Girls Just Wanna Have Funds

Save The Personality And Sass For Happy Hour Not Your Boss

Ginger — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:17:18 +0000

Houston, we might have another Cisco Fatty on our hands!

I belong to a few online/email groups and came across an email from a young lady who’d gotten into some hot water because she tweeted about a potential job offer after snagging and acing the interview.

One problem.

She tweeted the company’s name and possibly that the person in the current position might be getting fired.

Yes, she said all of this on Twitter.

Ouch. *shudder*

Imagine her surprise when she got an email from the HR manager telling stating she was bothered by the applicant’s decision to tweet company information in Twitter.

First, if you know me then you know that I think companies are going a bit too far with checking on applicants using social networking sites like twitter and Facebook.

My second question was why did she tweet company businesses out to the Twitasphere like that? I know we all have moments like these but I think what took me for a loop was the applicant’s intended response which in mine and other’s opinions was most unapologetic, and sounding like she was starving for a piece of humble pie.

Having been out of work for close to a year, she needed this job to work out. But she wanted to tell this HR manager that she had no contract with them for emplyment and did not plan to tone down her personality to suit them especially when she tweeted about the situation due to her excitement about the position, not because she had any ill intent in disclosing the good news (for her) albeit, company business.

Well, considering that they were planning to fire someone in order to vacate the position for her, that’s where things get sticky. Any number of legal scenarios coud come up and Im sure this company just wanted to make sure they dotted all their Is and crossed all Ts before moving forward.

In the end she acquiesced and wrote a letter explaining that she was just so excited about the position and didnt think about the consequences of tweeting such sensitive information.

But let this be a lesson to all of you quarter lifers and even you social media types, save your personalty and sass for happy hour and get on the straight and narrow when it comes to your day job.

Here are a few tips to avoid the above situation:

Use a separate email account for Twitter and Facebook, this is how your boss and other superiors will find you
Remove your profile from public search results on Facebook
Remove your picture from Facebook search results and don’t enable your profile to be tagged on Facebook
Don’t put your picture on Twitter if you really want to Tweet with wreck-less abandon
Don’t put any personally identifiable information about yourself on Twitter
Don’t Tweet about your day job, EVAR. Period. End of story. Leaveitalone!
Dont share information you aren’t comfy with your mother or boss knowing. Twitter is a bit more open than Facebook unless your profile is locked/protected. Say something RT worthy and watch is spread like swine flu

Take heed youngins!

Avon Tweetup With Suze Orman Was Fabulous!

Ginger — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:21:30 +0000

Last Friday, I was invited to the AvonTweetup with the fabulous Suze Orman in New York City along with other women who blog about various topics. One thing we all shared in common is our desire to see our businesses and personal finances succeed.

First, I think you all should know, if you have ever questioned whether or not Suze is for real—>she is every bit of electric, magnetic, passionate-whatever you want to call it in person as she is on TV. Her authenticity permeates the room and you just know that she cares about every person to whom she gives advice.

But make no mistake she is an astute business woman and I totally respect that about her. She gave us no nonsense, respect yourself and demand what you are worth advice that made me just want to go out and really pursue all of my dreams as it relates to this blog. Her drive and passion is evident and yeah I just feel really privileged to have been able to meet her. So, make no mistake, Suze is it folks!

A few of the nuggets of wisdom she imparted to us included:

Fear and powerlessness repels money! #avontweetup

People who control money can smell fear - stay in the truth of your power and money will come #avontweetup

Leverage is what got the U.S. into trouble. Do not leverage to invest because you have the responsibility to service that debt.

Nothing matters but that you are on track to live a happy life #avontweetup

The question is: what makes you feel more powerful as a woman? @suzeormanshow #avontweetup

“If I can’t write a check, I can’t afford it.” #avontweetup

Suze says “only buy something with new money that comes in after taxes” #avontweetup

Suze’s view on debt: ”By hurting yourself you are hurting the ones you love. What changes a woman is her understanding that by hurting herself she is hurting the ones she loves. ” #avontweetup

“It is your profound fear of loss that prevents you from experiencing gain”

Build what you really want to build, your brand, with honesty and integrity

Take the personal out of it, be positive, skip FEAR, HELP one another

@suzeormanshow on contingency plans: Pay student loan, save for emergency funds, then credit card debt in this order!

#avontweetup in the current market pay student loans 1st, fund emergency then attack credit debt. credit companies are shutting down accts w

SaveYourself.com - women open an account and get a 15% return @suzeormanshow #avontweetup

Is there a way to generate income right now, consider being an Avon rep. They make good cash to more than tide you Suze’s mom was an Avon rep in 1962 to help support their family! That is full circle, baby! #avontweetup

I know that I sound like a crush crazy school gal but she inspires me on a daily basis around writing this blog and even more on a personal level. I remember giving my mom Suze’s first book when my dad passed away. She had all this money in the bank and I didn’t want to see her spend it on junk. So I bought her the book and she learned what she needed to do in order to make a new life for us after my father passed.

I hope we cross paths again, surely if I could have her as my personal financial advisor I would, but I’ll just have to settle for her book until then!

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Suze Orman #AvonTweetup and Girls Just Wanna Have Funds!

Ginger — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:50:15 +0000

Tomorrow I’ll be having breakfast with the one and only Suze Orman in New York City!! The folks at Meetup will tell you that this has been something on my wish list for a while now. I totally admire Suze for all her work around women and personal finance so I am incredibly honored that I was invited to this event.

Have questions about personal finance issues? Debt? Saving? Spending? 401k? Post them in the comments and I will be sure to ask her tomorrow!

If you’re on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #avontweetup or you can follow it here.

Looking forward to chatting with @gingerlatte & @buffyfan2 at the Avon Tweet Up. #avontweetupabout 3 hours ago from TweetDeck

SuzeOrmanShow

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Suze Orman #AvonTweetup and Girls Just Wanna Have Funds!

Ginger — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:47:01 +0000

Have questions about personal finance issues? Debt? Saving? Spending? 401k? Post them in the comments and I will be sure to ask her tomorrow!

If you’re on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #avontweetup or you can follow it here.

Looking forward to chatting with @gingerlatte & @buffyfan2 at the Avon Tweet Up. #avontweetupabout 3 hours ago from TweetDeck

SuzeOrmanShow

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Kelis To Nas: “Nas Left Me High and Dry”- My Advice To Kelis

Ginger — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:51:32 +0000

I usually don’t post celebrity stuff here but for some reason this, this right here just tickles me to no end.

Kelis claims estranged hubby Nas has left her high and dry … not offering her a penny in the wake of her impending birth … and she says she’s broke — “I have run out of money.”

Kelis filed legal papers claiming Nas isn’t paying her support, pre-natal expenses — nothing, even though she claims he is filthy rich.

Kelis is asking the judge to order Nas to pay spousal support, child support, all pregnancy-related expenses, and one-half of all medical expenses after the child is born. She also wants $3,500 for the baby nurse after the child’s birth, and $20,000 for strollers, cribs and other baby supplies.

Kelis says, “My survival is based on [Nas'] will at this time. If he does not want to pay for an expense, it does not get paid.” The couple was married in 2003. The baby is due this month.

Kelis says she’s entitled to maintain the lifestyle to which she became accustomed during their marriage — they have five homes, fly first class, go to fancy restaurants, and on and on. Most interesting — “There were many expensive pieces [of jewelry] such as a princess-cut diamond tennis bracelet that was recently appraised for $190,000. My engagement ring is an approximately nine-carat cushion-cut diamond solitaire. I have numerous watches…such as Cartier, Rolex, Frank Muller and Chopard.”

Her lawyer, disso-queen Laura Wasser, says in a separate declaration she’s asked Nas to ante up some $$$ for Kelis and the unborn baby but he hasn’t responded.

My advice to Kelis?

Sell it. All of it. You look out of your cotton picking mind asking your soon to be ex husband to pay for these lavish items for a baby nursery when you are flat broke. How are you broke when you admit to owning 5 homes and a slew of diamond and Cartier jewelry? Let me guess? None of that stuff is in your name?

Why didnt you have the presence of mind to stash some of that cash away for a rainy day? Start a profitable business? Women like you bother me because you go into marriage not thinking about how to stand on your own two feet should the unthinkable happen, not so much in your case because well celebrities divorce at a higher rate than the rest of us.

I don’t claim to know everything but what is posted on the Internet about your life but for goodness sakes woman, have some dignity, sell your possessions to make a comfortable life for you and your child. This begging and pleading for $20k nursery items makes you look deranged and out of touch. What you need is a financial check up and a Certified Financial Planner to help you move forward without having to worry about Nas making sure that you live the lifestyle you’re accustomed to while married. Newsflash: think about and begin to make plans around the fact that you might end up with the short end of the stick. Anything above that is just extra. Be empowered, pick up your dignity and keep it moving and you might want to think about *gasp* earning a living?

There are NBA groupies out there with better business sense and I can’t knock them. At least if they snag a baller, some come out with an education and self sustaining business. A man is not a financial plan, but if you choose to go that route, at least come out on top at the end of the dollar sign lined road.

And yes, I agree that Nas should finance the birth of his unborn child, but I don’t agree with crying broke whilst claiming ownership of expensive jewelry and engagement rings. Sell.Them.

Source

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Journey To Motherhood: How Did You Know You Were Ready To Become A Mother?

Ginger — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:01:00 +0000

How did you know you were ready to become a mom? Did something just switch on? I’ll be honest and say I don’t know that I was ready to be “wife” until 1.5 years into our marriage. The intent was there but to really step into it? Only happened recently LOL And I’m ok with that, we all live, love and grow.

Did you plan everything around your pregnancy? Anything? Timing?

Was your pregnancy something you looked forward to?

You all know I am trying to plan this thing down to the second I go into labor and even then I’m asking the OGBYN to have an Epidural ready as soon as I get wheeled into Labor and Delivery! LOL *prick* *euphoria*

So how did you know you were ready to become a mom and was it something you’d always looked forward to?

I question how ready i am emotionally to become a mom. Everything seems to be in place-husband, marriage, house, finished with grad school and so the next logical phase seems to be motherhood. But Im just not quite there yet as I still have some things to get out of my system. I feel some sorta way for not following the prescribed social time line but I’m moving through it.

Since my last post about our time line it has since changed. We’ve now decided to just wait to see the outcome of my application to the doctoral program and then take it from there.

There’s also the physical and emotional demands of being a mother that Im kinda not sure I’m ready to take on. Right now I enjoy being able to leave on a moment’s notice for a getaway weekend or not have to worry about dropping baby weight. I’m not there yet where Ive come to accept those sacrifices as part of my life. And, you know while Im OK with it, I still feel some sorta way.

Why?

Well, I feel like my friends and family accept these changes and well uhmm I dont. I am very much a planner with regards to every aspect of my life. I have to know who, when, where why and how and I think having a child brings along with it a certain level of unpredictability that I am not ready for at this stage in my life.

So how did you know you were ready? Please tell me there’s a switch some where?

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Stay At Home Moms And The What If Factor?

Ginger — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:01:10 +0000

So with all this talk about motherhood, my husband and I have been having pretty frank discussions about my reservations around having a child right now, one of them that I haven’t discussed being adequate and quality childcare. He then asked if I would consider being a stay at home mom devoted solely to raising our kids and my reaction was, uhmm no.

You see, I’m over the guilt imposed by other moms and the SAHM vs Working Mom debate. Over it. I’m completely OK with the fact that I am driven by my career and that I have total satisfaction in this area of my life. So there’s that. I just realize that I have to figure out how to get what I want while being the wife, mother and professional i aspire to be.

Where i am going with you ask?

Well, while I truly respect the choices of moms to stay at home (the ones who stay at home and truly do NOTHING BUT take care of home and kids, not the mom blogger type raking in the elusive blogger dollars or ones with part time jobs), I have to wonder about the what if factor?

What if your husband keels over heaven forbid tomorrow? What if he decides that you are no longer the love of his life? Have you seen the scene from Diary Of A Mad Black Woman where he kicks her out and moves the mistress in? What if you just decide one day that you want to have a career? How do you then get back into the game should one of the above mentioned hammers hit the nail?

I admit to being fiercely independent but only recently so due to finishing grad school and now working, so mama’s bring home the dollas LOL I don’t have to, but I do because I get a sense of fulfillment in this area of my life and I know that should anything happen, I’m good to go financially. Still, for the last 3 years I worked sporadically, while finishing grad school.

So my questions to SAHMs (Stay At Home Moms who do not work at all or are in school), what is your plan should the what if happen? Do you have a plan? If so, what is it? I ask not to incite that tired old debate, but because I truly want to know, and frankly, I think you should know too.

After writing the Economoms post, I received so many emails thanking me for the information and asking about more resources. So I know that there are some out there who didn’t see this recession coming, with their husbands having lost their jobs, now some SAHMs are forced to re-enter the work force, many 5-10 years out. What’s the plan?

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Smart Women Marry Rich: Big Blue Eyes Or Big Green Bankroll?

Ginger — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:46:39 +0000

Yes, I know we’ve discussed this topic ad nauseum here and where the post first went live as a guest post at Consumerism Commentary.

In my defense of bringing this up again, I was contacted by ABCNews to discuss my views on marriage and money as it relates to the book: Smart Girls Marry Money: How Women Have Been Duped Into the Romantic Dream–And How They’re Paying For It.

And, while I think certain phrases are used mainly for shock value to pull the reader in, I generally agree with the premise. Don’t let sensationalized romanticism be your sole guide in choosing your life partner.

If you meet a guy who has a string of debts from New York to Colorado and has no sincere intention (not wherewithal) to repay them, then run like you stole something! Seriously, how a man treats his finances — if he is not willing to honor his debts and obligations — is an indicator of how he will treat you in the marriage. I take this as a character flaw and not one I am willing to put up with in the marriage. Call me what you want, but I am not that girl.

Still, Im also not saying that you should walk into a marriage thinking that if you bring your looks and he brings his wallet then all is well and done in the land of happily ever after either. Let’s keep it real here ladies, your looks will fade over time and he will continue to make money. What will you do when he decides to trade you in for the latest Aston Martin? Become an asset to your partner and not a liability, coming to the table with only your looks makes for a bad business deal in which you’re just a depreciating asset.

Real Talk. My goal is to keep it real with you here and not fill your head with gold digging dreams of snagging a guy solely for his money and thinking that you will be nothing more than a trinket in his box of tricks. If you’re going to do this anyway, be smart about it, go to school, get some business acumen and make it a learning experience.

Too many women find themselves penniless and poor after being dumped by a wealthy partner with no real concrete plan around how they would get back on their feet. Here’s a hint, walk in to your relationship with an education and a plan because prince charming doesn’t exist and a man is not a backup plan.

But while I do advocate making sure you’re partner is financially viable, please don’t go into the relationship only checking this box, make sure he is loving, respectful, shares your values, shares his feelings, is warm and someone who you know you can spend your life with through thick and thin. Love, not money gets you through hard times.

But let’s get back to the book.

Here are a few excerpts which, frankly tickles me to see this in print…. *snicker*…the authors are BOLD! LOL

Now, while I disagree with pushing women to use their feminine wiles to snag a man solely for money, I do agree with making sure that you wont be broke and in the poor house because you decided to marry a financially irresponsible partner.

Thoughts? I know some of you are boiling! LOL

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Having It All: Man, Child, Dog And The Picket Fence! Part 1

Ginger — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:01:50 +0000

How many times have we thought about this? Self imposed (sometimes socially) time lines on motherhood, career, education and marriage?

I’ve always believed that women can have it all. Still do, just in staggered moderation. Lately, I have to admit though, going through my own struggles with this as I want it all and pretty determined t get it.

What does having it all mean to you? Do you have it? Are you content with where you are now in life?

To answer my own questions, I am for the most part content with my life as I’m in a pretty good place. I admit to being a career driven woman who has her sights set on high, knowing that I can’t fail. It’s a pretty strong drive right now and I just need to get certain things out of my system. This of course, is the source of my indecision around starting a family. Part of it has to do with my own issues around becoming a mother, the identity shift and timing ie becoming resentful around giving up my peak earning potential to have a baby.

Having it all in my world means a change in all of the above:

Giving up on old childhood stuff and really moving forward to becoming the mother I want to be.
The identity shift from being career driven, foot loose and fancy free to being a mom where my sole focus might become my child. Not sure Im ready or how I’d feel about that.
Giving up my peak earning and career potential to have a child.

It would seem that these are all things I would just have to let go huh? I’m a control freak so I’m not sure how that’ll go down LOL

But, I might be on to something…ha!

What do you think? Do you think in order to have it all I have to give up and accept the above mentioned? Do you think having it all is a myth?

Thanks for tuning into my own brand of self imposed neurosis around this issue. Parts 2 and 3 to come this week.

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Are We There Yet? Baby Making Time Lines

Ginger — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 04:24:17 +0000

Today I learned that my BFF is pregnant! I am of course so happy for her and plan to be all up in and through her pregnancy living vicariously through her for the next 8 months.

As we talked about her pregnancy pains, I realized that as much as I would love to be pregnant with her (we have always talked about being pregnant together), Im still not there yet.

Still not ready to give up my freedom, not ready to give up on my plans to return to school, just not ready…yet. But I am warming up to the idea.

Turning 29 last week seems to have put my biological clock into serious gear when last year this time it didnt mean much to me at all. I was content with waiting and seeing how I’d feel once I finished my MA program.

Now, as you know from my last post we did set up a “time line”, but Im slowly backing away from it because Im not sure I want to commit to that anymore. I asked my husband today how he truly feels (he says he’s content waiting until Im ready) and he told me that it might be better for me to get the grad school/career woman pursuit going and out of the way instead of going back and forth about motherhood when Im clearly not ready yet.

Then talking to a family friend who is around 40 years old with a 2 year old, he said that his wife’s boss has her own regrets about waiting so long to have kids because at 35 she cant have any more. He also said that he’d wished he met his wife 20 years earlier because he would have more time and opportunity to have more kids with her now as they are trying for a second child.

So on one hand there’s the imperative to get started now so that I can enjoy my child while Im young, retire at a decent age and avoid the pain of chronic miscarriages and the possibility of down syndrome past age 35. But then there’s the I love my career and want to do so much more before having children. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking…..

It’s like a never ending musical chairs. Once I think I’ve got this thing down, a time line that is, I change my mind and get back on my original track which is to go with what I know and am comfortable with but to be honest at my age, it’s beginning to feel like a gamble. I wait, finish my program and then start trying to conceive and then possibly have some issues due to my age.

TMI…..Andy hit the RED X!

My OBGYN here in DC is a prominent fertility doctor and we had a talk a few months back when I had a pregnancy scare. Yes, as in scared. If I want to get pregnant and had issues, he’d find a way LOL So I told him that my husband and I dont use protection ie birth control because any form of hormones make me a raging bitch and I break out horribly. So, we’ve been living on the wild side for the duration of our marriage. He seems to think that’s crazy and that something may be wrong since we’ve never been pregnant. I won’t know until we start trying and I’m not ready to test that theory just yet.

So, here I am obsessing about this time line because frankly Im just not there yet. Im getting there, warmer and warmer but not quite yet.

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