Empowered Planning Blog

As we dust off our margarita glasses + shop for new flip flops, the breadcrumbs left behind by the global pandemic are all around us. I want to share these 3 Weird + Wacky ways our money is being impacted today. 

#1: Used car prices are up over 30% as compared to last year. Why?

-Stimulus checks + low interest rates + going back to in-person working pushed upgrading a vehicle to the top of many lists. 

-Disruptions to supply chains and chip manufactures due to Covid-19 have just about halted new car production.

Keep in mind, if you're looking to upgrade your car, you may want to hold off until prices normalize. On the other hand, if you have a car in good shape but lost your daily commute because of permanent remote working you may not find a better time to sell your car!

#2: Turn key homes are selling for a HUGE premium. Why? 

-Construction costs (labor + materials) are higher than ever. Lumber + steel costs have shot up as much as 50% throughout the country....

Financial Wellness 2021: 3 Steps To Saving More This Year

Let’s face it. With technology connecting us to anyone anywhere at any time, it can be challenging to carve out time for ourselves. This behavior can heavily impact how we save for our future financial goals like retirement. Getting a head start on retirement savings in January will increase your financial confidence and you’ll get all the feels because you’re doing something meaningful for yourself! Check out these easy 3 steps to get going:

 Step 1: Review Your Lifestyle Guide aka Spending Plan

If you haven’t established a spending plan yet, check out my Lifestyle Guide. Having clarity on how much you’re spending and where you’re spending will open up your eyes and wallet. Determine how much you can set aside each month towards your retirement account. A golden rule is to save 15% of your pre-tax income towards retirement. Explore what you’re currently doing and make a note of...

The global pandemic that hit in 2020 threw me into a whirlwind of emotion and I challenged myself to take a hard look at my relationships, overall lifestyle habits and my financial situation. I quickly found that I wasn’t alone in how I was re-examining my life, my value system and my overall approach to the future. The K-shaped recovery our economy is experiencing has some people high-fiving a fruitful 2020 and others scrambling to find new employment and even a new career altogether. Whatever your situation is, I want to share 5 easy ways to find financial wellness in 2021.

 #1- Raise your financial awareness

You can simply raise your financial awareness by reflecting on how your financial situation panned out in 2020.  You can dive deep into financial situation if that works for you or take a simpler approach, regardless of what you decide, it’s a great time to look at last year through a financial lens. We look to the past not to judge ourselves but to see...