Confidently Katie

Going Confidently in Life & Motherhood

A Skincare Routine That Actually Works

My skincare routine has never been something I’m proud of.  I wasn’t very consistent, everything I was doing required a lot of steps, and really I wasn’t seeing any results from it.  As I’m preparing for my wedding in only 250ish days, I really want to have that beautiful, clear skin on our big day…I’ve had lumpy, bumpy, aggravated, and often pimply skin. I’ve sorta of always had that type of combination oily-ish skin, but while I was pregnant my skin was flawless.  I guess I just thought that I had grown out of it.  Turns out pregnancy was just making my skin “glow” as they say.

So anyway…I tried a lot of things.  I tried a few different skin care products, a different skin care routine, showering more, showering less, exfoliating…you name it, I tried it.  Then one day, I saw an add on Instagram for Curology and I decided I’d give it shot.   It was a free trial after all so there was no risk and I’m a sucker for some good Instagram marketing.

Here’s the FULL rundown on what the process was like and what I think about the product overall. I feel like mentioning here that I haven’t been paid to do this.  I just found the product and wanted to try it and share my experience. However there are affiliate links in this post.  If you were to click through and make a purchase, I would earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What is Curology?

Curology is a subscription type of service that provides you with a custom skin care regimen.  You can choose the size of your bottle which will change the price of the product that you purchase.  You can try Curology for free here.

How does it work?

You create an account and complete the required tasks to get your formulation:  Take some photos, describe your skin, provide them with information like your age, gender, when your acne flares up, if you believe it to be hormone related etc. Once you complete the tasks you wait for them to send you a consultation. Once you receive your consultation, this is what your profile will looks like: 

Your consultation is provided to a licensed Dermatologist and will contain things like advice on what types of cleansers to use, how often you should be washing your face, and what your skin care routine should look like based on the info you shared.  This will be send in an email, but you can also access it on your Curology Profile.

For me they suggested a couple of different cleansers.  I bought this Noble Formula facial bar that they recommended and a Cetaphil Dermacontrol daily moisturizer with SPF.

My Curology Provider recommended that I wash twice daily with the Nobel Formula, apply my curology formulation at night, and moisturize with the Cetaphil or a similar moisturizer each morning after washing my face.

What are the results like?

My results have been AMAZING!  Curology did a 21 day campaign where they sent me a text every morning to ask if I’d applied my Curology.  It helped me stay on track.  I made it almost every night and washed and moisturized nearly every day.  I started to see results from this consistency within 2 weeks!  Because my skin was mostly just oily and bumpy it’s very hard to tell in pictures how much it has helped my skin. In 3 weeks I had one pimple (likely caused by the Crimson Wave) and that was while working out twice a day and sweating my butt off in humid Wisconsin!  I think it has been a pretty successful free trial and I’ll be paying for my next shipment!

What is different about Curology?  Why don’t you just go to a Dermatologist?

Good question, me.  I have a high deductible health plan.  Seeing a specialist is expensive.  On top of that, I have to find one that I like, make time for the appointment, wait for the appointment to come around, and hope that they prescribe me something that works.   With Curology I got something that worked within a couple of days and the process for ordering my formulation was painless.
I also LOVE that Curology explains EVERYTHING to you.  They tell you whats in your formulation, what each medicine is for, and they provided even more detailed information about it in other articles on your profile.  On top of that they have additional articles, they check up on you to make sure your doing your routine, and they truly help you to form a habit that will improve the overall quality of your skin!

Overall Impression:

I love Curology! The price was reasonable, the service was prompt, and I got the results I really wanted! However, I want to say, if you have a severe acne or other skin issues you want to address, it could benefit you to go to a dermatologist!  Internet subscriptions can’t fix everything.  But I would certainly recommend this over trying that DIY coconut oil blend that you found on Pinterest.

Have you tried Curology?  Do you have skin issues that you keep thinking you’ll grow out of?  What are you trying next to fix it?

The Truth About My Postpartum Body

Before I wrote this post I looked up the definition of postpartum.  I thought…can I actually consider myself “postpartum” if my child is nearly two?  Obviously I decided that I could still be considered postpartum especially as I am writing the affects that carrying, bearing, and feeding my child has had on my body and on my confidence.

Let me start by saying there are a lot of posts out there about loving your postpartum body embracing it as it is and getting used to the stretch marks, excess weight, and slowed fitness progress…but this ain’t one of them. I’m about to share the cold hard truth about how I feel about my body since it gave birth to my perfect little girl nearly two years ago.

I hate it. 

Hate is a really strong word, I know. And mom’s aren’t supposed to say things like that.  They’re supposed to look at their body and the mirror and say well it’s okay because I had a baby and this is my body now  OR they’re supposed to  “bounce back” and return to their thin selves.  After all, they worked out their whole pregnancy, it won’t be tough to return to their former figure.

That’s not me. 

Before I got pregnant I was consistently weighing in around 110 lbs. That wasn’t something I tried to do, it was just how much I weighed. I had always been a thin girl.  Everyone alway felt the need to comment about how “skinny” I was, but when I got pregnant that all changed…

Through out my pregnancy I hardly worked out at all.  I ate taco bell every weekday for almost a whole trimester.  And after I delivered, the REAL cravings started while I was breast feeding. Which, by the way, was one of the most stressful things I had ever experienced so of course, I had to stress eat. Don’t all breastfeeding moms eat whole tubs of mint chocolate chip icecream in one sitting? To top it off, during maternity leave I was basically just sitting at home on my couch for 6 weeks hardly doing anything.

Cue postpartum weight gain.

It didn’t help that Instagram, other moms, and old freaking wives tales gave me super unrealistic expectations. I thought that after I had Clara that all that pregnancy weight would just fall off.  I thought that Breastfeeding would burn a million calories a day like everyone told me it would and I’d look like a Victoria Secret model.

Wrong. 

Oh so very wrong.

So here I sit, at about 137 lbs, just hating the skin I’m in. I’ve failed at every nutrition plan I’ve attempted to implement.  I’ve slept through 90% of the early morning alarms to go to the gym.  I’ve taken “before progress pictures” 4 or 5 times that have no afters.  No “progress” to speak of.  People say things like “We make time for things that are important to us” or “Why don’t you just (insert seemingly simple plan here)?”  Or I’ll spend some money on programs and trainers and food I think that it’s money well spent and then I just fail to execute and it’s a waste.

I don’t know why I haven’t been able to do it. I don’t know why I can’t be okay with how I look.  I don’t know why all those other women lost weight from breastfeeding when it made me gain it.  I don’t know why some people can just dig in and transform their bodies and others struggle.  I don’t know why I hate what I see in the mirror.

I know that real progress takes time.  I know that not everyone reacts to pregnancy the same way. I know that consistency is key. I know that no one, not even Corey cares about what I look like.  And I KNOW that I’m not the only one out there who feels this way.

If you’ve had a baby (hell even if you had a baby 6 years ago) and you’re feeling like me PLEASE drop me a comment because I NEED ya’ll to keep me going over here. I need to know that I’m not the only one.

Dos and Don’ts for your Hawaii Vacation with Kids

A few weeks ago my family packed our bags and headed to Maui for my cousins destination wedding. I’ll be honest, I got on the Maui train really late in the game. Vacationing with kids is not always easy, and I was frustrated because we had determined that Corey couldn’t join us and I was not getting excited.  I knew I’d have a good time when we got there, but I wasn’t looking forward to spending a whole week away from my Fiance and solo parenting. Turns out Corey ended up coming anyway.

That being said, I didn’t plan a whole lot for the trip.  Scratch that.  I didn’t plan anything.  I was all doom and gloom until the very last minute.  While I know most people won’t be doom and gloom, they may not realize that a trip to Hawaii is even more of a major event than you think.  Now that everything is said and done, here’s some dos and don’ts I figured out in preparation for our Hawaii vacay.

Just so you know, this post contains some affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after following one of these links I earn a small (like real small) commission.  Keep in mind that I only link products that I’ve bought and tried and for sure loved!

1// Don’t pass up the chance to go snorkeling

Guys…I didn’t really snorkel.  The reason I didn’t was because I wanted to nap. Everyone who snorkeled said it was the best part of the vacation and I missed out for a nap.  I’m pretty upset about it still, but now I have a good reason to return. Gotta snorkel.  You can rent gear inexpensively for a whole week and take your stuff all over the place.  There are tons of places to snorkel, and I would highly recommend taking advantage

2// Do wear a rash guard and sunscreen

The rash guard was something I actually did plan on.  I bought this Rash Guard off Amazon a couple of days before we left (yay for Amazon Prime!).  It worked really well for me.  I didn’t wear it the whole time, but when I didn’t want to apply sunscreen again to my entire body I just did my face and put my rash guard on.  It kept me from getting totally fried and I still looked cute!  Also I was a crazy person about sunscreen. I applied it several time each day.  No body wants skin cancer.

3//  Don’t skip the waterproof phone case

I am happy every day that I decided to get a Lifeproof Waterproof Case a couple days before our trip.  Again…bad planning. But seriously.  It was so great to have that peace of mind knowing that I wouldn’t damage my phone from all the water that was bound to get all over it.  In fact my niece completely immersed it in the pool without knowing it was water proof and it was fine because it was fully protected by the case. It also means you can take pictures like this without being afraid your going to ruin your phone forever by dropping it in the ocean.

4// Do make plans

Ya’ll I made zero plans.  My only plan was to lay on the beach and splash in the pool and I didn’t even really lay on the beach! I would have more if I’d been a better planner.  We had a few things set up with the wedding group that I participated in, but I know that things would have been a little more exciting if I would have been more open to making plans.

5// DON’T.  I repeat:  DO NOT leave your stroller at home

For some reason I was very concerned about having too much stuff with us and I figured my baby carried would be fine.  Now don’t get me wrong I absolutely love my baby carrier but it was NOT enough.  By the end of the week I was desperately wishing I had brought the stroller or at least rented one from Maui on the Fly (A place to rent stuff for all your Maui baby needs)  By the end of the trip my arms were killing me and I spent so much time trying to keep Clara from running off to places she wasn’t supposed to be.  Take my advice and don’t take a baby to Hawaii without a stroller plan.

6// Do plan out all of your meals

If I had it to do over again, I would plan the crap out of the eating situation.  We were with a HUGE group which made it hard to go get food together and we also probably ended up paying WAY more than necessary for a lot of things.  We were staying in a Condo and definitely could have cooked a few meals, had more snacks and probably more time to play and less time waiting in lines if we’d planned out our food a little better.  Next time we go on a Vacation, I’ll plan the food for every stinking day (with a few back up plans of course)

7// Don’t let the little stuff bring you down 

Look, vacationing with kids is hard.  I mean, is it even a “vacation” if you’re still full time parenting the whole time?  But just because you have to parent doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time.  Vacations don’t always go has planned.  Restaurants have an hour long wait, the snorkeling tour gets cancelled, it rains on the beach day…BUT if you let it get you down you’re going to put a damper on the fun. Keep it light and go with the flow.

8// Do a traditional Hawaiian Luau

This was a really fun part of the whole experience! The food was sorta of eh, but the show was really cool, it was right on the beach, and the kids had fun running around learning about the Hawaiian culture.

 


8 Things to Do This Summer

Instead of re-watching How I Met Your Mother for the 20th time, here’s 10 things to do this summer that could completely transform your summer experience.

I live in Utah and I’m not really into the snow.  We only get about 100 days of beautiful weather (at least according to me) and I want to make the most of it.  This is what my family will be doing this summer to beat the heat and make the most of the time we have to play outside in the sunshine.

Water Activities

I want my daughter to be able to experience all the things.  She’s been to the pool and ran through some sprinklers, but it’s time to do splash pads, water parks and slip n slides!  One of my favorite things about being a mom is watching my baby explore the world and learn how to enjoy it, and there are so many great water activities we can do.  If you’re local to Utah the website Coupons4Utah has a list of 60 waterparks/splash pads in Utah!

Summer City Gatherings

Summer City Gatherings can be so fun and they are typically free.  There’s usually food trucks, fireworks, vendors, some have carnival rides and games, maybe even a car show or two.  Our city news letters provides a whole list of all the city festivals so that we can go to as many as possible.

Festivals

Utah has so many awesome festivals.  We’ve already been to one this year and the season just started.  They’re typically great for families and have a lot to offer, but keep in mind a lot of the larger festivals require you to pay upon entry!

Outdoor Movies

Outdoor movies are the BEST! I love watching a classic like The SandLot (aka my favorite movie of all time) under the stars.  You could even go super retro and hit the drive-in if your city still has one.  Why there are being phased out of existence I will never know… Here’s a list of over 40 outdoor movies playing in Utah this summer.

Take a Weekend Trip

In Utah I’m a couple hours aware from 5 National Parks and even more state parks and National Monuments like the Grand Escalante Stair Case and Cedar Breaks.  This google search might help you if you’re in Utah! I am so excited to take a little weekend jaunt to Moab to check out the Arches or to Zion’s National Park using my friend Shannon’s Awesome E-Book

Hike, Hike, Hike

And on that note! I want to HIKE this summer!  I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful place, and I can’t wait to take advantage of all the incredible hiking trails. I downloaded this app called All Trails that tells me how hard the hike is, has ratings from other hikers, lets me know if it’s kid friendly or dog friendly, basically it’s going to be my guide to any hike this summer.

Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets frequently begin around Memorial day and often go beyond labor day.  I love going to the farmers market in the summer to sample delicious fresh produce, and to support local farmers and businesses.  On top of that, there are normally buskers, food trucks, and sometimes other types of vendors selling their quality handmade goods.

Be a tourist in your own town

I am so excited for this one.  I am planning a stay-cation for my family in which we experience Salt Lake City as if we were tourists.  We’ll go to the cute little restaurants recommended by the “locals”, we’ll walk around Temple Square, meander around the City Library, maybe even go to Antelope Island or something else touristy like that.  Because I grew up in Salt Lake I sometimes forget about what a great place this is.

Knee Deep In A Quarter Life Crisis

I’m 66 days away from being 25 years old.

66 days.

But who’s counting?  Oh yeah, that’s me.  I’m counting.

I never thought that turning 25 was that big of a deal.  When people around me were turning 25 I thought it was completely silly that they were acting so dramatic over it.  All I could think about was how their car insurance would probably go down. Turning 25 was going to happen whether I liked it or not, so why get all emotional about it?

Yet here we are…66 days away from the big two five and I am knee deep in a quarter life crisis.

If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen some stories and some posts about how I’ve been a little lost over the last few weeks.  I felt like I lost my identity in motherhood and it was bleeding into all areas of my life.  It was causing some deep dissatisfaction with where I’m at in life today.

And that was a problem.  So I decided that I needs to stop coordinating a daily pity party and make some changes.  Here is what I did:

I took a step back and reviewed my life so far.  What have I accomplished over the last 24 years of my life?  I’ll spare you all the details (because I included things like “learned how to walk” in my list.) but I will share the highlights:

  1. I graduated from high school.
  2. I recovered from a really extreme injury that I was told I wouldn’t ever fully recover from.
  3. I have served in the Army Reserve for nearly 6 years.
  4. I have numerous accomplishments tied to my current job
  5. I paid off an auto loan (this is huge for me.  I hate debt.)
  6. I gave birth to a child & I survived the last year and a half with a baby in my house full time.

And that’s not even the last 24 years that’s only the last 8!

After I wrote my list I just sat there at looked at it for a bit.  I really needed all of my accomplishments to sink in.  Once I was done with that I wrote a new list.  I wrote a list of all the things that I feel I am.  Character traits that define me, titles that I hold, basically anything that would finish and “I am…” sentence.  This list included both positive and negative things.  Here’s a few of those highlights:

  1. I am a mom, a sister, a daughter, and an almost wife.
  2. I am compassionate.
  3. I am a musician.
  4. I am overly analytical.
  5. I am messy.
  6. I am a planner.
  7. I am a multi-potentialite.
  8. I am a procrastinator.

I looked at my two lists and I thought…why am I so frustrated?  What is actually making me feel like I’m unhappy?  Why on earth am I going through a quarter life crisis?  Being messy is NOT the end all be all reason my life feels really hard.

I decided that it’s because I’m going in the wrong direction.  It’s time to pivot. 

The dictionary defines “Pivot” as the central point on which a mechanism turns.

So early this week, I took my word of the day, pivot, and I applied to the University of Utah as a transfer student.  I’m not sure if I’ll get in, and I still have to wait for a couple of weeks to find out, but I already feel better.  Who knows if this is even the right direction, but at least it’s working towards something.

Did you go through a quarter life crisis? Are you going through one now?  Tell me all your tips. How did you survive it?  What did you do to feel secure again?

What to Look for in Webhosting

When I started into this whole WordPress blog thing to say I was terrified would be an understatement.  I had no idea where to start and I was honestly nervous about it.  People kept telling me it was the only way to go if you wanted to really grow your blog.  But I had ZERO clue how to do this thing. People kept recommending “hosts” to me and I was like…what’s a host?

*Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links.  If you click on them and make a purchase you

That is why I am so grateful that I listened to these smart people and went with SiteGround as my host.

In case you don’t know, a “host” is basically just a fancy internet word for the place that your website lives.  It lives on their server and you go through the host to build your site connect your emails, manage your domain, and other back end administrative things. Having a good host is really important.  For me, there were some really important factors that went into choosing a host.

1// Their customer service had to be KING.  

I have worked in customer service enough to be very particular about customer service.  It’s really important to me that when I am choosing a service that if I need help, the people on the phone will be able to help me and they’ll do it nicely. I’ve had to call SiteGround customer service a couple of time (beginner ya’ll…) and they were so kind and so helpful.  They fixed my problems in minutes.

2//  It had to be pretty easy to use.  

I wouldn’t say that I’m technologically challenged, but I’m also not a pro.  Whatever host I went with it had to have a good knowledge base, easily google-able info, & be generally easy to figure out.

3//  It should work well with my chosen platform

SiteGround has auto-installers for WordPress.  It was so dang easy to set up.  All I did was put in my domain, click the platform I wanted and I got started.  I was in writing posts maybe an hour later.  It was so quick and easy.

4// It had to have good reviews and come highly recommended. 

This may seem a little silly, but I have seen SO many complaints about sites crashing, poor customer service, and all around poor hosting.  I was very worried about picking a host that would really deliver so I sought a host that everyone was raving about.

For me that host was SiteGround.  If you’re looking to start a blog, I would highly recommend giving SiteGround a try.

If you already have a self-hosted blog, why did you choose your current host?

6 Ways to Save in 2018

In 2018 I’ve decided to avoid spending extra money whenever possible.  That’s all well and good, but I don’t only want to avoid spending on things I don’t need.  I also want to save money on the things that I do need.  Over the last couple of weeks I’ve come up with an action plan and some ways to save in 2018.

Please be aware that I talk about periods & tampons in this post.  If that bothers you, maybe skip this one.

*This post contains some affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking through an affiliate link I make a small commission at no extra cost to you*

I switched to a Menstrual Cup instead of tampons

I typically go through 1 $7-$8 box of tampons every month.  Some months I go through more than that.  I also used to spend extra money on panty liners to prevent leaks meaning that I was spending another $6 every couple of months. That adds up to roughly $96.  That’s also not including the need to buy new underwear when they get ruined.  The  menstrual cup was a one time cost of $35 (which I bought in 2017! So zero cost in 2018!)  It seals perfectly and never leaks.  It is recommended to be replaced annually, but some say you can get several years out of them you care of them.  Click the photo to get your own.  I promise they’re not scary.

I got a Costco Membership

I know that not EVERYTHING is cheaper in bulk quantities, but some things are.  For example, Costco brand diapers are less expensive than Huggies but are very similar quality and come in the same quantity at Costco.  Stay tuned for the post about things you should buy at Costco instead of  standard grocery store.

I have an App Arsenal for savings

I use Ibotta & Checkout51 for rebates on items found in grocery stores.  I use the Smith’s (Kroger) app for coupons. My car insurance provides a discount for downloading an app that tracks my driving.  I use Cartwheel any time I find myself in Target unsupervised.

 

I sought out discounts on things I have to pay for

You would be amazed at the discounts I was able to get by doing a little bit of research.  For example, my work offers discounts on health insurance for completing some surveys and biometric screening.  I got $600 off my annual premium.  We also have devices in our cars that save us 5% per car on our car insurance.  We may even shop for new car insurance soon just to try and get a better rate.  You shouldn’t even pay more when you don’t have to.

I order my groceries

I gave the click-list a try and it really helped me to plan my grocery list better and totally prevented impulse buys.  Not only that, it was massively convenient.  I just pulled up, opened the trunk and they loaded my groceries.  They also accept paper coupons.  So not only can I shop with my digital coupons on the site, but I can add in my paper coupons on top for additional savings.

I joined an MLM

I have a LipSense addiction.  And by joining, I get 20-50% off on all my orders…So I wait until some friends need some LipSense, and I add to my collection.  I do still spend a bit, but my friends & other customers help me earn a bit of it back.  And when I’m really working it on my sales the cost of my own addiction is a drop in the bucket.  If you’re thinking about doing this I highly recommend you go and read this post about what to consider before joining and MLM. 

How are you trying to save money this year?

My 2018 Reading List

This year I am determined to do more reading.  In an effort to reach my goals, I created a book club!  So far it’s pretty small but that’s okay.  We’ve got a few good ones on the list that I am really excited to read.  Here’s what’s on my reading list this year:

*Just so you know, I’ve made all the book links affiliate links.  If you feel like clicking through to make a purchase I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you*

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

I’m sure you’ve heard of this one. It’s the book that the new hit Hulu series is based on.  I loved the series so I decided I needed to give the book a chance too.  I’m sure there are a lot of differences. If you aren’t familiar, it’s about a dystopian society where the men and women are not longer fertile, so they have created an extreme patriarchal world in which handmaids are the ones who carry and birth the children and they are given to the high ranking families. It’s pretty messed up and I can’t wait to read it.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room is about a a mother and son (I think) who are in a room together…Always.  I picked this one because the synopsis was very cryptic and totally intriguing.  I suggest you check it out if you want to know what it’s about. 

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

I’m about 1/4 of the way through this one and it’s such a page turner I have to keep myself from staying up all night to read it.  It’s about 6 people (plus some others that surround them) who go to a barbecue that changes their lives forever.  I don’t really know how, but apparently it happens…

She Means Business by Carrie Green

Turn Your Ideas into Reality and Become a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur.  I will probably pick this one up pretty soon.  Lately I have been so into the self development and growing a business.  I think this book will give me some motivation to really make things happen in my business.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

This one is actually young adult fiction.  It’s about teens in detention.  I’m pretty excited to read this one.  Most of the teen fiction I have read as an adult is by Sarah Dessen so I’m excited to read something a little different.

What’s on your reading list this year?

5 On Friday: What I’m Up To

Happy Friday, everyone!  It’s time for some 5 on Friday.  I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty glad that Friday is here.  I know it was a short week…but still.  I have drill this weekend, so I’ll be running around playing Army this weekend, but it will be better than sitting in my desk at work all day!

*Ps…This post contains a few affiliate links.  If you click on these links and make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you*

What I’m reading…

I just started reading Turtles All the Way Down by John Greene.  It’s January’s book club book! If you want to join in on the real life book club, head over to my book club post!  We’d be happy to have you.

What I’m listening to…

I’m really into The Goaldigger Podcast with Jenna Kutcher.  I’m all caught up on it so I’m patiently waiting each week for her new episodes to come out.  I’ve also been rocking out to Maroon 5’s album Red Pill Blues.  I listen to it mostly when I go to the gym and it really improves my work out.

What I’m pinning…

I’m mostly pinning wedding inspiration, but I’ve also been looking for new recipes.  Because I’ve been working so hard to focus on our financial health, I’ve been meal planning and Pinterest has been an amazing resource.  I’ll share some of my ideas here in the coming weeks.  It’s amazing what some people come up with.  Some of my very favorite recipes I found browsing meal ideas on Pinterest.

What I’m wearing

I’ve been obsessed with some new dresses I bought from Old Navy.  I seriously want to wear them every day that’s how cute they are, but it’s a little chilly so I have to choose the days I wear it wisely!  I normally pair them with tights which helps!  I have  this yellow one (it’s on sale too!)and this striped one.  I can’t find the pink one that I have, but I’ll share some photos. Seriously wish I could buy every variety!

What I’m working on

I am working on so many things!

+ I’m working on a debt crusher spread sheet to provide as a free resource to all of my amazing readers as well as a no spend free challenge that anyone can join in on.

+ I’m working on a wedding budget creator for the clueless bride (aka me) and other wedding planning resources

+ I’m working on a some killer email content for you all

+ And I’m working on some giveaways in my LipSense Facebook group!  I’m giving away tons of awesome products FREE every day and on the 11th day I’m giving away a big grand prize that I will announce this evening when I go live to announce today’s winner.  There is still time to join in on the fun! Click on over to Lost in the Gloss to learn more!

What are you up to this lovely Friday?

How to Repair Your Relationship With Money

About 6 months ago I started into a spending fast after reading a book by Anna Newell Jones.  It totally changed the way I think about money, but I had a hard time actually putting it into practice.  I had a bunch of little incidents pop up that only ADDED to my debt, we moved into a new place and we needed some new things…and it just spiraled from there.  With that being said, we also had some good luck and things were looking really good financially, but now with a pending trip to Hawaii, our wedding, and plans to buy a home, it’s time to review my currently relationship with money and work to repair it. 

Improving or repairing your relationship with money isn’t an overnight process.  It takes time to and effort to really make a change.  Money isn’t everything.  It really isn’t.  But we need it in order to live our lives.  We have to spend at least some money to survive our day to day lives.  I think that something with that much power deserves some respect…Here are the steps you can take to really change the way you think about money.

1// Understand where your money is going

The first step of a spending fast is to know what your current spending habits look like.  Take a look at your bank statements for the last 3 months, or if you’re like me, look online.  Your bank or credit union may even have an app or other tools to help you analyze your spending categories.  Most of my spending tends to be eating out and miscellaneous Target trips to pick up things we “need”.

2// Analyze why you’re spending there

When you review your spending habits, pay attention to the dates where the spending occurred.  What was going on in your life?  Were you stressed out?  Did you just go through a big break-up?  Did you manage your time poorly and not pack your lunch for 2 week?  What caused you to spend where you did?  Knowing why you’re spending can help you try to prevent these situations where you’re “forced” to spend outside of your planned occasions.

3// Determine your wants and needs

Writing down what you need to spend money on and what you want to spend money on can help you realize what is truly essential.  This list will look different for everyone.  My “need” list will include my gym membership, but someone who never goes to the gym might put that on the wants list.  Understanding what you could live without can help cut down your expenses and avoid that completely unnecessary overdraft.

4// Write down all your payments and debt amounts

Knowing how much you owe can help ground you.  I know that when I wrote down how much I still owed on my car made me stop eating out real quick. I started taking that money I would spend on Taco Bell and started throwing it at my car payment and now my car is paid off. It took time and some sacrifice, but it is so worth it.  I am so happy every time I get in the car that I own.

5//  Make a plan

Have you heard that old adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”?  It’s so true.  Make a plan for what you’re going to do when you’re tempted to spend money.  If you’re allowing for certain “fun” expenses, how are you going to determine if it’s worth the money?  If your biggest spending weakness is food, how will you avoid that needless spend?  Maybe you’ll pack a lunch or avoid leaving the house hungry. Maybe you’ll explain to your work friends that you only eat out for lunch once a month.

Whatever your plan is, make sure you have one so that you know exactly how to handle spending when these situations arise.

6//  Track your spending & savings

I use a spread sheet to track how much I’m spending and saving.  I document every dollar I spend, I regularly check my bank account. This helps me see how I progress, how much I “save” week over week, and keeps me encouraged to continue.  I’ve also recent been playing around with “YNAB” or “You Need a Budget“.  I only just downloaded it on the 1st so we’ll see how my free trial goes.

7//  Increase your income & decrease your spending

This is a total Dave Ramsey  thing…but seriously it will help!  Find some things you can sell that you aren’t using.  Facebook has made this so easy these days.  Take a few pictures and post what you can live without.  Take surveys, consider starting a low cost business, become a secret shopper, get a part time job, work that overtime etc etc.

To decrease your spending where you must spend, use coupons and your local grocery store apps, use  Ibotta (seriously it’s free money!), avoid shopping hungry, compare prices.  Call your credit card companies and see if you can lower your interest rates (and then cut up the card!)  shop around if your car insurance is high, consider refinancing your mortgage and so many other things!

8//  Stay motivated

Personally I listen to Podcasts and read the success stories of others to stay motivated.  If you ever need a boost or you’re thinking about quitting, it helps to know that so many other before you went through the same journey and made it happen. You could join a support group on Facebook.  I’m in one and it really helps keep me motivated.  I can also bounce my plans off of other and see how they are crushing their debt and saving money.

How do you plan to repair your relationship with money and destroy your debts?