Blogging about my books, the writing process, mindset, and anything else I feel like sharing.
Did you know that New Year's resolutions regarding personal finances are some of the most common resolutions people make? Not only that, but by this point in the year many people have already given up on their resolutions.
It’s never too late to try again! You don’t need a new year to try something new. Here are a few things I did in 2019 that made a big difference in my personal finances.
Read MoreI’m excited to share that Keep More Money is now available in audio! Now you can “read” while on the go. If you already know what Keep More Money is about, skip to the bottom of this post to find out how you can get the audiobook for free. Otherwise, keep reading to learn more about the Keep More Money.
Read MoreWith the fourth quarter of the year just starting, I’ve heard a lot of chatter about planning and goals. Today, I wanted to share another way you can use your planner—to track your income and expenses to improve personal finances.
I started tracking my income and expenses at the beginning of this year as a way to keep an eye on the mountainous pile of debt I’d been accumulating. I like using Google Sheets, but you can easily do a quick tally at the bottom of a daily planner spread to record your income and expenses for that day.
Read MoreSo, I may have gone a little overboard creating covers for my first planner. I’d love it if you would share your opinions in the comments below. Don’t worry, I have some larger pictures coming right up. But first, a little about this book . . .
This is a planner first and foremost, so while I was creating these covers, I kept that in mind. Most planners don’t include the authors name or a sub-title. However, there is going to be a bit of a self-help element to the book as well. I will be sharing my story with debt and my “TREE” method for keeping it under control and managing my finances.
Read MoreAfter she lost the feeling in the right side of her body due to Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Mari McCarthy turned to journaling when she learned about Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages through The Artist’s Way. By developing a daily journaling practice, Mari was able to regain feeling on her right side and currently needs zero medication to control her MS.
Read MoreI’ve always been what I call a “reluctant journaler”. I’d start a daily journal practice only to stop a few days later. It would be days or even months before I’d start up again. After reading Heal Yourself with Journaling Power by Mari McCarthy, I’m definitely motivated to cultivate a daily journaling practice that sticks.
I love this opening quote from Mari: “When I change the way I look at me, the me I look at changes”. This had so much meaning for me and really shows how we are constantly evolving. By page 24 of Heal Yourself with Journaling Power, I was already fighting back tears, revelling in Mari’s amazing transformation story.
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago, I participated in a writing sprint challenge hosted by Sarra Cannon of Heart Breathings. I’d joined many writing sprints on Twitter (@TWSSFU hosts one every month) and read a lot about how writing sprints had affected many authors, but Sarra’s challenge really opened my eyes to just how powerful writing sprints are.
The goal of Sarra’s writing sprint challenge was to find your ideal writing sprint session. Each day of the challenge involved a different length and number of sprints. For example, the first day was three 10-minute sprints with 5-minute breaks, and Day 2 was two 25-minute sprints with a 10-minute break in between.
Read MoreThis month on my blog, I’m talking all about productivity and focus for writers. I find my own productivity increases tenfold when I have something to hold me accountable. Many courses I’ve participated in have recommended finding an accountability partner as a way of making sure you stick to your deadlines. It’s also a great way to make new friends.
When I wrote Keep More Money, I had weekly meetings with my accountability partner and we tracked the progress both of us had made on a spreadsheet as well as set weekly goals for ourselves. But an accountability partner doesn’t have to be someone who is working on the same type of project you are. My friend, Josie, and I get together online to talk about how things are going in our businesses even though we are in different industries.
Read MoreHi, I'm Michelle! Writing is a passion of mine. I love to entertain and educate through my writing. I started out writing about business and money and have moved on to thrillers and picture books.
Spending time with family is what I'm all about. Life's too short!
I have two amazing sons who love Lego and ninjas...and TV (sigh)!! We read a ton of storybooks to make up for the TV thing. One of the best ways to explain things is through stories of course.
If it was up to me, I'd have chips and dip for dinner every night with a super dark chocolate bar to round out the meal...and maybe an apple! It's a good thing I've got kids and a husband. They keep me responsible (and healthy).
