** This post is sponsored by FindCreditUnions.com. All opinions are my own. Spending more time at home during these past six months has reminded me about the importance of minimalism. I become anxious if my environment is full of clutter, and I don't need the added chaos in the already-stressful world. When quarantine began, I was in home-improvement and decluttering mode. I took a break ... Read more
Best and Worst Financial Decisions of My 20s
I've been interested in budgeting, investing and saving content recently, and it's inspired me to take a look at our family's finances and try to improve them. I've also thought about the best and worst financial decisions I made in my 20s. While I am not dwelling on them as I am about to be 34, I think I have learned from reflecting on what I have done right and wrong, and my financial health is ... Read more
3 Apps/Websites to Earn Cash/Gift Cards
I love finding ways to save money, earn cash back or get gift cards by shopping at my favorite stores. I'm sharing three apps/websites I use to get paid for buying things I already wanted or needed. I know there are many more cash-back and rewards apps or websites out there, but I like to keep it simple by only using a few. Apps/Sites for Cash Back/Rewards Drop: When you download the Drop app, ... Read more
Spending Ban Update and Lessons
** This post was originally published in April but has since been updated. In March I shared my goal of doing a pre-baby spending ban on certain categories. I wanted to stop unnecessary spending, especially it comes to dining out, before our baby is born so I can focus on financial goals. Now I want to provide a spending ban update and lessons I learned in hopes of inspiring those who want to ... Read more
Pre-Baby Spending Ban
I have been in decluttering, organization and cleaning mode for a couple of weeks now. There's something about the approaching change of seasons that inspired this, but mostly it's preparation for the baby's arrival! As part of my simplifying, I decided after analyzing my February expenses that I also want to implement a mini pre-baby spending ban in March (and possibly April, too!). The main idea ... Read more
Budgeting: Things I Don’t Spend Money On
I've been thinking lately about goals for the new year and how I can make daily decisions to get me to where I want to be. Budgeting and being mindful of my spending have been on my mind (maybe because I have a baby on the way?). I took a lot at what I spend my money on as well as what's just not worth it to me. Today I'm sharing the categories I rarely pay for to perhaps inspire others to ... Read more
July Goals
This summer is moving too quickly for me, and yet so slowly. When I'm waiting for certain things to happen, I want the time to pass quickly, but at the same time I am struggling to keep up with life lately. I'll survive, though, because I am a planner and goal setter.Before I get into July goals, let's check in with my June goals.June goal check-in:Prepare for a major life change that I'll share ... Read more
June Goals
May was a big month in Floradise. We learned some important news about our family, we moved into a new apartment and I ran my half-marathon. I am excited to see what June has in store for us. The weather in Chicago has finally changed, and it seems so fitting as we start a new chapter in our lives. I can't wait to share more about our journey!But first, accountability.May goal check-in:Declutter a ... Read more
May Goals
April was a month of uncertainty. There was so much unpredictability that it was making me anxious to the point where I was losing sleep. At the beginning of the month, we had no idea when we would have to move or where we would live. We had no idea how to pay for the move that is being forced upon us. (Our apartment building was sold and our units are being converted.) I had no idea whether ... Read more