causes of stress and issues in relationships. Whether you are dating or married, getting on the same financial page with your partner is crucial to accomplishing your overall life goals. On today's podcast, I'm talking with Elle Martinez from Couple Money. Couple Money explores how couples can build their finances together and just won Best Family Finance Blog at the 8th Annual Plutus Awards.

In today's episode with Elle, we talk about the following:

• Why Elle started Couple Money and its mission
• How couples can merge two opposing goals or visions for the future and compromise
• The four different types of money date and what to do and not do on a money date
• The importance of building a budget together and the 3 types of budgets
• If all couples should merge their finances and how couples can boost their bottom line
• Preparing for the major milestones; having a baby and buying a home
• How a couple can plan to retire early together.
• What to do if one partner is not on board with improving or optimizing their finances
• How can people who are just dating or a single person approach the subject of money with a potential partner

Also, I share two huge announcements on this episode. First, I will be on the local NYC News 12 Bronx and Brooklyn stations as the financial expert on a new weekly segment. News 12 runs on Optimum Cable (channel 12) & Spectrum (channel 212). The first show will air today (November 8th) on News 12 Bronx at 4pm EST and News 12 Brooklyn at 5pm EST and will repeat over the next few weeks.

You'll have to listen to this podcast episode to hear the second big announcement...

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

My One on One Money Coaching Services

The Wealth Building Manual

YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Elle:

• couplemoney.com
• Couple Money Facebook Page
• Couple Money on Twitter
• Couple Money on Instagram

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Money is one of the leading causes of stress and issues in relationships. Whether you are dating or married, getting on the same financial page with your partner is crucial to accomplishing your overall life goals. On today's podcast, I'm talking with Elle Martinez from Couple Money. Couple Money explores how couples can build their finances together and just won Best Family Finance Blog at the 8th Annual Plutus Awards.

In today's solo episode, I'm sharing the lessons I learned from attending FinCon 2017 last week in Dallas. FinCon is the annual conference where all of your favorite personal finance bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers and money nerds get together to learn, share, network and grow their businesses. This was my first year attending FinCon and I couldn't be more happy with my experience. Not only did I get to meet some of my amazing past guests in person but I also got a chance to meet and network with people I really admire in the personal finance space.

Also, the winners of the 2017 Plutus awards were announced the last night at FinCon. Journey To Launch was nominated as a finalist in the Best New Podcast and Best New Blog categories and while I didn't win, I'm really amazed that a blog I only got really serious about at the beginning of this year and a podcast that I just launched in July was recognized by you my audience and my peers in the personal finance space as the best of the best. I was really up against some great blogs and podcasts. You can check out the full list of Plutus Awards finalists here and the winners here.

Also, as a gift to you, I'm giving away one of my favorite personal finance books, The Millionaire Next Door by David Bach. David was one of the keynote speakers at the conference and shared his journey to writing the book and gave us words of encouragement as creators to serve first with our work.

Click here to see how you can enter to win David's best selling book, The Automatic Millionaire.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

My One on One Money Coaching Services

The Wealth Building Manual

YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group