About

Years ago a family member took her life due to debt and depression.

I vowed right then to never let either one of those things destroy my life. I’m still working on that and this is my journey to keep my promise by living a better life physically, spiritually, mentally, and financially.

Health

This blog started soon after as an effort to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. It’s gone through many transitions over time just like my life. The topics covered here differ day to day, but there are some consistent themes about health, eating well, and living a better life.

In 2018 I began a postpartum health journey with multiple physical, mental, and spiritual aspects.

Wealth

I’ve paid off $5,500 in credit card debt, $22,000 in student loans, and a $12,000 car loan. In 2018 we saved up for our baby’s birth and a $10,000 emergency fund.

I talk about budgeting, saving money, side hustles, mental health and everything else. I make plenty of mistakes but I’ll never stop striving for a better, happier life. Building a steady spiritual and financial foundation is a huge goal of mine after many years stress and insecurity financially. I never want to be in the place where debt rules my life or convinces me to take it.

Budgeting

I’ve been budgeting monthly since 2017 and I’ve shared budgeting videos on YouTube since that time. I fell into this after just trying to find a use for a camera I rented from work but it’s become a fun hobby that actually helps people!

Below are some of the items I use to budget with each month! I get a lot of questions about what I use with my planners and the apps I use to keep my budget on track.

Happy Planner – I use my Happy Planner for everything including budgeting! I find writing down my budget and checking in on paper helps me to better remember and makes it feel more real.

Budget Stickers – I use a variety of budget stickers in my videos from Me And My Big Ideas, Erin Condren and various Etsy shops. I’ve linked my favorite budget sticker Etsy shops I use all the time below (affiliate links):

Elaine Michelle Studio (youtuber & budget stickers)
Planner Kate (matte budget stickers)
A Happy Blue Tree (kawaii budget stickers)
HoneyInked Planner Paperie (clear budget stickers)
Planner Envy (bright budget stickers)

Every Dollar – My husband and I both use a shared Every Dollar app account where we actively track our spending. This works best for us since my husband doesn’t use a planner and we have joint bank accounts and expenses.

Mint.com – I’ve used Mint for over years as a passive net worth tracker. It’s a more passive option and I don’t actively update it except for once or twice a year when I want to gauge my net worth progress.

Hopefully these tools will help you with your budget whether you love pen and paper or technology!