Saving money can be difficult to say the least. When I wanted to save, I always wanted to put a big chunk of money in my savings. Due to my adult financial situation, those moments when I had a big chunk of money were infrequent. If you make a low amonut of money, here are some tips on how to save on a budget. In case of an emergency, it is best to save at least 5,000 dollars.

Put a Small Amount in Savings

Time passes so quickly and before you know it, 5 years have passed and you still have nothing in your savings. If you make a low income try putting 5 dollars, 10, dollars, or 20 dollars per paycheck into your savings consistently. This will add up gradually overtime. It is a small amount, but it is better than not saving anything at all year after year.

Track Your Spending

Adding up all of your bills is necessary so that you know how much is coming out of your account every month. Take a look at your bank statements and see where your money going. Ask yourself: “Is there anything that I can cut out of my monthly outcome?” Create a budget by writing out every single bill and what time of the month the bill comes out.

Then figure out how much you want to spend on food, tolietries, etc. For food and tolietries, etc, try using cash instead of a debit card. Seeing the money physically may help you stick to your budget better than constantly swiping your debit card.

Increase Your Income

You can get another job specifically to save money. The money from this job will only go into your savings account. You could also consider getting a higher paying full-time job. Research and apply, apply, apply. Remember that you have to apply for 50 to 100 jobs or more to get new employment. Indeed.com is an amazing resource for applying for jobs.

I have had so many jobs in my adult life and it takes several applications and interviews to gain employment. Research, research, research. Think outside of the box! There were jobs available that I had never even thought of applying for such as ushering at Jazz at Lincoln Center or catering at a temp agency. Consider side hustles like network marketing, blogging, teaching online, creating a youtube channel, working at a store or restaurant on weekends only.

Best Job Search Site: https://www.indeed.com/

https://bydominiqueduarte.com/the-best-ways-to-find-a-job/

Conclusion

You can save money! I believe in you! Put away a small amount in your savings per paycheck, track your monthly spending, consider increasing your income by getting a higher paying full-time job or getting a side hustle specifically for savings.

Saving has been a journey for me for sure. However, when your savings account increases, your stress can decrease. Emergencies happen and you want to be prepared financially when those moments come up in your life. Be Prepared!

Hope this helps,

Dominique Duarte

How do you save money? Comment below!

In society, it is expected that you are established in your career, started a family, bought a home by 30. Here’s the thing, life does not go the way you think it will. I thought I would be an established actor on Broadway or an opera singer at the MET at this point in my life.

Life is unpredictable and I am a late bloomer in all areas of life. There is nothing wrong with being a late bloomer in your life. Life happens, so embrace your current life, count your blessings, know your why and narrow your focus to bloom into who you were meant to be in this world.

Embrace Your Current Life

It is not uncommon to gain traction in your career later in life. I wish this was emphasized more in American society. Most people do not have everything together by 30. Do not compare your chapter in life with the chapter of other people. This is easier said than done, especially with social media. Remember that we all have unique paths and journeys. There is a reason why you are where you are right now. Embrace where you are now and keep going.

Count Your Blessings

You can always improve your life, but be content where you are too. Embrace your current life and count your blessings. For example, today I remembered that I have lived in NYC for six years, and I have always had food to eat and a decent place to live. This is a blessing. Secondly, I am booking consistent acting work for the first time since I left Tennessee.

One of my goals this year was to get a survival job that pays the bills and gives me time to build my craft. This goal was manifested through Backstage, a site for acting jobs. My catering job came from that website in June and I am super grateful to God for it. Catering is flexible, amazing pay, and perfect for an actor. Find blessings in the small things in your life on the days when you feel weighed down by your current life.

Backstage: https://www.backstage.com/u/dominique-duarte/

Remember Your Why

It is so easy to get distracted and forget your dreams and goals. I have met several actors, musicians, and performers in NYC, but many of them are not actively auditioning so they are not booking work. Unfortunately, I became this person too.

People move here and become so preoccupied with working and surviving, that they no longer have adequate time to audition. Actors are unsuccessful because they quit auditioning. Remember your why! If you forget your why, you will lose focus and get distracted with jobs and hustles that have nothing to do with your dreams and goals. Write down your why and keep it close to you at all times.

Narrow Your Focus

Once you know your why, keep it simple. In the past, I would write sixteen to twenty yearly goals almost every year and post it on my wall. This was way too many, at least for me. I am going to focus my energy on four things for the next year. If you focus your energy in fewer areas then, you will not spread yourself too thin. Find a balance by narrowing your focus on a few things and be consistent with those few things to create permanent life changes.

Book Suggestion: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361

Conclusion

Embrace your current life by counting your blessings and taking ownership of your personal growth. Remember your why and narrow your focus to conserve your energy to accomplish your dreams and goals. You will have a strong sense of yourself when you walk in your purpose and this will radiate light in the lives of others as well.

Furthermore, since you did take longer to become successful in your career, you will be more present and less likely to take opportunties for granted. Late-bloomer just means that your journey to success will take a little longer, but this gives you time to mature and become the best you that you can be.

Hope this helps,

Dominique Duarte

https://www.bydominiqueduarte.com/how-to-encourage-yourself/

“N.Y.C, just got here this morning, three bucks, two bags one me.”- Annie the Musical.

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. I had heard this saying all of my life, but it rings so true. Moving to NYC is no joke. however, if you stick it out, the rewards are abundant. These are the top 5 tips that were beneficial to my almost six year residency in the Big Apple.

Book Suggestion: Newcomer’s Handbook for Moving to & Living in New York City by Stewart Lee Allen: https://amzn.to/3QeJMRL

Plan, Plan, Plan

If you want to move to NYC, begin planning for the move at least one year in advance. Brainstorm the types of jobs that you want to apply for once you move here. If you want to work at a restaurant here, YOU MUST HAVE PRIOR EXPERIENCE. One of my theatre friends became a server in her hometown before moving to New York to gain experience.

Plan how much you want to spend on rent to help you figure out what jobs will fit your budget. Furthermore, ask yourself: “What borough would I like to live in?” Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, or Brooklyn. Research the neigbhorhoods in those boroughs. In NYC, people dicuss neighborhoods more than street names so you want to famaliarize yourself with the different neighborhoods. Side note: Staten Island is the fifth borough, but you really need a car to live there.

Best Neigborhoods in Brooklyn: https://www.prevu.com/blog/best-neighborhoods-in-brooklyn

Save $3,000-$5,000

3,000 is the minimum amount you would need to bring here. Yes, rent is high! But you have to put down about $2,000 or more just to move in to an apartment, even with roommates. Let’s say you can afford $800 a month for a room (with roommates). You will have to pay 1st month’s rent, a deposit, and a broker’s fee.

This adds up to a hefty $2400 to move-in. If you bring $3,000, this leaves you with only $600 in your pocket until you get a job. Apparently, people are not supposed to charge a broker’s fee anymore, but they still do it. I just paid a broker’s fee to move in to my current apartment a couple of months ago. The broker’s fee is worth it to be honest. I have gotten some nice affordable rooms with the help of a broker or real estate agent.

Need Tips to Save Money: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/the-secret-to-saving-money

Get a Job, or Two or Three

If your job transferred you to work in NYC, you are already a step ahead of most NYC peeps. I was told not to apply for jobs until I moved here. Why? NYC Employers need people ASAP! These employers are not going to hire people living in another state. There are millions who currently live here available to begin work tomorrow, or even today. You CANNOT apply for jobs here unless you currently live here or if your job has transferred you here. That’s it. When you move here, begin searching for jobs ASAP. Use your handy dandy new NYC address to book interviews quickly. Finding a job has never taken me longer than about two to three weeks.

NYC may have high rent, but they are always hiring and you can find a job. If you discover that your job isn’t paying enough, get another job that works with your current work schedule. The pay here is NICE! Minimum wage is $15.00 an hour and most of my jobs have paid more than this. Also, there are some pretty high profile jobs here. You can usher at Jazz at Lincoln Center or Lincoln Center. You could work in customer service for the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway Theaters, and the Apollo Theatre to name a few.

Best resources for finding jobs: Indeed.com has been my bestie, most of my NYC jobs were found on there. https://www.indeed.com/

Live withOUT Luxuries

Are you used to doing laundry at home? Say goodbye. Used to Central heating and Air, adios amigos. Dishwasher, lol, you got jokes. Big closets, uh no, you will be lucky to get a closet at all. I have seen so many rooms advertised without closets. It’s crazy. I have only had central heating and air for two out of those six years that I have lived here. I had a dishwasher and laundry in my unit for two of those six years.

The more luxuries you want in your apartment the higher your rent will be. My most expensive rent was $910 a month. This apartment had laundry in the unit, a virtual doorman, and a dishwasher. If you want affordable rent, you will probably have to live with roommates. If you live alone, your rent will run you about $1500 to $2500 or more a month in Brooklyn. Manhattan apartments are twice this price and acutally have way less space than the Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx apartments. With roommates your rent would be about $800 to $1,000 in Brooklyn. You will rarely ever see your roommates more than likely so it is really not a bad deal.

Best place to find apartments in NYC: Facebook marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/

Say Goodbye to Wal-mart & Most Chains

There are no Wal-marts in NYC. You have to go to New Jersey or Upstate New York to find one. This was a big change for me personally since I was used to shopping at Wal-Mart. However, I began shopping at my local grocery store and Trader Joe’s for food and Target for my tolietries. You can also shop locally at $99 cent stores, and bodegas, and mom and pop shops.

There are several places to shop here and I guess this is the way it should be everywhere. Wal-marts have sort of taken over the small businesses in other states and NYC wants to keep people shopping locally. There are some chain stores here and definitely more chain restaurants than I remember seeing even six years ago.

However, most chains are in the times square area due to tourists who are looking for familiarity here. Sidenote: If you live here, don’t go to times square. There are way too many peeps taking pics and walking slowly, please don’t torture yourself. You will be living in NYC, now act like it. Just kidding, but not really, you will feel differently about times square after living here, oh the horror, the horror! No New Year’s Rockin’ Eve for Me!

Local NYC shops and markets https://www.spottedbylocals.com/newyork/category/shopping/

Hope this helps.

Dominique Duarte

https://www.bydominiqueduarte.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-living-in-new-york-city/

Would you ever move to NYC? Why or why not? Comment below!

Like so many Americans, I have struggled to eat healthy and exercise pretty much my entire adulthood. I was never overweight as a child, teen, or young adult. As a child, I never played sports, rarely played outside, or exercised much, except for physical education classes. My eating habits have never been very good.

I turned 30 right before the pandemic and this is the age where your body WILL CHANGE. Pre-pandemic, I already carried about 20 extra pounds, nothing too crazy. During the pandemic, I gained an extra 30 pounds. I am just now hitting my pre-pandemic weight almsot, a year and a half later. Here are some tips that helped me shed the pandemic weight:

Book Suggestion: Freedom from Emotional Eating by Barb Raveling: https://amzn.to/3SoslPS

https://bydominiqueduarte.com/how-to-overcome-food-addiction/

Keep a Food Dairy Everyday

You can write it out by hand, use myfitness pal online, or type it daily in a Microsoft Word document. I chose to log on MyFitnessPal. Review your food diary each week. Acknowledge what you did well and see where you need to make improvements. The diary has given me insight into my eating habits.

If you want to lose weight, you need to consume between 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. Then, you can increase to 2,000 calories a day once you reach your goal weight. Counting calories is super important, however, you also need to look for the grams of fat, protein, and sugar. Knowing your numbers is essential for consistent weight loss.

Ask Yourself Why are You Eating

Are you hungry, bored, sad, or lonely? Most times boredom, depression, and loneliness can cause overeating. Quarantine increased boredom and depression for people. Food has become a crutch for many of us during this time. Journal, workout, read books, or watch movies or television shows to manage your stress.

Acknowledge your feelings instead of stuffing them down with food or other substances. Eventually bad habits will catch up with you. It is better to deal with this now before it becomes a serious medical problem later.

Move Your Body

You have to move your body regularly whether you want to maintain or lose weight. I walk almost everyday and this has helped me lose weight within the last year. If you want to go to the gym to tone up, great, but walking is quite effective.

I have walked between 5,000 to 10,000 steps almost every day since early 2021 and have lost almost 30 pounds since that time. I combined the walking with logging my meals consistently and the weight came off. However, be patient if you only choose to walk. If you want quicker weight loss results, the gym may be the way to go.

Conclusion

Keeping a food diary and moving my body have helped me get my body to a healthy weight again. Does this mean that I have everything together? Of course not, my diet is still a serious work in progress. I am consuming less calories most days, but the quality of the calories still needs improvement.

It is okay if you mess up on your daily calories, just reset the next day. Be Patient with yourself! Weight loss does take time and may take longer than you anticipate. I thought 30 pounds would come off in six months, but it took a year and a half. Just remember to take your time and keep taking care of yourselves!!

Have a good day!

Dominique Duarte