SUM180 | Lisa Talley | Activity https://community.sum180.com/members/Lisa/activity/ Activity feed for Lisa Talley. Fri, 19 Jul 2024 11:53:52 -0800 https://buddypress.org/?v=5.1.2 en-US 30 hourly 2 0a84093bce3ba0830dc72811ec1798c8 Lisa Talley started the topic My credit score dropped (????) in the forum Manage your debt https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/my-credit-score-dropped/ Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:51:54 -0800 I’ve been using Credit Karma to keep track of my credit score, and last year it really helped me tweak some things and get my score up from Very Good to Excellent.

A few days ago I got a notification from the app that said my credit score dropped. So I logged in to the app to check what had happened. The explanation I got was that I recently…[Read more]

]]> 4a5dbd0fc6ea1b90179501e04111f50d Lisa Talley replied to the topic Gym Memberships in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/gym-memberships/#post-7680 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:42:41 -0800 I’m not much into classes, but my sister is a BIG fan – spin, Pilates, Zumba, etc etc – she has a gym setup in her home but she swears the structure and group environment of a class, and especially the variety, motivate her more than she ever could motivate herself on her own. If it works for you, it’s the kind of investment that will MORE than…[Read more]

]]> 82c0be4b3a35dc69645b088cbfff83f6 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Pet insurance that covers your dog in Office in the forum Grow your savings https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/pet-insurance-that-covers-your-dog-in-office/#post-7679 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:38:05 -0800 Wow that is really confusing. I know pet insurance companies often exclude preexisting conditions, but I’ve never heard of pet insurance excluding coverage for pets who go to work with you. That just doesn’t seem relevant… And how would they even define that, since pets often travel with you in the car, or visit offices and other homes, AND many…[Read more]

]]> 2384089648db1808dc2605d2527f0164 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Buying A Home While Self-Employed in the forum Buy a house https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/buying-a-home-while-self-employed/#post-7678 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:27:06 -0800 Hi Josh. I am learning about this process too…here’s what I know so far.

1. To qualify for a mortgage, we need at least two years’ worth of tax returns. Most of the lenders ask for three. This is to show *consistent* level of income.

2. As I’m sure you know, the “max loan we can qualify for” doesn’t necessarily equal “how much house we can…[Read more]

]]> 6abd54ff991580e78dd35f1068fc0c06 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Buying A Home While Self-Employed in the forum Buy a house https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/buying-a-home-while-self-employed/#post-7678 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:27:06 -0800 Hi Josh. I am learning about this process too…here’s what I know so far.

1. To qualify for a mortgage, we need at least two years’ worth of tax returns. Most of the lenders ask for three. This is to show consistent level of income.

2. As I’m sure you know, the “max loan we can qualify for” doesn’t necessarily equal “how much house we can…[Read more]

]]> 7bd34c4ba9c61fb058cc5c156203bcdf Lisa Talley commented on the post, 3 Ways to Right-Size Your Spending https://community.sum180.com/trim-your-expenses/#comment-216 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:38:20 -0800 Good advice. This year I’m “deleting” the expense of buying new wardrobe items simply because they’re “trendy.” Goal: a minimalist wardobe of timeless pieces. We’ll see how much I can save!

]]> ad2ad9675f31471b993b1e13696adabf Lisa Talley replied to the topic Making saving sexy in the forum Grow your savings https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/making-saving-sexy/#post-6191 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 19:59:58 -0800 For me I think it takes a shift from thinking “saving => spending” to “saving = freedom”. I used to have the right mindset but over time I’ve fallen into the trap of focusing on what I can spend instead of on the freedom to do what really matters most to me.

]]> b8d36987d65159dd04b8681bff7181e4 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Year of Intention in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/year-of-intention/#post-6189 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 19:17:56 -0800 Mine is similar: MINDFULNESS. I’ve been on autopilot for a long time and it’s time to be more – like you said – intentional about my choices! 🙂

]]> 2eb2a537372dd06bf77eaf97e4582b18 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Is Couponing Worth It? in the forum Grow your savings https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/is-couponing-worth-it/#post-6187 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 18:31:12 -0800 I love to save money wherever possible, but when it comes to coupons, I don’t think the time and trouble is worth it. I used to clip them but when the time came, I always ended up leaving them behind or not finding the coupons I needed in my big stack of coupons! I’d rather shop somewhere that has low prices.

I’d love to know if anyone has found…[Read more]

]]> a57d33a243cd22ff60cd7e95829392ed Lisa Talley replied to the topic Getting Rid of Gift Cards in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/getting-rid-of-gift-cards/#post-6186 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 18:25:49 -0800 I never heard of Raise.com before! You guys are full of good ideas. Thanks for the tip, Kelby, and thanks for asking the question, Antoinette!

]]> 5be252dc562814a6edfff622327dc0bc Lisa Talley replied to the topic Capsule Wardrobe - Saving Money By Not Buying Tons Of Clothes in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/capsule-wardrobe-saving-money-by-not-buying-tons-of-clothes/#post-6185 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 18:24:19 -0800 Wow, Kayla, I was just talking with my sisters about doing this! They weren’t on board with the concept – it’s hard to break the shopping habit – but I think it’s a great way to save money and also be more mindful in general, and appreciate what we have.

]]> ecf718713c9fdb1a9810d7988c04c3b5 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Co signing a Loan in the forum Manage your debt https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/co-signing-a-loan/#post-5419 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 23:42:47 -0800 That is great advice, Kelby. It’s so hard to say no to loved ones, even when your brain knows it is the right thing to do. I never know what to say!

]]> 3c7a783d50dcf95d007bb499879459c2 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Is Pet Insurance Worth It? in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/is-pet-insurance-worth-it/#post-5418 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 23:17:18 -0800 I had pet insurance for a while but eventually let it lapse. The premiums were fairly low and I thought at first I was getting a deal, but turns out, the coverage wasn’t all that great. In the end it didn’t seem worth the paperwork hassle. Sorry I don’t have better news.

]]> 2715f769eb9136d00aaed462235765a3 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Pay off Debt or Save for Retirement in the forum Manage your debt https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/pay-off-debt-or-save-for-retirement/#post-5322 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 19:09:55 -0800 There’s some really smart advice in this thread. I admit, it’s hard for me to always do the professionally recommended thing. Carrying debt just makes me anxious, so I’d rather deal with that and feel better right now. Whereas retirement still seems years away…

]]> 38ee1145776f3106190ed707b8b00154 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Splitting The Bill in the forum Manage your debt https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/splitting-the-bill/#post-5321 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 19:00:26 -0800 This is an important topic for the holidays, with so many social occasions and so much pressure to spend more than we probably should. Not everyone in the family has the same budget, but you want to do special things together. The holidays are a huge minefield of potential money mishaps if you ask me!

]]> 479ffc42f74c19e216f3a99cbfc88ea1 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Self-Employment Options in the forum Save for retirement https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/self-employment-options/#post-5320 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 18:48:57 -0800 I agree with you, Josh, opening a retirement account is relatively easy – finding the extra funds to contribute is the hardest part! I’m starting to think the only way to make it happen is to make the contribution happen automatically, the way regular employees have their 401k contribution taken out of their paycheck before it hits their checking account.

]]> 10c809884cfcffb944274cc1131f26d7 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Do Sales Make It Worth it? in the forum Grow your savings https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/do-sales-make-it-worth-it/#post-5319 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 18:43:32 -0800 Personally, I think of sales as more of an entertainment. It’s the thrill of the hunt for a good bargain, not really about finding necessities at the best possible price. So I admit that to myself up front and set a fixed budget for sale shopping (retail therapy) and that helps to keep me out of serious trouble.

]]> 3f16ff9f41ffb4d500c3e54329c60ddd Lisa Talley replied to the topic Cryptocurrencies in the forum Build your investments https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/cryptocurrencies/#post-3752 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:48:09 -0800 Hi Josh. I’ve seen chatter about Bitcoin but I never heard of Litecoin. I don’t know much about this topic but I’m curious about your purchase “growing.” How does that work? Is it something you “invest” in way you might invest in gold or real estate?

]]> d3a7c1e00676993b48e6f97229d8202e Lisa Talley replied to the topic True Costs of a Pet in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/true-costs-of-a-pet/#post-3751 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:39:46 -0800 This is a tough one! I tend to overspend, probably, on my pets… But if I needed to cut back on costs I’d probably consider a trade with someone I trust. That’s not the easiest thing to figure out, though. Are professional people willing to trade services, does anyone know?

]]> aa592e1cd5374cda747f158a2c286ecf Lisa Talley replied to the topic So Many Gifts To Buy And It's Not Even Christmas! in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/so-many-gifts-to-buy-and-its-not-even-christmas/#post-3750 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:35:01 -0800 My sisters and I JUST had a family summit about how to handle holiday gifts this year, literally just last night! There was some back and forth, but we finally agreed to make this year a simple holiday ornament exchange. No individual gifts, with the exception of the youngest kids. It will be so much easier on the budget! And, I was surprised to…[Read more]

]]> 100963488fd3f8ca69771b1332c66b6b Lisa Talley replied to the topic Snowball vs Avalanche in the forum Manage your debt https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/snowball-vs-avalanche/#post-3749 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:27:17 -0800 I think Kayla hit the nail on the head when she said “psychologically.” People are different, so the right approach for one person might not be best for someone else… Maybe the avalanche method works for someone who is motivated by the emotional boost you get from seeing momentum build? But a different type of person, more mathematical or…[Read more]

]]> 02515b4d4d1124d55162b07c88be9594 Lisa Talley replied to the topic Diversification in the forum Grow your savings https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/diversification/#post-3748 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:20:41 -0800 I would tell my former self to be brave about starting my own thing, and find teammates who complement my skill set and personality. Also, I would tell myself that becoming my own boss is a goal I can reach incrementally – that’s what nights and weekends are for!

]]> 0cff8df8d52c83a555f6be548a9d1c0a Lisa Talley replied to the topic Saving Money Vs Earning More in the forum My journey https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/saving-money-vs-earning-more/#post-3747 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:13:25 -0800 This is such a great topic, Kayla! I am just now starting to think about ways to do this. Years ago, I would sometimes do side writing projects in addition to my full time job. My last project like that was creating all the copy for a friend’s website. It was a pretty big site that they were revamping, and the writing took a lot of time, but hey,…[Read more]

]]> c71962b5d5fb2a55d0d64b53be16f303 Lisa Talley started the topic Replacement for ACA in the forum Manage your debt https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/replacement-for-aca/ Tue, 07 Mar 2017 21:59:51 -0800 I hope this is the right forum for this question. I didn’t know where else to put it.
I’ve been trying to follow the news about the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. I’m self-employed and I get my health insurance through the Exchange, so this is very relevant to me. If I understand the latest news correctly, the following ACA…[Read more]

]]> fec024723866fe8969f1fb5d5870ff1e Lisa Talley started the topic Buying a home next year and rising interest rates in the forum Buy a house https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/buying-a-home-next-year-and-rising-interest-rates/ Tue, 07 Mar 2017 21:41:04 -0800 I posted about my delay in buying a home in another thread. Long story short, as a newly self-employed person, I need to wait until I have filed an income tax return showing my self-employment income for two years in a row. Only then can I quality for a home loan. In my case that means I may qualify in early 2018.

In the meantime, I keep hearing…[Read more]

]]> 567f082851094d7790235a7738658eea Lisa Talley started the topic Credit Karma in the forum Manage your debt https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/credit-karma/ Mon, 16 Jan 2017 19:12:23 -0800 I just ran my credit report and learned that it lists an unpaid medical bill from several years ago. I had no idea! My credit score is pretty high but I no one needs a blot on their record. Anyway, the unpaid bill was only for about $200 and is easily taken care of. Just a reminder that it really is worth checking our credit report/credit history…[Read more]

]]> 9c18f54bf1032a0031e682e297d2d0fc Lisa Talley replied to the topic How to Buy a Home As a Small Business Owner? in the forum Buy a house https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/how-to-buy-a-home-as-a-small-business-owner/#post-2372 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:33:24 -0800 Brittanie, I just started looking into home loan preapproval as a self-employed person, and ran into some of the road blocks you mentioned. In my case I was asked for two years of tax returns demonstrating my self-employment income. Well, I am newly self-employed, so I don’t have any tax returns that show my SE income yet.

The first lender I…[Read more]

]]> c7a015c2df2be534023636543d560e32 Lisa Talley replied to the topic What can I do now to prepare for buying a home sometime within the next 5 years? in the forum Buy a house https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/what-can-i-do-now-to-prepare-for-buying-a-home-sometime-within-the-next-5-years/#post-2371 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:20:41 -0800 One more suggestion for building a down payment. I haven’t done this myself but it was suggested to me by a friend – it worked for her. Move into the most affordable rental you can stand. Sock away every cent you would otherwise be spending to rent a nicer/bigger place. A few short years later, you’ll have a sizeable down payment saved up.

If a…[Read more]

]]> 290ecfcb941ae3c8c4c232c38959c594 Lisa Talley replied to the topic What can I do now to prepare for buying a home sometime within the next 5 years? in the forum Buy a house https://community.sum180.com/forums/topic/what-can-i-do-now-to-prepare-for-buying-a-home-sometime-within-the-next-5-years/#post-2370 Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:16:39 -0800 Hi, I have a related question about home buying but from a different perspective.

But first, for Chelsea – I have a suggestion for building a down payment. What works for me is to have a specific amount automatically transferred into a special savings account every month. As soon as my direct deposit hits, the money is transferred, so I never…[Read more]

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