If you have been reading my blog recently, then you know I attended FinCon in Orlando, Florida this year.

However, what many of you may not know is that I have been listening to podcasts and reading blog posts by Grant Sabatier of Millennial Money.

Grant discussed saving money every day. Something like $5. And when I changed my mindset, I was like I want to do that too.

The escalation of your saving rate. Grant recommended that people try to escalate their saving by 1% every 30 days.

I knew this was a massive undertaking, but I was determined to do something.

So, I started where I was at and worked my way up. I just shifted upwards.

This is the first time I have ever opened up about what triggered me to start saving larger sums of money.

I am nervous just writing this post. However, I wanted to share some of the things that I have done in hopes that it may help someone else in the same way that Grant helped me.

SHIFT YOUR MONEY MINDSET

It was around 2013, that I started to do some Million-Dollar Math. I used an online calculator to determine how much I would have to save to get to millionaire status.

I focused on 2 numbers: $100,000 and $300,000.

The reason for this was because at an 8% return $100,000 will net you $1,000,000 in 30 years. At a 9% return, $300,000 will net you $1,000,000 in 12 years.

Even that, seemed like it would take tremendous effort.  Then I realized I had to think big, but start small. Start where I was at.

The answer was staring me right in the face. I was like Homer Simpson, Doh! Come on, Miriam. Use your Noggin.

I needed to take the small steps first in order to get to the bigger ones.

A number like $1,000,000 is too daunting. So, I broke it up into bite sizes like Oreo mini’s.

First, I focused on my retirement savings and then my regular savings. It went something like this.

Retirement Savings Escalation Example

*** I stopped at 2016 because I shifted my focus from mostly all savings going to my 401(k) to focusing more on liquid savings for the time being. Don’t worry. I still invest in my 401(k). I have to get that match after all. Can’t leave free money on the table.

In 2017, I made some changes to my savings approach. I needed to have some liquid cash too and not just have all my funds locked up in my 401(k). I had to have cash reserves. Especially, for any unforeseen emergencies that just pop up.

I decided to pay myself first. Instead of saving what was left over after paying my bills and spending money on things, I saved first. I set up an automatic deposit to my savings, then paid my bills and then spent what was left.

My savings rate was so high that there was not but so much left over to spend. I did this on purpose.

It meant I must not only spend less (a lot less), but I must also earn more if I want to spend more.

I started saving more liquid cash in my savings and money market accounts.

In order to get my savings rate higher, I had to cut subscriptions, payoff debt, and eat out less.

And there is a secret to my success. Shhh! But, I’ll tell you guys. The secret is this: I automate it.

I try to increase my savings rate by a minimum of between 1%-5% a year and even double or triple it, if I can. I just cut out everything. I spend as little on clothes as possible. I haven’t bought a car in almost 16 years. I don’t care. I’d rather save and be financially independent.

You can see from the numbers above that once I was introduced to Grant, my savings rate went through the roof and increased quite dramatically!

At the rate I’m going, I estimate I will have somewhere between $80,000 – $90,000+ after factoring in for life (cause things just come up).

And that is only if I continue on this path for at least the next several years and increase my savings by about 11% per year or around $1200 annually, which is a $100 increase in savings per month. I could decide to save even more over time.

I would then have enough savings in the bank to pay for 3-5 years of my expenses.

I estimated my FIRE number (25 x my expenses): $750,000.

Once I hit that or a certain number in liquid savings, I will then re-evaluate my situation.

WHEN I GOT INSPIRED BY MILLENNIAL MONEY

It happened around 2017. I like to read money articles, magazines and books. I like to study the self-made. Then maybe I can emulate their success.

I saw an article about Grant on CNBC in early 2017. I was intrigued to learn how someone could do this in just 5 years what most are unable to do in a 30 or 40-year career or even in a lifetime.

Once I read his story I was inspired to act. I was determined to get my act together too. I devoured personal finance (PF) books. I must have read at least 40-60 in the last 15 months alone.

However, I haven’t bought a book in about 3 years. Too expensive. I rent them all from the library.

I do have some books I own from the years I was buying personal finance books. I have a small mini-library in my home (just a medium-sized book shelf) full of all my PF books.

I feel that if you want to be wealthy, then you have to read. You have to pursue wealth. Your house should look like a Barnes and Noble, if you want to be rich.

And ditch the plastic, unless you can pay it off every month. Once you stop making those installments, all your money is yours and a lot of your money woes disappear.

However, for the first time in years I am allowing myself to buy a book and it will be Grant’s new book that is coming out in February 2019.

How do I know he has a book coming out at that time you ask?

Thanks for asking. I’ll tell you all about it.

MEETING MILLENNIAL MONEY

I went to Fincon, a financial conference where money and media meet, and Grant happened to be speaking at one of the workshop sessions.

I stepped in to see what he had to say.

He was awesome. I felt his passion for what he did. It was palpable.

He said blogging is a long game. Your blog and appearance should be clean and shiny.

Be unique, be yourself and tell your story.  Stand out from the crowd because the media will try to lump you in with all the other bloggers. Don’t let them.

Sell your feel goods. Feelings are what connect people to you and your blog.

Do you care about your reader? If so, be clear and transparent. Have a mission.

When I shared my story about having only $2.26 in my bank account it just one day exploded. I have done over 400 media interviews because of it.

90 days ago a firm offered me $4 million dollars for my site. I turned it down. I can’t sell my site. It’s my baby. There is more to life than money. It’s not the money. It’s the work.

If you want to be a blogger, make your posts memorable. Have personality. Be vulnerable. Be more giving. Show people that you are human.  Tell your struggles and challenges. Reveal things to your readers over time. Humanize your site. Be more open.

Screen shot your story. Make it unique so people can remember. Always start with a story.

Write lots of stories. Do your reps. Put in your time. Putting in the extra time to write 3 times more content means you connected the reader. Readers are looking for an emotional connection. And Storytelling.

I’ve written 1 million words about money. And I’m not done. Be distinctive.

This is the age of vulnerability and that is why digital podcasts are so popular.

At this point, I got the message. He was so passionate when he spoke I did not want to leave the session because he was so engaging.

I made a point to walk up to him later in the day and introduce myself and tell him how much I enjoyed his workshop.

He said thank you so much. I really appreciate that because it’s scary up there. Your like an island up there.

I also told him I did not think he should sell his website. I mean where I would get my feel goods.

I then gave him my card and he gave me his flyer. He was super grateful and humble when I told him I liked his speech. I felt and thought that he had a good personality and thoughtful disposition that was positive and hardworking.

And I was right. At the closing party, Grant displayed , yet again, his big-hearted and kind nature.

The DJ was packing it up for the night, but people still wanted to dance. He offered to pay the DJ (out of his own pocket to keep the party going). That was really nice.

That’s the type of people I need and want around me. Those with good character and that care about others. I want to be a good neighbor. And want to be around good neighbors as well.

After all, you never know when you may need to borrow a cup of sugar or need someone’s help.

Case in point, I had a close friend that needed some money fast in order to close on her house. I wrote her a check the very next day, with no other questions asked and she paid me back within 2 months.

My sister also many years ago was in a bind and needed to pay a debt. She said she needed $500 dollars. I wired her the money the same day. She said she would pay me back and I told her to forget it. After all she had done for me. I didn’t forget when there were times she helped me out. I had a chance to repay the favor, so I did.

I know some people out there may say it was just a DJ, but no. It was more than that. It was the fact that he was willing to dig in his pockets and spend money on hundreds of virtual strangers.

I have seen people not willing to give up a dollar, a penny even, not one red cent to help family members. Let alone a stranger. And this guy did it, no questions asked and without waiting for or expecting a thank you.

https://twitter.com/ptmoney/status/1046239732580188161

HOW I STARTED SAVING MORE AND SPENDING LESS

Well, there you have it. My story of how I started to save more.

You now know more about me than some of my close friends and family members do.

I’m not going to lie. I was scared to write this post, but if Grant can screen shot his bank account showing $2.26 in it, then I am willing to share as well.

I too lived at home longer that I wanted or planned to. I went shopping and spent recklessly to numb the pain. I felt I was failing at adulting.

I had to find a way to kick the habit because it was putting me in the poor house.

I started shopping with lists. I would make painstakingly long lists of clothes I wanted to buy. I would make myself wait 30 days before making a purchase. By then, I didn’t even want the clothes anymore.

To satisfy my cravings, I would at times (every few days or weeks) allow myself to go online to Nordstrom and put every item of clothing I wanted in the shopping cart. I once raked up a bill for $18,000 dollars!

However, I thought about my money or my life. How much in sweat would I have to toil to pay off that sweater that no one is going to see me in because I am too broke to go out?

By the time I would be able to pay off the debt (plastic fantastic), those clothes would be long gone and the interest would have made them way more expensive than the $18,000 I racked up just to buy them.

I did not buy one single item.

I proceeded to do this for about 6 months and sometimes I did it every day, in order to get it out of my system.

I have been cured of my shopping addition and clean and clothes sober for the last 5 years. Thank you very much.

I have never told anyone any of these things except my partner. He said do whatever you have to do not to spend.

I’m embarrassed to tell people that I used to do that, but whatever it’s my truth and I’m living in it.

I wasted so much money on clothes. You would not believe. For every event, I would go shopping. I needed a new dress or jacket or boots. I spent with reckless abandon to impress people that I didn’t even know, like or who didn’t even care.

Now, I never go on Macy’s website for longer than 10 minutes, I get what I need, and get out. I have bought very little and way less clothing than in the past. I rarely go to malls and no longer go to any clothing sites online.

I had about 600 items in my Amazon cart. Those items have been just sitting there probably for like the last 5 years. I was like forget it. I don’t need any more stuff.

I also notice when I don’t shop, I feel better. I get just as much joy in saving as I o spending. Almost. Let’s not go crazy now. I’m only human.

I started donating clothes and items all around the house. It feels good to purge all that stuff. It’s so freeing. It was cluttering up my mind and house. I don’t need a bunch of gadgets and new clothes and shoes. I would repair instead of replace.

I rarely go to the movies and almost never go on vacation. And if I do, it’s usually once a year.

I keep myself busy. I don’t like ideal hands. I find something productive to do. Even if, it’s just reading or cleaning the house.

Sometimes, I still get the itch to shop and spend, but I have learned not to scratch it. If the goal, is to be financially secure then sacrifices will have to be made. Hard work is required of anything good and important and it takes time. And hard work builds character.

And I am okay with not getting rich quick or overnight because I know anything truly worth having is worth the wait. The only way to really feel good about something is to earn it first.

I had to train myself on how to deal with large influxes of money and to keep my paws off of it. And much like the narrator said at the end of the Neverending Story, but  that’s  another story…