Who doesn’t love summer vibes?!

Remember the days when summer meant no school and nothing to do? Oh, how I miss those times!

I used to live my best life in the summer – all the way up until graduating college.

Then, real life happened, and summer became no different from any other season. But that’s not 100% true.

In fact, summer is the perfect time to reevaluate your spending habits, because the season usually starts right around the middle of the year.

Whether you set annual goals or not, pulse checking on your spending and money habits midway through the year will leave you with enough time to implement any changes that may be needed in your finances.

In this episode, I’m sharing why summer is the perfect time to reevaluate your spending habits, and how you can go about doing it!

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [02:00] Want to save some extra money this summer? Join the Free 4-week Summer Savings Challenge now!
• [03:30] Summer is a great time to see how you’re making progress towards your annual goals and intentions. Raya shares some questions you can ask yourself.
• [05:43] Summer usually comes with its own spending temptations, this means being mindful and intentional is a must.
• [10:17] Don’t know where to start when it comes to budgeting and tracking your spending? Raya offers an easy solution for listeners.
• [14:00] Whatever you discover about your summer spending habits, create a new summer money rule to follow for future summer seasons.

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Join the upcoming FREE 4-week Summer Savings Challenge!

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

Here’s the thing: we all need boundaries. In our health, work, relationships, and finances…we need boundaries.

Boundaries are there to protect your peace and prevent you from causing unnecessary harm.

Setting financial boundaries is especially important because they keep you on the straight and narrow. 

They keep you focused on doing the things that will help you reach your financial goals.

If you struggle with setting financial boundaries, you don’t want to miss this episode! I’m sharing 6 ways to set financial boundaries and actually stick to them.

As your situation changes, your boundaries change…but always having those limits will keep you moving in the direction of your goals.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [01:59] Raya shares how failing to set financial boundaries back in college resulted in her overspending on material things, leading her deep into debt.
• [04:35] Boundaries, especially financial boundaries, are there to alert you when you’re moving in the direction of stress and negativity. They are designed to help keep you on track.
• [09:58] Get comfortable with saying “That’s not in my budget”, so when something comes up, you can easily decline with an affirmative statement.
• [14:09] Know where you stand when it comes to lending or gifting money, so you can avoid rushed or emotional decisions.
• [17:26] If you want to stick to your boundaries (financial or otherwise), you need to learn how to clearly communicate them.

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Join the upcoming FREE 4-week Summer Savings Challenge!

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

I’ve officially made it to my mid-30s and can honestly say that my body no longer functions like it did when I was in my early 20s.

Back then, I couldn’t keep the weight on. I ate whatever I wanted and didn’t have a consistent workout routine. I would take college classes, like pilates and dance, to get my exercise in.

After graduation, I did invest in a gym membership, mostly because the weight was slowly sticking more than it normally had!

Now, I consistently work out 5 days a week, and have for years. My diet has been a little harder to build consistency with.

That’s why I’m so excited to welcome Dr. Lisa Folden to the show today!

Her company Healthy Phit specializes in weight-inclusive physical therapy, health and body image coaching, and guidance on sustaining a well-balanced diet.

Get ready to learn how to foster a healthy relationship with your body and take care of it the way it needs!

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [02:59] Lisa shares how she got into the medicinal space, after aspirations of it as early as 16. She shares how she sought out body image data.
• [11:21] When we’re in tune with our bodies and can recognize things aren’t normal, that’s the time to seek our additional help to get back to comfortable.
• [21:47] Dr. Lisa works with people who struggle with eating disorders. Often times, when they are the smallest weight, they are struggling the most.
• [32:57] A lot of the work Dr. Lisa does stems around confronting body image issues. Confront what’s wrong and normalize looking at your body.
• [40:08] Burnout is what our world is set up for. Don’t be afraid to get rest. Dr. Lisa shares how she took a nap today!

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Follow Dr. Lisa on Instagram

Visit the HealthyPhit website

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

I’m a Virgo, so I thrive on routines and structure.

I know that isn’t the case for everyone, but I do know that routines and structure with money can help anyone in some shape or form.

There’s something to be said about financial organization and feeling in control of your money situation. 

In this episode, I’m sharing 7 daily routines that set you up for success in your life and money.

These routines don’t have to be time-consuming, they shouldn’t cause any stress, and they should leave you feeling empowered and in control once completed.

Start slow and steady by implementing one routine and a time and watch the transformation that takes place!

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [01:35] Whether it’s at the start of the workday or after coffee, take some time to look over your spending accounts.
• [04:07] Start getting comfortable looking at your accounts. You don’t have to do anything but build that ease.
• [06:34] It took Raya 6 years to save for her Palm Springs home. Don’t worry about how long it will take to reach your goals, just keep them top of mind to stay motivated.
• [10:26] Dedicate a few minutes each day to learning something new about personal finance. Read a book, check out a blog post, or follow financial influencers!
• [12:50] Take time at the end of each day to plan your next day. What’s coming up? What do you need to tackle?

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Request a complimentary call with Raya

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

If I had to choose just one financial tool to improve my situation, hands down, it would be a budget.

The course of my life changed with a budget nearly a decade and a half ago.

Sure, I may have been forced into that situation, but regardless of how I got there, a budget turned everything around for me.

Now, I’ve made a career helping women turn their own lives around with a budget.

No matter how much or how little you make, a budget is truly a game-changer.

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 ways budgeting is the key to living the life you’ve always dreamed of. Get ready to become a budget-lover, just like I became one so many years ago.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [01:55] What had started as a necessity to budget has now become a career for Raya, as she coaches women to set and stick to budget plans.
• [04:04] An integral part of the budgeting process is making sure your spending is in line with your budget. Don’t skip this step!
• [07:06] A budget helps you plan for both the expected and the unexpected. Handling money now becomes a stress-free lifestyle.
• [10:08] Budgeting is a way to sustain the life you currently have, so it can help you get to the life you actually want.
• [14:00] Not convinced a budget can help you create freedom? When you have control of your finances, you gain the freedom to say yes or no to everything.

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Episode 1 – Big City Spender to City Girl Saver

Listen to Episode 3 – Breaking Through the Stigma of Budgeting

Request a complimentary call with Raya

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

Did you know that 40 million U.S. adults suffer from anxiety disorders?

That’s about 19% of the population and whether you are included in that statistic or not, you’ve likely experienced some form of anxiety over the course of your life.

I’d even go as far as to say, maybe it was driven by finances.

In fact, 70% of Americans reported stress in their finances. Between inflation, rising costs, job instability and fears of the current state of the economy, it’s all too easy to let finances stress you out.

If you struggle with money anxiety, I want to help!

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 steps to get rid of your anxiety around money and feel more at peace in your situation.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [01:47] Got money fears? It’s completely understandable. However, it’s important to take control of your mindset, as it plays a big role in your peace.
• [04:46] Fears can be paralyzing, but that doesn’t mean they are realistic. Raya walks through a few examples of determining if your fears are realistic or not. 
• [09:30] Focus on what you can control. This is a critical step to reducing your money anxiety. Raya shares how she reminds herself to stay focused on controllable things.
• [13:38] What can you work towards in the next 30 days? List out the game plan and steps you can take to achieve that thing.
• [16:28] Raya shares a few money affirmations you can start using today.

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get your CGS Personal Finance Portfolio now!

Listen to Episode 80 – 8 Things Everyone Should be Saving For

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

Here’s the thing. We only have this one life here on earth. And since our time is so limited, it should be filled with things that bring us true happiness.

Whether that’s work, family, travel, or passion projects.

Creating a life you love should be a pursuit we all strive for.

That’s why I’m so excited to welcome Catie Hogan to the show today.

Catie is an entrepreneur, mom, speaker, comedy writer and she’s made multiple career shifts.

Catie and I are going to talk about how women can create a life they love and how to leverage money to help them in the process.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [03:20] Catie’s trigger was student loan debt. She found herself in a dark place thinking about how to pay off six-figures of student loans.
• [11:08] Catie saw a shift in how her parents’ handled money. That had a big impact on Catie growing up. 
• [21:54] Investing in a 401k is a great starting point. Make this a priority if you can, because it is a way to get started.
• [30:49] As she’s gotten older, Catie has found it easier to say no to things that don’t align with her values, financial and otherwise.
• [38:29] Catie walks through the process of writing a parody play and how it ended up getting on Broadway.

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Follow Catie on Instagram

Subscribe to Catie’s Newsletter Cents of Humor

Follow Catie on LinkedIn

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

Have you ever been intentional with consistent gratitude? Meaning, every day you acknowledge the things you’re grateful for, for an extended period of time.

If you have been intentional with gratitude and appreciation, you probably have noticed the benefits. 

The more grateful you are, the more you seem to have and the happier you seem to be.

Not only that, when you appreciate what you currently have (instead of focusing on what you don’t have), you open the door for more.

If you struggle with appreciating what you currently have going for you, I want to help.

In this episode, I’m sharing 7 ways to practice gratitude for what you currently have to allow you to attract abundance into your life.

Just because you appreciate the money you have or the current things you have doesn’t mean you can’t work towards more.

The point is to be grateful for where you are and what you have, so you’re not constantly focused on what you don’t have.

This is key to attracting abundance. Keep working for your goals but appreciate the journey along the way!

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [02:23] Remember a time when you had less than what you have now. This is one of the easiest ways to be grateful for your current situation.
• [05:20] Every time you go to pay a bill or spend money on something that sustains your lifestyle, express how grateful you are to cover that expense. 
• [08:47] Feeling like your budget doesn’t include the things you love? Take a closer look at how your money is allocated currently and work from there.
• [12:06] It may seem like an obvious tip to write down the things you’re grateful for daily, but it really does help you grow your gratitude reserve.
• [15:35] There’s an abundance of information and education out there to help you with money, you just have to seek it out.

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Episode 70 – My Budget Non-Negotiables

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

The one thing you need, more than anything else, to change your finances, or your life, for the better is the right mindset.

Your mindset makes all the difference.

How you think about your money determines how you act with your money.

To become a person who builds wealth, you need to start thinking (and therefore, acting) like a wealth builder.

Not sure what that looks like? In this episode, I’m walking you through some of the most impactful mindset shifts you can make to become a person who succeeds with building wealth.

Get ready for a money mindset makeover that has you thinking like a real wealth builder!

I saw a quote online that said, “a negative mindset can cost you more than any expense.”

I had to sit and appreciate how true that quote was.

When your mindset isn’t up to par, you not only miss out on opportunities to change your life, but you rob yourself of any joy you could have for what is going right in your life.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [02:38] If thoughts dictate your actions, what makes mindset so critical is the actions you take relative to the thoughts you’re having.
• [06:33] Do you constantly think you never have enough money? Shift to the mindset of there are always opportunities to make more. 
• [11:29] How can you spend slightly less on discretionary things and take that difference and put it into an investment account?
• [17:46] Raya shares her first realization of the fear of success. It never occurred to her that this is a real fear that impacts how people think and act.
• [21:36] Raya shares some actionable tips people can implement instantly to start building more confidence with money. 

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Episode 85 – Mindset Matters: Abundance versus Scarcity

Listen to Episode 11 – The Power of Visualization to Help You Reach Your Goals

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!

In my over-a-decade of experience with budgeting, for myself and helping others, I’ve come across a myriad of reasons, excuses, fears and inaccurate rationalizations for why people choose not to budget. 

And it’s doing more harm than good.

There was a point in time when I chose not to budget, and it cost me a lot. Thankfully, I got my act together and now I help women do the same.

We all need to be budgeting, and if you’ve convinced yourself otherwise, I’m here to set you straight!

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 budgeting myths millennial women (or any woman really) needs to stop believing because these myths are delaying a life of happiness.

One of the most common things people do with their finances is trying to keep it all in their head. If you think you can keep your budget top of mind, you’re setting yourself up for failure. I share some solutions to this particular myth.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [03:05] When you rely on a mental budget, you’re leaving so much room for error. We can’t remember or account for everything in our head.
• [06:42] Just because you never learned how to budget in the past doesn’t mean that you can’t learn or succeed with budgeting in the present. 
• [09:15] When it comes to creating your budget, there are certain numbers that you do need to know, but you don’t have to be responsible for always calculating them.
• [13:40] A budget should include the things you love and/or saving for the things that truly matter to you.
• [16:53] You can’t predict the future. Certain things will come up that we can’t plan for. That means you need to believe it’s okay to be fluid with your budget. 

Rate, Review, & Follow:

Did you love this episode? Are you a fan of the City Girl Savings podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show!

This helps spread the word about City Girl Savings, and hopefully helps more people make the best money moves possible on the way to their dream life!

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, please make sure you’re subscribed and following the City Girl Savings podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Episode 3 – Breaking Through the Stigma of Budgeting

Let Raya create a budget plan for you!

Learn about Raya’s Financial Focus Coaching Program

Follow City Girl Savings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Join the City Girl Savings Facebook Group

Subscribe to the City Girl Savings Newsletter!