Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Motivating Moms for Financial Success #WomenInspired #ad

::Momma of Dos Disclosure:: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Prudential and DiMe Media. However, all opinions expressed are my own.



I hate to admit this but there is only one thing that pains me more than anything in this life as an adult, and that is money. Money and the concept of having, maintaining and saving it. Money truly is the center of many things in life, like having a home, and bills to pay and food, and all things needed to survive. It can be a true woe, but one that I know is highly important to be informed and educated about. Enter Prudential and their #WomenInspired workshop series.  The conversations being held in these workshops, the questions being asked to think and reflect on, have truly allowed me to gain a whole new perspective and one, that I want to know more about. 

::My history and knowledge of and with money::

For some reason, in my family, and early on in life, we didn't learn much about money except that we have to find a way to earn it and that since we have earned it, we have the right to spend it. I don't remember thinking about or talking to my parents about a saving account, how to fund future education, or where I would obtain a down payment for a big purchase like a car or house. I knew I would go to college but had no real plan on how to fund it. While I obtained some scholarships, it wasn't enough. I came out of college with debt, one that I have carried since I graduated from the Univeristy of Houston in 2005. Not the most convenient or best use of my money now. Thankfully my Husband grew up with a different mentality and teachings. We are both first generation Mexican-American, born to immigrant parents. But, had very different upbringings. Not bad, because we balance one another. 

I feel that we cannot blame anyone for where we are now, but we can become knowledgeable in our habits and become aware of the resources available to break the cycles of poor money management. During the Women Inspired conversation, we all spoke openly about our wants, needs and fears in regard to money and our futures, and more importantly the future of our children. Knowing that I am not the only person with questions and that there are resources via organizations like Prudential is relieving.




::Where I am now and what I want to learn about money management:: 

Knowing that I can properly secure funds for my children to attend college, that I can teach them the value of saving at an early age for a future investment, is all very important as our young family ages. I know that I will need to properly manage my money and obtain the appropriate advice and consulting in order to have a system in place as my kids grow and our needs become more pressing. Currently, I have mentioned being in a "good place", one where we are slowly coming out of years where we have accumulated debt for various reasons and/or spending money on big purchase items like a home and new cars or more importantly our children's daycare services.

As a Momma who values my career, I knew that my children would have to be placed in some type of child care facility. I wanted, of course, the absolute best in both care and expense. I didn't know how we would be able to afford it as we had not financially prepared ahead for it. Now that those years are almost over and my children will enter public school, I am relieved and know what I should have done differently. I feel Prudential would have been a good resource early in my pregnancy for this type of planning.

As stated currently we are in a "good place" one where perhaps there is room for struggle but we also want to enjoy our children and ourselves as a small reward for all of our work in past years. With that said one of our fun "splurges" this year will be a little more family travel. We have indeed planned ahead and saved up for our upcoming vacations. So, while I feel that we should be prepared for rainy days we also want to enjoy our investments and the now.




::About Prudential and how they can help:: 

Prudential is here to help you find a solution for those challenges that we can all face at any age or stage of our lives. Learn more by visiting their website. Follow their hashtag #WomenInspired so that you can follow along on their journey across the country as they discover how women are taking charge of their financial lives. Prudential is bringing together women from all walks of life to open up in a conversation that, I feel, needs to begin in every home across America.

VISIT THEM- HERE. 



::Women Inspired::


Prudential has inspired me to become educated in my finances, to take charge early on of my future planning and to teach my children about money management and savings so that we can break the cycle of bad money habits and create a better future for us all.  ~Connie, Momma of Dos 

No comments: