Crown Hall

1. Track your spending to gain a better understanding of your overall financial
   situation. This step is imperative to determine an accurate budget based on
   after-tax income.
2. For at least one month, write down all your purchases (or list in a spreadsheet)
   and keep account of where you spend the most. Start thinking of ways you can
   reduce your spending in some areas. These funds can be reallocated to your
   "SAVINGS".

1. W- Write it down. Seeing is believing.
2. E- Envision your BIGGER future. See your future self!
3. A- Affirm the urge you desire. SAY IT OUT LOUD.
4. L – Listen to your soul. Don’t ignore the inner voice.
5. T- Take action and set the tone.
6. H – Hold the vision and watch it manifest!

Five Ways to Build or Repair Your Credit

1. Become an authorized user on an account with a high credit limit and long credit history (i.e., an account that has been open for over two
   years).
2. Reduce your debt balances and make payments on time.
3. Obtain a secured credit card if your approval rate is low on major credit cards or retail cards.
4. Request a credit limit increase periodically and update your income.
5. Don’t use credit to purchase things you wouldn’t buy with cash!

Three Ways to Save

1. 1. Envelope Me Please: Set goals at the beginning of the year of at least
      three things you want to do financially. Create an envelop for each goal
      and make it pretty! On the front of each envelope write the dollar
      amount associated with the goal. Each pay day add the amount of your
      choice to each envelope and watch the money pile up!
   2. Apply The “50/30/20” Budgeting Rule: Your monthly income
      ultimately determines the amount you can “afford” to spend each
      month. When you plan your spending, you must incorporate saving.
      This rule says, your total income should be broken down by: Needs
      (50%), Wants (30%) and Savings (20%). If you have debt, that falls in the
      same bucket with your savings so split it according to your personal
      desires to get rid of your debt all together!
   3. $10 BLACK FRIDAY Challenge: Grab a clear container (or any object to hold your money) and each week, starting the first week of January, drop $10 in the container. At the end of November, you will have saved $470 towards your Black Friday shopping.

Five Reasons You Should Have a Business Plan

1. Time to prove that you are serious about your business and worthy of
   being invested in.
2. Identify a strategic long-term view of your business, versus making
   money and not understanding where its going.
3. Get to know your competition, what works, what doesn’t, and what
   makes you one of a kind.
4. Get to know your target audience and document a marketing strategy
   that will create business growth.
5. Create new relationships and new business funding opportunities.

Steps To Building Business Credit

1. 1. Obtain your DUNS number. This is like obtaining a social security number for your business.
   2. Create a SAMs account. This allows you to obtain access to government contracts and funding.
   3. Apply for tradeline accounts. These entities report to DUNS and will increase your “PAYDEX” score, which is ultimately your business credit
      number.