Mum-Kini

Money Matters: How to Stop Overspending and Start saving Today

Finance /

Managing finances is an essential aspect of life that can be challenging for many people. Overspending is a common problem that can lead to financial stress and debt. However, with the right strategies, it is possible to take control of your finances and start saving for the future. In this post, I will discuss various tips and techniques to help you manage your finances effectively and stop overspending. Yes, this coming from experience as I was a notorious over spender. Now I am happy to report I have learned to reduce my overspending and I taught myself how to save for anything I may need, whether it is a nice lunch with a friend, to a fancy dinner with my husband or a fun-filled day with my daughter, I learned to save ahead of time and enjoy these outings with no worries in mind. Understanding Your Spending Habits The first step in managing your finances is to understand your spending habits. This involves tracking your expenses and identifying patterns in your spending. By doing so, you can identify areas where you may be overspending and make adjustments accordingly. There are several ways to track your expenses, such as using a budgeting app or spreadsheet. I remembered googling free budget app for android and Google never fails, it gave me a bunch of budgeting apps and I remembered taking my time to read reviews and reading why people were downloading a specific app or uninstalling an app. So, download an app that you confident in.These budgeting tools can help you categorize your expenses and monitor your spending in real-time. It is also essential to review your expenses regularly to ensure that you are staying on track with your budget. Please do not check for two or three days straight then forget about it. Check the app regularly. Setting Financial Goals Setting financial goals is crucial for achieving long-term financial stability. When setting goals, it is essential to make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This means setting goals that are realistic and have a clear timeline for completion. Examples of financial goals include saving for a down payment on a house, saving for an international trip, your wedding, a honeymoon, a new car, your child college tuition or paying off credit card debt. By setting specific goals, you can create a plan of action to achieve them. Creating a Budget Creating a budget is an effective way to manage your finances and achieve your financial goals. A budget helps you track your income and expenses and ensures that you are not overspending in any category. When creating a budget, it is essential to categorize your expenses into fixed and variable categories. Fixed expenses include rent or mortgage payments, and/or Cellphone plan, while variable expenses include things like groceries, Electricity payments, Water & Sewer payments, fuel for your car, or entertainment. By setting limits for each category, you can ensure that you are not overspending in any area. Automating Savings Automating savings is an effective way to save consistently and achieve your financial goals. By setting up automatic transfers from your checking to savings accounts, you can ensure that you are saving a portion of your income each month. Automating savings also makes it easier to save consistently, as you do not have to remember to transfer money manually. This can help you stay on track with your financial goals and avoid overspending. Finding Ways to Cut Costs Finding ways to cut costs is an essential aspect of managing your finances effectively. By reducing your expenses, you can free up money for savings and achieve your financial goals faster.There are several ways to cut costs, such as negotiating bills or reducing discretionary spending. For example, you can negotiate your cable or internet bill to get a lower rate, change your cellphone plan to cheaper plan, staying home more often, taking cold showers, washing your clothes with cold water only, reducing and canceling your streaming services to only one or do away with all and watch free YouTube clips or reduce your dining out expenses by cooking at home more often. Making Smart Financial Decisions Staying motivated to save can be challenging, especially when faced with setbacks or unexpected expenses. However, it is essential to stay focused on your long-term financial goals and celebrate small wins along the way. Reminding yourself of the benefits of saving, such as financial security and freedom, can also help you stay motivated. By staying committed to your financial goals, you can overcome obstacles and achieve long-term success. Staying Motivated to Save Making informed financial decisions is crucial for achieving long-term financial stability. Before making a big purchase, it is essential to research and compare prices to ensure that you are getting the best deal.Reading reviews and asking for recommendations can also help you make informed decisions. By taking the time to research before making a purchase, you can avoid overspending and make the most of your money. Finally, please know that managing your finances effectively is crucial for achieving long-term financial stability and avoiding overspending. By understanding your spending habits, setting financial goals, creating a budget, automating savings, finding ways to cut costs, making smart financial decisions, and staying motivated to save, you can take control of your finances and achieve your financial goals. Start implementing these tips today to stop overspending and start saving for the future.

Money Matters: How to Stop Overspending and Start saving Today Read More »

The Benefits of Hobbies: Why You Should Start One Today

Health & Well-being, Work & Life Balance /

Has anyone ever told you to start a hobby? Or have you gotten stuck in a long, one-way conversation about someone passionately speaking to you about their hobbies? Yeah, I know you probably weren’t paying any attention. If you are like me, you probably started doing your grocery list mentally or trying to recall what your significant others meant that morning, maybe last week, and heck, if you are even more horrible like yours truly, you are thinking, “What the heck did they mean last year?” all ways to drown out this conversation about hobbies. Today, the topic is very simple: what are the benefits of having a hobby? What’s so great about it? And since you are reading this, it’s fine by me if you pause and come back to finish reading this blog. let’s begin, Hobbies are activities that we engage in for pleasure and enjoyment outside of our work or daily responsibilities. They can range from creative pursuits like painting or writing to physical activities like hiking or dancing to intellectual pursuits like reading or learning a new language. Hobbies are important in our lives because they provide us with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, help us reduce stress and anxiety, and allow us to explore our interests and passions. Benefits of Having a Hobby Having a hobby can provide numerous benefits for our mental and physical health, as well as our personal and professional lives. One of the most significant benefits is reducing stress and anxiety. Engaging in a hobby can help us relax and unwind, providing a much-needed break from the demands of daily life. Additionally, hobbies can boost creativity and productivity by allowing us to explore new ideas and approaches. Hobbies can also improve our mental and physical health by providing opportunities for exercise, relaxation, and social connection. For example, active hobbies like hiking or sports can improve cardiovascular health and strengthen muscles, while creative hobbies like painting or writing can provide an outlet for self-expression and emotional release. Finally, hobbies can enhance social connections and relationships by providing opportunities to meet new people with similar interests. Types of Hobbies to Consider There are many different types of hobbies to consider depending on your interests and preferences. Creative hobbies include activities like painting, writing, photography, or music. Active hobbies include hiking, dancing, sports, or gardening. Intellectual hobbies include reading, learning a new language, playing chess or other games. Social hobbies include volunteering, joining a club or organization, attending events or concerts. Finding the Right Hobby for You Finding the right hobby for you involves assessing your interests and passions, trying out different hobbies to see what you enjoy most, seeking inspiration from others who share your interests, and considering your budget and resources. It’s important to choose a hobby that you enjoy and that fits your lifestyle and schedule. Overcoming Challenges to Starting a Hobby There are several challenges that can prevent us from starting a hobby, including lack of time, lack of motivation, fear of failure or judgment, and lack of resources or support. To overcome these challenges, it’s important to prioritize your hobby in your schedule, set realistic goals and expectations, seek support from friends or family members, and remind yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn as you go. Making Time for Your Hobby Making time for your hobby involves prioritizing it in your schedule, setting realistic goals and expectations, creating a dedicated space for your hobby, and incorporating it into your daily routine. It’s important to make time for the things that bring us joy and fulfillment in life. To conclude, hobbies are an important part of our lives that provide numerous benefits for our mental and physical health, personal fulfillment, and social connections. Whether you enjoy creative pursuits like painting or writing, active hobbies like hiking or dancing, intellectual pursuits like reading or learning a new language, or social hobbies like volunteering or attending events, there is a hobby out there for everyone. So why not start exploring your interests today? Remember to enjoy the process and have fun!

The Benefits of Hobbies: Why You Should Start One Today Read More »

7 strategies to create and achieve your goals

Family, Health & Well-being, Introduction, Mum-Kini Blog, Parenting, Work & Life Balance /

1. Identify your goals. First, identify what you want to achieve. I like to number each one of my goals; others use bullet points, etc.; it’s all acceptable. Next, use the numbered goals in my case to measure success. I found out that when I put a check next to the goal I have achieved, it boosts my morale, and I have an urge to tackle the next one. These goals can be as major as moving to another country or going to medical school or as minor as Saturday plans with loved ones or my favorite spring cleanings. 2. Make a list of your goals. I like to number each one of my goals; others use bullet points, etc.; it’s all acceptable. Next, use the numbered goals in my case to measure success. I found out that when I put a check next to the goal I have achieved, it boosts my morale, and I have an urge to tackle the next one. You can have it written down in your journal, which, by the way, I highly recommend having, or you can type it on your phone, desktop, or tablet. Any place that you know will keep you accountable for achieving these goals 3. Trust yourself to achieve your goals. I want you to list what you are good at and what strategies you’ve used in the past or are currently using that work for you. Then use that strategy again. Many times I think that in order to get the success I need, I must learn something new, whether through self-help books, friends, family, or paid specialists. I realized that I count myself out of the equation, but this is to improve or achieve a goal for myself. Why am I not in the problem-solving dialogue? I now use what works for me, and I trust myself to accomplish my goals. 4. Pace yourself and plan ahead. One strategy that works for me starts after I identify my goals and write them down in my journal. I start with what I think would be easier for me to accomplish and succeed at out of 10 goals, by the time I get to the complicated ones, I am so determined to knock them down that the goal does not scare me. I break down the goals into several tasks, usually two or three tasks, and I pace myself, giving myself days to finish the tasks. It could seem daunting to break a goal into three tasks, but I figured in order for me to walk, I need two legs. To give you a simplified idea of the act of walking, I am sure there are a lot of different components that go into it. But think about it: if you break your major goal down into smaller tasks and start on just one at a time, then the task seems less difficult and more achievable. And if you are a busy individual, this strategy will fit into your already packed schedule. 5. Failure is not the end; it’s a precious opportunity. One of my favorite quotes by author Roy Bennett is “Failures are the stairs we climb to reach success.” I am sure that we all experience failures, but what’s hard is that because we are human with emotions, failures can really wreck havoc in our lives. I remembered being very depressed when I couldn’t achieve a goal, and I had been going at it for months. The self-doubts came in, and the feeling of being a disgrace to my family and a disappointment to my teachers and friends made me cry whenever I got a chance. This was the first time that I had failed in such a major way that included my loved ones. That unfortunately drove me into depression. I remembered one of my older friends reaching out to me. I wonder now if she experienced this type of failure or saw the signs in me. She reached out to me and told me that failures are opportunities. With each failure, you are closer to succeeding. It was as if a huge weight was lifted off my shoulder, more like, off of me actually.  6. Don’t be afraid to dig deep. The most wonderful thing to experience about failure, if you are not overwhelmed with the emotions of failing at something, is the opportunity to dig deep about what could have been done to experience a different outcome. This used to scare me so much. I would blame others for things, and when I started blaming things outside of my control, for instance, lizards, yes, I blamed a lizard for one of my failures. For my sake, I will not tell you the story. But this is to point out how I would blame everything and anything because I did not want to dig deep and find out I was the cause of my own failures. After having the mindset that failures are opportunities, I made it my go-to now to dig deep because if it is my fault, I am digging deep to find a solution. It typically involves me figuring out that I procrastinate a lot, I prioritize the wrong things every time, or my favorite things to do are out of sight, out of mind. I was shocked at how reckless I was with my own goals. I had an urge to change, and it is a work in progress, but I am achieving a lot more than I used to. So don’t be afraid to get that shovel and dig deep. It will literally save your goals. 7. Celebrate your achievements and success. We’ve come to the end. This is my favorite part; it’s a celebration! Some people find it very hard to celebrate their accomplishments, and some are embarrassed by the thought of celebrating. I am here to tell you to accept how far you have come, recognize your achievements, and let it motivate you to achieve more. Set

7 strategies to create and achieve your goals Read More »

The pursuit of happiness

Family, Health & Well-being, Mum-Kini Blog, Parenting /

The pursuit of happiness has always been a lifelong quest that everyone seeks in their lifetime. Society wants you to believe that it is real and attainable. But most who find it are more likely to be disappointed, if not miserable. So what can you pursue to be happy? You have to pursue meaning and purpose in your life. According to Merriam-Webster, “purpose” is the reason for which something is done, created, or exists. In other words, why do you get out of bed in the morning? and meaning is to make sense of it all. While pursuing happiness is tied in with your emotions, with how you are feeling about yourself, what others feel about you, and what you think they see in you, having meaning and purpose is more of a direction you choose to take to act out your personal beliefs and values. For instance, most parents set out a career goal for their children. The parents tell the child that this specific career will give them happiness. The child obeys and follows through on all the studies and is now a professional in said career. They arrived and did not find the happiness that was promised. The parents are obviously very happy, because it was their happiness and their own personal purpose to have their child in this profession. Now let’s change it a bit. The child chooses not to follow the parent’s purpose in his or her life. They chose a different career field, and they are very happy. But unfortunately, the parents are heartbroken. Personal feelings cannot get in the way of a person’s quest to live a meaningful and purposeful life. You might ask, “How can this scenario get a happy ending?” Easy. The parent’s purpose for the child should be to help the child find his or her purpose in life and support them. Then and only then can happiness be fulfilled. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. And stay tuned for more blogs at www.Mum-Kini.com.

The pursuit of happiness Read More »

Avocado Toasts

Food & Recipes /

Yield: 4 servings One 8-ounce ripe avocado, halved, pitted and peeled. Fine salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 slices whole grain or whole wheat bread. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or unsalted butter, softened Directions: Mash the avocado with a fork in a shallow bowl until chunky and looks spreadable. Season the mashed avocado with fine salt and black pepper. Toast the bread until browned and crisp. Lightly brush the toasts with oil, and season with fine salt and pepper. Divide the mashed avocado evenly among the toasts, and top with more flaky sea salt. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today. And stay tuned for more blog at www.Mum-Kini.com.

Avocado Toasts Read More »