One for Me, Two for Me

LACK OF PLANNING, whether in your personal or professional life, can sometimes be costly. Being prepared helps alleviate mistakes, save you money, and empower you to take control of your life. Proper preparation can help you with the following: ™™ Better managing and saving money ™™ Managing unexpected expenses ™™ Taking control of your career ™™ Effectively managing change and transition in your life ™™ Finding and maintaining family–work life balance ™™ Finding relationships that work best for you ™™ Achieving the lifestyle you want This book, One for Me, Two for Me: A Practical Girl’s Guide to Saving Money, Living Better, and Thriving, provides a framework for planning and developing personal and career goals. The insights and tools are simple and easy to use. The content of this book is based on discussions with my son and the many questions he’s asked during his journey through adulthood. The lessons are designed to be thought provoking and interactive with exercises designed to reinforce your understanding of who you are and what you want your life to be. While the lessons in this book are designed to work together, use whichever parts of the book you need to fit the issue you’re currently dealing with. For example, if you are in the midst of changing careers, lesson 1 (“Know Yourself and What’s Important to You”) and lessons 22 through 26 may be beneficial. The practical insight and exercises to help you with the following: ™™ Getting to know yourself better ™™ Identifying your goals ™™ Planning your next career move ™™ Writing your job description ™™ Starting or improving your investment/savings strategy ™™ Managing change in your life ™™ Understanding your strengths and weaknesses ™™ Planning for family emergencies ™™ Setting realistic goals for yourself Anyone who’s just starting out or are transitioning from dependence on parents (or others) to independence will find this book valuable and insightful. It focuses on getting to know yourself better and being prepared. It is full of exercises to help you assess where you are today and plan where you want to be. To make it a successful experience, you must be willing to commit both time and effort. The insights you gain from completing the exercises will help you map a plan for your future. To make the best of the materials, the exercises should be repeated as you move through different stages in your life. Through this writing, I’m hoping to assist others who are looking for simple and easy to follow tips for gaining financial stability, managing career and personal changes, finding life balance, and gaining greater overall personal satisfaction.