Paying bills and maintaining a steady process can be so hectic.  Especially with each of the bills being due at different times, for different amounts, and all in which vary from month to month.  So, if you are looking for small tips to making sure you aren’t charged those excruciating late fees… follow these four suggestions!

  1. Get organized. Begin with an overview of all your bills.  Make a list of all your expenses.  As you are making a list, make sure you include everything… mortgage/rent, electricity, water/sewer, credit card bills, internet, loans, car payment, insurance payment, etc.
  2. Itemize your list. While creating your list, include the time of the month each bill is generally due.  Organize the list as a checklist.  The first items on the list should be the expenses that are due at the first of the month, bills due mid-month in the middle of the checklist, and what isn’t due until the end of the month, put that at the bottom of your list.
  3. Create a schedule. Now that you have all your expenses spelled out and in one place, grab your planner and start putting those dates in there.  TIP #1: write “pay water bill” a couple days before the bill is actually due.  If you do this, you will allow yourself some time to pay the bill before it is actually due.  Don’t have a planner?  Use the calendar on your phone and set an alarm!  Tip #2: don’t set your alarm for a time you are unavailable.  Make sure the alarm is set for a convenient time so you can stop what you are doing and make the payment.
  4. When possible, streamline the process. Fortunately for us and the wonderful capabilities we all have in the 21st century, we can schedule our payments to be paid automatically.  So, if you have the opportunity, go ahead and setup your bills to automatically deduct from your account regularly.  Automatic withdrawal is the #1 way to make sure you pay your bills on time.

So, there you have it… I know that paying bills is not fun at all.  However, if you follow these tips, you can ease your mind and feel better about your expenses.

As you know from last week’s blog, fall is here!  As fall arrives and starts getting settled in, we lose more and more daylight each day.  However, even though we lose daylight, that’s not always a bad thing.

While summer is hanging around, with the amount of daylight hours we get, we tend to stay busy and push off sleep because we want to be outside until dark each night.  However, as fall has arrived and plans to stay for the next couple months, it will start to get dark sooner.  So please, take advantage of the darkness and get back in the habit of getting a good amount of sleep.

Did you know that sleep is a crucial component to your overall health?  Here are four reasons why sleep is important:

  1. Poor sleep can lead to weight gain. Individuals with short sleep duration typically weigh more than those who get a substantial amount of sleep.  Did you know that one of the largest risk factors for obesity is not getting enough sleep?  It also just so happens that good sleepers tend to eat less calories than people who don’t sleep as much.
  2. Sleep refuels your brain. Since sleep refuels your brain, getting enough sleep improves your concentration and productivity throughout the day.  Sleep also enhances your memory and problem-solving skills.
  3. Sleep impacts our emotions. As you might already know sleep affects social interactions and, with a lack of sleep, it is difficult to interact socially.  I mean, think about it… if you’re tired, you are typically cranky, and thus not fun to be around.
  4. Sleep enhances athletic performance and fitness ability. Sleeping allows your body to rest, relax, and refuel itself.  If you are constantly working out, running, and exercising, getting good sleep is important in that journey.  If you do not allow your body to rest, you will only end up hurting yourself in the long run.

I don’t know about you, but these four reasons are enough for me to go inside earlier and get some good sleep.  And hey, I care about you too… get inside and get your rest!  So, for now, sleep tight. <3

Isn’t it amazing how the seasons change?  Maybe it is just me, but it feels like I cannot wait for summer by the time winter ends, and I long for cold winter days toward the end of the dead of summer heat.  But there is one season that I would love to hold onto forever, and that is fall!

I think my dedication and love for fall begins and ends with the weather and the long list of activities and festivities that take place during this time.  So, here are 5 things you can do to get the most out of the fall season and enjoy all of its beauty!

  1. Buy a pumpkin scented candle. Again, maybe it is just me… but nothing says it’s fall more than the aroma of our fall favorite scents.  TIP:  Weekends are the best to break in the new candle.  Light the candle, grab your coffee, and settle in for a relaxing fall.
  2. Enjoy the beautiful weather. If you enjoy hiking and camping, this is the time of year where the weather is the best!  The cool breeze and fallen leaves make for the perfect adventure.  Great weather + beautiful scenery = FALL AT ITS FINEST!
  3. Drink PSL. Pumpkin Spice Lattes anyone?  Fall is the only time you can get these from Starbucks and other coffee shops.  So, drink up and get your fill for the rest of the year!
  4. Pull your favorite jeans and sweaters out of your closet. Fall clothing is the best!  Boots, jeans, sweaters… if you don’t have a favorite… maybe that’s an excuse to go shopping for some? 😊
  5. Visit a fall festival. Go check out the seasons harvest!  Maybe even buy a pumpkin or two to decorate your apartment with.

Just enjoy the season!  It only comes around once a year!  <3

Success is a term that is always defined differently among people.  However, nine times out of ten, most 20 year-olds associate success with happiness, friends, a balanced life, and good health.

Did you know that what you do in your spare time plays an important role in your ability to achieve success in these things?

Here are 5 things successful women in their 20s do during their spare time:

  1. Spend time with friends and family. When life gets too fast and too stressful, it is important to take time for yourself and recharge.  Oftentimes women who make an effort to spend this time with family and friends recharge and are ready for whatever life has next.
  2. Make time to exercise. We preach it all the time.  If you take the time to exercise and do something for your body, your body will thank you and you will be much happier.  Exercise is not only good for your physical health and figure, but it also reduces stress and increases mental awareness.
  3. Have an open mind to learn new things. In order to be successful (happy, healthy, etc.) it is important to be willing to try new things and venture into waters you might not be familiar with.  It is important to be curious and constantly learn new things.  Successful people know that knowledge is power in this world.  If we are constantly learning and absorbing information, we have the key to success right there.
  4. They reflect on success. Successful people take the time to look back after they have experienced a “win” and make sure they know what they did so they can be sure they do it again next time.
  5. They reflect and acknowledge their failures as well. Just as it is important to make note when you have achieved a “win”, it is just as important to reflect when you experience a “loss”.  Learning from mistakes and not repeating them is so important when it comes to achieving success.

We all have the success gene in our body!  As women, we want to empower all women to be successful and conquer the world. <3