What to do when you get promoted

I was blessed to be raised the way I was. While my parents did an amazing job with instilling values that have allowed me literally to see the world, they weren’t the only people I looked to for guidance. Per usual, children and parents bump heads as they grow up and the child thinks they know everything and parents don’t know a thing. In those times of being a prodigal son, my older cousins were my role models. Each of them very different but ironically all the same. As an adult I realized my cousins were raised with the same morals and values that were instilled in me due to the fact our parents grew up in the same household. Most of the time when I speak to my mentors I just listen after I ask an initial question. One of my cousin, who we will call Crazy Panther Fan (CPF), I do most of the talking. This cousin isn’t much of a talker, he’s a thinking man. And I’ve realized that if I say something off course, he’ll give me a look followed by a Jesus like rhetorical question to make me rethink my previous stance.  So rewind to five years ago, I was just starting my career and spending a lot of time around CPF. I mentioned how I was expecting a raise and how it was going to make things a lot easier for me move around with the additional money. What CPF said to me is one of the reasons I started this blog for my quest for financial knowledge. Looking me dead in my eyes he said “You made it through last year on your current salary, so do you really need the extra money?”, “Save your raise. Treat it as if you’re still working off your old salary”. As I drove home once again I realized he was right. I didn’t really need the money sure it’s nice receiving that raise but I didn’t really need it to survive. What I needed to do was figure out how I could improve my life style on the prior year’s salary. And ladies and gentlemen that’s what I’ve done. I created an auto debit for every pay increase that goes right to my savings. I don’t even let the money take a pit stop in my checking account. My savings account is with a different banking system, which I don’t see regularly so I don’t get tempted to spend it. Am I hurting for anything?? Nope. I go on more vacations than 1 human being should be allowed to take. I say that to say this, just because you have the money doesn’t mean you have to spend it. Just because you aren’t spending your raises doesn’t mean you’re not living life. You just have to get creative with your spending and explore where you can cut corners.

 

Ladies let’s have a discussion.....

Your man loves you and the whole world knows it! He’s checked every box you and those bitter single friends could come up with and smiled while doing it.  So with Valentine's Day coming up there's something we need to discuss... But first let me ask you a question, if I told you I'd give you $30 today but if you waited till tomorrow I'd give you $100…. What would you do? No brainer here, you would wait that one additional day for the extra $70. 

So ladies if you're willing to wait that one day, you could get 70% more stuff for Valentine's Day. We have to admit folks you know Valentine's Day is a joke. From the ladies sending themselves stuff to front likes they have a "bae" to the single girls posting love hate post on Instagram. Why buy into that?? Now this isn't a "Valentine's day doesn't make our relationship” speech that side chicks across the globe will hear, because you're actually gonna get something ladies.  But by waiting one day, you can get 3 times as much for your money. Stores mark down all of the Valentine's Day stuff the minute the clocks hits 12:01. And the smart Casanovas know this is the time to rack up on the manufactured love. Why does this matter for you ladies?? Because you get MORE and what lady doesn't like MORE?? So tell your man to skip the Valentine's Day purchase, and do it the day after when things are marked down at 70% off. Fellas use that money you saved to take her to dinner. If she's able to see past the BS of the floral and chocolate industry’s created holiday, then she deserves a nice dinner when places aren't crowded and menus are back to regular price. It’s important to remember that at the end of day your woman will want to spend some quality time on Valentine’s Day. Give her that time fellas because I’m pretty sure she’s doing everything in her power to make sure Super Bowl Sunday is a great one for your.