The Financial Hack has been nominated for (drum roll please) THE LIEBSTER AWARD!!!

I would like to take this time to thank MyCountdownToFreedom for nominating me. Visit their site link here:

http://mycountdowntofreedom.com/

The nomination in itself is enough for me to celebrate because I officially launched my website just two months ago. Again it is truly an honor and an accomplishment to be recognized. This goes to show, you never know who may be watching you or reading your work. It is my prayer that success will continue to follow my work, the work of fellow nominees and most importantly, My Countdown to Freedom who nominated me.

Before I get started, here are my nominations for the Liebster Award:

My Countdown To Freedom (http://mycountdowntofreedom.com/)

My Financial Wisdom (http://myfinancialwisdom.com/)

It Takes Two To Budget (https://ittakestwotobudget.wordpress.com/)

Basic Money Skills (https://basicmoneyskills.wordpress.com/)

Budget And Invest (http://budgetandinvest.com/)

Here’s a recap of the rules for the Liebster Award:

1. Insert the Liebster award logo in your post
2. Thank and link those who nominated you
3. Reveal 11 interesting facts about yourself
4. Answer the questions designated by the blogger who nominated you
5. Nominate up to 11 other new bloggers with less than 100 followers
6. Ask 11 questions of your own to your nominees that they have to answer
7. Notify your nominees about The Liebster Award
8. Include instructions of the process in your post

11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I play video games: I’ve loved video games since the days of Pac Man, Centipede and Galaga… You know, when video game arcades were “cool.” I guess that makes me “kinda old.” (I’m actually 44.)

2. I used to be a YouTube vlogger: I used to vlog as many reality shows as I could fit into my schedule from the oh so popular Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo) to a show not many watched on TV One called Love Addiction. I expanded my lineup to include Khloe and Lamar, The Shahs of Sunset, RHOBH, RHONJ and others to gain a more diverse audience and was successful. The amount of time spent editing the videos eventually led to “burn out.” I took a break for 10mos, went back, vlogged for approximately 6mos then retired all together.

3. I appeared on a pilot show (The Real Deal) as a result of my YouTube channel vlogs. Though the pilot didn’t gain much traction, it was a great opportunity and an even better experience.

4. I had aspirations of running for City Council back in 2008. It still sits in the back of my mind and I haven’t completely ruled it out. I remain active in my community by serving on various boards and committees within the city.

5. The Mayor of my suburb who is also a minister, friend and mentor, officiated my wedding ceremony in 2010.

6. SKYDIVING is one of many line items to check off my “bucket list”:

7. I passed my driving test at age 16 driving my dad’s 1971 Pontiac Grand Prix: The year was 1986. The driving instructor said he passed me because I parallel parked a car “of that length” on the FIRST try.

8. I’m enrolled for the Spring Semester at Texas Tech University to become an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC.)

9. I’ve run 12 “official” half marathons (13.1mi) and one full marathon (26.2mi,) a 5K military-style obstacle course race (Merrell Down and Dirty Race) and a host of 5 and 10Ks in a span of 18mos until Chondromalacia Patella (CMP) after 25+ years of exercising forced me to hang up my running shoes in May of this year. BUMMER… I loved running.

10. It used to be difficult for me to accept criticism from others be it constructive or intentional.

11. I’ve always enjoyed working with children: I taught Journalism to middle school students and was the Yearbook/Newspaper advisor. It is my hope now to continue educating our youth about money and how to become better stewards of it.

NOW ON TO THE QUESTIONS asked of me by My Countdown to Freedom.

1. Where do you see yourself in five, ten and twenty years? 5 years= I’ll be well into my practice of being an AFC (Accredited Financial Counselor) along with everything else I do (Property Mgmt, The Bluetique etc,) increasing my community service, maybe remarried. 10 years=Same as five years but I’ll be enjoying life to the fullest, traveling more and continuing to serve. My Financial Counseling Services will have BLOWN UP by then, and I’ll DEFINITELY be remarried too, lol. 20 years= Retired, ALL investment properties will be for paid for, possible acquisition of possibly acquiring additional properties (4plex, mini apartment complex,) my husband and I will be living in our “MONSTER CRIB” but definitely living comfortably.
2. If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be? I would change how I applied myself as an undergraduate student. LESS partying and MORE studying. In spite of, I think I turned out okay.
3. If you could share a meal with four individuals, living or dead, who would they be? This one is hard. Jesus (who wouldn’t want to eat with Jesus right?) my foster son James Savon (he was with me from age 5 to age 6) and will turn 18 years old 4 days before I turn 45, all the members of Shark Tank, and my baby brother/cousin Daveon aka “Bubba” who passed away on Bew Years Eve, 7days after I got married. We’d be celebrating his 29th birthday the day after Christmas this year.
4. What steps have you taken to improve your financial life in the past 30 days? The steps I started to improve my financial life took place a while back, but I would say starting my website and committing myself to providing helpful and useful information/coaching to those who my need it (our youth in particular.)
5. Are you a glass half full, or a glass half empty person? Depends on what “time of the month” it is.
6. What was your first blog post about? How much money I saved in change (apprx $150.) I followed up with a second posting where I found an additional $140 in change hidden in my closet (which included $54 in Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coins.)
7. What was one book that changed your life? The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. If you’re a spiritual person, you’ll understand why.
8. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Mexican Food. (Yummers!)
9. What’s your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? Serve the Lord, serve the homeless/others, then spend the rest of the day watching Football and/or spend time with family (in THAT order.)
10. What would you do today if $100,000 fell into your lap? 10% goes to the church, my parents are good on money, pay the 2nd mortgages on 3 of my properties (because of the 80/20 financing) and SAVE the rest.
11. If you could live forever, how would you spend eternity? Nah, I’ll pass on living for eternity. I want to see what awaits on the other side, I’m just in no hurry to do so. But if Jesus called me and invited me over, I’d certainly ask for the address and GPS it or ask him to come pick me up.

NOW ON TO THE QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES (My Countdown to Freedom is Exempt)

1. What prompted you to start blogging and why did you choose to focus on finance/personal finance?
2. What short term and long term financial goals have you set for yourself?
3. What advice would you offer someone who wants to take control of their finances but doesn’t know where to start?
4. Enough with the deep questions…. If you could travel ANYWHERE in the world, where would it be and why?
5. Name one book that has changed your life and why.
6. If you were granted THREE (3) wishes, what would they be?
7. How much money do you think you would you need to live a comfortable life?
8. Boxers or Briefs? (This is NOT a trick question.)
9. If you could have dinner with 4 people who would they be? (The people can be living or dead.)
10. Tell us the most “proudest” moment in your life.
11. Did I ask Boxers or Briefs already? (Lol Lol) Scratch This One… Repeat question)