Hello everyone! I am so excited to highlight Yasmine Saibou of Darker Berrie, a lifestyle blog on fashion, money, and DC life from the perspective of a twenty-something young urban professional. Yasmine worked hard to create an abundant life of fortune, fitness, and fashion. She uses her experiences in relationships and her upbringing as fuel to be the best version of herself. She’s worked hard to reduce her debt and stay active in the gym all while staying flawless in photos. She provides a plethora of information on how we can be financially savvy in our relationships, how accessories can make an outfit of any price stylish, and how to get and keep waists permanently snatched.

Quick Tips:

• Variable costs factor into your money more than you’d think! It ain’t only about the rent ya’ll!
• Call them out! Pull out the W2s and pay stubs when taking steps to cohabitate with your partner.
• Instead of doing the most with a goal do the least consistently. Start goals using the 30/50/80 plan. Start a goal 30% of the time and steadily increase your work to 50% and 80%.

Connect With Me:
@stacksnthecity

Music:
bensound.com 

Hey, ya’ll! I know I’ve been MIA for the past couple of weeks but I really wanted to spend some much-needed quality time with my family. Nonetheless, 2019 is turnt and here and we’re here! This week’s episode is an Ask Ashley, where I answer ya’ll’s pressing questions about getting and managing money. I am so grateful for the questions ya’ll asked.

In This Episode:

• We discuss the difference between FHA and conventional loans
• We tackle the process of homeownership
• We get down and dirty in the details on how to quell a shopping habit
• We tackle the concept of habit (and how to break them)
• We address exactly how does one have $100,000 (and not get the urge to spend it all)

I can never thank you all enough for your continued support and fabulousness! What are you doing in 2019 to elevate your money game?

Follow Me!
Instagram and Twitter: @stacksnthecity

Facebook: Stacks and the City

Music:
Bensound.com

Hello everybody! Today’s is short and sweet. We are in the thick of the holiday season! Remember that this time of year isn’t about giving (or receiving) tangible gifts; it’s about giving and cultivating relationships with the people you love and care about the most. Think about it, what are some of your fondest memories during this time of year? Is it the biggest toy you received or the time you spent with your favorite people? No one’s asking you to be Ebenezer Scrooge- we can still give, but don’t use the “I can’t afford it” excuse to show you’re thinking of others. There are infinite ways to show your appreciation for the people in your life without spending googabs of coinage. We get it! Sending cards, cute snacks, a drink shows thought! Think about someone other than yourself.

Ya’ll…this is indeed the season of giving and if you are truly about this money, ya’ll better be about this giving life. There are people who wish they had the life you currently have. Show your appreciation for your lifestyle by giving to a cause that helped shape you. Love pets? Children? Education?  There are PLENTY of organizations to support. You say you don’t have the coins? No one’s asking you to start foundations and be on your #OprahStatus; however, if you’re really about this money, you need to incorporate practices of the wealthy. Wealthy people donate to causes! Five dollars goes a much longer way than $0. Your money, no matter the quantity, matters. Always remember that. Additionally, charitable donations help relieve tax burdens during tax time. For my higher earners, charitable donations help reduce how much you owe at the end of the year. In order to get this money, you have to give this money!

Instagram and Twitter:
@stacksnthecity

Music:
bensound.com

Hey ya’ll! We are in the thick of the holiday season! Whether we’re ready or not the holiday season is absolutely upon us. We have NO TIME to be broke over the pomp and circumstance that surrounds this time. Today, I’m sharing my top 5 tips on saving money over the holidays:

• Plan Ahead!

Planning ahead makes this holiday season much easier! Even by thinking about who you’re going to give gifts makes execution much easier. Planning is somewhat like predicting and preparing for the future. The holiday season happens at the same time every year- preparing for it in advance makes it much easier.

• Tier and Price Your Family and Friends

Group the people who you’re giving gifts to. The inner circle, and more important people in your life get more of a splurge gift, friends get something cheaper that shows thought, and acquaintances get a card or something inexpensive yet thoughtful. Write the people whom you want to give gifts to, create A PHYSICAL NUMBER FOR PRICE, and find the perfect gift from there. That way, you’ll stay within budget have an opportunity to give.

• Give Cards with Messages!

Remember this is all about giving and THOUGHT! Giving messages to people who never expect a gift from you is truly fantastic. Purchasing holiday cards and getting snail mail still make friends and loved ones excited and happy!

• Get Creative with Gift Giving!

People are more excited about the experience of “Christmas” versus actually receiving gifts. Give the experience of gift giving. Packaging and heartfelt messages can matter more than the price of a gift.

• Don’t Buy Anything for Yourself

Ya’ll…people are really out here purchasing gifts for self left and right but never seem to have money to give to someone else. This time of year IS NOT about you! It’s ok to not know what someone else wants for Christmas but that isn’t an excuse to buy gifts for yourself and say you can’t afford to buy gifts for someone else. Prioritize someone other than yourself!

Instagram & Twitter:
@stacksnthecity

Music:
bensound.com

UHey ya’ll. Today we’re switching up our normally scheduled programming to discuss me leaving my job! I worked at an investment firm for over a year and a half and I was over it. Corporate America simply isn’t for me. It took THREE jobs to realize that!

My career choices have been a strange paradox of working in the most prestigious institutions in America but not feeling part of the mission. Over my numerous jobs, watching legislation pass, busy executives close major deals, and million-dollar transactions, I only saw boredom and the passage of time. I never felt that these jobs aligned with my purpose. After working for Morgan Stanley, I KNEW that God had a greater purpose for me. Instead of staying in a pretty consistent, relatively well-paying job, I decided to leave and take a chance. Though I have NO idea what I’m doing or how I plan to earn a living from helping people get their money right, I KNOW I’m exactly where I need to be in my life right now.

For those contemplating leaving their jobs, just do it! Create a game plan, work toward making the game plan work, and execute! It’s not difficult. Get this money and live in YOUR purpose.

Today’s episode features the phenomenal travelpreneur and world traveller Rachel Hill of Rachel Travels. Rachel bravely quit her lucrative six-figure corporate job to travel to Southeast Asia to find meaning and purpose in her life. Her seemingly one-time adventure quickly morphed into a multilayered travel business and brand. I had the upmost privilege of interviewing her to hear her insight on globetrotting, leaving corporate life, and getting the best deals on global travel.

Notable Takeaways:

• When traveling, evaluate what you most plan to spend money on (flights, food, excursions)
• Create a budget for your trip
• Travel during the shoulder or low season
• Embrace and understand you are a guest in someone else’s home. You adapt their culture NOT the other way around

INFINITE thanks to Rachel of Rachel Travels for her info, insight, and intelligence.   Make sure you stay up to date with her travels and travel tips. Thank you again @racheltravels!

Music: bensound.com

Ya'll I KNOW it's been a long time but we're back and in action!! Today I have Yanely Espinal of Miss Helpful Info.  She has a fantastic YouTube channel dedicated to helping young millennials get their money right.  She grew up in poverty in New York City and managed to get out of over $25,000 in debt on a teacher's salary.  She truly embodies how to get your money right and that you DON'T need to come from wealthy means to learn how to generate wealth.  What I love about her interview is her explanation of mental investment to have a lifetime of mental stability and happiness.  My biggest takeaways for getting this money is:

• Get a travel buddy
• Plan ahead
• Don't Fear Cutting Back When Abroad
• There is no such thing as deprivation but it's regulation
• Don't run away from the problem

Useful Links:

https://www.hipmunk.com/

Check Out Yanely's YouTube Channel Here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr2h_5UeJH-0oxp5ntzpm-w

Thank you for Yanely's FANTASTIC help and advice!

Follow Me:
@stacksnthecity

Music:
bensound.com

If there is anything in my life that excites me it’s travelling. The ability to travel gets a plethora of challenges, hurdles, and self-discovery that no other experience in life compares. Not to mention, it’s enlightening on a whole other level to see how 7 billion other humans create their existence on this Earth. This week’s episode delves into my appreciation for travel, and more importantly, why you should do it. We also discuss simple tips on foreign travel. Remember, the human existence is salient- meaning all humans have to eat, sleep, communicate and procreate to survive. It has been a truly humbling experience to see how others adapt to these needs.

Quick and Dirty Tips on Foreign Travel:

• Prioritize: When crafting your plan, choose ONE activity you wish to splurge on. This can be travel, food, shopping, museums, excursions- THE OTHERS MUST FALL BACK. What do you want to get the most out of your travel experience?
• Take Advantage of Flights and Deals: There is NOTHING wrong with Spirit and WOW Air. They market towards budget travelers. That does NOT mean they are unsafe. Certain countries are cheaper to fly to (ie Amsterdam and Iceland) than others.
• Pack Light: If you choose the backpacking route, you will spend a lot of time walking and moving- no one has time for OD suitcases. Plan ahead with what you plan to wear. Stick with neutrals and a scarf for accessories.
• Have a Backup Plan!: Always have a plan in case something pops off in a country. I always have $500- $1000 on hand for an emergency one-way ticket back to The States in case of unrest.
• The Black American Experience Doesn’t Translate: Being black and abroad may be different but it’s not deeply rooted in centuries of oppression and unrest. If you are a person of color and you travel abroad, you probably will get stares and glances. This is normal. We absolutely do stand out and many haven’t seen dark faces in their lives. Just take it in stride and be proud that you represent a diverse America.

Follow Me:
@stacksnthecity

Music:
bensound.com

This week’s episode fares slightly away from the monthly topics discusses and delved into the issue of being a first generation college grad and the lies our parents told us about money. Yes- lies. To what extent do we keep the same financial mentality as our parents- knowing full well we out educate and out earn our parents?

Key Takeaways:

• To what extent do our parent’s financial philosophies stay with us as we get older and earn high salaries?
• How can we ensure that our bags match our bank accounts?
• To what extents do we focus on the ‘now’ as opposed to ensuring the future stays lucrative?
• How can we work toward changing out realities?
• Multiple generations may jog financially, but we must continue to sprint with determination and a smile. WE WILL CATCH UP.
• Education! It doesn’t stop at graduation. We have to find resources that work toward teaching money management that no school or upper 100s class can ever

Thank you so much again for listening and you know where to find me! Please please rate and subscribe! Stay fabulous!

Instagram & Twitter: @stacksnthecity

Music: bensound.com