Dearborn Creggs

YOUR CELL PHONE BILL IS STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOALS

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:12:17 GMT

Out of grad school, I tried taking extreme measures to pay down my debt. I remember buying a book called “The Ultimate Cheapskate.” I learned a lot but it was exhausting. My mindset on money has evolved over time and I’ve learned that a more sustainable approach for me is to spend money on the things I love and relentlessly cut back on the things I don’t.

MY VALUES DRIVE MY DECISIONS

We all value different things and therefore will choose to spend our money accordingly. I am a true believer that you can have anything you want in this world — fine dining, high-tech gadgets, annual vacations, a second home, a fat bank account, etc… There are a couple of caveats, however.

You cannot value everything — at least not all at once
You need to be serious about having a plan. It will not just happen.

Right now, I value being debt free and having the ability to travel while I am young. I firmly believe that my money decisions reflect that (this is one of my favorite pictures from my travels as an educator — we’re en route to the Isle of Skye). I am so serious about those values that I am paying $20/month for my cell phone plan. Just because you have enough money in your checking account each month to pay a $100 cell phone bill does not mean you should (unless you value it that much, of course).

Your values aren’t really your values unless they cost you something.

SOME BACKGROUND

In my career as an educator, my employer paid for my cell phone bill (Thank You!) I saved a lot of money over that time and even paid off some debt. Although they no longer do so for employees, it was an incredible perk while it lasted. We all had the opportunity to take advantage of unlimited talk, text and data. When I changed careers, I had to pay my own cell phone bill for the first time in 7 years!

As you can probably attest to, “unlimited” has become an expectation for all cell phone consumers. A quick Google search helped me find an article I had read I read in Money Magazine that I believe they publish every year called, “ The Best Cell Phone Plans of XXXX .” I learned that the expectation didn’t necessarily align with usage.

The average smartphone owner is using 2 to 3 GB per month.

It didn’t take me long to decide on a new carrier. Since my phone was already on the AT&T network, I chose a carrier that would work well on that network: Cricket Wireless. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t really know any Cricket users and I didn’t have high expectations. But I was in a career transition and was serious about not using my savings if I didn’t have to. My cell phone bill was exactly $35/month. You would have never known I had Cricket until I just told you. It worked well for me for a few reasons.

I connect to a secure wireless network while at home and at work.
Since I have xfinity at home, if I’m ever in the range of a home or business that uses xfinity, my phone automatically jumps onto the xfinity wifi hotspot (secure w/ app)
I’ve found that I never go over my data limit considering that I almost always have access to WiFi. With Cricket, that data limit was 5 gigs. Now I’m on a plan that gives me8 gigs of data.

Since then, I’ve actually used a couple of other phone plans — Xfinity Mobile (unlimited for $45/month) and Mint Mobile. I am not advocating for Cricket or any other company as much as I am for reevaluating what many of us have just come to expect – whether it be your cable or cell phone bill or both. Cut the cord, anyone? As you’ve likely seen, some cell phone providers are offering more reasonable prices for unlimited family plans. Others are now bundling internet and cell phone service. For now, my plan works well for me and something similar might work for you as well.

This is one of my favorite conversations to have! Let’s chat.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE?

planning your first or next trip to Europe
retiring early
driving a nice car
saving up for a new home
helping your kids pay for college
…the list goes on

But remember, you cannot value everything at once (unless you can). Again, this post is about more than just your cell phone plan. Take a look at where your paycheck goes each month — there may be some hidden charges in there like my rented modem. Are there ways to make adjustments to help you reach your goals? Spend money on what you love, not on what you don’t.

Schedule a meeting and we can begin the conversation.

This article has been edited after being originally posted in February 2017.

Jesse is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and earned his Master’s in Education from Harvard. In his education career, he served as a teacher, counselor and Director of Alumni for YES Prep Public Schools. He is a member of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and takes pride in helping fellow educators better understand their pension and plan for their future. Learn more about Jesse.

LIFE HACK YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES AS A FIRST-YEAR TEACHER

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:09:42 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

I think about all the times in my life when I thought I knew more than those who’d come before me — be it my parents, coaches and managers. As I have matured, I’ve come to appreciate the wisdom I’ve gained from others — especially those who have been “there” before me. As an adult, I too have found myself sharing what I’ve learned with others. As a teacher, I tried to share as many life lessons as I could with my students. As a financial advisor, I continue to do so in an effort to educate my clients. No one expects you to do life ALL on your own — we are best in teams and when we learn from one another.

IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW…

Before I graduated college, a good friend of mine introduced me to my first financial mentor — a finance professor at ND. As a future educator, it was a no brainer for me — I was intent on learning how to manage my money. Among many lessons, one he shared early on was to try living like a college student for my first few years out of college — regardless of the job I have. This is a hard concept for most recent college graduates to grasp, myself included. Why?

This was the first time I was going to be making a real salary and it was a lot of money for me considering what my parents earned.
We work hard and deserve to “treat yo’ self!”
You might feel internal pressure or pressure from your family to be “better off” than they were.

The expert in anything was once a beginner.

Ten years ago, someone took the time to teach me some basic personal finance concepts that have made a difference in the way I view my money and how I set goals. It started with me as a first year teacher. I didn’t know what I was doing in my job, much less my finances! I committed to learning a little bit at a time and I had someone hold me accountable to the goals I set. We teach our children and students that by building strong habits early, they are likely to become a part of how we operate. The same can be said for bad habits, too! If you’re a veteran teacher or a non-educator looking for a reset when it comes to your personal finances, there is something here for you as well.

PERSONAL FINANCE HACKS FOR 1ST AND 2ND YEAR TEACHERS

Although these hacks are geared toward young educators, they can be applied to other disciplines and to different times in your career. Committing to just a couple could make a big difference for you in the long-run.

1. Mindset. Mindset. Mindset. Enough emphasis? Seriously though. Start developing a healthy mindset about money if you haven’t already. For me, I read a few books right out of college that shook my beliefs about money. Sometimes, we need to unlearn what we learned growing up — maybe even what we saw our parents doing. However you decide, do it. Education will transform your life and likely your finances. If you’re not up to reading about personal finance, use Audible, listen to podcasts, or invite me to coffee! The idea is to simply learn to think differently about money.

Instead of saving what you don’t spend, spend what you don’t save.

2. Understand what your take-home pay is/will be.This is a reality check and sometimes a let down for young earners. You don’t get to keep 100% of your paycheck so it is best to plan accordingly. See example — if you’re an educator in TRS, don’t assume you contribute to social security. In the image, I removed the social security contribution but added the TRS contribution under ‘State Income.’ Don’t forget to account for things like your alternative certification program (ACP), if that applies to you. Those can be added in the pre or post-tax sections. You can visit SmartAsset to calculate your own.

3. Set your expectations and be realistic. I believe you can have anything you want, you just can’t have it all at once and you need to plan for it. Spend on what you love and cut back ruthlessly on what you don’t. Your fixed monthly expenses shouldn’t exceed 50-60% of your take-home pay. Yes, that even includes your student debt payback. If you’re not there today, aim to get there.

4. Pay yourself first. Today, most Americans have less than $1,000 saved for retirement and 50% have nothing saved (Economic Policy Institute, 2016). Rather than saving what you don’t spend, spend what you don’t save. This was a huge mindset shift for me and vastly different from what I knew about how people save. Get in the habit of saving money now, before you get accustomed to your take-home pay. Aim to save between 10-15%. You will likely find that you will figure out how to make it to the end of the month with what you have left. Make some adjustments as needed. The important thing is to start.

5. Find a roommate. This is one of the smartest things I did as a young teacher. I get it, you’re grown and are ready to live on your own. That said, being a teacher is hard work. Having someone to vent and celebrate with was just good for my mental health. Being able to split ALL expenses was also a plus. Even if you just do it for a couple of years, your future self will thank you.

6. Use your current car or buy used.This is likely one of the more difficult financial decisions for people. And I don’t blame them, I love cars. I’m also not here to judge you on what to value. We often dream about what car we’ll get when we start earning our first paycheck. BUT, many recent college graduates go out and lock a good portion of their paycheck into a car payment for 5 years, if not longer. If you already have reliable transportation, use those funds to start a rainy day fund for when you need new tires or a tune-up — because you will. Don’t get me wrong, I want a Tesla. I just don’t need one today.

7. Shop around to lower your monthly bills. You can shave a significant portion off your monthly expenses if you’re willing to do some research. Look into your car & renter’s insurance, cell phone, electricity, cable bills, etc… I save money in these areas by streaming rather than having cable, by utilizing a less expensive cell phone provider , for example.

8. Take advantage of teacher loan forgiveness. I know this does not apply to all loan types but you may qualify if you teach in a Title I school. I was able to get a portion of my loans forgiven over the course of 4 years teaching in a Title I school. It takes some work on your part, but it is doable. If you’re Teach for America, you may be eligible for an AmeriCorps award that can be applied to your federal or state loans. If you think you might apply for forgiveness, read the rules before you decide to consolidate any of your loans.

9. Find your side-hustle. If you’re a 10 month-employee, you have a unique opportunity to earn a little extra during the summer. Summer school is the obvious one. But maybe you just need a break from the classroom — if so, get creative. Uber, Etsy, etc..

10. Teacher discounts! Classroom materials aside, teachers can get discounts on technology, clothing, furniture, travel, etc…Take some time to substitute your discount for items that you traditionally pay full price for. Be sure to keep your Teacher ID handy,

It is important to note that you will not be a new teacher forever. Not only will you get better at your job, but your income will increase over time, especially if you wish to develop as a leader. As those things happen, you will have developed a healthy mindset around money as well as good habits. Even if you veer off course now and again (because life happens), you will have the foundation and tools to get back on track.

LET’S MAKE A PLAN!

I know that you’re busy and it’s not always easy to make sense of your personal finances. There is no substitute for having a plan. Whether you’re just starting out or interested in learning more, I am happy to be a resource along the way.

Schedule a Meeting : In person or virtual

ENOUGH! I’M READY TO TAKE CONTROL OF MY FINANCES. THE 50/30/20 RULE

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:06:42 GMT

Before you read anything else, you should know that I operate in a no judgement zone about your personal finances. I know how difficult it can be to ask for help. I entered this profession to help others by sharing what I know. If you are willing to share, I am here to listen. If you are committed to improve, I am here to help.

I am and will forever be grateful to my parents for all they have provided me and more. They loved me unconditionally, attended most, if not all, of my sporting events growing up, I always had a roof over my head and hot food on the table, we had transportation, and they sacrificed to ensure my brother and I received a good education in El Paso. On the surface, it may have seemed as though we had it together as a family and even in our finances.

Truth be told — my family was no stranger to the “paycheck to paycheck” life. But why? Both my parents had steady jobs in El Paso as I grew up. Neither of them had a college degree but they both worked in an office from 8-5 for much of their careers, earned a living salary, had access to generous benefits, PTO, etc. Our basic needs were always met as were many of our wants. My parents aren’t much different than most Americans when it comes to their personal fiances. Regardless of income, most American’s have less than $1,000 in savings , meaning one emergency could have a significant impact on their personal finances. If you’ve been there, you can understand the stress that comes with that vulnerability. I knew early on that I wanted to learn to do things differently.

Being in control of your money doesn’t have to mean being cheap

I admit, when I first became interested in personal finance, I was right out grad school and I purchased a book called The Ultimate Cheapskate . It was an interesting read and I learned a lot, but I quickly learned that it was unsustainable, especially for a 20 something living in this great city of Houston! I can understand how it works for some, but not most. I’d like to think that my mindset around money has matured since then. Now, I try to live by the idea, “Spend money on the things you love and cut back relentlessly everywhere else.” Unfortunately, most of us spend blindly, oftentimes on things we don’t even value that much.

OLD SCHOOL AND NEW SCHOOL BUDGETING

Most of us budget by creating a spreadsheet that includes all of our expenses; we promise ourselves that we’ll spend less and save more next month. When we don’t, we get discouraged and don’t open the spreadsheet again until next year. This method could work but requires a level of discipline that is exhausting for most. This is part of the reason most New Year’s resolutions don’t stick — we often set goals that are too big or too broad . When we don’t see immediate results (health/weight, career, finances, etc.), we get discouraged and lose steam.

So, I’d like to propose a different way of thinking about your budget. Rather than trying to fit your spending into line items on a spreadsheet or line items that often include the “miscellaneous” category, I propose you categorize into three buckets. I cannot take the credit for this approach. In their 2005 book, Elizabeth Warren and daughter Amelia Warren Tyagi coined the 50/30/20 Rule for spending and saving. It provides a simple framework to start with. This is the approach I take when working with clients. It is just one way to think about your finances, however, I find that it provides a structure that many crave.

ENTER THE 20/50/30/ RULE

This is a framework so if you need to adjust your percentages to start out, please do so. But EVERYTHING needs to fit within 100%. I’ll repeat that for emphasis. All your expenses need to fit within 100% of your income. If you spend more than you make, you will find yourself in a place that is even more difficult to come back from. Remember, this is about taking control of your finances and your future. It will require thinking differently. But consider the possibility of saving 20% of your income and what that could do for your future!

Spend money on the things you love and cut back relentlessly everywhere else.

20: GOALS: SAVINGS & DEBT | PAY YOURSELF FIRST

Most Americans have less than $1,000 saved! Why? For many of us, it is how we think about our money. We wait until the end of the month to see what’s left before we even think about saving. Once we decide if we have anything left, it takes action on our part to put that money into a savings account. And we do that (or don’t) month after month. Ugh! That sounds awful. But what if it didn’t have to be? Set up a plan to automatically put 20% of your take-home pay toward your retirement, savings and debt. Notice that you command a piece of your budget (20%) go toward savings and debt before your needs (50%) and wants (30%). Your goals should take priority here if you are committed to taking control. Pay yourself first.

10%: retirement accounts (401k, 403b, 457, IRA)
10%: debt and savings goals. For debt, this would be money in addition to your required minimum payment. For example, if you’re working on paying a credit card and it has a $25 minimum payment, I’d suggest putting that bill in the Needs category and anything extra in the Goals category. For Savings, this is where your savings goals below — emergency savings, travel fund, new car fund, wedding fund, house fund, name your goal fund, etc..

Again, don’t hesitate to adjust the percentages to meet your needs. If you have high debt, for example, that may take priority.

30: WANTS | TREAT YOURSELF

I want to eat out occasionally, I want to meet friends for coffee or drinks, I want new clothes every now and again… And you should be able to do it all — remember, spend on the things you love and cut back relentlessly everywhere else. This section is last for a reason. Too often, we start here and don’t have anything left for our goals. Depending on how your numbers are shaping up for your Goals and Needs sections, you may need to have a conversation with yourself about areas you can cut back, even if temporarily because your goals are THAT important to you.

If your needs are taking 65% of your monthly income, for example, you now have 15% left for wants. If you put a plan in place, this will only be temporary! Remind yourself that we are putting in the work for the long-term. The stronger habits we can develop now, the better of we’ll be in the future.

Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.

I get pretty excited when I think about the freedom to spend 30% of my income on the things I enjoy each month. This prevents me from taking the joy out of my money, making my goals unsustainable. You work hard and you deserve to treat yourself! I think that 30% is a generous amount so depending on what you find your expenses come out to be in your NEEDS category, you may need to adjust. The more honest you are about where an expense belongs, the more consistent you will be over time.

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. – Benjamin Franklin

I get it — life isn’t always so clear cut, right? Things come up, emergencies happen — life is unpredictable. But what if you could predict the future? I’ll let you in on a little secret — every so often, and probably throughout your life, you will experience an emergency. Does each one need to feel like an emergency? The more you plan for the unexpected, the less likely “an emergency” (i.e. my car was towed, I needed new tires, my phone broke, etc..) is to derail your goals.

There you have it — the 20/50/30 rule. I always start with 20 — pay yourself first. I’d be happy to walk through this with you utilizing your numbers. I am committed to helping my clients get in to the positive with their expenses rather than living in the negative. We all start somewhere — maybe this is where you start.

LET’S MAKE A PLAN!

Schedule a Meeting : In person or virtual

CONSIDERING BORROWING OR WITHDRAWING FROM YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS? READ THIS FIRST.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:59:32 GMT

Life happens. Every now and again, life throws us a curve ball and puts us in a financial bind. Although there are features established by the IRS that may permit you to access your funds before retirement, there are requirements that may discourage or prevent you from doing so. I’ll share a quick story before I get into it.

When I was in the 5th grade, my mom took our family, along with two other families, on the most epic 3-week summer vacation. Our family of four flew from El Paso to Orlando and spent a week at Disney World! From there, we flew to Boston and trekked around the east coast in a 15-passenger van also visiting New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC. To this day, we reminisce about that trip and I’m incredibly grateful to have had that opportunity as a kid.

Here’s the kicker. We couldn’t exactly afford that vacation. That trip was only possible for our family because my mom withdrew money from her 401(k). My parents worked hard and so do you. And although I have fond memories of that trip, I would still like to do things differently given what I know now. I believe that you can have anything you want – you just need to plan for it. My hope is to educate my clients and community to take control of their finances and plan for their future.

BE PROACTIVE

I caution my clients from thinking about their retirement accounts as a bank account — they are not to be confused. When possible, look to access funds from any cash sources before tapping your retirement accounts. By leaving your retirement accounts intact, you will continue to benefit from tax-deferred growth and benefit from compound interest over time. Tapping your retirement accounts early, on the other hand, can seriously hamper your ability to build savings.

Due to the limitations on accessing your retirement accounts, it is recommended that you have 3-6 months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund. That said, if you’re just starting out, aim for $1,000 emergency fund first. Then increase it over time. Should an emergency occur, this is where you should turn first — your emergency savings account.

If your emergency fund has been exhausted, you may be able to take a loan or early distribution from your retirement account. I’ll underscore that it is generally not advisable to do so. That said, I’ve highlighted some things to keep in mind for each. This information is not exhaustive, and policies vary by plan.

LOAN FROM YOUR 403(B) OR 457 ACCOUNT

Generally, taking a loan rather than an early withdrawal may be more prudent. Although you pay interest on a loan, it prevents you from taking an early withdrawal penalty.

LOAN AMOUNT

Although plans differ, you are generally able to borrow a minimum of $1,000 up to the smaller of 50% of your vested balance or $50,000. That means at minimum, your account balance needs to have a balance of at least $2,000 plus any loan initiation charges before you can make a request.

COST TO BORROW

By taking a loan, you lose out on the potential returns your account would have earned had the money remained in your 403(b) or 457. If you took a loan in 2009, for example, you would have missed much of the greatest bull market in history.
There are often loan origination fees as well as loan maintenance fees for the duration of the loan term. Unlike your contributions, loan payments must be made with after-tax dollars.
Your loan will be subject to interest, however, the interest you pay goes back into your account.

TERMS OF THE LOAN

You have up to 5 years to repay the loan (I encourage my clients to consider a shorter term when possible) but are required to make monthly or quarterly payments. If the loan will be used for the purchase of a primary residence, it may be repaid within a maximum of 30 years.
In order to pay off your loan early, generally it must be paid in full.
Should you decide to leave your employer, you may be required to pay the balance of your loan immediately.
If you do not meet your loan commitments, the IRS treats it as a distribution, and you may owe a 10% tax penalty. Defaulting on your loan will disqualify you from taking any loans in the future.

WITHDRAWAL FROM YOUR 403(B) OR 457 ACCOUNT

TAXES

If you withdraw funds from a retirement plan, 20% Federal income tax withholding is required unless you are making a withdrawal to satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). If you have a Roth account, your earnings will be subject to taxes. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income in the year received.

403(B) DISTRIBUTION AND HARDSHIP WITHDRAWAL

Generally, you can access your 403(b) retirement account without penalty if you are age 59 1/2. If you leave your district at age 55 or older, the 10% early withdrawal penalty would not apply to you. If you try to access your funds earlier, you will be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty, need to provide documentation and must meet qualifications stipulated by the IRS:

Medical care expenses for the employee, the employee’s spouse, dependents or beneficiary.
Costs directly related to the purchase of an employee’s principal residence (excluding mortgage payments).
Tuition, related educational fees and room and board expenses for the next 12 months of postsecondary education for the employee or the employee’s spouse, children, dependents or beneficiary.
Payments necessary to prevent the eviction of the employee from the employee’s principal residence or foreclosure on the mortgage on that residence.
Funeral expenses for the employee, the employee’s spouse, children, dependents, or beneficiary.
Certain expenses to repair damage to the employee’s principal residence.

457 DISTRIBUTION AND UNFORESEEABLE EMERGENCY

Once you’ve severed employment from the employer who holds your 457 plan, you are eligible to take distributions. Distributions are not subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. To access your funds before you sever employment, you need to provide documentation and must meet qualifications stipulated by the IRS:

an illness or accident of the participant, the participant’s beneficiary, or the participant’s or beneficiary’s spouse or dependents;
property loss caused by casualty (for example, damage from a natural disaster not covered by homeowner’s insurance) of the participant or beneficiary;
funeral expenses of the participant’s spouse or dependent; and
other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances resulting from events beyond the control of the participant or his or her beneficiary (for example, imminent foreclosure or eviction from a primary residence, or to pay for medical expenses or prescription drug medication).

LET’S MAKE A PLAN

Schedule a Meeting : In person or virtual

3 ACTION STEPS FOR RECENT GRADUATES AND PERSONAL FINANCE NEWBIES

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:57:03 GMT

Just because something is simple, does not mean it is easy.

Before I graduated from Notre Dame, a good friend of mine told me to speak to his finance professor so I could learn how to handle my money once I started earning it. I was headed for a career in education so was all for it! Professor Ackermann changed my life. I was fortunate to have him help me get started on the right foot with my personal finances. I became a financial advisor so that I could share those lessons and more to help educate and uplift my community when it comes to their personal finances.

Although my thoughts here are geared toward recent grads, we can all use an opportunity to get back to basics, regardless of where we are in our career or income level. The longer I serve in this role, the more I realize that just because a client has a college degree or even holds a certain title at work does not mean we have an equal level of education when it comes to managing our personal finances.

TAKE ACTION

Set yourself up for success by using the 20/50/30 plan. How much of your paycheck should go to what? If you need some structure to your budget, I have an answer! 20% should go towards goals, 50% towards your needs, and 30% towards your wants. Admittedly, this is easier to implement if you’ve just started your first job. If you’re working on shifting your spending habits, this is a great barometer for success. First things first, you need to know where your money is going. It will be hard to save for your goals if all of your income is used on your needs and wants.
Action you can take today:
See where you stand. Categorize your last month’s spending into 1 of 3 categories. I walk you through how to do so in this
If your employer offers a match to your retirement account, run don’t walk to get that started and contribute to the match. By not doing so, you are leaving free money on the table.
Start your Emergency Fund. This one undeniably applies to everyone. Start with a goal to save $1,000. From there, increase it to 3 months of expenses and eventually 6 months, especially if you have a family. Without an emergency fund, any other financial plan could be useless if (and when) you run into even a minor emergency. You’ve heard it before — most families are just one paycheck away from financial catastrophe. Emergencies will happen. Plan for them now.
Action you can take today:
How do I start and fund my Emergency Fund? Great question.
Open a savings account. I prefer looking at banks with no minimum balance requirements that offer higher interest. It is often the case that these are online banks. Right now, you can expect to find accounts with rates in the 1.5-2% range. Find one that works well for you and open an account — this can be done online, without having to go to a branch.
Link your checking account.
Automate your savings. If you get paid 2x/month, set up recurring transfers to your savings account. You can do it! The idea here is to not think about it — let it happen automatically. Start with 5% and increase it by 1% every 6 months. You won’t miss it and you’ll be able to look back 6 months later and celebrate.
Stop using your credit card if you have a balance. Credit cards can be great tools if we use them correctly. Unfortunately, most of us do not. If you’re carrying a balance on any of your credit cards, you are paying for a very expensive loan and oftentimes for things that are far from an emergency. You should only use your credit card when you have equal or greater funds available in your checking account to pay for what you spent on your credit card. In other words, you should be able to pay off your balance each month. If you’re not there, you are not alone. BUT, it means you should stop using your credit card and only use your debit card (or money from your checking account).
Action you can take today:
If you’re carrying a credit card balance that you’re unable to pay today, you may be able to negotiate your interest rate. Research scripts online before calling your credit card company.
Use only the money in your checking account for future purchases until you’re able to pay off your credit card debt.

CHECK YOUR MINDSET

Like other areas of our lives, this is a process. And as much as I would like to think that this blog post will change your life, I know that it will take more than that. Like any relationship, our relationship with money takes work and it is rarely easy. But it is the hard decisions we make today that will make our lives easier in the future. If you’re not “there” today, be patient with yourself and commit to an action that will get you closer.

LET’S MAKE A PLAN!

Schedule a Meeting: In person or virtual

Dearborn Creggs

YOUR CELL PHONE BILL IS STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOALS

MY VALUES DRIVE MY DECISIONS

SOME BACKGROUND

WHAT DO YOU VALUE?

LIFE HACK YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES AS A FIRST-YEAR TEACHER

This is a subtitle for your new post

IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW…

ENOUGH! I’M READY TO TAKE CONTROL OF MY FINANCES. THE 50/30/20 RULE

OLD SCHOOL AND NEW SCHOOL BUDGETING

ENTER THE 20/50/30/ RULE ﻿

20: GOALS: SAVINGS & DEBT | PAY YOURSELF FIRST

30: WANTS | TREAT YOURSELF

LET’S MAKE A PLAN!

CONSIDERING BORROWING OR WITHDRAWING FROM YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS? READ THIS FIRST.

BE PROACTIVE

LOAN FROM YOUR 403(B) OR 457 ACCOUNT

LOAN AMOUNT

COST TO BORROW

TERMS OF THE LOAN

WITHDRAWAL FROM YOUR 403(B) OR 457 ACCOUNT

TAXES

403(B) DISTRIBUTION AND HARDSHIP WITHDRAWAL

457 DISTRIBUTION AND UNFORESEEABLE EMERGENCY

LET’S MAKE A PLAN

3 ACTION STEPS FOR RECENT GRADUATES AND PERSONAL FINANCE NEWBIES

Just because something is simple, does not mean it is easy.

ENTER THE 20/50/30/ RULE