7 Spending Habits That Will Keep You Poor And Kill Your Dreams

March 26, 2019May 23, 2019 - Ariel Shanelle 2 Comments

Have you ever had to go without a necessity? Maybe it was food, water, or utilities. No matter which kind of suffering you’ve endured, they’re all not fun and can leave us traumatized.

I grew up poor and had no insight that there was any other kind of life. I thought that was just how things were and life was a constant struggle. There was no one to teach me about finances and I was destined for failure.

However, I ended up crossing paths with an amazing money book that completely changed my life! I learned that life is what we make it and not merely what happens to us. By learning which habits were stealing my dreams, I quickly cut them out! I wasn’t going to allow anything to get in my way of success!

Here are 7 spending habits that will keep you poor and steal your dreams.

Alcohol And Cigarettes

Addictive substances, like alcohol and cigarettes, are extremely dangerous because they cause us to do irrational things. When we ‘just need to smoke’, we can end up spending our last few dollars on cigarettes.

Recently, my husband and I went to a convenience store near our local laundromat. The door had a sign that said $8.68 for a pack of cigarettes. My jaw completely dropped. I cannot believe that people are paying these ludacris prices for something that is killing them!

I think we all know cigarettes are expensive, but what about alcohol? People can get whole cans for a dollar. Surely, something like that isn’t stealing their wealth. Think again! People become reliable on these type of substances which causes them to buy more and more.

I once lived in a very bad neighborhood and the neighbor was an alcoholic. He would get up before nine and begin walking to the liquor store. He was unemployed so he would drink all day. Then, he and his wife would argue almost every night about money and his drinking. It was an extremely toxic relationship and I’m happy to be out of that part of town! Read more

Financial Books To Help You Manage Money & Reach Financial Freedom

March 20, 2019March 30, 2019 - Ariel Shanelle Leave a comment

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

How can someone who is poor become rich and is it even possible?

That was a question I’ve wondered for a long time. Growing up, we always had enough for what we needed, but that was it. I began wondering what was the meaning of life and why do other people seem to be more successful than others.

Being poor was not fun. In middle school, I experienced a really embarrassing moment. A kid asked real loud in front of everyone asked, “Why do you wear the same pants every day?” I know he did it to make fun of me and I experienced embarrassment and anger. A lot of other kids seemed to have really nice clothing. I had two shirts and two pants. That’s it.

I knew I wanted to be successful financially, but I had no real plan. They don’t teach money in school and I couldn’t find anyone around me who really knew how to manage finances. So like many others, I did my own thing. But my plan didn’t work.

When I began learning how to handle money the correct way, I was already a young mom and had a family. Still living with my mom (yikes), my husband worked to provide for everything we needed. But we were still only breaking even and I still didn’t have any nice clothes.

Think about that. A young mom living at home with her parent with no job, no car, no income. Once I got my hands on some really good financial teachings, I knew my life was changed forever. I learned that rich is a mindset and by becoming successful at mastering your mind for abundance, it will surely come. Read more

Habits of Poor People That Keep Them Trapped In Poverty

October 2, 2018May 23, 2019 - Ariel Shanelle 7 Comments

Habits of Poor People

Have you ever wondered why the rich get richer and the poor become poorer? You may be shocked to find out the habits of poor people are extremely different than those of the wealthy. They view life in opposite manners and use their time differently.

After creating habits of wealthy people, I decided that it wasn’t enough. It’s not enough to tell people what to do if they want to be successful, but also what actions to let go. The habits below will keep you locked in poverty.

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

What Is Considered Poor?

Poor isn’t always a financial term. Poor is a state of mind that traps you in poverty no matter how much money you have. The word poor can be used to describe someone who doesn’t take care of their health, neglects their family, treats others horribly, and so much more. This is why every year many ‘wealthy’ people commit suicide. Also, that’s why you hear stories of people who win the lottery and end up broke a few years later.

On the other hand, a person who lives in poverty can feel like the wealthiest individual on earth. If you’ve ever been in love, you know it doesn’t matter how many material items you possess. You receive a feeling of completion while your lover is beside you. By being loved, you’ve reached a level of wealth many people only dream of. Keep that in mind as we go through this list. Read more

Grow In The Spiritual Fruit of Kindness

March 22, 2018January 12, 2019 - Ariel Shanelle Leave a comment

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

All scriptures are taken from NKJV unless otherwise marked.

Kindness

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

-Phillippians 2:3-4

Kindness can be described as a few things: compassion, generosity, tenderness, sweetness. When fully developed, this fruit of the Spirit is the salt and light of the world. This makes people stand out in today’s society. It touches the souls of others and can cause tears to flow. There’s a golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Treat others the way you want to be treated.)

There are plenty of ways we can practice sharing kindness with people. In this article, I’ll share a few ideas with you.

Greet People And Smile

I personally love when people greet me. It’s a form of respect from one fellow human to another. Smiling is communicating. It’s just as effective as a, ”hello”. As much as some hate to admit, we all need one another. Every relationship began with some sort of acknowledgment. Start with a smile, and if you feel led by God, start a conversation. That person may end up becoming a new friends of yours. Even if they don’t, you can still make a difference in their life.

One day, I had to go to Shoprite. I wanted to go to the one by my house, but God told me to go to the one across town. Although I didn’t know why, I decided to obey and traveled the 15 minutes to arrive there. In my parked vehicle, I prayed and said, “I don’t know why I’m here. But I believe you sent me so allow me to be aware of my surroundings. Show me where you need me.” Then, I went inside and began to shop as usual. Read more