1. Kate Spade Outlet — Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Kate Spade is known and loved for a wide range of bags, from practical to fanciful, in a rainbow of colors. Score one — plus wallets, jewelry, clothes, and shoes — for up to 60% off with code MAKEAMATCH. Bonus: select styles are an extra 20% off on top of the already-amazing discounts.

Grab this deal >

2. Zales — Up to 50% Off Sitewide

What mom doesn’t deserve to sparkle and shine? Shop a stunning selection of necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, and more beautiful Mother’s Day presents, up to 50% off — online only. 

Grab this deal >

3. Bouqs — Pre-Order Deal & Get 35% Off

No matter what Mother’s Day gifts you’re getting, don’t forget to add flowers. The Bouqs Co. makes it fast and easy to pre-order farm-fresh flowers for Mother’s Day with code BOUQSDAY — and get 35% off with code FLOWER30.

Grab this deal >

4. Shutterfly — 50% Off Mother’s Day Gifts 

There’s no gift like a personalized gift — and Shutterfly lets you design apparel, mugs, wall art, blankets, jewelry, puzzles, and more using the photos or theme of your choice. No matter what you pick, it’ll be a present with serious meaning — and nearly everything is 50% off for Mother’s Day.

Grab this deal >

If you enjoyed these deals, download the MoneyLion app to discover new weekly deals, budgeting tips, and new ways to earn more. 

1. Bissell Little Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner

Price: $99 (was $140) 

Are pet stains and spills wreaking havoc on your carpets? Say goodbye to stubborn messes with the Bissell Little Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner. As seen trending on TikTok, this powerful cleaner tackles pet messes with ease, leaving your carpets looking like new. Don’t let this deal pass you by – grab yours now and keep your home looking fresh and clean!

2. Kate Spade Leila Mini Flap Crossbody

Price: $97 (was $149)

Elevate your style game with the Kate Spade Leila Mini Flap Crossbody. This chic accessory adds a touch of sophistication to any outfit, whether you’re heading out for brunch with friends or attending a special event. With its discounted price, now is the perfect time to add this must-have bag to your collection. Don’t miss your chance to score major style points for less!

3. Michael Kors Sunglasses

Price: $42 (was $99)

Shield your eyes in style with Michael Kors Sunglasses. Crafted with quality materials and a timeless design, these sunglasses offer both fashion and function. Whether you’re lounging by the pool or strolling through the city streets, these shades will keep you looking cool and protected from the sun’s rays. At this unbeatable price, it’s a deal too good to pass up!

Take advantage of these deep discounts while they last and remember to shop responsibly. For smart tips on how to create a budget, save money, and live your best financial life, check out 21 Ways to Save Money and Live Better and our KNOW Money episode on how to create and stick to a budget.

While supplies last. 

FIRST OF ALL! It’s important for little girls to be able to make a living doing what they love because it’s simply the right thing to do. More than that though, to be forced into choosing something you are not passionate about or really love makes you feel unseen, unheard, or that what you want doesn’t matter.

What role did women mentors play in your life?

Women mentors have been very important in my life by not only telling me what I could accomplish and who I could be, but by showing me through their own lives.  I have always been confident in who I am as a person, but to have other women believe in you only builds that confidence. Professionally, being able to have someone like LaChina Robinson believe in me and help me get my foot in the door with ESPN [even when I wasn’t so sure] meant a lot to me.  Personally, being able to connect on a weekly basis with a few close friends and talk about life has been one of the single most impactful things I have felt. Being able to build strong sisterhoods is very important.

How have you felt the impact of gender inequality in your professional journey?

As a collegiate athlete at Texas Tech, we were treated just as good as the men’s team if not better after winning the National Championship. In the WNBA with the Houston Comets, we had a great owner in Les Alexander who took very good care of us. However, there were issues back then that we fought for as a group that we are still fighting for bigger salaries and chartered flights being the two biggest. Today, as a retired player, we are fighting to have healthcare benefits and a pension plan just like our male counterparts. I think it is always important to use your voice to bring awareness to issues.  However, I also believe in controlling what you can control. Meaning, we can’t control how much we are being paid, but we can talk about it and keep being great at what we do because at some point that will make a difference.

What advice would you give to young women in similar situations today?

Planning for your future is so important!  My message to young women is start planning today for the rest of your life.  There are so many things that could impact what your future will look like when it comes to money. Oftentimes I think about how much I didn’t know about financial planning and the importance of saving when I was playing.  One of the single most important things I learned was the importance of budgeting and being disciplined enough to stick with that budget. Having conversations about money and wealth can be a tough but it is a very important conversation that needs to be had in order for you to understand what you want your future to look like financially.  I also would say not to be too prideful and ask for help in this area if it is not something you are very good at.

Budget Your Future

What is the real human impact of mothers worried about money?

We as women wear so many different hats, the last thing we want to worry about is whether we are secure financially. When mothers have to worry about money problems it causes so many other issues. As a mother, the most important thing to me is my son’s well being.  Having to worry about money and the ability to care for your child is a very scary and stressful thing to have to go through. It can cause depression, anxiety, loneliness and so many other feelings and emotions. It can also be hard on the child(ren) because they see the stress that it is causing the mom.

Try Our Budgeting Tool

What role did the WNBA sisterhood play in addressing gender inequality and financial challenges?

The WNBA sisterhood is like no other. These 144 women have single-handedly become one of the most powerful voices in all of sport. Being able to use your voice(s) and speak up regarding things that need to be better for women is so inspirational and powerful. Conversations of chartered flights versus commercial continue to be had and I believe will soon be a real thing for the W. Other changes that have been made like player salaries, rooming situations (players having their own rooms instead of sharing rooms in hotels), fully paid maternity leave for the players and parents playing in the league receiving a child care stipend and housing assistance. Being role models and idols for people to look up to isn’t just about what you do on the court, it’s also about what you do in life.  The women of the W represent so many other things. These are just a few of the changes these women have made happen but they continue to fight and use their voices to keep moving the needle forward.

This past year, we saw a 21% increase in WNBA viewership. What’s driving this refreshed interest?

The time is now to be a part of women’s sports! No longer are people embarrassed or ashamed to say I watch the WNBA.  It has become the “cool” thing to do.  I think there are several factors in viewership increase. First, people are finally realizing that the talent in the league is REALLY good and the games are great to watch.  Anytime you have NBA players or male athletes support and watch and talk about the game, people get intrigued and want to tune in. Access to watch the games is so much better and easier to find. The energy and excitement in NCAA WBB was at an all time high last year and continues to grow and thrive. South Carolina, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark—the hype and excitement that came anytime these 3 were playing was insane!  Not only did fans of theirs tuned in, people couldn’t get enough of them. Last year’s Final Four was a big reason why the W viewership was up because fans wanted to be able to follow their favorite collegiate player and see what she would do at the next level.  

What are some of the hardships being experienced by other retired WNBA players?

Being a retired WNBA player can be challenging. As with any career, the transition from being a pro athlete to your next profession can be scary. One of the biggest challenges we face is healthcare. Because the W doesn’t have a pension plan or healthcare for retired players, a lot of players struggle to find their way after retirement. Lack of opportunity for former players to be involved with the league in some capacity is also an issue. There are some players who are just simply struggling to figure out what to do next!

On a recent episode of Apple News, you discussed frustration around “female” athlete versus just “athlete”. What do you think fans “don’t get”?

There is no doubt there is a difference between being a female and a male. But to me, when it comes to talking about athletes, it should be just that.  ATHLETE. I don’t understand why there has to be a distinction between male athlete and female athlete. When we refer to other occupations, like bartender, teacher, and others, we don’t say female teacher or female bartender. The point being, if you are an athlete, we shouldn’t have to be labeled as female either. I don’t think fans realize how being called a “good female athlete” instead of just an athlete makes us feel less than or not appreciated for our talents.

Where do you see women’s sports in 5 years?

I believe that in 5 years women’s basketball will be at a place we have only dreamt of.  Meaning visibility, opportunity, salaries, respect!  We will be in a place to really make a difference in the world, not just on the court or the field. We will be the hottest and toughest ticket to buy!  When I look at where the game is today and the talent of players like Juju Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson and so many others, there is NO question we are headed in the right direction!

Sheryl Swoopes’ insights serve as a reminder of the ongoing battle for gender equality. Her resilience and unwavering commitment to empowerment are a source of inspiration for us all, financially and beyond. MoneyLion continues to champion this message—supporting efforts to create a world where financial success for everyone isn’t just a dream, but a reality. Download the MoneyLion app to start building your ideal future today.

What is budgeting?

Budgeting is a plan you create that determines how you’ll spend your money each month. It makes sure you have enough money for living expenses, buying the things you want, and setting aside money for the future. When creating your budget, you’ll take into account your income (the money you’re bringing in), your expenses, plus any financial obligations like debt, and savings you aim to make every month.

How to create a monthly budget in 8 steps

Budgeting is a great way to help you set your priorities in order and meet your goals. To make a budget, you’ll need to consider how you plan to spend your money. You can create a budget in eight easy steps.

1. Understanding your income and expenses

The first step in crafting a monthly budget is understanding the money coming in and going out of your account.

Assess your monthly income. Is it consistent? Does it vary by month? Make sure you’re planning around the baseline, or the lowest end of what money you plan to bring in so that you can stay consistent in your budget. Any extra cash you may get here and there can be treated as extra money that you can spend how you like or put in your savings account.

Next, track and categorize your expenses. Divide them into those that are consistent each month, like your Wi-Fi and cable bill, and those that will vary a bit, like your electric and water bills. Make sure you’re planning around the higher end of those bills so that you don’t wind up spending money elsewhere and coming up short on your bills. 

Then, consider expenses that come up somewhat frequently but are not consistent. Examples of those types of spending needs are car maintenance and visits to the dentist or other doctor. 

2. Setting financial goals

Having a budget you stick to also helps you meet your financial goals. Consider what you’d like to save for in the long term versus the short term. Then, prioritize those goals based on importance and how feasible they actually are. Saving for college should likely take precedence over saving for a yacht, for instance. 

The SMART goal-setting technique is a great way to help with this. That’s an acronym for this method:

• Specific: Make sure you have a clear definition of what you’d like to accomplish and what it’ll take to do so.
• Measurable: Have a quantifiable objective (how much you need to save and by when) so you can keep track of your progress.
• Achievable: Make sure your goal is actually something you can reach. Setting the bar too high can lead people to feel discouraged.
• Relevant: Make sure the goal you’re saving for aligns with your greater mission in life.
• Time-bound: Your goals should have a deadline so that you can more accurately track progress. Even if this timeline has to be adjusted, it’s crucial to have one. 

3. Creating a budget

Budgeting is determining your income allocation and dividing it in a planned way. The first things you’ll need to apply your money toward are your essential expenses like rent and utilities.

When you’re making your budget, you shouldn’t focus solely on the needs — consider what you want as well. Make sure to allocate funds for discretionary expenses like entertainment and dining out. Having a budget will help you make smarter spending decisions even in the things you do for fun. If you’re craving something but don’t have enough money in the budget to afford your favorite restaurant, you may be motivated to check for any discounts or coupons at a similar eatery. That satisfies your craving and keeps you from overspending at the same time. 

4. Monitoring and adjusting your budget

Once in a while, you may have to make adjustments to your budget. That could be for a good reason, like a raise that means you have more money to move around. It could also be for an unfortunate reason like a new ongoing medical expense. Regularly reviewing and updating your budget will help keep your goals realistic so you can better cope with unexpected expenses. 

If you run into unexpected expenses, look for ways you can save a bit of money to cut down on some areas of your budget. You may also be able to review your payment plans on certain purchases or loans so that you don’t have to pay as much upfront. 

5. Managing debt

If you have different loans to pay off and credit card payments to make, that debt can build up. Try some different strategies to help you pay off your debt.

One big way to make a dent in your debt is to focus on the payments with the higher interest rates first. Make an effort to consistently pay more than the minimum so that you don’t have to spend quite as much on interest overall. 

If it comes down to it, you may want to talk with a professional about other ways to help you save. Consolidating your debt, for instance, may earn you a lower interest rate and may make it easier for you to keep track of payments.

Download the MoneyLion App! See all your finances in one convenient place for better financial management.

6. Saving and emergency funds

Your savings account should be a huge feature in your budget. You’ll want to set aside money to build toward goals you have, such as a new car, a home, or a loved one’s Christmas present. It’s crucial to have an emergency fund. That means putting money aside now in case something goes wrong in the future, like running into an unexpected hospital bill or car breakdown. 

To help you figure out how much you want to save, consider what you’re saving for. Think about when you might need that money and how much you’re capable of putting aside each month. Once you’ve calculated that, stay true to it. Write it into your budget as an inflexible expense so that you’re always saving at least some money. Then, add any extra money you may make to your savings as well.

If you’re wondering where you can put your savings and emergency funds, MoneyLion offers a convenient Marketplace to compare high-yield savings accounts from our trusted partners that could help grow your money.

7. Frugal living tips

A great way to help with your budget is to make smart shopping decisions. Rather than dining frequently at restaurants, save money by cooking your own food and shopping for groceries based on sales. Be mindful of your energy and water usage so you can reduce your bills. Think about different ways to save money and consider ways you could take in more money in a pinch such as doing side work or selling items you don’t need. 

8. Staying motivated and accountable

Staying motivated is a big part of keeping up with your budget. Track your progress, review your financial goals, and celebrate the milestones you hit. Even small victories should prove to you that your budget is working and encourage you to keep up with it.

Setting up automatic bill payments can help you ensure you’re using your money responsibly, making sure your highest priorities are accounted for no matter what. Seeking support from friends and family can also help keep you accountable.

Budgeting basics: How to make a plan and stick to it

Creating a good budget means considering how much money you have and how you want to spend it in such a way that accounts for your immediate needs and saves for your future ones. Doing so helps you spend responsibly so you can prioritize your long-term financial goals.

What is budgeting?

Budgeting is a plan you create that determines how you’ll spend your money each month. It makes sure you have enough money for living expenses, buying the things you want, and setting aside money for the future. When creating your budget, you’ll take into account your income (the money you’re bringing in), your expenses, plus any financial obligations like debt, and savings you aim to make every month.

How to create a monthly budget in 8 steps

Budgeting is a great way to help you set your priorities in order and meet your goals. To make a budget, you’ll need to consider how you plan to spend your money. You can create a budget in eight easy steps.

1. Understanding your income and expenses

The first step in crafting a monthly budget is understanding the money coming in and going out of your account.

Assess your monthly income. Is it consistent? Does it vary by month? Make sure you’re planning around the baseline, or the lowest end of what money you plan to bring in so that you can stay consistent in your budget. Any extra cash you may get here and there can be treated as extra money that you can spend how you like or put in your savings account.

Next, track and categorize your expenses. Divide them into those that are consistent each month, like your Wi-Fi and cable bill, and those that will vary a bit, like your electric and water bills. Make sure you’re planning around the higher end of those bills so that you don’t wind up spending money elsewhere and coming up short on your bills. 

Then, consider expenses that come up somewhat frequently but are not consistent. Examples of those types of spending needs are car maintenance and visits to the dentist or other doctor. 

2. Setting financial goals

Having a budget you stick to also helps you meet your financial goals. Consider what you’d like to save for in the long term versus the short term. Then, prioritize those goals based on importance and how feasible they actually are. Saving for college should likely take precedence over saving for a yacht, for instance. 

The SMART goal-setting technique is a great way to help with this. That’s an acronym for this method:

• Specific: Make sure you have a clear definition of what you’d like to accomplish and what it’ll take to do so.
• Measurable: Have a quantifiable objective (how much you need to save and by when) so you can keep track of your progress.
• Achievable: Make sure your goal is actually something you can reach. Setting the bar too high can lead people to feel discouraged.
• Relevant: Make sure the goal you’re saving for aligns with your greater mission in life.
• Time-bound: Your goals should have a deadline so that you can more accurately track progress. Even if this timeline has to be adjusted, it’s crucial to have one. 

3. Creating a budget

Budgeting is determining your income allocation and dividing it in a planned way. The first things you’ll need to apply your money toward are your essential expenses like rent and utilities.

When you’re making your budget, you shouldn’t focus solely on the needs — consider what you want as well. Make sure to allocate funds for discretionary expenses like entertainment and dining out. Having a budget will help you make smarter spending decisions even in the things you do for fun. If you’re craving something but don’t have enough money in the budget to afford your favorite restaurant, you may be motivated to check for any discounts or coupons at a similar eatery. That satisfies your craving and keeps you from overspending at the same time. 

4. Monitoring and adjusting your budget

Once in a while, you may have to make adjustments to your budget. That could be for a good reason, like a raise that means you have more money to move around. It could also be for an unfortunate reason like a new ongoing medical expense. Regularly reviewing and updating your budget will help keep your goals realistic so you can better cope with unexpected expenses. 

If you run into unexpected expenses, look for ways you can save a bit of money to cut down on some areas of your budget. You may also be able to review your payment plans on certain purchases or loans so that you don’t have to pay as much upfront. 

5. Managing debt

If you have different loans to pay off and credit card payments to make, that debt can build up. Try some different strategies to help you pay off your debt.

One big way to make a dent in your debt is to focus on the payments with the higher interest rates first. Make an effort to consistently pay more than the minimum so that you don’t have to spend quite as much on interest overall. 

If it comes down to it, you may want to talk with a professional about other ways to help you save. Consolidating your debt, for instance, may earn you a lower interest rate and may make it easier for you to keep track of payments.

Download the MoneyLion App! See all your finances in one convenient place for better financial management.

6. Saving and emergency funds

Your savings account should be a huge feature in your budget. You’ll want to set aside money to build toward goals you have, such as a new car, a home, or a loved one’s Christmas present. It’s crucial to have an emergency fund. That means putting money aside now in case something goes wrong in the future, like running into an unexpected hospital bill or car breakdown. 

To help you figure out how much you want to save, consider what you’re saving for. Think about when you might need that money and how much you’re capable of putting aside each month. Once you’ve calculated that, stay true to it. Write it into your budget as an inflexible expense so that you’re always saving at least some money. Then, add any extra money you may make to your savings as well.

If you’re wondering where you can put your savings and emergency funds, MoneyLion offers a convenient Marketplace to compare high-yield savings accounts from our trusted partners that could help grow your money.

7. Frugal living tips

A great way to help with your budget is to make smart shopping decisions. Rather than dining frequently at restaurants, save money by cooking your own food and shopping for groceries based on sales. Be mindful of your energy and water usage so you can reduce your bills. Think about different ways to save money and consider ways you could take in more money in a pinch such as doing side work or selling items you don’t need. 

8. Staying motivated and accountable

Staying motivated is a big part of keeping up with your budget. Track your progress, review your financial goals, and celebrate the milestones you hit. Even small victories should prove to you that your budget is working and encourage you to keep up with it.

Setting up automatic bill payments can help you ensure you’re using your money responsibly, making sure your highest priorities are accounted for no matter what. Seeking support from friends and family can also help keep you accountable.

Budgeting basics: How to make a plan and stick to it

Creating a good budget means considering how much money you have and how you want to spend it in such a way that accounts for your immediate needs and saves for your future ones. Doing so helps you spend responsibly so you can prioritize your long-term financial goals.

9 best ways to manage your credit card

A credit card is a great resource. Managing it well lets you capitalize on the advantages while staying away from common pitfalls. Following these tips will help you use your credit card like a pro.

1. Read the fine print

Most people skip over the fine print. Terms and conditions documents get long, and you have to agree to them if you want to use the card. Some consumers agree to the fine print to get the credit card and then accept any consequences in the future. 

The fine print details how much you may have to pay for your credit card, including annual percentage rates (APRs), fees, and penalties. The terms and conditions outline the rewards programs, but if you look closer at the document, you may discover that your points expire within a year if you don’t use them. Some credit card issuers let you accumulate points without any expiration, but some companies sneak it into the fine print. You don’t want to save up points only for them to expire before you get to use them.

2. Choose your credit card wisely

There’s no shortage of credit card companies. You can get a credit card that aligns with your objectives and gets you closer to the next milestone instead of settling for a card that doesn’t fulfill your parameters. You can get secured credit cards with no annual fees and cashback rewards programs. Yes, some of these exist. Consumers looking for unsecured cards should consider how they spend their money and which rewards programs they want to use. Know what you want in a credit card and filter your options. You don’t have to open an account with the first credit card issuer you find.

3. Understand the interest rates and fees

Interest and fees highlight the potential consequences of bad money habits. You only pay interest if you fall behind on your balance, and some fees are avoidable. While some costs, like ATM fees, are unavoidable for people who frequently use those machines, you can minimize costs by taking out larger sums of money at the ATM. Larger transactions reduce the number of total ATM transactions, and you get charged for each transaction instead of based on how much you withdraw. 

4. Keep an eye on your balance

Monitoring your credit balance is the most important element of effective credit card management. Keeping an eye on this number makes you more conscious of every dollar you spend and how much you have to repay before having no debt. If you can use a credit card and wipe out your debt at the end of each month, you can capitalize on all of the advantages without any downside. 

5. Make timely payments

Even if you can’t wipe away your credit card debt this month, you should still make the minimum payment plus a little extra. Paying more than the minimum gets you out of debt sooner, and on-time payments are critical for your credit score. Late payments will result in fees and hurt your credit history. Payment history makes up 35% of your credit score, more than any other category. On-time payments will improve your score and help you qualify for better loans and lower interest rates.

6. Take advantage of rewards

Many credit card issuers use rewards to entice new users and keep existing cardholders loyal. You can get cash or points back on every purchase. Credit card reward programs have different incentives based on spending categories. Your card may offer better rewards for hotel bookings and other traveling costs. Look at the rewards your credit card offers, and take advantage of them to lower costs. You can use a cashback program to trim your credit card debt, so interest doesn’t accumulate.

7. Monitor your credit score

Your credit score is one of your most important financial numbers. Lenders look at this number before approving mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and other types of financing. Reviewing your credit score helps you see fluctuations and stay on top of them. If your score goes down a few points, you can look at your credit card activity and see if you missed a payment. Refocusing your efforts on timely payments and lowering your balance will help you recover from credit score dips.

8. Stick to a budget

A budget keeps you firm on your expenses. Budgeting creates guardrails that prevent people from spending out of control. Tracking expenses and monitoring credit card statements help you gauge your monthly spending and purchases of unnecessary items. Trimming these items and using your money for other purposes (investing and debt repayment) will help you stay firm with your budget. People tend to overspend when they have fewer reasons to hold onto their money. A meaningful goal such as becoming debt-free or saving up for a down payment will strengthen your budget.

9. Use a debt repayment strategy

It’s best to avoid debt, and if you have no credit card debt, it’s best to repay the balance in full each month. You can spend less than you make and monitor your expenses. However, some people already have credit card debt, and it can feel insurmountable if you’ve been holding onto it for a few years. A debt repayment strategy can put you on the path to a debt-free lifestyle. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Snowball: Pay the smallest debt first after making the minimum payment for everything else. Having fewer debts makes it easier to prioritize them.
• Avalanche: Focus on repaying debt with the highest interest rate. Getting rid of these financial obligations first reduces your monthly interest payments.
• Consolidation: Get a personal loan and use those proceeds to pay off your higher-interest debt. You can also take out a new credit card with an introductory 0% APR and transfer the balance over. You won’t get rid of the debt, but you’ll have a few months or even a year with no interest accumulation.

Fortify Your Finances With Effective Credit Card Management

Credit cards are great financial products. You get to establish credit, build up to an excellent credit score, buy goods even if you don’t have enough money at the time, and capitalize on rewards programs. While these advantages are enticing, poor credit card management can make you vulnerable to debt, high-interest payments, and fees. Staying on top of your credit card usage will help you avoid pitfalls while experiencing the upsides a credit card has to offer.

FAQ

Would you believe me if I told you that the majority of the money you earned over your ENTIRE life would be signed away with a few signatures in a single transaction? 

That one purchase could make or break your entire financial future?

Welcome to KNOW MONEY! I’m Brandon Copeland AKA – Professor Cope, class is now in session.

The American Dream has been forever tied to REAL ESTATE. Close your eyes and picture it. 

The classic vision of the American Dream. A nice family (they’re usually white), 

• a wife, 
• 2.5 kids, 
• maybe even a dog. 
• A beautiful home with a white picket fence, in a beautiful neighborhood.

And I guarantee – if I moved in next door, they’d make that fence 10 feet taller and install a new security system the very next day.

Owning a home can create wealth that benefits your family for GENERATIONS. It also creates more stability in your life, and can protect you from rising rent prices.

In 1960, the median rent in the United States was $71. Median rent 2022? Almost $1,400. The average 1 bedroom apartment in:

Atlanta costs $1,620 to rent

• In Chicago? That same 1 bedroom costs 1,800
• Scottsdale, Arizona? 1,900
• Los Angeles? 2,430
• Miami? 2,660
• And If you want to move to the Big Apple, you better have big bank. The average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in New York city is $3,790.

For so many of us, The American Dream seems like an American Nightmare…especially to young people.

Between 1960 and 2017, young adult home ownership dropped 10 percent, from 44% to 34%. And that’s NOT because people would prefer to rent! Two thirds of renters say they would buy a home IF they had the financial resources to do so.  

So… Look…Buying a home may seem IMPOSSIBLE, but it’s not. 

If you’re smart about your money – set attainable goals – and follow your gameplan, it’s very possible that you can live your own version of the American Dream.

That said, buying a home is incredibly complicated. And it’s likely gonna be the biggest financial decision of your life. So…No pressure! Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. If you want to buy a home, you’re likely going to need to take out a specific type of loan called a mortgage. 

And if you want a mortgage, you’re going to need to have good CREDIT. 

So what is credit? We hear about it all the time, but what does it actually mean?

Let’s say my man up here in the front row asks me to borrow $20. He’s a little short on cash right now and he knows I got a few dollars. So I’m willing to lend it to you. BUT, first, I’m gonna have to interview your neighbors about your character. 

If your neighbors like you, and tell me good things, and reassure me that I’m getting my $20 back, then the cash is yours. If not… Well… I’m gonna be saying I left my wallet at home and you’re walking away empty handed.

THAT’S credit. It’s basically your financial reputation represented in a 3 digit number. Asking your neighbors about your character and integrity may seem like a lot for $20… But that’s actually how it used to work. That’s how American bankers in the 1700s would determine whether they could make a loan to an individual or not.

Imagine how much pressure you’d feel to be good to your neighbors if you knew your ability to borrow money was on the line. I wonder what Jeffrey Dahmer’s credit score would be? 

If you wanted to, you could really mess with that neighbor who plays music too loud, and whose dog always takes a dump on your lawn and doesn’t pick it up, and who parks in front of your driveway…. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe we should bring this system back…. I’m getting off topic. 

In 1841, merchant Lewis Tappan evolved credit by systemizing the opinions of others into summarized reports – that were then distributed into massive ledgers in New York City. But these reports were subjective, and included gender, class, and racial bias.

I’m happy we did away with this one. Do you think I could get a loan in 1841? Me? Yeah. I didn’t think so. It wasn’t until 1864 when Lewis’s Mercantile Agency finalized a simpler, more objective, alphanumeric system that would be used for the foreseeable future.

Now, I still don’t think I’d be able to get a loan in 1864, but it was a step in the right direction…It took many more experiments over time to simplify and remove as much bias as possible. 

Fast forward to the 21st century, and we now have this 3 digit number that encapsulates our entire financial identity called a credit score.

Simply put, it’s your entire financial résumé in the form of a 3 digit number.

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your life. 

But do people even KNOW their credit score? We sent ‘Know Money’ correspondent Austin Hankwitz out to the streets of Nashville to find out.

There are 5 main factors that determine your credit score. It’s time for a crash course.

The first factor is your PAYMENT HISTORY.

This one’s simple enough. Do you pay your debts back? Do you pay them back on time? Cause if you had trouble paying someone else back, why would you have an easier time paying ME back? Why the hell would I loan you money?

The next factor is CREDIT UTILIZATION.

You’re given a certain amount of credit. But how much of it are you actually using? Imagine you loaned someone $100 bucks, and the very next day, you find out they spent every single dollar of it. That would set off some red flags, right? Like damn, you really needed ALL that money, huh? If you spend every single dollar you’re allowed to spend, that’s going to send a bad signal to financial institutions.

It’s like when you like a girl. You can’t be texting her, hitting her up on instagram, snapchatting her, liking all her pics all at once…. Emailing her…. Standing outside her home waiting until she pulls up…. That makes you look desperate. And seems illegal. You gotta play it smooth. 

Text her every now and then, but make sure she has some space. Keep that same mentality with your credit. Don’t hit the max amount on your credit cards just because you can. Give her and your credit some space.

The third factor is your CREDIT HISTORY LENGTH.

Who do you trust more: Babies or adults? I hope you said adults. Financial institutions feel the same way. They respect the OGs. And they DEFINITELY don’t respect adults who act like babies. If that dude gets approved for a mortgage, we are heading for another financial crisis…

Creditors want to see that you have experience borrowing and paying back money. If you’re new to the money game, it’s hard to tell what you’re gonna do if I loan you a bag. Credit history length includes the age of your oldest credit account, the age of your newest account, and the average age of all your accounts. 

The longer your positive credit history, the higher your credit score will be.

The fourth factor is having a proper MIX OF CREDIT

Let’s say you invite me to a Super Bowl party. I’m salty, because I’m not playing in the game. 

So I’m taking my anger out on your snack table. And when I walk up to that table, I better not just see pretzels. I want to see a wide variety of foods: 

Nachos, chicken wings, chips with the dip. Mmmmm… I’m the credit bureaus, and those snacks are your different lines of credit. They don’t want to see that you have just one credit card. That ain’t impressive. They want to see some variety.

They want to see that you can handle different types of loans. Maybe multiple credit cards, maybe a student loan, a car loan, maybe even throw a mortgage in there. The more variety you can show, the better.

And our final factor is NEW CREDIT. There’s two elements to this. 

When you close up a line of credit, your score takes a hit. And that makes sense based on what we just talked about with your credit history length. All of a sudden, the average length of your credit accounts, and therefore credit history, is lower.

But here’s the tricky part: Your score is hurt almost every time you apply for new credit too, or even ask what your credit score is. 

These are called “Soft and Hard Inquiries”. Too many inquiries into your credit score indicates risk, and unfortunately, your score will get docked as a result. This is like asking your girl if she’s mad at you, and she gets even more mad that you even had to ask that. She expects you to be a mind reader, dawg! And so do credit bureaus.

Having bad credit can be debilitating. Having a bad credit score means your monthly payments on your house are going to be higher than they have to be. 

If you want to make that big purchase, it is ESSENTIAL to make sure your credit is as strong as it possibly can be — to make sure that the monthly payment is as low as possible.

Buying property is cool and all, but some people want you to believe buying property in the Metaverse is even cooler. 

I’m a little skeptical, but our boy Nate Meeker makes it sound pretty compelling. Take a look. That dude would buy a beach house in Idaho.

Regardless of what you buy, whether it’s in the metaverse or the real world, there is a process you should generally follow to ensure you’re happy with your purchase.

Buying a house is a complicated journey with many, many steps. I would love to walk you through every step of the process, but unfortunately, I don’t have the time to do that. I only have this studio rented out for so long. They’re probably gonna kick me out soon. So…For the finer details, especially in your market, you can’t rely on your favorite NFL player who moonlights as a professor. 

You’ll need to find a REALTOR, and make sure they’re a good one too.

You should approach finding a realtor with the same mentality that you use for finding your soul mate. Don’t settle. Mr. Right (/the right person) is out there.

And don’t just settle for the realtor with the flashiest commercial, either. I’m not sure if I want him selling me a house, or flying an F-14 with Tom Cruise in Top Gun 3

Your realtor SHOULD be your guide throughout this process. And if they’re not, you need to find a better one. Ghost their ass and find yourself a 10.

Once you’ve found the property of your dreams, it’s CLOSING TIME. Your realtor will write and negotiate the contract.

Closing or settlement times can vary, but typically contracts are 30-45 days to close. This is longer than most relationships last. So be patient. This 30-45 day window includes an inspection period.

PLEASE do the home inspection. This is when a professional goes into the home and examines it closer than you can just from the eyeball test. Do you trust yourself to find mold in the laundry room? You don’t want to end up like this family. Hopefully they had somebody inspect the RV for mold. You gotta learn from your mistakes.

The inspector is an unbiased set of eyes, and their report will help determine whether you go forward with the purchase of the home.

Have you ever heard someone say “I have equity in my home. It’s an asset!”?

While that CAN be true, it’s also one of the biggest lies ever told.

Let’s say you’re buying a $300,000 house. You may think you’re acquiring an asset worth $300k, but that house is going to cost WAY more than that sticker price over the long run. First – when you purchase a home, you have to understand that there are more costs than just the purchase price. 

Closing costs, Homeowner’s insurance fees, and if you are putting less than 20% down, you’re going to have to pay private mortgage insurance on top of that. So that $300 grand house really costs you $307k, or more, before you’ve even slept in there a night. 

You didn’t even get a chance to break it in yet and it’s already breaking your wallet. But that extra 7k is chump change when you think about how much you’re going to be paying in interest.

What if I told you that $300k house really costs you double?

A $300k loan over 30 years at 5% interest (with 20% down) –  you will pay about $636k in total for the house once you factor in property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Now this is not to ruin dreams, this is really to make sure we are up on game when it comes to this “asset”. 

We’ve gone over a lot of information today, and not all of it has been cheery and optimistic. The truth of the matter is, in the current economic environment, not everyone sitting in this room will be able to purchase the home of their dreams. That’s just me keeping it real.

Buying real estate can be confusing, overwhelming, and intimidating. But the end of that process is what makes it all worth it.

Because at the end of the day, you’re not just buying a house, you’re buying a home. Where you raise your kids, where you spend your holidays, where you make some of the best memories of your life. A priceless gift you can leave to the next generation. All of that is possible after you close that deal.

Buying real estate will likely be the most important purchase you make in your entire life. Why would it be easy?

I’m Brandon Copeland, AKA Professor Cope – and now you Know REAL ESTATE.

That a simple investment in a company where you used to spend all your allowance money could make huge ripples throughout the US economy?

Welcome to KNOW MONEY! I’m BRANDON COPELAND – AKA – Professor Cope, class is now in session.

We all know about GameStop. That store in the mall you used to go to when you had a bunch of old video games you wanted to sell. You backed up a full of used games and consoles that you’d spent thousands of dollars on, and they offered you $7.21. Yeah, that store.

In early 2021, GameStop was the center of an investment battle that made The Big Short look like a comic book. Wall Street Bets is a page on Reddit that posts memes about stock and option trading. This community realized something: Hedge Funds on Wall Street were shorting the stock of GameStop.

When you short a stock – you are making a bet that the value of the stock is going to go down.  

In this case, these Hedge funds were piling into short positions because, well – when’s the last time you’ve seen a long line at the mall to buy video games. I mean the short position did make a lot of sense – but it also exposed them to the Wall Street Bets Community  

Fortunes were made overnight, and some were lost the very next day. 

People trading from their phone in their mom’s basement had Wall Street veterans looking stupid as hell on CNBC. A bunch of firms had to shut down GameStop’s trading. Some Hedge Funds lost so much money that they literally had to close up shop.

So – what’s the lesson here?

A.) Don’t mess with people who go on Reddit every day. They’re built different. 

B.) We the people  actually have the power to out-invest Wall Street.

And C.) Where you choose to invest your money can make a major impact on YOU, and the WORLD around you. Your wallet is more powerful than you think!

Investing isn’t an “Oh maybe one day” or an “Oh depending on how much money I make” type of thing – Investing is a MUST.

Raise your hand if you want to live to be 70 years old…Ok I’m not seeing every hand up, we’ll unpack that another time. But moving on…

Raise your hand if you want to be WORKING when you’re 70 years old — If you want to be setting your alarm every morning and busting your old ass every day. 

Talking ‘bout I’m dream chasing – no days off..How many of you want that? Yeah – I didn’t think so.

Who here wants to look your future self eye to eye and tell them sorry, I didn’t invest and you gotta keep working. Definitely a conversation I’m not trying to have.

Unfortunately, Nate Meeker had to have that conversation. He might also want to invest in a razor, that beard’s lookin kinda janky

What’s YOUR plan to achieve financial freedom? 

Are you going to win the lottery? Are you going to release a number one hit single? Oh… maybe you’re going to sign a max deal with the Lakers? 

A vast majority of us aren’t gonna get rich overnight. My dude up here is 5’9″, I see you. Respectfully, I don’t think the Lakers are interested. Instead of working on your jump shot, make your money work for YOU by investing it.

The harsh reality is, if you have any intention of living comfortably one day WITHOUT having to work, then you NEED to invest. 

You don’t have to work on Wall Street to invest. You don’t need a net worth of $50 million. You don’t have to be the Monopoly man. Speaking of the Monopoly Man, did you guys realize he doesn’t have a monocle? Am I trippin’? I could’ve sworn he had one.

I’m getting off track. The point is, investing is for everyone, not just the top 1%.

And are you ready for the truth? ALL of you have invested before…Even if you don’t know it. Investing is simply looking for a rate of return on your money.

You might not even realize this, but if you have any money at all, you’re already investing. Where you choose to keep your money is an investment decision.

If you put your money in a checking account, on average, you’ll get about a .03% return

If you put your money in a savings account, you’re looking at a .21% return

Investing in the stock market usually yields 7-10%

Keeping your money under your mattress will get you 0% return

And I can’t imagine you’re sleeping well either. That makes your mattress lumpy as hell! So…if you have one dollar saved or a bank account, then you are an investor. Welcome to the club. We meet on Tuesdays.

A lot of people think about investing like gambling. They’re looking for that diamond in the rough that will blow up and turn them into an overnight millionaire. I can’t tell you exactly what to invest in. Legally, I definitely can’t. My lawyers would be on my ass. 

But I can tell you the key to investing. And that is something I struggle with. No, it’s not.  PATIENCE!

Every once in a while – someone will hit it big on a meme stock or a cryptocurrency that skyrockets at the perfect time. But those stories are few and far between. They’re the EXCEPTION, not the rule. You’ll have way more success in the long run setting your money aside, and letting it grow over time.

As we all know, the center of the investment world is WALL STREET. 

We have a special message from a man on the inside who wants you to know how important investing is.

So rule #1 when it comes to investing: TIME is your biggest asset. What do I mean by that?? I see a lot of y’all checking your watches…

But there’s this little concept that you have to know about called Compound Interest. 

Clearly the Einstein of Wall Street is passionate about investing, but the REAL Einstein, was also passionate about investing – Specifically about Compound Interest. Albert Einstein loved Compound Interest so much he called it the 8th wonder of the world. 

Think about that for a second. 

The man that DEVELOPED THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY was even more amazed by compound interest. Unlike the other wonders of the world, you can’t take a trip to see compound interest. This ain’t the pyramids. But you can see compound interest over time in your account statements, and – eventually –  you’ll see it in your pocket

Compound interest is interest on top of interest – or making money on your money.

Let’s say we put $100 in the bank and received a 5% return with compound interest. After year 1, I’d have $105 – a gain of $5. But year 2 is where the magic starts happening. With compound interest, not only do we earn money on our initial investment of $100. But we also earn 5% on the 5% gains we got in year 1! So after year 2, our total would be $110.25, with a yearly gain of $5.25.

I know what you may be thinking: $5.25?! Cope, I’m trying to invest in my future – not buy a Big Mac! 

We have to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. 

Remember what I said, your biggest asset is TIME. Let’s blow this up to a bigger scale so you can see how important TIME is in this equation. 

Take my boy Josh. Josh was ahead of the curve. Instead of spending all his extra cash on beer, he started investing at 20 years old. But some 20 year olds have more beer money than they know what to do with.

Hey, worth a shot, right?

Instead of going broke buying beer, Josh started tucking away $500 every month into an IRA, or an Individual Retirement Account. He kept saving that same amount of money, every month, without fail, for 40 years. 

Not a penny more, not a penny less. The man is CONSISTENT.

By the time he turned 60, Josh had invested a total of $240,000 into his IRA. That’s a lot of beer money. And thanks to compound interest, with a 7% average rate of return, over time, that $240,000 cash investment grew to $1.37 MILLION.

That’s the beauty of compound interest – time. 

Let’s remove some time from that equation. Let’s say at the age of 20, Josh decided to buy those beers instead of investing in his future. Now Josh shouldn’t be drinking until he turns 21, but I ain’t gonna snitch. Anyway, he kept spending that money on beers until he was 35 years old.

By the way, if you’re spending $500 a month on beer, we might need to have a separate conversation. $500 a month on beer will have your grocery store runs looking like this. That is the slowest high speed chase I’ve ever seen. But Josh has a come to Jesus moment at 35, and starts putting that same $500 into the same IRA, with the same rate of return.

Instead of being a millionaire at 60, because he started saving at 35, Josh’s IRA was worth $566,764.72. 

Don’t get me wrong! $500 grand ain’t chump change! But we’re looking at a difference of $800,000 here. And when you’re in your 60s, you’re gonna be feeling that difference. BIG TIME. Now if you’re sitting there watching this at 35, and you haven’t started investing in your future, I don’t want you to panic. 

The best time to start investing was… Yesterday. 

But the second best time is TODAY. So we’ve established that time and patience are essential when it comes to investing.

There’s no right answer. That’s the beauty of investing. We’re all walking our own paths. Social media will have you believing that the key to becoming a millionaire is hitting it big and blowing up overnight. 

But I can’t stress this enough: THAT is NOT the CASE. 

Most millionaires reached millionaire status by being smart, hardworking, and most importantly, patient.

8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401k plan.

3 out of 4 millionaires said that regular, consistent investing over a long period of time was the reason for their success.

79% of millionaires – did not receive ANY inheritance from their parents or family

Only 31% of millionaires earned an average of $100k per year over the course of their career, and one-third never even made six figures in a single working year. 

The top 5 careers for millionaires? Engineer, Accountant, Teacher, Management, Attorney

Life is all about progress….Either you’re growing or you’re stagnant… Stick with me for a second – When I was in high school, I was a hooper. But not just any hooper, I was the first coming of Lebron. 

But I got husky while he got taller so uhh…football, and ice cream became my happy place. I was diagnosed with a medical condition called Osgood schlatter’s disease…I was growing too fast, and as I grew my knees were in pain because of it. Growth can be uncomfortable and painful, and investing can be the same way sometimes, but I have never looked in the mirror and wished I stopped growing at 14

Soooo, why would I do that with my money? Why would I stunt its growth? Investing does not equal stocks or bonds, or oil, or gold, or even bitcoin… Investing is making the CHOICE to GROW.

So, where does that leave us? Put your money to work for YOU so you don’t have to work for YOUR MONEY for the rest of your life…

I’m Brandon Copeland, AKA Professor Cope – and now you Know INVESTING.

Imagine — You could pay $20M In cash for that giant home today but…a few months later – couldn’t afford to maintain it. Welcome to KNOW MONEY! I’m Brandon Copeland – AKA Professor Cope. Class is NOW in session. 

Would you believe me if I told you – you could afford to buy a dope mansion — with 109 bedrooms but at the same time, you couldn’t afford to cut the grass.

Let me tell you a little story about Evander Holyfield, a legend on a whole lotta levels. His nickname was “The Real Deal”. He was a four-time heavyweight champ. AND –  dude was absolutely rolling in cash. Holyfield bought a beautiful estate, fit for a king. But I ain’t even gonna lie to you, Even for a king – this place was a little much.I’m talking about a 54,000 square foot mansion. Sitting on 235 acres. and this place had it all: a bowling alley, a movie theater, 3 pools, a seven-stall barn andddd – a baseball field with lights and a scoreboard… Why…cmon bruh – you might want to have the Yankees over for a game. The estate cost about $1M to maintain every single year. The damn electric bill was around $16,500 a month. Do you realize how much money $16,500 a month is? That’s enough to get Netflix for 137 years! By the time you blew through that kind of money, the kids from Stranger Things would be in a retirement home. The financial burden added so much stress and pressure – Holyfield was finally forced to sell the house at auction. And guess who bought the crib? 

Mr. Ricky Rozay himself for $5.7M. Fun fact. Rick Ross used to be a prison guard. So he went from the big house – to the BIGGEST HOUSE.  2-3 days? And you’re still that big? I GUESS HE IS THE BIGGEST BOSS.SO – what’s the lesson here? A. Maybe we don’t need 109 rooms; 108 might just be plenty.  B. If you do have 109 rooms, turn off the damn lights when you leave the house. And C. It doesn’t matter how much money you have in your bank account. You can never expect to meet your financial goals if you don’t know anything about – BUDGETING.

What Evander Holyfield didn’t know when he signed on the dotted line to purchase his dream home is that he also signed up to work for the rest of his life. Even though he was a multi-millionaire and could buy a HUGE mansion –  in cash – he also bought himself a recurring bill that eventually… he couldn’t cover.In case you couldn’t tell by my Herculean physique, I played in the NFL. In the NFL, Sunday is the show. But nothing you see on Sundays would be possible without the preparation you put in Monday through Saturday.When you’re buying a new house, a new car, or even that brand new fit you’ve been eyeing for a minute – THAT is the show. It should be the reward you receive when you’ve made good decisions over time. BUT, in order to reach that show, that end goal, that nice reward at the end of the tunnel – we need to know where the hell we’re starting from so we can map out how to get there. And we do that by BUDGETING.

Budgeting is a lot like dieting. Both are commonly misunderstood. And both make you look good on the gram. Dieting isn’t about denying your body food. It’s about understanding the food that goes into your body. And a budget is about understanding the money that enters and exits your pocket. When you’re dieting, you don’t want to starve yourself. And when you’re budgeting, you don’t want to starve your life.Instead, you just need to understand your cash flow. How much money do I have coming in? How many dollars going out? How much does it cost me to live every single month?Listen: I need to know where every single penny is going on a monthly basis. Every. Single. Penny. When those pennies leave my pocket – I’m like an super-protective parent.  Where are you going? How long are you gonna be out? Who else is gonna be there? When are you coming back? Aight, get ya ass back here before 9 o’clock now. Don’t have me out there looking for you.A budget is a tool, how you choose to use it is up to you.

This all seems so SIMPLE, but how many of us actually do it? A lot less than you’d think. Check it out.Let’s do our own poll. By a show of hands, how many of you here in the audience keep a budget? Alright…. Well, after today, that’s gonna be 100%.Only 32% of American households keep a detailed budget that tracks their monthly income and expenditures. And 65% of Americans have no clue how much money they spent last month. 65%!!!

Spending without a budget is like trying to heat your house in the winter in Buffalo with half your windows open. How can you reach your financial goals when you don’t know how much you’re spending? And more importantly, how much you’re wasting. A great budget will make sure you have all the windows closed before you turn on that furnace. When I talk about money, I always like to visualize a face and a name. We have to make it real. So…Meet Brianna. Brianna is a teacher in Maryland who makes $43,143 per year, before taxes. The numbers are about to come out – so stick with me. The money you make before taxes is your GROSS INCOME. It’s important to make the distinction between gross and net income. Gross income is the total amount of money you bring in. This may be your salary, or your top line revenue.  The simplest way to explain it is – they call it GROSS because it’s gross to see how much taxes they take outta there.

Your NET INCOME is what you will have to spend after taxes and other deductions have been taken out of your paycheck. When making a budget, it’s all about your net income.  I mean – why budget for money you’ll never see?Although Brianna makes $43,143, she really has $29,815 to spend. Big difference.SO – she brings in $2,292 a month.That means her paycheck is $1,146 every two weeks.Now that we know our income, it’s time to calculate our FIXED EXPENSES. A fixed expense stays the same from month to month. Your mortgage.Your rent. Your internet. Your phone bill. Your car payment. These are all examples of fixed expenses. Brianna has a rent payment of $1,500 a month. But she bikes to work, so she doesn’t have a car payment. Don’t worry, Brianna budgeted for a helmet. NOW – Brianna also has to account for her other fixed expenses, which include her cell phone bill, her heat bill, and her electric bill. Oh, and don’t forget subscriptions Brianna decided to cut cable and just pay for internet and a few streaming services. Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Peacock, HBO –  Gah DAMN, how much TV do you watch, Bri?!

Brianna’s fixed expenses add up to $2,032 every single month. Now she has to calculate how much she spends on NON-FIXED NECESSITIES. These are things like groceries, clothing, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. These are things you need to survive, but the cost of them can fluctuate. Brianna’s non-fixed necessities are $405 this month. Again, these change from month to month, so these can be places to look to make adjustments as needed.

So uhhhh…. we have a problem, Bri. With a budget in hand, we have our starting line — So now what? Because Bri is in the red, she has two options: Grow her income, or cut expenses. But you may have different findings… You may be faced with the challenge of figuring out where to allocate a surplus, or you may have caught some unused subscriptions draining your pocket every single month that you can now cut. Maybe you want an extra vacation, or a date night with your partner. Or maybe to finally purchase that car you’ve been dreaming of. Now, with a good budget, you know exactly where to attack to reach these goals. Regardless of what you’ve been contemplating, now you have a clear picture of what’s been happening to your wallet on a monthly basis. Where all those hours of hard work you exchange for dollars are actually going. More importantly, you’ve figured out how much it costs you to live.

To me – that’s a fair trade. Financial freedom looks different for each of us, and that’s ok.For some, it might look like spending more time with the people you love most, or having the ability to tell that selfish boss that you’re staying home to take care of your sick child. For others, it could mean retiring earlier than 65. Or simply living ya best life LONG before your retirement. As I’ve said before, budgeting, and this ENTIRE financial empowerment journey is EXTREMELY personal. 

You need to lock in on your goals so you can create the life you want. Nipsey Hussle said it best: “It takes… Dedication, hard work plus patience. The sum of all my sacrifice, I’m done waitin, done waitin” Attaining financial confidence, and eventually financial freedom is SIMPLE, but it’s not EASY. However, YOU GOT THIS! It all starts today, with your budget.I’m Brandon Copeland, AKA Professor Cope – and now you Know BUDGETING.