Shelly Young
5 No Spend Month Tips and Tricks

I remember going to my husband years ago with a 12 credit cards confession. Honey, I have $25k in credit card debt. Not the thing you want to hear around Christmas time, but it was the truth, and I had hid it from him. You see, in my depression and anxiety, I would spend money to make myself feel better, only putting our family in a pit of financial despair. It was a December, and the next January started my journey to debt freedom! So I started it with a no spend month, and it changed my life. It set the tone for the rest of the year. That month I paid off 2-3 credit cards just by intentionally ONLY spending on what we agreed upon! And now friend, we are starting the New Year with only 1 credit card left! In just 2 years, we have paid off over $20k in debt! WOoohoo! And I share that story because no matter where you are in your finance journey, IT IS POSSIBLE! So how do you do a no spend month?

5 No Spend Month Tips and Tricks
Shelly Young
5 Tips to Traveling Cheaply with Kids

So this week, I decided to take a Homeschool Fall Break! We have been busy with sports and restaurants and all the things, and I knew that we needed a break as a family. We’ve been saving tons and paying off debt tons, so we had a good cushion to take a trip! We save weekly on groceries, doing my own nails and hair, making my own coffee at home ($130 savings just this month by not going to Starbucks), and so many other ways! So I took the trip instead of putting it on debt because as a family we needed it, and making memories is a core value for us! So here’s my 5 tips to traveling cheaply with kids!

5 Tips to Traveling Cheaply with Kids
Shelly Young
5 Tips to Digital Minimalism

So minimalism is a very newer concept to me! I’ve been decluttering for years now, but the idea of minimalism really intrigued me as a family of 6, sports, and all of the things. I felt like we were accumulating all of these things, and it was bringing me so much anxiety. My household was no longer was sanctuary, but a place I found overwhelming because it was no longer a space of peace, but a space of…..well….clutter. So I went on this journey to minimize our things, and after months of minimizing, I’ve become so much more happy with our spaces. I’ll share more on that soon! So what is digital minimalism? For me, digital minimalism is getting rid of the things digitally that don’t bring you joy and really leaning into the things that do bring you joy and help you create the amazing life that you want.

5 Tips to Digital Minimalism
Shelly Young
Taco Night Mom Fail: 5 Ways to Get through this ...

Tonight I bombed. I cooked a healthy taco meal that no one ate! Haha. It was a vegan fish taco in lettuce wraps, and I may have challenged one kid to take one bite, while another smelled it and ran! Haha! Luckily, I cooked a backup meal for my family (I’m stricter than most of them eating mostly vegan), and I don’t expect all of them to eat vegan especially Air Fried Heart of Palms from Tabitha Brown’s Instagram video! What is a heart of palm even! I mean what was I thinking! It was a weekday! I don’t cook new meals during the weekdays! I know better. My kitchen is a wreck and the heart of palms is starting at me AND even the dog won’t eat it! When a piece fell on the floor, she didn’t even eat it! Oh boy! But it’s ok! Because my kids are a bit older, we have meal time rules, and they complied with them, and it was great! Taco Night bombed. But we survived and laughed about it! But it hasn’t always been this way! Before, I did not love motherhood. I had 3 kids, 3 and under, and one older one and a traveling husband. It was hard. I felt isolated, depressed and alone, and most days I felt like a failure. That’s how I felt years ago, and with this pandemic, I know some of you may be feeling the same way I felt! The pressure of virtual learning, being home non-stop, and juggling work and e-learning. You will get through this time! So here are 5 ways to get through this pandemic, e-learning, working, or homeschooling with your sanity!

Taco Night Mom Fail: 5 Ways to Get through this Pandemic with your Sanity!
Shelly Young
How to Start a Chore System and $$$ with Kids!

I was burned out! I was doing all the things while my sweet husband was traveling 5-6 days per week, not getting home until 10pm most nights if he wasn’t having an overnight stay. He wanted to help, but his job back then took him away from our city more often than not. And I was tired, experienced postpartum depression, and I just felt like I was drowning under homeschooling, nursing babies, and well... Life. And I remember meeting with one of my mentors, and she said, “What chores are your children responsible for.” And that conversation changed my life. Now years later, I finally feel as if we have a good system that works for us.

How to Start a Chore System and $$$ with Kids!

January No Spend Recap

I was not the saver.  I was the one who walked into Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University life group, and said, “Hi, I’m Shelly, and I’m a shopaholic.” While the group laughed, my husband nervously nodded his head because he knew my issues were no laughing matter.  You see.  I came from no money, so the minute I had it, I spent it.  And then some.  I grew up in a trailer, and my mom did her best to provide for three kids, but money was always tight.  So when I went off to college at 17, I just wanted to make money and tons of it.  Fast forward to getting married, having kids, all that jazz, I developed some very bad habits. Spending habits.  We went into debt, then paid off $40,000 using Dave Ramsey’s principles.  Then unemployment for 9 months happened, and God provided, but the next year, I went into depression (which I had struggled with for years), and I racked up $25,000 worth of debt.  Credit card debt.  The reason I’m telling you this is because no matter where you are, IT IS POSSIBLE.  It is possible to change your mind.  It is possible to change your future.  It is possible to say no to credit card debt and take the necessary steps to have financial freedom!  And it starts with your spending.  And tracking.  And saying no.  And that’s why I absolutely highly recommend a No Spend Month. 

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January No Spend Recap

My No Spend January taught me so much about my own habits.  So here’s what the No Spend January taught me!

  1. My own wants and desires. And then how I put those wants and desires and influence my children. Because I was saying no to things, my kids began evaluating their own wants and needs. And they began saying NO to the things that they would ask for all the time. They were no longer asking for toys at Target. They were no longer asking to eat out every day. (Well one kid really struggled with not eating out. :) But overall, the kids really stopped asking for things!

  2. The No Spend taught me that I did not need alcohol. I usually buy wine weekly. I don’t drink every night, but I liked having it there. Just in case. Just in case, I wanted to have a glass at the end of the night. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing unhealthy about it. I just did not need that extra expense, so for the month of January I really didn’t drink. Well maybe twice. :)

  3. The No Spend taught me to trust the process. It’s not about big changes. It’s about small changes every single day. Every single day choosing to not spend that $5 on Starbucks. $5 dollars a day on Starbucks equals $35 a week, which equals $1820 per year. Maybe you don’t drink Starbucks, but you eat out for lunch everyday, or you spend extras on this or that. Those little purchases add up, so trust the process. Make small changes each and every day. And celebrate your small wins!

  4. The No Spend Month taught me to get creative with meal planning, meal prepping, and evaluate what’s important. I knew I needed to be super intentional with our busy schedule or else I would just want to pick up take out. Friday night pizza out turned into eating in. Making our own pizza or buying Digiornos. Sunday Panera out turned into buying Panera soup from the grocery store and saving tons of money. You don’t have to deprive yourself while doing a no spend. You can live your life and still not spend money! You can eat good food even while on a No Spend. So get creative with what you have and what you enjoy!

  5. That I can rewrite my own story! I was never a saver before. But in January I saved the most I’ve ever saved (personally not business or as a family….but personally). I saved $562! Just in January! Rewrite your own story! Debt does not have to be your story! Financially living paycheck to paycheck does not have to be your story! You can be a saver! You can have the amazing life that God has for you! Rewrite your own story!

What do you want as a family financially?  This year I want 1 year emergency fund!  We did 6 months last year!  And I believe we can save 6 more months this year.  I want to pay cash for our next house!  I want to pay people’s mortgages and be crazy generous!  So I do these No Spend challenges not just for me but for others too!  Because I believe as I’m rewriting my story, lives are being changed and other people will begin to rewrite their own financial stories.  Mine started out in poverty, but guess what friend!  That’s the not the end!  And I believe our future is bright!  I believe a No Spend Month (on your own terms because you get to determine the rules), will be such a great step for your financial freedom!  And guess what friend!  It starts today!  

Until next time friend,

Shelly

How To Save Big On No Spend Month

How To Save Big On No Spend Month

We are just finishing up week 1 of our No Spend Month, and it has been amazing and hard all at the same time. On one hand, we are definitely missing eating out, on the other hand, we are loving seeing the savings and strides we are making. Whether you need to reset after the holidays, pay off debt, or create margin in your budget doing a No Spend Month can help catapult your financial goals!

The UGLY TRUTH: A Week oN No Spend Month

The UGLY TRUTH: A Week oN No Spend Month

So we are ending week 1 of no spend week, and goodness ya’ll. It is so eye opening to see what my natural tendencies are, my go-to spending when I’m feeling stressed, my go-to stores when I’m feeling bored, my to-go or restaurants when I haven’t planned well. Even though I’ve been on my debt-free journey for 2 years, it’s still so much learning or unlearning that happens during a no-spend month. My family of 6 have adjust. Some well. Some not so well, as we realized where some of our spending habits have impacted our kids and their consumerism. It’s like taking a hard look in the mirror, and the hard and ugly truth is….we spent nearly $800 on eating out last month. Yes, we had a few birthday celebrations, but that $800 could have gone to debt. Yes we had some wiggle room because we side hustle ton, BUT $800!? Yep! So here goes week 1 truths.

5 No Spend Month Tips and Tricks

5 No Spend Month Tips and Tricks

I remember going to my husband years ago with a 12 credit cards confession. Honey, I have $25k in credit card debt. Not the thing you want to hear around Christmas time, but it was the truth, and I had hid it from him. You see, in my depression and anxiety, I would spend money to make myself feel better, only putting our family in a pit of financial despair. It was a December, and the next January started my journey to debt freedom! So I started it with a no spend month, and it changed my life. It set the tone for the rest of the year. That month I paid off 2-3 credit cards just by intentionally ONLY spending on what we agreed upon! And now friend, we are starting the New Year with only 1 credit card left! In just 2 years, we have paid off over $20k in debt! WOoohoo! And I share that story because no matter where you are in your finance journey, IT IS POSSIBLE! So how do you do a no spend month?

5 Tips to Traveling Cheaply with Kids

5 Tips to Traveling Cheaply with Kids

So this week, I decided to take a Homeschool Fall Break! We have been busy with sports and restaurants and all the things, and I knew that we needed a break as a family. We’ve been saving tons and paying off debt tons, so we had a good cushion to take a trip! We save weekly on groceries, doing my own nails and hair, making my own coffee at home ($130 savings just this month by not going to Starbucks), and so many other ways! So I took the trip instead of putting it on debt because as a family we needed it, and making memories is a core value for us! So here’s my 5 tips to traveling cheaply with kids!

5 Tips to Digital Minimalism

5 Tips to Digital Minimalism

So minimalism is a very newer concept to me! I’ve been decluttering for years now, but the idea of minimalism really intrigued me as a family of 6, sports, and all of the things. I felt like we were accumulating all of these things, and it was bringing me so much anxiety. My household was no longer was sanctuary, but a place I found overwhelming because it was no longer a space of peace, but a space of…..well….clutter. So I went on this journey to minimize our things, and after months of minimizing, I’ve become so much more happy with our spaces. I’ll share more on that soon! So what is digital minimalism? For me, digital minimalism is getting rid of the things digitally that don’t bring you joy and really leaning into the things that do bring you joy and help you create the amazing life that you want.

Taco Night Mom Fail: 5 Ways to Get through this Pandemic with your Sanity!

Taco Night Mom Fail: 5 Ways to Get through this Pandemic with your Sanity!

Tonight I bombed. I cooked a healthy taco meal that no one ate! Haha. It was a vegan fish taco in lettuce wraps, and I may have challenged one kid to take one bite, while another smelled it and ran! Haha! Luckily, I cooked a backup meal for my family (I’m stricter than most of them eating mostly vegan), and I don’t expect all of them to eat vegan especially Air Fried Heart of Palms from Tabitha Brown’s Instagram video! What is a heart of palm even! I mean what was I thinking! It was a weekday! I don’t cook new meals during the weekdays! I know better. My kitchen is a wreck and the heart of palms is starting at me AND even the dog won’t eat it! When a piece fell on the floor, she didn’t even eat it! Oh boy! But it’s ok! Because my kids are a bit older, we have meal time rules, and they complied with them, and it was great! Taco Night bombed. But we survived and laughed about it! But it hasn’t always been this way! Before, I did not love motherhood. I had 3 kids, 3 and under, and one older one and a traveling husband. It was hard. I felt isolated, depressed and alone, and most days I felt like a failure. That’s how I felt years ago, and with this pandemic, I know some of you may be feeling the same way I felt! The pressure of virtual learning, being home non-stop, and juggling work and e-learning. You will get through this time! So here are 5 ways to get through this pandemic, e-learning, working, or homeschooling with your sanity!

How to Start a Chore System and $$$ with Kids!

How to Start a Chore System and $$$ with Kids!

I was burned out! I was doing all the things while my sweet husband was traveling 5-6 days per week, not getting home until 10pm most nights if he wasn’t having an overnight stay. He wanted to help, but his job back then took him away from our city more often than not. And I was tired, experienced postpartum depression, and I just felt like I was drowning under homeschooling, nursing babies, and well... Life. And I remember meeting with one of my mentors, and she said, “What chores are your children responsible for.” And that conversation changed my life. Now years later, I finally feel as if we have a good system that works for us.

How to Start Your Debt Free Journey

How to Start Your Debt Free Journey

7,551.11. That’s the number between us and credit card debt freedom! Goodness. As I’m looking at the numbers this morning, I’m a pen to paper gal, I’m absolutely blown away by the progress we’ve made. Honestly, starting off with almost $20k in credit card debt, I didn’t think it was possible. I didn’t believe that debt free was possible for us. I thought well goodness, we will have this hanging over our head forever. That stinking thinking almost convinced me it wasn’t possible. But goodness, 18 months later, we only have less than $8k in credit card debt left! Come on!

5 Ways to Make Do with Groceries

5 Ways to Make Do with Groceries

As a family of 6, we were constantly busy with two restaurants, homeschooling, and sports. We were in the throes of travel baseball, and by the end of the night, we just wanted to grab something quick. And then I looked at our bank statement over 8 days, and I almost died! That year, my life changed! Forever changed. We were not only eating too much, we were spending frivolously on FOOD! Not even experiences. FOOD! And while some people are great spending $800 on food in 8 days, it made me feel sick to my stomach! We could have paid someone’s rent with that $800.

5 Ways to Lean Into Less

5 Ways to Lean Into Less

“You need a bigger house,” my friend said.

That one phrase haunted me, but did she know I came from an apartment where our neighbors cockroaches seeped into our very clean apartment. Did she know I came from a single wide trailer where when it rained, we had a bucket to collect the rain drops. Did she know that escaping and overcoming poverty and helping others was my main reason for going to college at 17, working three jobs to put myself through @uncchapelhill. She did not know because I don’t talk about my story much anymore! Almost 20 years later, I don’t need more! God has given me and blessed me beyond what I could ever have hoped or dreamed of!

5 Tips to Organize Your House during the Pandemic

5 Tips to Organize Your House during the Pandemic

During this difficult and uncertain time of a global pandemic, most people are having to shelter in place and stay home. When you are in your home 24/7, you begin to realize that things have piled up or no longer function as intended. Some are taking the time to declutter and reorganize while they are home. However, looking at your entire living space and thinking about all the clutter and disorganization can be very overwhelming and disheartening. Here are five tips to get started.

5 Budget Tips to Get Through the Pandemic

5 Budget Tips to Get Through the Pandemic

So I haven’t shared a ton about how this pandemic has impacted us and our business. Actually, I think I’ve been more quiet than I have been in these last few months. And my perspective on a lot of things has shifted because of the Coronavirus. If you’ve been following us for some time, you know, we own two restaurants with some amazing business partners. Eggs Up Grill has been such a blessing to our family following 9 months of unemployment and a season of drought. So we are no stranger to drought and adversity. So when the country was shut down last month, our businesses suffered tremendously. Our dining rooms were closed and only takeout and delivery services could be offered. Across the street from us, a local restaurant was hit by the Covid-19, and many people, rightfully so, were afraid to come to our restaurant. That community, Camden, Kershaw County was one of the first epicenters in South Carolina for the Coronavirus, and so our business was impacted. BUT God! Throughout my quiet, we have prayed, our pastors have prayed, our friends have prayed for financial miracles, breakthrough, and provisions during this crazy time. Because of their prayers and support, we believe we will get through this. We have had the support of friends and local business owners who have paid thousands for their staff to eat at our restaurant to keep our doors open, and we can never repay those friends who have been the hands and feet of Jesus to us! Thank you friends!

20 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Finances (Copy)

20 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Finances (Copy)

I remember getting that fateful call. I heard something different in his voice. He seemed eerily calm, but his voice sounded different. “I think they are trying to let me go. I think I’m going to get laid off. I feel something. Something feels off,” my husband stated. I remember walking outside of our home. Our first home we purchased together. Our only home our kids had known. We had lived in this home for 7 years, and the thought of losing it terrified me. I didn’t communicate any of these thoughts to my husband. I remained calm. I listened, and then when we hung up our call, I instantly prayed. We had experienced God’s hand in our lives so much. We had seen God move saving my husband six years prior, and moving mountains in our relationship and family. But unemployment with four mouths to feed, one who was under 1, it was SCARY! We had lived on ONE INCOME for our entire relationship, and my side hustle never paid bills. Unemployment. That fateful day brought about 9 months of unemployment that forever changed the way we saw God and how we prayed over our family and ultimately our finances! So here’s 20 bible verses to pray over your finances!

20 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Finances

20 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Finances

I remember getting that fateful call. I heard something different in his voice. He seemed eerily calm, but his voice sounded different. “I think they are trying to let me go. I think I’m going to get laid off. I feel something. Something feels off,” my husband stated. I remember walking outside of our home. Our first home we purchased together. Our only home our kids had known. We had lived in this home for 7 years, and the thought of losing it terrified me. I didn’t communicate any of these thoughts to my husband. I remained calm. I listened, and then when we hung up our call, I instantly prayed. We had experienced God’s hand in our lives so much. We had seen God move saving my husband six years prior, and moving mountains in our relationship and family. But unemployment with four mouths to feed, one who was under 1, it was SCARY! We had lived on ONE INCOME for our entire relationship, and my side hustle never paid bills. Unemployment. That fateful day brought about 9 months of unemployment that forever changed the way we saw God and how we prayed over our family and ultimately our finances! So here’s 20 bible verses to pray over your finances!

20 Scriptures to Combat Doubt and Fear

20 Scriptures to Combat Doubt and Fear

So this year we opened our 2nd restaurant with our amazing business partners on February 20th, and goodness God showed up big. We had prayed with our amazing partners, church, friends, and family for months, and finally our doors opened. God moved big. The store was at the top of the company for weeks, and then the Coronavirus hit. Restaurants were shut down, and staff sent home indefinitely. Over 10 million people in the US alone applied for unemployment, and families all over have been impacted, lives lost, loved ones lost, churches closed, and lives changed. And so how do we find hope when life is chaos? How do we find hope when there’s so much uncertainty about the future? How do we find hope when fear ad doubt seem to creep into our thoughts? The Word of God! I know that sounds super cliche, but God is really impressing on me this week? “Where is your worship, Shelly?” Will you worship me or will you worship this Coronavirus situation and how it impacts your businesses? So, I grabbed my bible and started digging into scriptures about doubt and fear to combat negative self-talk! God is in control! God has us! God has you! So here are 20 scriptures to combat doubt and fear!

Tips for a 30 Day All-Cash Challenge

Tips for a 30 Day All-Cash Challenge

So this year we are really focusing on paying off debt and saving more! And one way we have seen results is using cash more! So last month, we decided to an all-cash spending challenge in our family! The first week it really took some getting use to not swiping our debit card. There were 2 areas we could use our debit card (gas and Instacart which is linked to my husband’s debit card). My husband has been buying gas for me, so I didn’t really have to swipe last month. I just really hate going inside the gas station, so we were fine swiping the debit card at the gas station! So here is our recap:

5 Secrets to Do During Disaster

5 Secrets to Do During Disaster

We weren’t ready for this Coronavirus to hit our country! None of us could have imagined the country almost “shutting down” because of this pandemic! We are all trying to stay healthy, wash our hands tons, and keep a healthy distance from people! We are told to only go out for needs and stay 6 feet from most people outside of our family. It’s absolutely crazy but so necessary to keep this virus from spreading! So what do we do! Here are my secrets to still thriving financially during disaster or save or pin for later!

12 Tips for the Now Homeschool Mom or Dad

12 Tips for the Now Homeschool Mom or Dad

Now Mama or Pop! You didn’t ask for this. You didn’t ask for the homeschool arena nor were you prepared to enter the arena. So have some grace for yourself. This Coronavirus madness has placed you at the feet of your children begging them to take a bite of their Cheerios or yelling to get out the pantry because your Coronavirus stash pile is now down to almost nothing in the 24 hours they have been home. It’s ok. The frenzy because you are now a homeschool mom or dad is ok. You will be ok. And so will they!