I want people to remember me as a full on entertainer and a good person. – Aaliyah
In case you have not already heard the news, the late superstar Aaliyah has her very own Madame Tussauds Wax Figure in her likeness from the Try Again Era.
Although, Aaliyah is gone she is not forgotten.
Therefore, this next post is titled in her honor. This post is named after her first ever record, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number which is the debut studio album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released under Jive and Blackground Records on May 24, 1994, in the United States.
I learned a lot from watching Aaliyah work so hard in her youth.
Like her, I want to be remembered as well, although as a full on financial blogger and a good person.
So let’s get right to it and start talking money.
When in doubt: save.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you cannot do or accomplish.
People have said to me the following:
You’ve been in school forever. Are you ever going to graduate?
Are you in school finishing your associate degree, because I know the bachelor’s takes a long time so you are probably only halfway done right?
You should write a book or something? Are you ever going to do that?
It is impossible to save any money. Is it possible to save thousands?
Winning the lottery is a great way to get rich. Do you play?
You should go for the Master’s degree. Why a second bachelor’s?
Why get a 2nd Master’s degree? Why not go for the doctorate?
You really have no car payment?
You’ve gained a little weight.
You’ve lost weight.
You have been saving forever, you are not ever going to buy a home.
I laughed at all these questions and comments.
This is my life. I set the pace. No one else. I control my destiny and the outcome of my life. I control the narrative.
And just to set the record straight, I did finish my bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. So take that haters. In addition, I also bought a home, started a daily exercise routine, a health and wellness regimen, started a blog in 2016, wrote an eBook in 2019, paid off my car in 2009, don’t play the lottery, and learned to save thousands by not shopping or taking fancy vacations.
And after I paid off my car, this is how I felt. Just like Katelyn Ohashi at the ESPYs. And like in her acceptance speech that night, I too had made a reference about Cardi B.
Paying off debt and saving. This all took many years. Like over a decade to accomplish. I know folks are out there retiring at like 27. But guess what? Life is full of ups and downs, but I never let my goals be far from my mind and kept them in sight because whether you retire at 22 or 62, fiscal age ain’t nothing but a number.
Safe to say, I set out to conquer every mountain or hill that was put in front of me. Yea baby!! I feel like dancing!!!
Life is complex. No one has all the answers. No one has a crystal ball to see the future. But reading up on the past has let me make some great predictions on what I think will happen.
For instance, after reading books on history, finance and biographies such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Daymond John, Bruce Lee, Dale Carnegie, Pat Benatar, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Warren Buffet, Ben Stein, Tony Robbins, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Dave Grohl, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and countless others, it is safe to assume the following:
- Financial markets are cyclical. About every 10-20- years the market corrects itself and there is a recession. Plan accordingly.
- When stocks go down, buy more.
- Save until it hurts. Something like 50% or more of your income.
- Things will get more expensive in the future.
- You can expect inflation to average at least 2-3% a year.
- Investing in real estate tends to yield good results over many years.
- If you do nothing else in real estate, at least purchase your primary residence.
- Buying franchises is expensive.
- Find your talent and exploit it for profit. If you are a good mechanic, then charge a good and fair price for your work.
- Never undervalue yourself.
I truly believe optimism is the key to happiness. I am always in a good mood. Laughter is always a part of my day and life.
My mind is always full of ideas, my eyes are clear and my heart is full.
I can’t hear you!!! Say it with me now!! Louder!!! Say it like you are in a stadium full of screaming football fans and Antonio Brown is out there running drills and scoring like he did on an episode of HardKnocks! So say it loud for me! One more time for the cheap seats in the back!!!
When people start complaining, I always feel that they should also provide solutions to their problems. I believe in being solution-based.
One of the greatest joys of my life is speaking my mind. I have done this since I was a little girl. I hold nothing in or back. I am always respectful, but I set clear boundaries on how I let people treat me. I respect others so I expect the same treatment in return. Instead of holding back, I dive in. Speaking your heart is a great way to free yourself from the constraints of life. You have to tell people what you want if you ever expect to get anything. SO SPEAK UP!!
In this life, you have to keep going. There is no time to rest on your laurels. No pity parties here. If you want financial independence, then you must fight for it. You have to work your butt off for it. Even if it takes, 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. My goal is to have at least $2 million in assets before I retire. Over 10 years later, I am still working on that goal. NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS AND YOUR GOALS!!! If you fall down, get up! You get up, dust yourself off and like Aaliyah said, “try again.”
Best of luck to you all in your fiscal adventures.