You Have More Than You Think

Hello folks, friends, and fellow Yakezie members. I’m Shawanda @TheyCallMeCheap Greene, the self righteously witty blog master behind You Have More Than You Think.

Whew! I finally made it! I’m here to tell it. Bloggin’ ain’t easy.

My Money Habits

For the most part, I’ve been pretty responsible with my money. I’m not clawing my way out of $100k in credit card debt.  But, at the tender-ish age of 30, I also can’t report a net worth of $200k like other more prudent personal finance bloggers.

Frankly, I’m just a girl that’s passionate about money management. So I talk about it and write about it and stuff.

Spending money isn’t fun for me. If I don’t need to use money, I won’t. When I do, I try to use as little as possible to get the job done.

My philosophy when it comes to spending is “Big or small, I sweat it all.” I don’t care what it is, I ask myself these questions before buying it.

• Do I need it?
• Do I want it?
• Will I use it?
• Can it wait?
• Can I get it for free?

Over the last few years, frugality has become sexy, but I like having a nice, fat income too. (Since I recently left a job that provided that, I have my work cut out for me.)

Although money can’t buy everything, I bet it buys a lot a things you really enjoy. It’s only logical you’d strive to make as much money as necessary to buy those things.

BUT there comes a point where cash inflow isn’t the problem. If we’re smart, many of us have plenty of money to fulfill our needs and some left over to acquire our basic wants.

I believe that, and so I live it.

So, Why Did I Start Blogging?

I’ve always been drawn to the freedom monetary wealth allows. Whether it’s the freedom to treat your family to fabulous vacations or send your kids to the most prestigious universities or leave a spouse you hate, your money plays a role in the decision making process.

Mention money, and I’m practically salivating to throw in my two cents that might help someone.

I frickin’ love it.

As a child, I first dreamed of becoming a writer when I grew up (and then an inventor and then an astronomer and then a geologist).  Don’t ask me why I’m a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

It’s strange that I returned to writing, because somewhere between 4 years old and 20 years old, I started to hate it. I blame my teachers for sucking all the fun out of the art. Yet, here I am.

In early 2009, my mom bought me an internet marketing program she saw on a Christian show. It was a thoughtful gift I wanted to put to good use.

I learned enough to start a blog.

After paying off $25k in debt and saving another $7,500 within a 12-month period, one of my best friends felt I was credible enough to teach a thing or two to others. She encouraged me to blog about financial wealth, and her encouragement was relentless.

So, to answer your/my question, I started a blog because of something that, generally, has a negative connotation: Peer Pressure.

Instead of using their influence to get me to try illicit drugs or produce grand kids, my best friend and mother used their influence to get me to start a blog. Nerds.

I’m glad I listened. :)

What “You Have More Than You Think” is All About

Money touches on our desires, our security, our humanity. At the same time, in many aspects of our lives, it’s insignificant.

The biggest problem people have with managing money is trying to get it to do things it wasn’t designed to do. As a result, they waste it.  I show my readers when money matters and when it doesn’t.

Originally, I thought of my site as a frugality blog. (Yeah, another frugality blog. *snore*) Over the years, I’ve realized that it’s so much more than that.

Three themes frequently show up in many a blog post.

Gratitude

There’s a never ending supply of things you don’t have. Too often we neglect all the wonderful things we possess to focus on what we lack. Instead, be thankful for and appreciate what you have. If you have electricity, internet access and the liberty to read these words, you’re better off than a whole host of people throughout the world.

You also may have a tendency to forget how great you are. You’ve worked hard to achieve your goals, before you race toward your next mountain to climb, relax. Let the victory wash over you for a while. Be proud, celebrate yourself, and give thanks to God, yourself, or whoever else for helping you to be so awesome.

Personal Responsibility

Your problems are your fault. All of ’em. Well, at least they should be approached that way.

Therefore, you’re responsible for fixing your problems. Whether you caused them or not.

Of course, I don’t really believe we’re invulnerable to forces beyond our control. I just don’t want people waiting around for someone to rescue them.

Self Preservation

Your family, friends, and foes don’t read my blog. It’s OK, and I don’t mind at all.

It should come as no surprise that my advice is based solely on what’s best for my readers.

My Shortcoming(s)

Let’s get this over with quickly since my imperfections are so few. ;)

My blog came to life in May 2009.

Since then my biggest struggle has been consistency. Months would go by where I’d post several times a week. My readership would increase. I’d feel pretty proud of myself. And then, I’d inexplicably disappear.

What can I say? I’m busy. Enjoying life, excelling at work and watching all eight seasons of Monk cuts into your blogging time.

I’m working on my consistency issues. Try to bear with me. But just so you know, if you notice I haven’t updated my blog in a while, I will shamelessly reappear without apology or excuse.

What the Yakezie Network Means to Me

The Yakezie is an accountability network that encourages you to not be lame. Although there’s no contest for who can blog the hardest, I liken the Yakezie Network to a group exercise class.

Yeah, you wanna give up. But you can’t let that chipper, you-can-do-it chick next to you see you quit. You don’t want to look like a wuss, but you also don’t want to disappoint your personal cheerleader. So you keep moving. Even if you have to walk in place until you catch your breath.

It’s tough out there in the blogging world. The Yakezie Network makes living in it so much easier. And for that *right hand over my heart*, I thank you.