About Me
I am a woman in my mid-thirties who has been VERY irresponsible with money for most of my life. I don’t have many valid excuses. I don’t have any children, I’ve never been married, and I’ve never been so sick that my medical situation amassed a large amount of debt. I have pretty much been employed since I was 16, have never had trouble finding or keeping a job, and have even worked two jobs during a few periods in my life. My parents both have a strong work ethic, which I inherited. Whether it is working at home on a home-based business, as a homemaker, or outside the home for an employer, I believe firmly in working.
I’ve had 3+ years of college – no degree. My love affair with credit cards, and the subsequent downward spiral, began my freshman year of college when I was urged to apply for a credit card outside the college bookstore after purchasing my textbooks for the semester. I was 18. To make a long story short, I filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy when I was 23, but it was dismissed when I stopped making payments. I filed Chapter 7 when I was 32 and have not had a late payment on my credit report since. Unlike many, I don’t completely blame the credit card companies. I was wide awake when I applied for the credit, when I made the purchases, and when I stopped paying the bills.
I would like to say I turned over a new leaf at that point, but my change in habits wasn’t so complete. It was more like I turned over 3/4 of a leaf. At this point, while I am careful to pay everything in time to avoid any reported lates or large late fees, I have also learned to be an expert juggler and I still have a bad habit of obtaining new credit.
Financial Expertise
I have no expertise and I am not a licensed financial advisor. This blog is about my journey to financial responsibility and stability. While I will share my opinions and the knowledge I obtain from various sources, I am by no means doling out financial advice and have no qualifications to make any financial recommendations to anyone.
Why The Blog
Chic Financials is as much a goal and a state of mind for me as it is an adjective to describe the state of my finances. The truth is – my finances are NOT currently chic! This blog is all about my journey to get them there. Instead of seeing a financially broke woman living paycheck-to-paycheck, I will instead see myself as a savvy woman whose finances ARE chic and allow my actions and money habits to reflect this. I have recently become an avid reader of personal finance blogs. I am inspired by several bloggers who have achieved or are well on the way to achieving their savings and retirement goals. But I see few about people like me who have spent themselves into a hole and are currently still in that hole. So here I begin my arduous journey, sharing my experiences with others who might be able to relate and/or help keep me accountable!
I welcome respectable comments, opinions, and advice from all! Follow my journey here. You can also email me at chicfinancials at gmail.com.
Be Blessed!
CF
