Hello and welcome to the Millennial CPA blog!


At Millennial CPA, we believe that millennials have inherited an uncertain world that we didn't ask for. We didn't ask for global warming, we didn't ask for these student loans, we didn't ask for this rapidly changing economic environment that makes it more difficult to get traditional salaried jobs.

 We also believe that no matter your position, economically or otherwise, there is always a chance to turn your finances around and get not just on a good track, but the best track.

 Millennials may not all want a house in the suburbs behind a white picket fence with 2.5 children, but many (even those buried in student loans) are deep down hoping for SOMETHING - maybe it's the trip around the world of a lifetime, maybe it's to buy an apartment, or maybe it's to have children and provide for your family. Maybe it's to have your dream wedding or honeymoon, saving a big retirement nest egg, or even starting your own business!

 There are so many goals that millennials, just as earlier generations, want to reach, and we at Millennial CPA believe that so many are lacking the tools they need to reach financial comfort, or even financial independence. We don't believe in shaming your for buying a cup of coffee out, or even *gasp* an avocado toast for lunch. We know you are working hard and grabbing that cup of coffee between Job 1 and Job 2, or that you're ordering that avocado toast because it's a healthier choice.



On the other hand, some of you are embarrassed right now, because you feel like these habits aren't helping your life at all. Both positions are legitimate, because, despite what some personal financial advice may say, we all have different financial priorities. All of us! At Millennial CPA, we want to help you figure out the priorities that will help your financial life survive and thrive. Figure out where to trim your spending, so that you can re-focus and spend on the things that make a better, YOU.

Saving Money... Isn't there an App for that?


 Of course there are some apps that help you to save money or cut spending, many of them, but we're not quite there yet. The topic I've come to discuss is spending and saving, and the mentalities behind each. How many of you aren't saving anything because there's nothing left after paying all your bills, or because you feel like there's no point? How many of you work hard, and are ready to reward yourself after a long week or month of grinding through your job? How many of you feel confused, knowing how many financial products there are out there but unsure how to begin?

 If you're already saving all the money you want, and don't need any motivation or ideas, stop now. You're in a good place, you smart hard worker you. For the rest of us, we may want to talk this out for a minute here.

 There is a psychology that it takes to save money, just as there is a psychology behind spending. The psychology behind spending is fed to us forcefully and constantly. Culture bombards us with the need to reward ourselves or "keep up with the Jones's". We spend because we're embarrassed by what we have, thinking it's not enough. We spend to fill emotional voids. We spend because we think it'll buy us someone's affection, or keep us entertained. And then sometimes, much more rarely, we spend because we actually need and want something that serves a purpose in our lives, whether practical or emotional. The goal here is to make sure we are only making those latter kind of purchases, the kind that expand our lives and help it grow, instead of the emptier ones listed above.



"overdraft" by CreditDebitPro is licensed under CC BY 2.0 "Money" by free pictures of money is licensed under CC BY 2.0 

One of the most surprisingly helpful books I read in my journey to start saving more was The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It turns out that a woman who suggests scrutinizing every single thing you own, has a philosophy that can apply to your financial life as well.

 Although The Kon Mari Method is most popularly understood as a guide to help you throw away your junk, her strong emphasis on keeping only objects that "spark joy" can end up naturally applying to objects you buy, and keep you from over-spending in the future. I strongly believe that anyone who follows the Kon Mari method in it's entirety will not only come away with cleaner and less cluttered space, but also a cleaner and less cluttered head. And when your head is less cluttered, it becomes easier to form priorities. Priorities like planning for your future, and finally saving money.


Future You Has More Opportunity Than You Can Even Imagine


At Millennial CPA we believe that saving your money should always have a reason, a reason you stand behind. Maybe you've given up on many dreams for the future because you don't think they'll ever happen with your financial situation. I'm here to say, it is possible to save if the desire to save starts to become more important to you than your desire to consume. I believe the first step to saving is having a strong reason WHY.
However, as anyone who's been trying to save for a home or a big new purchase can tell you, having a "WHY" sometimes isn't enough. You also need a "HOW". This blog will eventually be dedicated to all the different "How's" to push you toward your next step in financial security.
There's also one thing that can kill a plan to save faster than anything, and that's debt. This blog will teach you all about debt - which are the "good" kinds, which are the "bad" kinds, and some of which I will even argue you can't be successful without. That's right, some debt can actually be quite good for your financial health! This is called "Leverage" and expect a post about it soon.

What financial worries are keeping you up at night? Feel free to comment below and join the conversation!

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