1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: I know that money can obviously be confusing and tied 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: to what's happening in the economy. What I want to 3 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: do is sort of break down with you some of 4 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: the biggest money trends that are unfolding. And twenty twenty 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: six so far, rates are up, job market feels shaky 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: as hell. AI is out here gobbling up people's roles 7 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: like freaking pac Man. Student loans are back on the table, 8 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: and somehow that grocery bill was doing the most and 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: it's just like, what who's paying for these bills? Hey, hey, 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: ba fam, welcome back to another episode of Brown Ambition. 11 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: It's your girl, Mandy Money, and I gotta just tell 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: y'all it feels as if this year has gone by 13 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: quick already. We're on the twentieth of January. I'm talking 14 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: about I'm listening to episodes of podcasts that are like, 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: it's been one year since Trump was elected. I was 16 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: like one year. Ware, Uh, it's moving too too fast. 17 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: But before life gets a little too crazy and we 18 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: lose sight of those well intentioned goals and ideas, ideals 19 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: that we had, the vision that we had for how 20 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: this year was going to shake out. I knew I 21 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: had to get y'all. I was like, let me keep 22 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: pressing on, ba Faan, Let's keep on this theme of 23 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: getting richer in twenty twenty six. Y'all know, one of 24 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: the most popular episodes of the year so far has 25 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: been the Three Habits that will make You Richer in 26 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,759 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six. If you haven't listened to it yet, 27 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: I highly recommend listening to that. And then coming back 28 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: to this episode. It was just aired a couple of 29 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: weeks ago and it's already the biggest show of the year, 30 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: and I was like, all right, ba fan is telling 31 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: me something. We want to get that money in twenty 32 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: twenty six. And what I love about the success of 33 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: that episode is how simplistic a lot of what I 34 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: discussed in that episode truly is. And I know that 35 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: people will look at that headline and think, oh my god, 36 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: it's going to be like some crazy you know AI 37 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: power technology. Maybe it's got some new insight into a 38 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: new trend in the marketplace or a new stock I 39 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: need to invest in. And when you really break it down, 40 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: it's simple habits. We're talking about adding one percent to 41 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: what you are contributing to retirement for the year, we're 42 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: talking about automating a savings goal. Like these are not 43 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: crazy ideas, they're not unimaginable steps that you have to take. 44 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: They're extremely doable. They are the small, you know, impactful 45 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: choices and habits that you want to instill that lead 46 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: to creating wealthier systems for yourself. Okay, So we're doubling 47 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: down on that with today's episode. So I know that 48 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: money can obviously be confusing and also tied to what's 49 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: happening in the economy. So right now, what I want 50 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: to do is sort of break down with you some 51 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: of the biggest money trends that are unfolding and twenty 52 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: twenty six so far, money trends that have to do 53 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: with your wallet. And we know we are here to 54 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: make a bag and protect our bag, right So the 55 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: first thing I want to talk about is what's going on. 56 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: Rates are up, job market feels shaky as hell as ever. 57 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: AI is out here gobbling up people's roles like freaking 58 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 1: pac Man. Student loans are back on the table, and 59 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: somehow that grocery bill, if you're anything like me, that 60 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: grocery bill is doing the most and you just have 61 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: no idea and your children go through so much frosted 62 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: flakes and so many organic hot dogs, and it's just like, 63 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: who's paying for these bills? Today? I want to take 64 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: the drama out of the headlines, though, I'm going to 65 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: break down the four big money trends of twenty twenty six, 66 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: talking inflation, interest rates, the job market, and AI and 67 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: the student loan mess. More importantly, though, I'm talking about 68 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: the habits you can create today that'll help you control 69 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: how your money is being impacted by these trends. Now, 70 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: we can't control the trends themselves, we can control how 71 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: we protect and insulate our finances against them. That's right. 72 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: We don't set the Federal Reserve policy. We don't control 73 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: whether or not we out here spending money on a 74 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: billion dollar ballroom or buying up countries that want nothing 75 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: to do with us. You don't control whether your company 76 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: gives you a surprise layoff you definitely did not ask for. 77 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: Sally may to be all up in your business. But 78 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: you do control how you budget, how you save, how 79 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: you prepare for your career, and how you respond when 80 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: the economy starts acting up. I'm a big believer in 81 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 1: accept what you can't control. And get to work in 82 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: on the things that you can control. So by the 83 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: end of this episode, what am I going to let 84 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: y'all walk away with? By the end of this episode, 85 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: here's what you're going to walk away with. You're gonna 86 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: have a clear picture of what's really going on with prices, rates, jobs, 87 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: and student loans in twenty twenty six. And what I 88 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: really want for y'all to have is one small, doable 89 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: habit that you can start this week for each of 90 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: these trends so that you're just not scared of the news. 91 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: You're actually using it to make smarter moves with your money. 92 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: So if you've been thinking, and I would not blame 93 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: you if you are, because so am I like, girl, 94 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: just tell me what to do. This is your episode, 95 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: So grab your coffee, open up that notes app. Let's 96 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: get into the four biggest money trends of twenty twenty 97 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 1: six and how you can protect your bag from inflation, 98 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: AI and student loans. All right, be a fan. Let's 99 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: kick it off with inflation. Yeah, inflation is still that girl. 100 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: She is still jacking things up for us. Now, the 101 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: good news is that inflation has been cooling, So whether 102 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,679 Speaker 1: it's from your grocery bill or to paying for gas 103 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: at the pump. Things haven't been as exorbitantly expensive or 104 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 1: at least getting increasing in cost at the rate that 105 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: they were a couple of years ago. So cooling from 106 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five levels true and modestly sitting at around 107 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,799 Speaker 1: two percent. That's what the feed is predicting for twenty 108 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: twenty six, between two point four percent to two point 109 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: six percent for inflation. So the translation for BAFAM for 110 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: my listeners is that price jumps are thankfully, thank the Lord, 111 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: going to slow down. However, there are some categories of 112 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: common consumer expenses and unfortunately are not going to be 113 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: slowing down as much. And unfortunately for us, they are 114 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: some of the biggest ticket items in our budget talk 115 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: and groceries, talk and rent, talking childcare. So that means 116 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: that your budget, certainly my family's budget, is not going 117 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: to feel any less tight in twenty twenty six. So 118 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 1: what can we actually do about this? Right? So, one 119 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 1: thing that I love is this idea of an inflation audit. 120 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 1: An inflation audit basically means you're going to be and 121 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,239 Speaker 1: by the way, if you haven't listened to last week's 122 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: or a couple of weeks ago the episode on three 123 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: Wealthier Habits for twenty twenty six. One of the things 124 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 1: that we discuss is actually tracking our spending using one 125 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: of my favorite apps. You can use Monarch Money, you 126 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: can use Rocket money. But if you're an Excel spreadsheet 127 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: early like, more power to you. If you're using an 128 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: app like you need a budget, I don't care. The 129 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: whole point is that you are bringing all of your spending, 130 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: all of your accounts into one location. Not just you, 131 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: also any partner that you have, you know, in this 132 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: same household, who is sharing in your expenses and your 133 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: sharing income. Got to bring all that data in so 134 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: that you can start to do these things that will 135 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: help you, you know, chisel out and carve out a 136 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: budget that doesn't just control your spending and keep it 137 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: in line, but also freeze you up to really tackle 138 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: your money goals, whether that's paying down credit card debt. 139 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: Did y'all know that American households are now carrying a 140 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: record amount of credit card debt? Yeah, it's something like 141 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: a record amount of debt. Period. It's something like over 142 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: one hundred and fourteen thousand dollars per household in America 143 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: that we are carrying, so we got to get on 144 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: top of that, right. But tracking your money is the 145 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: first step in that process, and it's a key ingredient, 146 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: a key step that you have to put in place 147 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: before you can complete your inflation audit. So every month, 148 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: let's say you set a calendar reminder, or if you're 149 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: already doing a weekly money meeting or a monthly money 150 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: meeting with your partner, with yourself, put in an inflation audit. 151 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: So scan a few categories in your budget, can be groceries, 152 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: eating out, subscriptions, activities for your kids, and intentionally look 153 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: for things that you can either cut or replace or 154 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: even better, shop around to see if you can get 155 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: a better deal somewhere else while you're doing that inflation audit. Now, 156 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: I know y'all get the same emails I do, whether 157 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: it's from a streaming service, whether it's from my kid's 158 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: daycare or the aftercare program, where they're saying, okay, here 159 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: are the new rates we are implementing for twenty twenty six, 160 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: and likely they are a few percentage points higher, which, 161 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: depending on what we're talking about here, that can mean 162 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: hundreds of dollars on top of your budget. So how 163 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: are we going to combat that? So let's talk about 164 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 1: a couple of other habits that we can actually control. 165 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: If you are lucky enough to see an increase in 166 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: your income for twenty twenty six, now, an annual raise 167 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: in this country, I mean, you're lucky if you get 168 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: a little two percent, maybe three I mean no, no, 169 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 1: it's barely keeping pace with inflation. Right. However, if you 170 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: do get a little bit of a raise, look at 171 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: how you are using those extra resources and ask yourself, 172 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: can I keep my lifestyle my lifestyle creep to one percent? 173 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: So factor in how much more are you bringing in 174 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: per paycheck per month, and be intentional about where that 175 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,199 Speaker 1: extra money is going to go. So you want to 176 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 1: keep that lifestyle creep at one percent? I know one percent. 177 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: So that means, don't, you know, upgrade around your house 178 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: too much. Don't immediately upgrade. You know what you're going 179 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: to be spending on and what you're going to be purchasing, 180 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: Especially with the meager raises that a lot of employees 181 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: are receiving, you know, from corporate America these days, it's 182 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 1: not giving you very much. So raises are great, we 183 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: love them, but do what you can to route the 184 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: majority of that raise toward any savings goal you have 185 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: or debt. It doesn't feel as good, I know, it 186 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 1: doesn't feel as good as a luxury vacation. It doesn't 187 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: feel as good as getting yourself a new fit. And 188 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: I know, honey, you deserve We all just we deserve 189 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: some self care, that massage. We want it. But think 190 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: about what that money can do for you long term. 191 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: If you're using it to chip away at your debt 192 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 1: or build upon your savings goals, I mean, that's really 193 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: giving future you permission to a luxurious life. That's giving 194 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: future you a better chance at really reaching that wealthy 195 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: and healthy status in your bank account. Think about her. Also, 196 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: when you're doing this inflation check and you're going through 197 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: all your expenses, make note not just of how much 198 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: you're spending on recurring charges. And we all think about 199 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: when we think about subscriptions or recurring charges. We think 200 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: about Netflix, we think about Hulu or Peloton or the 201 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: gym membership, whatever it may be. But also think about 202 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: insurance right, think about your phone bill, think about utilities 203 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: that you're paying for in a monthly basis, and start 204 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: keeping tabs on what time of the year or what 205 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: month those recurring charges hit and try to work in 206 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 1: like a ten to fifteen minute shop around session for 207 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: those charges. So let's talk about your insurance. For example, 208 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: if you're bundling auto insurance, home insurance, any type of 209 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: insurance that you have, you have the option to shop 210 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 1: around and switch providers if you can find a better 211 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: deal elsewhere. And I would highly recommend taking some time 212 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: to do that. I know I give my husband major 213 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: props for doing that. He recently was able to save 214 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: us some money on our auto insurance just by shopping around. 215 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: And by shopping around, I mean these insurance websites, you 216 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: can literally go to them and get a quote, you know, 217 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: based on your situation. You can go to like a 218 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: big marketplace like a Policy Genius for example, or like 219 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: a Value Penguin for example, but you can also go 220 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 1: directly to the insurance website itself. So you know, name 221 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: any big insurer like State Farm, Geico, AFLAC, I mean, 222 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: any of these big insurance companies and see what they 223 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: can do for you and see if you want to 224 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: switch up your policy, I mean even saving like ten percent. 225 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: That can make a big difference. When you're talking about 226 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: like a homeowner's insurance policy, you're an auto insurance policy, 227 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: all right, So what do y'all think about that? Inflation auditing? 228 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: So we're going to sit down, We're going to look 229 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: at what is coming out of our bank accounts, what 230 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: all of our major expenses are, and look for trends 231 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: and what's actually increasing in price and then ask ourselves, Okay, 232 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: that's something we can cut back. Is there a more 233 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 1: affordable option for that that we can cut back on? 234 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: And if you are getting any additional income in the 235 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: form of a raise, you know, also a bonus, even 236 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: make sure that you're putting that money toward your savings 237 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: or your debt paid off goals and not letting it 238 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: feed into your lifestyle creep. Lifestyle creep is the biggest 239 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: killer of wealth. Okay. I have been a victim myself, 240 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: and I know it is very difficult to do. There's 241 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 1: a million justifications for giving yourself a little something some However, 242 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: we have to bring it back to what those goals 243 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: and that vision for ourselves in twenty twenty six want, 244 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: and how can we actually feed those goals, those long 245 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: term goals that do not give us instant gratification, but honey, 246 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: I promise they will pay off for you and pay 247 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: huge dividends if you're able to just keep that discipline 248 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,959 Speaker 1: and put that money towards those long term goals as well. 249 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: And then lastly, look at any expenses that you may 250 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: be able to shop around for and see if you 251 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: can get a more affordable rate, talking about insurance, your 252 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: phone plan, streaming services, whatever it may be. Shop around 253 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: session is a month, Hey bafam, we got to take 254 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: a quick break, pay some bills and we'll be right back, 255 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: all right. Money trend Number two for twenty twenty six 256 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:33,199 Speaker 1: rates interest rates. Particularly the way that interest rates impact 257 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: us as consumers, as the people who are on the 258 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: other side of these big corporations is it is how 259 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: much it costs to borrow money in this country. So 260 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: after making some cuts to the rates in twenty twenty five, 261 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: we saw the FED reducing the federal interest rate by 262 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: I don't know a couple quarter percentage points in twenty 263 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: twenty five. Now it looks like they're going to be 264 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: continuing that into twenty twenty six. Now, sure is the 265 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: federal government like investigating Jerome Powell, our current FED chair, 266 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: for what was it for lying to Congress or sum 267 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: shananigans like that, like who the hell knows what's going 268 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: on in Washington exactly. But he did come out with 269 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: that statement basically saying like they are doing this to 270 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: attack me because we are treating rates with the interest 271 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: of the economy in mind and not what is on 272 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: the agenda of the Trump administration. Shout out to Powell, 273 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: and shout out to micro Lisa Cook, who they tried 274 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: to remove and out from the federal last year as well. 275 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: The key point of this is that current leadership in 276 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: the FED is going to looks like they're going to 277 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: continue gradually lowering rates into twenty twenty six. So that 278 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: means mortgage rates everyone talks about those mortgage rates could 279 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: potentially be going down. We haven't seen any huge backslides 280 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: in mortgage rates. I mean they were getting up there 281 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: right like seven percent, you know if you had good, 282 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: good credit. But they could be getting down to like 283 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: the five percent range by the end of twenty twenty six. 284 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: That also means that savings yields may start to slip. 285 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: That's kind of the you know the other side of 286 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: the coin. We want rates. We like it when rates 287 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: go down. We like it when the FED cuts rates 288 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: because it makes things like credit cards and mortgage rates 289 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: and auto loan rates go down. However, if you are 290 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: someone who loves keeping your money in a high yield 291 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: savings account, that means that the bank is probably going 292 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: to reduce the percentage that they are paying you on 293 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: your savings account. That's because they are making less money 294 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: on the interest that they're charging their credit card and 295 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: their loan customers, and so they have to, you know, 296 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: they have to take away a little something from us, right, 297 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: so they're going to maybe reducing those savings rates. Credit card. 298 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: Like I said, credit card and auto loan rates may 299 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: go down a little bit, But if you're carrying high 300 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: interest credit card debt and that average percentage rate is 301 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: well over twenty percent these days, a little bitty percentage 302 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: decrease in the cost of that debt is not going 303 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: to necessarily save you. And that's still extremely high interest 304 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: debt that we need to be tackling in twenty twenty six, 305 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: all right. So that's like the economic picture of what's 306 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 1: happening in rates right now. So let's talk about how 307 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: we are going to control this on our end. So 308 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: a habit that we can talk about implementing is making 309 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: rate checks like individual rate checks part of your ritual. 310 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: So this can be a quarterly Habit doesn't got to 311 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: be every week every month, but once a quarter, like 312 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: once every few months. Look at your main accounts like 313 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: you're checking your savings, your credit cards, any loans that 314 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: you have, your mortgage. Check the APR on each of 315 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: those accounts. Once you have all of those rates lined 316 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: up and you see how much all of that debt 317 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: is costing, you then think about which debt is the 318 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: highest priority. So pick one high interest debt balance and 319 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: set an automatic extra payment that can go toward paying 320 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: that down a little bit faster. Now that can be 321 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: a fixed amount you can increase every pay day, even 322 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: twenty five or fifty dollars per paycheck toward a high 323 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: interest debt can help you move the needle. And if 324 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: you're someone who is in credit card debt, freeze, and 325 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: I'm saying specifically credit card debt. I know that there's 326 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: other kinds of debt obviously, but credit card debt is 327 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,959 Speaker 1: like the most nefarious because of how expensive it is. 328 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: There's also a lot of shame tied to credit card debt. 329 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: And I'm specifically talking to the girls out there who 330 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: have had long term unemployment or have been underemployed in 331 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five heading into twenty twenty six, and I've 332 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,959 Speaker 1: had to rely on credit cards because listen, honey, like, 333 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: even if we were good, good little boys and girls, 334 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: and we set aside our three to six months of 335 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: emergency savings like all the experts have been telling us 336 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 1: to do since the dawna time, then those three to 337 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: six month savings, like if you were unemployed for longer 338 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: than that, then you're cooked, Like sorry, those savings are gone, 339 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: and then what are you going to do? You gotta 340 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: lean on a little bit of credit card debt. And unfortunately, 341 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: that is just the reality. And I think that there 342 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: is some shame tied to that when you have credit 343 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: card debt. But I do want to say just a 344 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 1: moment for the listeners who are struggling with credit card debt. 345 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: I know a lot of y'all are. Having credit card 346 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: debt does not make you a bad person. It doesn't 347 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: mean that you're bad with money. It means that you 348 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: had to take advantage of a tool to make ends 349 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: meet for a period of time, and that because of 350 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: the way this capitalist society is built, that that's extremely 351 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: expensive debt and that it's something that you need to tackle. 352 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: It's something that you can tackle. However, I don't want 353 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: the shame or the anxiety that credit card debt can 354 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: really swirl up in us to keep you frozen and 355 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: keep you from actually tackling it. All right, So this 356 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: exercise by doing a little rate check can just keep 357 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: you in tune with, Okay, what's my most expensive debt? 358 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: Where do I want to put that little extra payment 359 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: toward each month? You can also look at other options 360 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: like debt consolidation, refinancing debt if it's possible, doing a 361 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: balance transfer, tackling that debt and kind of not forgetting 362 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 1: about it and not letting it continue to build, build, build, 363 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: but actually have some time baked into the calendar where 364 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 1: you're doing that rate check and really assessing what your 365 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: options are. Now, as long as I've been covering you know, 366 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: been a business journalist, been doing brown ambition, I get 367 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: this question often, which is which comes first? Do I 368 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: pay down my credit card debt and other debt first 369 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: or do I start saving and investing? And the long 370 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: and short is that both just both Okay, if you 371 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: had an extra hundred dollars that you were going to 372 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: get in your paycheck, you know, you got a little raise, 373 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 1: you get a little bonus, whatever, I would say, let's 374 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: put fifty of that towards some debt and put fifty 375 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: of that toward your savings or investing goals. I think 376 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:45,479 Speaker 1: that both of them are equally important. And you could argue, like, okay, 377 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: even on the highest yield savings account today, what is 378 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: it like four percent? Maybe that it's not going to 379 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: even touch, you know, the amount of interest that you're 380 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,360 Speaker 1: paying on your credit card debt. So wouldn't it make 381 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: more sense to put that whole one hundred dollars towards 382 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 1: your credit card debt. Sometimes the math doesn't exactly drive 383 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: with your you know, what feels good to us, what 384 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 1: feels like mentally the best you know choice for us, 385 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: and also just what makes the most sense for your 386 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: cash flow. You know, at the end of the day, 387 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 1: I'm not saying anybody like I would never advise. I'm 388 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 1: not your personal financial advisor, so I'm not saying, like, 389 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: consider bankruptcy or default on those credit cards. But at 390 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: the end of the day, like the cash and your 391 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: savings account is what's really gonna, you know, be there 392 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: for you when you have a shortfall and you are running, 393 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 1: you know, tight on funds. You need to little extra 394 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: money that you need to tap into, and I'd rather 395 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: you were taking that from a savings account than having 396 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: to rack up more credit card debt. So building that 397 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 1: savings for me makes a lot more sense. And so 398 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: I wouldn't want you to give up that goal while 399 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 1: going you know, full hog toward your you know, debt goal. 400 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: And Dave Ramsey like, don't at me. I don't care. 401 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: We all have our own philosophies for how to do things, 402 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 1: but I do believe that you're worthy of still having 403 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 1: a life and working toward their savings goals even if 404 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: you have some credit card debt. All right, So during 405 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: this quarterly rate audit, you can also look at, Okay, 406 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 1: what's my personal minimum that I want to have set 407 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: aside for an emergency, and just make sure that you're 408 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: automating some transfers and so you can hit that number, 409 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: you know, no matter what rates are doing. This is 410 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 1: the automatic number. This is the automated savings goal that 411 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to be contributing toward. That account. All rightba fam, 412 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 1: Let's take a little break and I'm going to be 413 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: right back with the final two big market trends of 414 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six. In some habits we can actually control 415 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: so that we are not getting rocked by all the 416 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: shenanigans in the economy. Be right back, hey, ba fan, 417 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: welcome back to the show. All right, Money trend number 418 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: three for twenty twenty six cooling job market AI triggered layoffs. 419 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: All right, So, honestly, saying the job market cooled in 420 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five is a bit of an understatement. It 421 00:21:56,040 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 1: feels like the job market froze over like it did 422 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: in the ice age. Wasn't that caused by some kind 423 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: of freak. It just happened overnight, I don't know, but 424 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 1: everything froze and then everything cracked and broke. It's kind 425 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: of how it felt in twenty twenty five. So hiring 426 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: has slowed down. If you're employed, you might be under employed, 427 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: meaning that maybe you're you know, you've taken a job 428 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: that you know pays less than what you're actually worth, 429 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: or you've taken a job that maybe isn't tied to 430 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: what your job skills actually are. Tied to you're working 431 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: in retail, no shame in that game, but you are 432 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:33,879 Speaker 1: working a job to make ends meet that maybe is 433 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 1: under employing you. And wage growth is not doing a lot, 434 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: it's not not growing that much. And yes, we can 435 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: blame partly AI for this. So AI has enabled companies 436 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: to create, like be even more productive with even fewer people. 437 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 1: People are expensive, people need you know, people need benefits, 438 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: people need bathroom breaks. These things just don't really jive 439 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: with America's you know, obsession with capitalism and obsession with 440 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: profit over people. And yes, it has been tied to 441 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: a meaningful share of layoffs, especially even in white collar 442 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: jobs and service jobs. Right now, this is a trend 443 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: that is not going away. I think that one habit 444 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,919 Speaker 1: that we can implement in twenty twenty six too, that 445 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: we can actually control, is to look the beast in 446 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: the eye directly, think about your line of work, your industry, 447 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,879 Speaker 1: and look at the ways that companies, the leaders in 448 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: your industry are already implementing AI, and don't be afraid 449 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: of it. Just look it head on, because you want 450 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: to know what you're dealing with. You want to know 451 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 1: what you're up against. And the only way you can 452 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: do that is if you do your own research. Now, 453 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: me as a podcaster, you better believe I'm looking at 454 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: how AI like, is someone going to take ten years 455 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: worth a brown Ambition audio and be like, well, we're 456 00:23:58,040 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 1: just going to take these voices and we're just going 457 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 1: to make our I mean, I don't know, but I'm 458 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: looking at it for sure. Right, So, here's a habit 459 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: you can actually control that's tied to this whole you know, 460 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 1: changing and cooling job market. Right now, one hour per week. 461 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: I want you to call this your career resilience hour. Okay, 462 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: we're going to be doing some research into what AI 463 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: tools and what AI trends we're seeing in our industry, 464 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: but we're also going to be focusing on the positive. 465 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: Like everyone should have a doc that they keep on 466 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 1: their computer Google doc or a notes app of your wins, 467 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: your professional achievements at work. Of course, you can use this, 468 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: you know, in the context of a performance review at 469 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: work and have your list of things that you've done. 470 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 1: But it's also just great for yourself to remind yourself 471 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: that I am growing, I am developing, I am having 472 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: an impact. So update that windstock at least once a week, 473 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: and when you're doing that career resiliency hour, think about 474 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: one message. You can send one email, one DM to 475 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: one person in your space, whether you know them or 476 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: you don't know them, and just look to connect. You know, yes, 477 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: you could invite someone out for a coffee or a 478 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: virtual coffee, but also just think about, Okay, what event 479 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: can I sign up to go to to put myself 480 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: in the room with people in my industry in my space. Now, Introverts, 481 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 1: if this is unappealing to you, I really don't care. 482 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:19,400 Speaker 1: We have to overcome. I am a card caring introvert. 483 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 1: Y'all know this. I have never ever hidden my true 484 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: introverted nature. However, I'm also really good at reaching that 485 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 1: ambivert status where I am capable of pushing the introvert 486 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: out of the way and just saying, Okay, this is 487 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 1: going to be difficult, but it's worthy work for me 488 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: to do. So putting yourself in a room so once 489 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 1: a week, you know, I would even say use chat, 490 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: GPT or you know my favorite is perplexity and just 491 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 1: go on there and say here's a city and state 492 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,120 Speaker 1: I live in, here's a type of work I want 493 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: to do, or a type of work I am doing 494 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 1: and say, what are some upcoming networking events or opportunities 495 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: that I could be you know, throwing my hat in 496 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: the ring for in the next month. And that can 497 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: be a part of your careers hour because listen, like, 498 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:05,919 Speaker 1: let's not get a twisted relationships. Human connection, even in 499 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: the world of AI, is still the number one way 500 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: that you're going to get new doors opened for you 501 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: and really create that professional resilience because you have more 502 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: people in your corner who want to root for you. Also, 503 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 1: in this career resiliency hour, think about some ways some 504 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: skills that you have or some other opportunities to potentially 505 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: monetize those skills side hustles, you know, whether it's consulting, 506 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: maybe creating content, tutoring, creating digital products. I'm not saying 507 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,159 Speaker 1: drop everything and start to you know, think you're going 508 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: to be a digital entrepreneur and be selling courses on 509 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: the internet. However, actually looking for ways to monetize the 510 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 1: skills that you already have is a real incredible form 511 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: of building career resilience. It means that even if your 512 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: employer decides, okay, we're going to replace you with this 513 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: bot that you have a leg up, like you've already 514 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 1: been doing some work to ensure that you're able to 515 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 1: bring in some money, you know, based on the skills 516 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: that you're already using. This is another opportunity for you 517 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 1: to use the enemy itself, you know, use AI and say, 518 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,439 Speaker 1: here's what I'm really good at. Here's you know, the 519 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: job I have, and let's brainstorm some ideas for how 520 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: I could potentially create a side hustle or monetize these 521 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: skills for myself. And the third habit underneath this umbrella 522 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: of AI taken over the job market is get to 523 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 1: know thine enemy. Okay, keep your friends close, keep your 524 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: enemies closer, get to know AI. We don't want to 525 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 1: face AI with fear. We want to face it with 526 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 1: like we're going to become AI literate in twenty twenty 527 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: I almost aid twenty twenty one, twenty twenty six. What 528 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: so once a week, you know, actually think about how 529 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,679 Speaker 1: can AI help me be mabe? How can AI be 530 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 1: helping me? What are words and why are they twisting 531 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,159 Speaker 1: in my mouth? Once a week, see if you can 532 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 1: come up with an AI use case that makes your job, 533 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: or your business, or even your personal life easier. If 534 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:00,719 Speaker 1: you think for a second that that I came up 535 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,160 Speaker 1: with the outline and Brown Ambitions episode that I'm doing 536 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,919 Speaker 1: with you right now by myself, you would be wrong, 537 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 1: Miss ma'am. I definitely use my AI tool. I say, 538 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: here's what I want to cover on today's show. You 539 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: give me the latest intel, the latest data on what 540 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: rates are doing, what's happening with student loans, what's happening 541 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: in the job market. And I use this tool to 542 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: help me craft these episodes. I mean, it makes my 543 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: life easier. It takes nothing away from the fact that 544 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 1: I have built this platform that I know what I'm 545 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 1: talking about, but it helps become a thought partner. So 546 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 1: for you in your everyday life, like can it help 547 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: you draft emails? Can it help you summarize a meeting 548 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: that you've had? For me, hell yeah, record every meeting 549 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: I have and then be like, hey, here's the transcript. 550 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: What are the three key takeaways? What are three action 551 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: items I need to get on top of this week 552 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: that are high priority? Look for ways that you can 553 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: start to learn and get familiar and take the I 554 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: don't know, take some of that fear out of understanding AI. 555 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: When you actually get to use it, then it becomes 556 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: less scary, and then you become empowered. All right, you 557 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: want to find a way that you can leverage AI 558 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 1: rather than thinking of ways you can be replaced by it. 559 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 1: We have arrived at money trend number four for twenty 560 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: twenty six student loans. Student loans, honey, let's talk about it. 561 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: A couple of new things in twenty twenty six. One 562 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: big one is that the federal government is coming back 563 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: with student loan wage garnishment. So if you have defaulted 564 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: on your federal student loans, wage garnishment is going to 565 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 1: be kicking back up in twenty twenty six. If you 566 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 1: or don't remember, this means that the federal government can 567 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: basically garnish your wages up to fifteen percent of disposable income, 568 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: even without needing a court order. So definitely want to 569 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: stand top of what you owe, and if you are defaulting, 570 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: just something to be aware of that you may start 571 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: to see wage garnishments. Now. There are some advocacy groups, 572 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: including the NAACP, which has pushed for the Department of 573 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: Education to pause or a just part of this wage 574 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 1: gardener rollout. However, there's still a lot of confusion shocker, 575 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: and I just want y'all to be aware that there's 576 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: still a high risk that wage garnishment can be coming back. Now, overall, 577 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: student loans are not the you know, full picture when 578 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: it comes to household debt in America. America as a 579 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 1: whole is seeing really high household debt, tight budgets. I mean, 580 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: we're talking about talked about credit card debt, as always, 581 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 1: auto loan debt, consumer debt, you know, loans, your mortgage, 582 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: all of that can factor into your debt, and student 583 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: loans can be a big, big chunk of that. Okay, 584 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: So what's a habit that BA fan we can put 585 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: in place that we can actually control when it comes 586 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 1: to tackling let's say student debt specifically. The first thing 587 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: is to actually get a status check on your student loans. 588 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: So this week when you're listening, or next week whenever 589 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 1: you want to put it on the calendar, log into 590 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 1: studentaid dot gov that's s T U D E n 591 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: t aid dot gov g o V and confirm your 592 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: student loan servicer. And the status of your loan servicer 593 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: is important because these student loans company may be consolidating 594 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 1: and selling your loan to different companies. So the servicer 595 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 1: you think you had may have changed over time. So 596 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: really get an assessment of how much you have, who's 597 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: actually who owns the debt? And are you current on 598 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: your payments or have you been in deferment? Have you 599 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 1: been in forbearance? Make sure your contact info it's up 600 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: to date. And then I want you to make a 601 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:31,959 Speaker 1: debt story appointment, a student loan debt story appointment, So 602 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: for thirty minutes, just write down how much you owe, 603 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: the total balances, the interest rates, your minimum payments, No shame, 604 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 1: just facts, and pick one micro move, like one mini 605 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: move that you can do to tackle it. So look 606 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 1: at an income driven repayment plan, look at consolidating your 607 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: student loans, what would that look like for you? And 608 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: then think about how I can garnishment. Yeah, this is 609 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: a mouthful garnishment proof my student loans. So build a 610 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 1: bare bones budget that shows exactly what a ten to 611 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: fifteen percent pay cut would do, so if they were 612 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: to come in and garnish your wages. This is specifically 613 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 1: for a listener who knows that they are in default 614 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: on their student loans and is worried about that wage garnishment. 615 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:18,560 Speaker 1: This is going to be painful. But let's actually look 616 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 1: at what that would mean if they start taking ten 617 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 1: to fifteen percent out of that paycheck. And if you 618 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 1: anticipate that could be your situation, you know, look ahead 619 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 1: at your budget and say, okay, this is not going 620 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: to be fun. Who has ten to fifteen percent they 621 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 1: can cut out of their budget today. I know if 622 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 1: you're missing your student loan payments, it probably ain't you. 623 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 1: But see if there's anywhere you can create extra room 624 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 1: in your budget to cover that cost. I also don't 625 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 1: want you all to feel powerless. So let's say you know, 626 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: later this year, you receive a letter that says there 627 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 1: is a notice. Is a notice of intent to garnish. 628 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 1: This is usually what it's called when they send you 629 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,719 Speaker 1: a letter saying we're going to garnish your wages, and 630 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: it probably gives you thirty sixty days before it's going 631 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 1: to happen. But when you get that notice, there should 632 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: be an opportunity for you to request a hearing, a 633 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: hearing where you can appeal the notice. You can say 634 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 1: that you're objecting to the proposed garnishment and you want 635 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: to keep a copy of that. And while you're waiting 636 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 1: for your hearing. Typically the wage garnishment process is paused 637 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 1: or not allowed to start. So it's not something that 638 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 1: you want to ignore. Put your head in the sand. 639 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: You know, you get that notice, contact them, request that hearing, 640 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 1: and hopefully it buys you some more time. Now, you're 641 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,719 Speaker 1: also not powerless when it comes to objecting this. If 642 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 1: you have undue financial hardship, so you're having trouble covering 643 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 1: basic needs like rent, food, medical care, like how many 644 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: of us are, that can be grounds for canceling a 645 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: wage garnishment or reducing it or whatnot. If you recently 646 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 1: got a job after so wage garnishment means that you 647 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: have to have wages in order to be garnished. Right, 648 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: so if job that you have that they're trying to 649 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 1: garnish your paycheck from. If you got that job after 650 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: a long bout of unemployment, so like twelve months of 651 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 1: being involuntarily unemployed, that means basically you were let go, 652 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: you were fired, or you couldn't work for whatever reason. 653 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 1: That could be an opportunity to get the wage garnishment delayed. 654 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 1: And also this could be the case like they could 655 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 1: be coming after you for debt that you don't actually own. 656 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: Another good reason to be checking studentaid dot gov to 657 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 1: make sure that you are you know that you understand, okay, 658 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 1: this is the debt, and you can double check to 659 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,399 Speaker 1: make sure the debt is accurate, that it's actually your debt, 660 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 1: especially with how they are defunding the Department of Education. 661 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 1: Y'all remember DOGE. DOGE was not that long ago, and 662 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: they made huge cuts to Department of Education funding. So 663 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:38,400 Speaker 1: I would be triple checking my statements, triple check in 664 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 1: my accounts on studentaid dot gov because I'm sure there 665 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: are errors and shit that's been falling through the cracks 666 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,400 Speaker 1: because they are underfunded. There are some organizations that can 667 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 1: also help. If you are having a hard time with 668 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 1: your student loans or you've been hit with a wage 669 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:57,400 Speaker 1: garnishment intent letter. Check out this website Student Loan Borrower 670 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 1: Assistance dot org. This is the Student Loan Borrower Assistant 671 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:06,400 Speaker 1: via the National Consumer Law Center. That's one nonprofit that 672 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 1: can help you, like a legal aid nonprofit. There's also TISLA. 673 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 1: TISLA is a source that offers free, fair student loan 674 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,799 Speaker 1: advice and guidance. You can check them out at Free 675 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 1: Studentloanadvice dot org. Also TIZLA stands for the Institute of 676 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: Student Loan Advisors. WHOA Okay, that was a lot. I 677 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 1: know it was a lot, and there's a lot going on, 678 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:30,799 Speaker 1: but I hope what you're feeling right now is ideally 679 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: a sense of Okay, there is some things that I 680 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,680 Speaker 1: can do myself not to prevent this shit from happening. Like, 681 00:35:37,719 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 1: we don't control the FED, we don't control our boss, 682 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 1: we don't control what the bots are doing. But you 683 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: do control how you earn, how you spend, how you save, 684 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 1: and how you advocate for yourself every single week. This 685 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 1: is not one of those episodes where you need to 686 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 1: do every single habit and every single tip or strategy 687 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: that I'm talking about all in one. In fact, I 688 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:02,360 Speaker 1: encourage you not to at all say this episode book market, 689 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,360 Speaker 1: and just pick one of those four habits that we 690 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: talked about, one of the four money trends rather and 691 00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:10,439 Speaker 1: one of the habits that we talked about underneath those, 692 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: and just use that as your theme for the week. 693 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:15,000 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, for the next four weeks. You can 694 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:17,919 Speaker 1: just say, Okay, this week, I'm gonna look, I'm gonna 695 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 1: do my inflation check. You know, look at my expenses. 696 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 1: See what we can you know, insulate from inflation or 697 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:25,840 Speaker 1: you know, take some steps on to reduce how we 698 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: are being impacted by inflation. You can do your AI, 699 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,880 Speaker 1: you know, career Resilience hour. Just pick one of the 700 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:34,960 Speaker 1: themes that we talked about and pick a week and 701 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 1: sort of make that the week where you tackle that. Now, 702 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 1: I'm here to be alongside jall on this journey as well. 703 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 1: So get on Instagram and keep me posted. Tag me 704 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: at Brand Ambition podcast. Take screenshots of you doing your 705 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 1: Career's Resiliency Hour, doing your inflation checks and your budget, like, 706 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:56,480 Speaker 1: let me know, keep me posted, let me know what 707 00:36:56,520 --> 00:36:59,799 Speaker 1: your savings goals are track. Also it helps, I mean, 708 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 1: I know there's this idea that we don't want to 709 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,719 Speaker 1: put all our business out there. And I don't know 710 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:05,440 Speaker 1: if there's even research the show, but I can tell 711 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:08,680 Speaker 1: you based on over fifteen years of being a business 712 00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 1: and finance reporter and talking to people who are successfully 713 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 1: paying down debt and reaching their money goals, talking about 714 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:17,799 Speaker 1: it and sharing your progress, there's something about it. It 715 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:21,680 Speaker 1: creates this idea of accountability. Okay, I've told you know, 716 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:24,800 Speaker 1: my followers, I've told family, friends, whoever. That I'm working 717 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 1: toward this goal and it just makes you, It keeps 718 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:30,799 Speaker 1: you more motivated. People are going to be cheering you on, 719 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:32,480 Speaker 1: and I want to be one of most people cheering 720 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:35,360 Speaker 1: you on, bea vam. So please please keep me posted 721 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 1: on your goal, Slide into my dms, ask any questions 722 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:41,400 Speaker 1: you have, or just share some money whins tag me 723 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 1: in your posts. I would love to hear from y'all again. 724 00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 1: I'm Brown Ambition Podcast at gmail dot com or at 725 00:37:48,239 --> 00:37:52,239 Speaker 1: Brown Ambition Podcast on Instagram. We're also on TikTok. Say 726 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:55,439 Speaker 1: hello to your girl on TikTok. Send me a voice, 727 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 1: noto email, whatever it is like. Let me cheer you on, 728 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 1: Let me be your champion. All right until next time, 729 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:03,919 Speaker 1: ba fam, I got some great juicy, juicy stuff coming 730 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: up for y'all in the months to come on Brown Ambition. 731 00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:10,400 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening. If you enjoy this show, 732 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:14,279 Speaker 1: don't forget to share it with a friend, a colleague, 733 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:17,040 Speaker 1: anyone you love and want to give a little financial 734 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:20,600 Speaker 1: you know, fairy godmother dust to send them an episode 735 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:23,279 Speaker 1: of Brown Ambition. Maybe this one one of your favorites. 736 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:27,400 Speaker 1: I don't know. Leave review comment, show the love, sending 737 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:30,440 Speaker 1: y'all that love right back until next time, BA Fam. 738 00:38:30,520 --> 00:38:38,680 Speaker 1: I'm Mandy Money. Goodbye, and before I go, BA Fam, 739 00:38:38,719 --> 00:38:40,719 Speaker 1: I want to shout out the team that helps make 740 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:44,560 Speaker 1: Brown Ambition possible. Huge thanks to my fam at iHeartRadio, 741 00:38:44,719 --> 00:38:48,800 Speaker 1: Katrina Norvel and Jenna Cagel, my worker Bees, behind the scenes, 742 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 1: booking assistant Brittany Laie and virtual Assistant Cameron McNair who 743 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 1: keep me organized, and of course my editor Courtney Dean. 744 00:38:56,800 --> 00:38:59,279 Speaker 1: Thank y'all so much for supporting the show. If you 745 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: love Brown and Ba, share it with a friend, tag 746 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:04,600 Speaker 1: us on social and don't forget to leave a comment 747 00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:07,200 Speaker 1: or review. Until next time. By BA Fam.