Managing money can become complicated even when you earn a good income. A growing family, debt, unexpected expenses, military transition, competing financial goals, or simply not having a clear system can make it difficult to know what to do next. If you are looking for financial coaching in Jacksonville, Florida, Harris Financial Coaching provides personalized financial education and guidance for parents, military veterans, couples, and individuals who want a clearer approach to budgeting, saving, reducing debt, and building long-term financial stability. I am Annette Harris, an Accredited Financial Counselor® and military veteran. Through Harris Financial Coaching, I help clients understand where their money goes, identify what they want their money to accomplish, and develop practical strategies that fit their actual lives. Where Can Parents Get Family Financial Education Coaching in Jacksonville? Parents in Jacksonville looking for family financial education coaching can work with Harris Financial Coaching through personalized online sessions. Family financial education goes beyond creating a household budget. It can include helping parents establish healthier financial habits, determine how much they can realistically save, manage debt, prepare for future expenses, and decide how they want to teach their children about money. At Harris Financial Coaching, family financial education is one of my primary areas of focus. My goal is to help parents improve their own financial foundation while giving them practical ways to introduce budgeting, saving, spending, and other money concepts to their children. Parents often want their children to make better financial decisions than they did at the same age. That starts with making money an ongoing family conversation rather than something children first encounter when they receive their first credit card, student loan, or paycheck. Financial education can also help parents examine the behaviors their children are observing. Children learn about money from what families do as much as from what families say. What Is Financial Coaching and How Does It Work? Financial coaching is a collaborative process that helps people understand their financial situation, establish goals, develop a realistic plan, and follow through on the actions required to make progress. Financial coaching may address budgeting, spending, saving, emergency funds, debt repayment, financial habits, family money conversations, major financial decisions, and long-term financial goals. As an Accredited Financial Counselor®, I combine financial education with an individualized counseling approach. AFCPE explains that an AFC professional can help clients address immediate financial challenges, develop plans based on their individual goals, and establish a sustainable foundation for long-term financial well-being. The process begins with understanding you rather than immediately telling you what to cut from your budget. We look at your income, expenses, debt, savings, financial obligations, priorities, concerns, and goals. From there, we identify the areas that need attention and develop specific next steps. For one person, that might mean finding $500 a month to accelerate credit card repayment. For someone else, it could mean finally establishing an emergency fund. Another client may need help deciding how to balance retirement contributions, debt payments, travel, family support, and everyday spending. The objective is not simply to create a spreadsheet. It is about developing a financial system that you can realistically maintain. Want to learn more about what financial coaching looks like? In this video, Accredited Financial Counselor Annette Harris explains what a financial coach does, how coaching can help, and what you should expect when working with one. How Do I Book Personalized Financial Coaching Sessions in Jacksonville? Jacksonville residents interested in personalized financial coaching can schedule services directly through Harris Financial Coaching. The first step is to visit the Harris Financial Coaching website and select the option to schedule a consultation or begin your financial coaching journey. Before your first financial counseling session, it is helpful to have a general understanding of your monthly income, recurring expenses, debt balances, savings, and the primary financial issues you want to address. You do not need to have everything perfectly organized before asking for help. Organizing the financial picture can be part of the process. During our work together, we identify your priorities and create an action plan tailored to your personal circumstances rather than applying the same financial formula to every household. Financial circumstances are personal. Your plan should be personal too. Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation with Harris Financial Coaching to discuss your financial goals and determine whether personalized financial counseling is appropriate for you. Who Offers Financial Coaching for Veterans in Jacksonville? Harris Financial Coaching provides financial coaching for military veterans and military families, including veterans living in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. This is an area that is personally important to me because I am also a military veteran. Military service can create financial circumstances that differ from those experienced by many civilian households. Transitioning from military to civilian employment may change income, housing expenses, insurance, retirement planning, benefits, taxes, and the overall structure of the household budget. Veterans may also be balancing civilian income with military or veteran benefits, supporting dependents, preparing children for college, paying down debt, or determining how their benefits fit into their larger financial strategy. Financial coaching can help bring those pieces together. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also recognizes financial well-being as an important part of the military-to-civilian transition and provides financial education and counseling resources for veterans and their families. My work with veterans focuses on helping clients understand their financial picture, create sustainable spending and saving strategies, establish financial goals, and make informed decisions about the resources available to them. How Can I Get Help With Budgeting in Jacksonville, Florida? If you need budgeting help in Jacksonville, Florida, financial counseling can help you create a budget based on how you actually live rather than forcing your finances into a generic formula. A useful budget starts with understanding your income and where your money currently goes. From there, we can separate essential expenses from discretionary spending, identify irregular expenses that may be disrupting the budget, review debt obligations, establish savings priorities, and determine how much money is available for your financial goals. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends comparing actual income and expenses, establishing future spending targets, reviewing the results, and making adjustments as circumstances change. That last part matters. A budget does not have to work perfectly during the first month. It needs to give you enough information to help you make better decisions during the next month. Sometimes the problem is overspending. Sometimes it is an unrealistic budget. Sometimes expenses have increased while income has remained the same. Sometimes a household has enough income but too many competing goals. Budgeting help should identify the underlying issue rather than simply telling someone to stop spending money. What Can a Financial Counselor Help Me With? Financial counseling can be appropriate when you know you want to improve your finances but are having difficulty determining what should happen first. Clients may seek help to create a budget, develop a debt repayment strategy, build an emergency fund, improve financial communication with a spouse, prepare for a major expense, organize their finances after a life transition, establish stronger saving habits, or create a financial plan for their family. An Accredited Financial Counselor is trained to consider both financial information and the circumstances affecting financial decisions. AFCPE describes the counseling process as gathering information about income, expenses, debt, savings, assets, liabilities, goals, personal values, financial behaviors, and available resources before developing an action plan. That comprehensive approach is particularly important because financial decisions rarely exist in isolation. Financial Coaching for Jacksonville Families Should Be Personal There is no single budget, debt strategy, or savings percentage that works for every Jacksonville household. Your income matters. So do your expenses, family responsibilities, goals, values, lifestyle, debt, benefits, career plans, and the stage of life you are currently navigating. That is why my approach at Harris Financial Coaching begins with understanding the person behind the numbers. Harris Financial Coaching works with parents, couples, individuals, military veterans, and families seeking practical financial guidance. Services include financial foundation building, budgeting, debt reduction strategies, family financial education, and long-term wealth-building education. The objective is not financial perfection. It is having a plan, understanding why you are making each financial decision, and knowing what to do next. Looking for Financial Coaching in Jacksonville, Florida? If you are searching for a financial coach in Jacksonville, need help creating a budget, want financial coaching for your family, or are a military veteran looking for personalized financial guidance, Harris Financial Coaching can help you evaluate where you are today and develop a strategy for where you want to go. You do not have to wait until your finances become a crisis before asking for help. You can begin when you decide you want greater clarity, structure, and intention around your money. Schedule a consultation with Harris Financial Coaching to begin your financial counseling journey. About Annette Harris Annette Harris is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and the founder of Harris Financial Coaching. She provides financial education and personalized financial counseling to individuals, parents, couples, military veterans, and families. Her work focuses on budgeting, debt reduction, saving, family financial education, financial decision-making, and building a stronger financial foundation.

This year, I did something intentional. I read books that helped me understand Black history not as a separate topic, not as something boxed into one month, and not as something disconnected from everyday life. I read these books because history does not stay in the past. It shows up in where people live. It shows up in how schools are funded. It shows up in who gets access to jobs. It shows up in how laws are enforced. It shows up in who gets believed, who gets protected, and who has to keep proving they belong. And it absolutely shows up in money. Wealth. Debt. Homeownership. Credit. Retirement. Medical trust. Career mobility. Family stability. None of that is disconnected from what came before. As an *Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from books I have personally read and gained valuable insights from. Why I Chose These Books This was not a lecture. It was a learning log. Each book helped me connect what happened in history to what is still happening today. Some parts surprised me. Some parts made me uncomfortable. Some parts felt familiar because they explained things many of us have seen, experienced, or normalized without having the full historical context. As a financial counselor, I often talk about money through the lens of real life. That means we cannot talk about wealth gaps, homeownership, education, retirement, or financial stability without understanding the systems that shape access to them. Here are the seven books I read and what each one helped me see more clearly. 1. The 1619 Project The 1619 Project was the starting point for this study. This book includes essays that connect slavery to capitalism, democracy, health care, labor, culture, and the economy. It makes clear that slavery was not only a historical event. It became part of the structure of American life. One of the biggest takeaways for me was how much of what we experience today has roots in decisions made centuries ago. When labor was stolen, wealth was created for some, while others were denied ownership, wages, safety, and legal protection. That matters when we talk about the wealth gap today. It also matters when we talk about the stories we were taught. Some parts of American history have been softened, minimized, or left out completely. Reading this book reminded me that we cannot build a stronger financial future without being honest about how the past shaped the present. 2. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study The Tuskegee Syphilis Study is one of the most painful examples of medical abuse in American history. The study began in 1932 and lasted for 40 years. Black men were told they were being treated for “bad blood,” but many were not given the treatment they needed for syphilis. What stood out to me was not only the study itself. It was the impact on families, trust, and generations of medical hesitancy. When people ask why some Black families do not fully trust the medical system, history gives us part of the answer. That distrust did not come from nowhere. It came from real harm, real deception, and real consequences. Understanding this history matters because health and money are connected. Medical mistrust can affect preventive care, treatment decisions, family planning, insurance use, and long-term financial stability. 3. Medical Apartheid Medical Apartheid goes even deeper into the history of medical experimentation and the ways Black people were used in the development of American medicine without consent, dignity, or protection. This book was hard to read. One part that stood out to me was the discussion of medical institutions' use of Black bodies for research and training. The history of grave robbing, medical schools, and experimentation helps explain why some families carried fear around hospitals and medical treatment. This is not about being stuck in the past. It is about understanding why certain fears exist and why trust has to be earned. From a financial perspective, medical history matters because health care decisions can affect household budgets, debt, employment, caregiving responsibilities, and long-term planning. 4. Between the World and Me Between the World and Me is written as a letter from Ta-Nehisi Coates to his teenage son. This book is personal, direct, and heavy. Coates writes about what it means to live in a Black body in America and how fear, policy, violence, and national storytelling shape that experience. One of the most powerful parts of the book is that he does not offer easy comfort. He gives clarity. He writes about growing up in West Baltimore, his family, Howard University, and the larger story America tells about itself. That stood out to me because sometimes we are taught that if people work hard, behave well, and make good choices, everything will be fair. But history tells us that is not always how systems work. This book reminded me that dignity, knowledge, and truth matter. They shape how we parent, how we lead, how we advocate, and how we make decisions for our families. 5. Mediocre Mediocre had me taking breaks. This book is not about who is talented. It is about who gets treated as automatically competent, who gets protected when they fail, and who has to keep proving themselves even after delivering results. That hit me from both a professional and personal lens. Women understand this. Black women often understand it at a deeper level. We are frequently pulled into broken systems and expected to fix the culture, stabilize performance, calm the politics, and deliver results quickly. Then once things start working, the story changes. This book helped put language around a pattern many people recognize. Some people are evaluated as if they are always on probation, even when they are the solution. That has a financial impact, too. Career opportunity, leadership access, compensation, performance evaluation, and wealth-building are all connected. 6. The Color of Law The Color of Law explains housing discrimination through the lens of government action. This book argues that housing segregation was neither a personal choice nor an unfortunate pattern. It was built into laws, policies, lending systems, zoning decisions, and government-backed programs. That matters because homeownership has been one of the main ways families build wealth in America. When Black families were denied fair mortgages, blocked from certain neighborhoods, steered into worse loan terms, or locked out of areas that appreciated in value, the impact did not stop with one generation. It affected equity. It affected school access. It affected safety. It affected retirement options. It affected what families could pass down. As a veteran, this part also stood out to me because people often assume that benefits such as VA loans work the same way for everyone who served. But Black veterans also faced barriers in where they could buy homes, which meant the same service did not always create the same wealth-building opportunity. If you want to understand why the wealth gap persists, this is one of the books I would recommend. 7. Stamped Stamped is a clear and accessible book that helps explain how racist ideas are created, repeated, defended, and turned into policy. One thing I appreciated was how the book explains different ways people have talked about race throughout history. It examines segregationist, assimilationist, and antiracist ideas in a way that helps readers recognize patterns. The book also shows how false narratives were used to justify slavery and how those narratives continued through politics, education, policing, media, and public policy. One part that stayed with me was the discussion of Phyllis Wheatley, the poet who had to prove her own brilliance because people could not accept that a Black girl could be that gifted. That hit me because Black intelligence should not be treated like a surprise. This book also connects well with the documentary 13th, which explores the criminal justice system and mass incarceration. If policy shapes schools, neighborhoods, lending, hiring, and sentencing, then understanding history is part of protecting your household. What Does This Have to Do With Money? A lot. Money is not only about budgeting apps and bank accounts. It is also about access, systems, opportunity, policy, education, property, labor, and protection. When you understand history, you make different decisions. You ask better questions. You advocate differently. You parent differently. You lead differently. You manage your money with more context. You stop blaming individuals for outcomes that were engineered. Financial stability is not the only answer, but it is one practical layer of protection. It gives families more options. It helps people prepare, recover, invest, and make decisions with more clarity. That is why I connect history to financial education. Because the more we understand, the more intentional we can be. What to Do Next Do not try to read everything at once. Pick one book and start there. Choose the book that connects most with the questions you already have. If you are thinking about wealth and housing, start with The Color of Law. If you want a broader foundation, start with The 1619 Project. If you want to understand medical trust, read Medical Apartheid or a book on the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. If you want something that reads quickly but still makes you stop and think, start with Stamped. Then talk about it. Talk with your family. Talk with your children. Talk with your friends. Talk with people who are open to learning. The goal is to understand more clearly and move differently. A Personal Note from Annette Harris As a financial counselor and financial literacy author, I believe money lessons should be practical enough to use in real life. That also means we have to tell the truth about the systems families are navigating. History is not over. It is active. And when we understand that, we can plan with clarity, teach with honesty, and build with intention. Annette has shared financial insight in national outlets, including Word In Black and AFCPE. Ready for more financial clarity? Connect with Harris Financial Coaching to build a plan that fits your real life.

You can work hard, pay your bills, stay out of trouble, and still feel like your family is one emergency away from falling behind. That feeling is real for many households. It is not because Black families do not work hard enough. It is not because they do not care about money. The bigger issue is that many Black families have been trying to build wealth without the same starting point. According to the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the median Black family had about $44,900 in wealth, compared with about $285,000 for the median White family. The gap has narrowed at some points, yet it remains large and persistent. The Census Bureau also reported that White, non-Hispanic households had about 10 times the wealth of households with a Black householder in 2021. That gap affects everyday life. It affects whether a family can help with a down payment. It affects whether college requires debt. It affects whether one emergency becomes a setback that takes months or years to recover from. This conversation matters because history matters. Your next money move matters, too. As an *Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from books I have personally read and gained valuable insights from. Income Is Not the Same as Wealth One of the first things we have to understand is the difference between income and wealth. Income is what you earn. Wealth is what you keep. Wealth includes savings, home equity, investments, business ownership, and other assets, minus what you owe. Wealth is what gives a household breathing room. It helps a family get through a hard season without going deeper into debt. It can help someone buy a home, help their children, start a business, or invest for the future. This is why two families can earn similar incomes and still have very different financial realities. One family may have inherited a home, received help with college, or had family support for a down payment. Another family may be earning a good income while also carrying student loans, helping relatives, paying high rent, and managing debt with no inherited cushion. That is not just a personal finance issue. It is a historical and structural issue. The Racial Wealth Gap Did Not Happen by Accident The racial wealth gap was shaped over generations. For generations, Black labor helped build wealth in this country without Black families receiving the benefit of that labor. After slavery ended, Black families were not given the same financial foundation needed to build on equal ground. One example is the promise often remembered as “40 acres and a mule.” In 1865, Special Field Orders No. 15 set aside land for formerly enslaved families, yet that opportunity was later revoked for many of them. The result was that millions of newly freed Black Americans were left trying to build from almost nothing. That matters because wealth compounds over time. When one generation starts with land, property, or assets, the next generation can build from that foundation. When a generation starts with nothing or has assets taken away, the next generation often starts behind. Housing Was One of the Biggest Wealth Builders Homeownership has been one of the clearest ways families have built wealth in America. For many families, a home became more than a place to live. It became equity. It became an asset. It became something that could be refinanced, sold, inherited, or used to help the next generation. Black families were often blocked from that pathway through redlining, discriminatory lending, segregation, and exclusion from neighborhoods where homes appreciated in value. Richard Rothstein’s book The Color of Law explains how government policy helped create and reinforce residential segregation, shaping where families could live, buy homes, and build wealth over time. You can find the book here: The Color of Law. The Federal Reserve History project notes that racially motivated redlining was later banned under the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Still, the damage from those policies continued long after the practice became illegal. This is why the wealth gap still shows up today as family support. It can look like one family receiving help with a down payment while another family has to save every dollar on their own. It can look like one family inheriting a home while another family is still trying to become the first homeowner in the family. Veteran Benefits Did Not Work Equally for Everyone The GI Bill helped many veterans pay for education, buy homes, and build middle-class stability after World War II. Yet Black veterans often faced discrimination from lenders, schools, and local systems that limited their ability to use those benefits in the same way. The National Archives notes that Black veterans were often unable to access mortgage loans in Black neighborhoods and were excluded from buying homes in many White suburban neighborhoods because of prejudice and discrimination. As a veteran and financial counselor, I believe this part of the story matters. Benefits can be powerful, but access matters. A benefit on paper does not create the same outcome if people cannot use it equally in real life. Why the Gap Still Affects Families Today The racial wealth gap is not only about the past. It is about how the past still affects what families can do today. When there is no family cushion, the credit card often becomes the emergency plan. The car repair goes on the card. The medical bill goes on the card. The rent increase goes on the card. Then investing gets pushed back again. This is why so many families feel like they are working hard but not moving forward. A simple way to think about it is like a relay race. Some families have been able to pass a baton of wealth from one generation to the next. That baton helped with college, first homes, businesses, and recovery from mistakes. Many Black families never received that baton. Each generation has had to work harder to reach the same starting line. What You Can Do Right Now History matters, but your next step matters too. You do not have to fix everything at once. You do not have to erase generations of disadvantage in one year. Wealth often starts quietly. It starts with clarity. It starts with one decision, then another. As a financial counselor, I often tell clients that a budget is not punishment. A budget is awareness. You cannot make strong money decisions if you do not know what your money is doing right now. Start by writing down three numbers: Your monthly bills. Your total debt. Your emergency savings. Those three numbers will tell you more about your real starting point than almost anything else. Build a Small Emergency Fund First Do not let the idea of saving three to six months overwhelm you. Start with $500. Then work toward $1,000. A small cushion can stop one emergency from becoming new debt. That matters because debt can quietly take money that could have been used to save, invest, or prepare for homeownership. Attack High-Interest Debt With a Plan High-interest debt can keep eating at your income if there is no strategy. List your debts. Choose one to focus on first. You can start with the highest interest rate or the smallest balance, if that helps you build momentum. The goal is to free up money that can eventually help you build something better. Start Investing, Even If It Feels Small You do not need a large amount of money to begin investing. You can start with a small amount and build the habit. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, learn how it works and consider starting there. If you do not have a workplace plan, you may want to learn about Roth IRAs, low-cost index funds, and other beginner-friendly options. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency. Think About Homeownership as a Pathway, Not Pressure Homeownership can be a meaningful way to build wealth, but it should not be rushed. Get prepared first. Work on your credit. Reduce debt. Learn the mortgage process. Research down payment assistance programs. Understand the full cost of owning a home, including insurance, taxes, maintenance, and repairs. The goal is not to buy because you feel behind. The goal is to prepare with intention. The Takeaway The Black-white wealth gap is real. It was shaped by history, policy, housing access, education access, labor exploitation, and unequal opportunities. That does not mean you have no power. It means you need strategy, consistency, and a clear starting point. Start with the three numbers: monthly bills, total debt, and emergency savings. Then build from there. We may not have started on equal ground, but we can still build differently from here. Annette Harris has shared financial insight in national outlets, including Forbes and GOBankingRates. Ready for more financial clarity? Connect with Harris Financial Coaching to build a plan that fits your real life.

The United States did not become wealthy by accident. That is a hard sentence to sit with, but it is an important one. Wealth does not just appear. It is built through systems, labor, access, ownership, policy, and power. In The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, Edward E. Baptist makes a clear argument: slavery was not separate from America’s economic growth. It was deeply connected to it. The book explains how the expansion of slavery helped shape the modernization and economic rise of the United States. This review is not just about history. It is about money, power, family, and the financial patterns we still see today. As an *Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from books I have personally read and gained valuable insights from. Why The Half Has Never Been Told Matters History is not just facts. History creates patterns. Those patterns shape who gets a head start, who gets blocked, and who has to work twice as hard to reach what others call normal. That is why this book matters. Baptist’s central point is that slavery helped build American wealth. It was not only about farms, plantations, or cotton fields. It was about stolen labor, forced production, violence, financial markets, land expansion, and profit. Cotton became a major economic engine, and enslaved people were forced to produce more under brutal conditions. The pain was not random. It was part of a system designed to extract as much labor and value as possible. That is the part many people miss. Slavery was not only a moral failure. It was also an economic system. Slavery Was a Money Machine One of the strongest takeaways from the book is that slavery operated like a money machine, and people were the fuel. Enslaved people were treated as property. Their labor created wealth for others. Their bodies were used as assets. Their families could be separated for someone else’s financial gain. That is not just history. That is the beginning of a financial gap. When one group is allowed to own land, build businesses, pass down property, and accumulate wealth. In contrast, another group is denied wages, ownership, legal protection, and family stability; the effects do not disappear quickly. As a financial counselor, I often remind people that money is not only about what happens this month. It is also about what has been passed down, what was denied, and what systems made possible. Charles Ball’s Story Makes It Personal The book uses the stories of enslaved people, including Charles Ball, to show what slavery did to real families. Ball’s life shows how unstable freedom could be. He lived free for a time, but he was later captured and forced back into slavery. Imagine building a life, believing you finally made it out, and then being dragged back into bondage. His story also shows how slavery attacked the family structure. When a person can be sold at any time, marriage becomes a risk. Parenthood becomes a risk. Love becomes vulnerable to the marketplace. That kind of fear was not accidental. It was a tool of control. A system that breaks families also breaks the future. Women, Debt, and the Business of Human Life One of the most difficult parts of the book is how it explains the treatment of enslaved women. Women were not only used for labor. They were also used in the trade in brutal and dehumanizing ways. Some were sold at higher prices because buyers viewed them as physically appealing. Some were used to settle debts. That means a woman’s life could be treated like a payment. That is important because it shows how total the system was. Slavery took labor, safety, dignity, family, body, and choice. When we talk about wealth today, we have to understand that some wealth was created through the complete denial of another person’s humanity. Why This Still Connects to Money Today The connection between slavery and money did not end when slavery ended. For generations, Black families were blocked from owning what they created. Education was restricted. Property ownership was limited. Family wealth was disrupted. Access to fair wages, land, credit, and opportunity was denied or controlled. That delayed start matters. A wealth gap does not close simply because time passes. It closes when people understand the history, tell the truth about the systems, and build with intention. This is not about telling anyone they cannot succeed. It is about removing the lie that every financial outcome is solely a matter of individual effort. Effort matters. Discipline matters. Planning matters. But history also matters. What This Book Helps Us See Clearly Reading The Half Has Never Been Told helps connect the past to the present in a practical way. It helps explain why wealth gaps exist. It helps challenge the idea that slavery was disconnected from the economy. It also reminds us that financial education should include history, because money has never existed outside of power, policy, and access. As a financial literacy author, I believe money lessons should be practical enough to use in real life. This book adds something deeper to that conversation. It reminds us that personal finance is personal, but it is also historical. My Takeaway This book is not easy. It is long. It is heavy. It will make you pause. But it is worth reading if you want to understand better how America’s financial foundation was built and why conversations about wealth cannot ignore slavery. Knowing this history is not meant to crush your dreams. It is meant to clear your vision. When you understand the history, you stop blaming people for outcomes that were shaped long before they were born. You also become more intentional about building, saving, teaching, and passing down what you can. Read The Half Has Never Been Told You can find The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/4fqhROb. Final Thought on Slavery's Impact Here is the question I would leave you with: What part of American history do you think most people still do not connect to money today? Because the truth is, history is not over when we are still living with its financial consequences. Ready for more financial clarity? Connect with Harris Financial Coaching to build a plan that fits your real life.

Sometimes convenience is worth paying for. Other times, convenience becomes another subscription quietly pulling money from your account. That is why I wanted to try CookUnity for myself and look at it through two lenses: the food experience and the budget impact. In this video, I unboxed my first CookUnity order, which included 16 vegan meals delivered fresh to my door. Why I Tried CookUnity My husband gave me a $250 CookUnity gift card for Christmas, so this was a chance to try something I had been curious about without immediately adding another full-price expense to my monthly budget. I eat vegan, and finding creative vegan meals can take time. I also travel, camp, work, create content, and run a business, so I know what it feels like when cooking from scratch is not always realistic. As a financial counselor, I do not believe every convenience purchase is wasteful. The real question is whether the purchase fits your life and budget. What Came in My Order I ordered 16 vegan meals. The meals arrived chilled, packed in a delivery bag with cold packs to help keep everything fresh. Some of the meals included: Mushroom and lentil bolognese Middle Eastern vegan chili Tofu cold noodle salad with Thai basil and peanuts Mediterranean falafel-crusted artichokes Farro and baked tofu bowl Yam, chickpea, and cauliflower curry Tofu tikka masala Bean and corn stuffed sweet potato Taco bowl with black beans and quinoa Three-bean crispy rice Caribbean stewed okra What I liked right away was that the packaging showed the ingredients, nutrition information, chef instructions, and the chef behind the meal. That made it feel less like a frozen meal and more like a prepared meal from someone who knows how to cook that style of food. The Meals Looked Fresh One thing I noticed immediately was how fresh the meals looked. The vegetables did not look like they had been sitting in the freezer for months. The sauces looked freshly prepared, and several meals had separate compartments or toppings, making the food feel more intentional. CookUnity recommends heating the meals in the oven for the best taste, although there are quicker instructions if you are in a hurry. For me, that matters because if I am paying for a prepared meal, I want it to taste like more than a rushed microwave dinner. The Budget Part Matters Now let’s talk about the money. Because I had a gift card and found a coupon code, my first order made more sense financially. I also noticed that the larger the order, the better the discount. That is why I chose 16 meals for the first round. I planned to place another order before the promotional window ended to make the most of the discount and stretch the gift card's value. That is the key lesson here: I was not just ordering because it looked good. I was using the gift card, tracking the discount, and deciding in advance whether to continue, pause, or stop the subscription. That is how convenience spending should work. What I Liked About CookUnity I liked the variety. As someone who eats vegan, I appreciated seeing meals that went beyond plain vegetables or basic pasta. I also liked that I could pause the subscription. That matters because a subscription should not become a financial trap. If I only want to order when life is busy, before a trip, or when I need easy meals at home, I want that flexibility. I also liked that the meals gave me ideas. Sometimes, prepared meals are about more than just saving time. They can also help you explore new flavors and meal combinations you might not cook on your own. What I Would Watch Closely The biggest thing I would watch is the regular price after the discount ends. Introductory deals can make a service feel more affordable than it will be long term. Before subscribing to any meal delivery service, I would compare the regular price to the cost of groceries and eating out, and consider how often I realistically need prepared meals. I would also pay attention to whether I am actually eating the meals before ordering more. A good deal is not a good deal if food sits in the refrigerator and goes to waste. Who CookUnity May Be Good For CookUnity may make sense for someone who wants prepared meals but still wants more variety than a traditional frozen dinner. It may also work well if you are busy, traveling, camping, recovering from a hectic season, or trying to avoid last-minute takeout. For me, this could be useful before a trip or during a week when I know cooking will not be my priority. Who May Want to Be Careful CookUnity may not be the right fit if you are in a tight budget season and need the lowest-cost meal option. It also may not be ideal if you tend to sign up for subscriptions and forget to pause or cancel them. This is where financial clarity matters. You do not have to eliminate every convenience. You do need to know what convenience is costing you. My Honest Takeaway My first impression was positive. The meals looked fresh, the vegan options were more creative than I expected, and I liked the flexibility to pause. That said, I would not treat this as a permanent weekly expense without reviewing the full cost after promotions. I would use it intentionally, especially during busy seasons, travel weeks, or times when the alternative would be to spend more on takeout. Use My Referral Code If you decide to try CookUnity, you can use my referral code here: Referral Code: 2471198490 Referral Link: https://www.cookunity.com/referral?utm_campaign=2471198490&utm_source=referral Please check the final price before ordering, especially after any promotional discount ends. Final Thoughts on CookUnity Convenience is not the enemy of good money management. Unplanned convenience is where people usually get into trouble. A service like CookUnity can be helpful when it replaces higher-cost takeout, fits your schedule, and stays within your budget. The goal is not to feel guilty about making life easier. The goal is to make sure the decision supports the life you are actually living. Ready for more financial clarity? Connect with Harris Financial Coaching to build a plan that fits your real life.

There are some places you visit that are not meant to entertain you. They are meant to make you pause. That is how I felt walking through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. From the moment we stepped inside, the quiet felt different. It was not just silence. It felt like the building itself was asking us to slow down, pay attention, and truly see what happened. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum describes itself as a living memorial that calls people to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. After walking through the exhibits, that mission feels very real. Walking Into History One of the most powerful parts of the visit was how personal the experience became. At the museum, visitors to the Permanent Exhibition receive identification cards that tell the stories of real people who lived through the Holocaust. The museum explains that these cards are designed to help visitors connect individual lives to the broader history. Holding an identification card changes the way you move through the museum. You are no longer only reading dates, policies, and events. You are following a person's life. Someone had a family. Someone had dreams. Someone had a home. Someone had a normal life before hatred, violence, and government-backed persecution destroyed it. That is what makes the museum so heavy and so necessary. When the Stories Become Personal The exhibit on ancient hatred and modern violence stood out because it showed how dangerous patterns do not appear overnight. The Holocaust was not one isolated moment. It was built through propaganda, exclusion, silence, and escalating violence. The museum defines the Holocaust as the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its allies and collaborators. That history is painful to face, but it matters. In the video, one survivor’s testimony describes forced labor, exhaustion, selections, fear, and the daily fight to live one more day. The words are difficult to hear, but they remind us that history is not abstract. It happened to real people in real bodies, real families, and real communities. A Visit That Requires Reflection One part of the museum focused on a once-flourishing Jewish community that was destroyed in just a few days. The photographs showed people in ordinary moments. A love letter. A businesswoman. A friend at a resort. A photo studio. A life before violence. That part stayed with me because it reminded me how quickly normal life can be taken away when hatred is allowed to grow. As a financial counselor, I often talk about planning, choices, and the future. But some experiences remind me that legacy is not only about money. Legacy is also about memory, values, responsibility, and what we choose to teach the next generation. Why This Visit Matters for Families This is not an easy museum to walk through, but it is an important one. For families, young adults, students, and anyone visiting Washington, DC, the Holocaust Museum offers more than a history lesson. It creates space for honest conversations about human dignity, courage, silence, and responsibility. A visit like this can help children and adults understand that history is not just something that happened “back then.” The lessons still matter now. It also reminded me that meaningful travel does not always have to be expensive, flashy, or packed with activities. Sometimes the most valuable part of a trip is the conversation it creates afterward. Planning a Visit With Intention The museum is located in Washington, DC, near many other national museums and monuments. Timed-entry tickets are required for the Permanent Exhibition, although the museum notes that tickets are not required to enter the building or view some other exhibitions. Before visiting, I would recommend giving yourself time. This is not the kind of museum you want to rush through. Plan space in your day to sit, reflect, and talk through what you saw. A thoughtful trip includes more than transportation, lodging, and meals. It also includes emotional space for the experience. Watch my visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, and walk with me through a powerful experience of remembrance, reflection, and history. Final Thoughts on the Holocaust Memorial Museum Walking through the Holocaust Memorial Museum was emotional, sobering, and necessary. It reminded me that remembering is not passive. Remembering asks something of us. It asks us to pay attention. It asks us to speak carefully. It asks us to notice patterns of hatred before they become normalized. Most of all, it asks us to see people as people. That is why this visit mattered. Planning a meaningful trip and trying to make the numbers work? Harris Financial Coaching can help you build a travel budget that supports the memories without creating financial stress.

When your dependent gets approved for Chapter 35 benefits, it can feel like a major financial relief. For many families, that monthly payment can help cover food, books, transportation, supplies, housing needs, and other expenses that come with being in college. It can also reduce how much parents feel pressured to send each month. As a veteran and financial counselor, I look at Chapter 35 from both sides. It is a valuable benefit, but it also comes with rules that can affect your household budget if you do not understand them up front. This post is educational only. Chapter 35 rules can change, and each family’s situation may be different. Always verify current rules directly with the VA, your school certifying official, or an authorized benefits professional. What Chapter 35 Benefits Are Chapter 35, also called Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance, provides education benefits for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans and service members. The VA states that a child or spouse may qualify if the veteran or service member meets specific criteria, including being permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability. In the video, I shared my family’s experience because my daughter recently received her Chapter 35 benefits. The key point is this: Chapter 35 payments are made directly to the dependent, not to the veteran. That payment can help the student manage real-life college expenses. The 36-Month Rule Matters For many students, Chapter 35 provides up to 36 months of benefits. According to the VA, if the school or training started on or after August 1, 2018, the student may be eligible for benefits for up to 36 months. If school or training started before August 1, 2018, some students may be eligible for up to 45 months. That means every month used matters. If your dependent has 36 months available, that benefit should be treated like a limited financial resource. It is not just “extra money.” It is part of the education plan. A practical next step is to map the remaining months against the student’s expected graduation timeline. If the student has 32 months left, compare that against the number of semesters still needed. This helps avoid running out of benefits before the degree is finished. How Much Can a Student Receive? For October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, the VA lists the full-time Chapter 35 rate for college and university enrollment at $1,574 per month. The rate is lower for students enrolled three-quarter time, half-time, or less than half-time. That full monthly amount applies to a full month of enrollment. The VA also explains that partial months are prorated. For example, if school starts later in the month, the student receives payment only for the days enrolled during that month. This is where families can get surprised. A student may expect the full payment, but the amount depends on enrollment status and the number of eligible days in that month. Monthly Enrollment Verification Is Required One of the most important lessons from my own experience is that students must verify enrollment. The school has a role, but the student also needs to complete monthly verification. The VA states that DEA students must verify school enrollment to receive benefits, and enrollment can be verified online, by text, by email, through Ask VA, or by phone. In my daughter’s situation, the first payment included back pay, but the current payment stopped because monthly enrollment had not been verified. Once enrollment was verified, payments could continue. A simple family system can help. Have the student set a monthly phone reminder for the last day of each month to verify enrollment. Withdrawals Can Create Debt Chapter 35 is helpful, but students need to understand what happens if they drop a class. The VA explains that students using DEA may need to repay benefits paid directly to them if they withdraw from a class or school. If the VA accepts the reason as a mitigating circumstance, the student may not have to repay the full amount. Mitigating circumstances can include illness, death in the immediate family, unavoidable employment changes, financial demands outside the student’s control, active military service that was not known in advance, sudden course cancellation, or sudden loss of child care. Not liking a professor, not attending class, or dropping a class without a qualifying reason may not protect the student from repayment. The One-Time 6-Credit-Hour Exclusion The VA has a one-time 6-credit-hour exclusion. This allows a student to withdraw from up to 6 credit hours once without demonstrating mitigating circumstances. The student can keep the benefits received up to the withdrawal date. This is not something to use casually. If a student drops a 3-credit-hour course, the one-time exclusion is used, even though the full 6 credits were not used. If the student withdraws from more than 6 credits, the VA may apply the 6-credit exclusion, but the student must provide mitigating circumstances for the remaining credits. That is why I encourage families to keep a small cushion in the student’s account. If a withdrawal leads to an overpayment, the student may need to repay money that has already been spent. Use the Benefit for the Degree Plan Chapter 35 should support the student’s education goals. Taking classes that do not apply to the degree can use up months of eligibility without moving the student closer to graduation. That may feel fine while the monthly payments are coming in, but it can create a problem later if benefits run out before the student finishes school. The student should meet with an academic advisor and confirm that each course applies to the degree plan before registration. When Benefits May Stop Chapter 35 payments are tied to active enrollment. If the student is not enrolled during a break, the monthly benefit generally does not continue for that period. The VA also states that a child who joins the military cannot use DEA benefits while on active duty. This matters for summer and winter planning. Families should not build a budget assuming Chapter 35 payments will arrive during months when the student is not enrolled. What Veterans Need to Know There is another important family budget issue. If the veteran is receiving additional disability compensation for a dependent child, that additional amount may stop when the child begins receiving Chapter 35. In the video, I explained that the dependent cannot receive Chapter 35 while the veteran also receives additional compensation for that same dependent as a school child. This does not automatically mean Chapter 35 is a bad financial choice. In many cases, the student’s monthly Chapter 35 payment may be much higher than the dependent amount the veteran loses. The right way to look at it is through the full household picture. If Chapter 35 Is Denied If Chapter 35 is denied, the family can review the reason for the denial and consider the next available VA review option. In the video, I discussed supplemental claims with new evidence, higher-level review, and appeal options. Before moving forward, gather the documents that show eligibility, school enrollment, dependency status, and any relevant VA rating or service information. This is also a good time to speak with an accredited representative or authorized benefits professional. Bottom Line on Chapter 35 Chapter 35 can give a dependent real financial breathing room during college. It can help reduce the amount parents need to send each month. It can also allow a student to focus more on school and less on trying to cover every expense on their own. But the benefit works best when the student understands the rules. Know the monthly amount. Verify enrollment. Avoid unnecessary withdrawals. Track remaining months. Make sure each class supports the degree plan. As a veteran and financial counselor, my biggest takeaway is this: Chapter 35 is not just a benefit. It is part of the family’s financial plan. Annette has shared financial insight in national outlets, including Forbes and GOBankingRates. Trying to understand how veteran benefits may affect your household finances? Reach out for financial coaching support that helps you look at the full picture.

Military families often know how to stretch a dollar because they have had to. Between moves, deployments, family visits, school schedules, and tight vacation windows, travel is rarely as simple as picking a destination and booking the first price that pops up. But here is what I have learned as a veteran, military spouse, financial counselor, and someone who loves to travel: many military families are paying full price while earned benefits sit unused. Not because they do not care. Because nobody clearly explained how to use the benefits, stack the savings, and avoid the fine print that can turn a “deal” into an expensive mistake. Military travel benefits do not usually change every month, but eligibility, fees, card terms, schedules, and availability can change. Always verify the current rules directly with the official program before you book. Before You Chase the Military Discount, Read the Rules A military discount is only valuable when it fits the trip you are actually taking. Some benefits are better for flexible travel. Some are better for family vacations. Some are better for day trips, events, or experiences close to home. Some require a military ID, verification, advance planning, or active-duty eligibility. The goal is not to grab every discount. The goal is to travel without damaging your budget. 1. Space A Travel Space Available travel, often called Space A, allows eligible passengers to fly on military aircraft when seats are available. It can be very low cost, but the seat is not guaranteed. Space A can be a great option when your schedule is flexible, and the adventure is part of the experience. It is not the option I would use for a wedding, cruise departure, prepaid resort stay, or anything that requires you to arrive by a specific time. Air Mobility Command advises travelers to contact passenger terminals or review terminal pages for 72-hour flight schedules, and it also notes that travelers must be prepared to cover commercial travel expenses if schedules change or seats are unavailable. Use Space A when you can answer these questions with confidence: Can I leave later than planned? Can I return later than planned? Do I have money set aside for a commercial ticket if needed? Do I understand my travel category? Have I checked the route pattern, not just one posted flight? 2. Premium Travel Card Fee Relief This one can be useful, but it requires financial discipline. Some credit card issuers provide fee relief to eligible active-duty service members and qualifying dependents under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act or the Military Lending Act. American Express states that eligible card members may request SCRA relief and that MLA relief is applied to eligible accounts at account opening. That does not mean every person qualifies. It also does not mean the card is “free money.” Premium travel cards may include airport lounge access, travel credits, hotel benefits, rental car protections, or other travel-related perks. But those benefits only help if you already have a travel plan and pay the balance in full. As a financial counselor, I would never recommend opening a premium card to feel like you are traveling better. If the card causes you to spend more, carry a balance, or chase benefits you would not have used otherwise, the “perk” becomes a problem. Before you apply for or keep a premium card, ask: Am I eligible for fee relief right now? Does the issuer confirm that in writing? Will I use the benefits without overspending? Can I pay the card in full every month? A travel card is a tool. It is not a travel budget. 3. Armed Forces Vacation Club Armed Forces Vacation Club can be a strong option for families who need more space than a standard hotel room. AFVC states that free membership is available to current, veteran, and retired members of the U.S. military, National Guard, and Reserves. The appeal often lies in the resort-style setup. Many properties offer condo-style lodging with kitchens, living areas, and multiple sleeping spaces. For families, the savings may not only come from the room price. They may come from breakfast in the room, groceries instead of restaurant meals, snacks on hand, and space to spread out. But read the full cost before you book. Some properties may include taxes, resort fees, upgrade costs, all-inclusive requirements, or other charges. AFVC notes that upgrades may provide access to additional inventory for an added fee. The smart move is to compare the full trip cost, not just the headline rate. Look at lodging, taxes, fees, food, transportation, parking, cancellation rules, and whether the location actually fits your itinerary. 4. Military and Government Rates Military and government rates can help with hotels, rental cars, and sometimes other travel services. But the rules vary by company, location, rate type, and purpose of travel. Some rates apply to leisure travel. Some are restricted to official government travel. Some require a military ID at check-in. Some are available only to active-duty members, while others may include retirees, veterans, dependents, or DoD civilians. Do not click the lowest rate and assume it applies. Before booking, ask: Does this rate apply to personal travel? What ID is required? Does the rate include taxes and fees? Is there a cancellation penalty? Does the rental car rate include an additional driver? Are young driver fees reduced or waived? This is where a few minutes of verification can protect hundreds of dollars. 5. MWR and ITT Information, Tickets, and Travel offices are easy to overlook, but they can be valuable. Military OneSource describes ITT as a resource for discounted rates on special events, attractions, hotel reservations, cruise bookings, and other travel services. It also notes that American Forces Travel is the online version of MWR’s ITT office. Before buying theme park tickets, attraction passes, cruise packages, or event tickets online, check ITT first. MWR may also help with recreational lodging. Military OneSource notes that MWR lodging may include beach cottages, mountain cabins, and other affordable accommodations for eligible military families. This is especially useful for families who want a trip that feels memorable without having to build the entire vacation around high hotel costs. Ask your local MWR or ITT office: Do you sell discounted tickets for this destination? Do you offer vacation packages? Do you have cabins, cottages, RV sites, or campgrounds? Do you rent outdoor gear? Are there seasonal offers? Do tickets have blackout dates or refund restrictions? The value is not just that MWR exists. The value comes from asking before you buy elsewhere. 6. Vet Tix Vet Tix is different because it is not only about travel. It is about experiences. Vet Tix provides tickets to currently serving military members, veterans, and eligible families, including immediate family members of troops killed in action. The organization says users sign up, verify service, request event tickets, and pay a small delivery fee for free tickets. Events may include sports, concerts, performing arts, educational events, and family activities. I have personally used Vet Tix for local hockey games and concerts, and what I appreciated was not only the savings. It was having something to look forward to without feeling like every outing needed its own savings account. A night out does not replace therapy, medical care, or formal support. But connection, community, music, laughter, and family time can support well-being in a real way. Remember, your budget should make room for joy, too. How to Stack These Benefits Without Creating Financial Stress The mistake is treating each discount as separate. The better strategy is to layer them. For example, you might use MWR for attraction tickets, AFVC for a resort-style stay with a kitchen, a military rate for a rental car, and Vet Tix for a local event near your destination. Or you might skip the big vacation this year and use Vet Tix, MWR rentals, and local military lodging to build lower-cost experiences close to home. The question is not, “How much did I save?” The better question is, “Did this trip still fit my financial plan?” Before booking, write down the full cost: lodging, transportation, food, tickets and activities, parking, resort fees, pet care, tips, emergency cushion, backup transportation (especially with Space A or any flexible travel plan). Final Takeaway on Military Travel Benefits This post is educational and should not be treated as official benefits guidance. Military travel programs, eligibility rules, card terms, fees, and schedules can change. Verify details directly with the official program, travel provider, card issuer, or authorized benefits office before making financial decisions or booking non-refundable travel. Remember, military travel benefits can help families create memories, reduce costs, and enjoy more experiences. But the savings only work when you understand the rules. Do not let a discount pressure you into spending money you did not plan to spend. Trying to understand how military benefits may affect your household finances? Reach out to Harris Financial Coaching for support that helps you look at the full picture. Annette has shared veteran and financial insight in national outlets, including: 7 VA Benefits Often Overlooked by Veterans — AARP 6 Biggest Mistakes Veterans Make With Their Money — AARP

Photo by Alberto Casetta on Unsplash If you're on a budget, finding a spring break destination that your family can enjoy can be challenging. However, there are ways that you can spend a fulfilling spring break with your family without breaking the bank. From taking the family on a road trip to enjoying the outdoors, here are five ways to answer the question, "What's an affordable spring break vacation you can enjoy for families with children?" As an Amazon Associate this post may contain affiliate links. How to Spend Spring Break with Your Family Go on a Camping Trip Plan Daily Events in Your City Plan a Road Trip Visit State Parks Explore Myrtle Beach 1. Go on a Camping Trip A camping trip in a national park is an affordable way for families to enjoy spring break vacations. Many national parks have campgrounds offering affordable tent or RV camping rates. You can find reasonably priced park entrance fees and purchase them in advance online to save even more money. During the day, families can explore the park's hiking trails, go on ranger-led programs, and participate in other outdoor activities such as wildlife watching, fishing, or kayaking. At night, families can gather around the campfire for s'mores and stargazing. Camping trips also offer the opportunity to disconnect from technology and enjoy quality time together as a family without the distractions of everyday life. It's a chance to slow down, enjoy nature, and create lasting memories. Lilia Koss, Community Manager, Facialteam See my feature in What Foods to Bring Camping 2. Plan Daily Events in Your City Your city may have undiscovered attractions or locations that you've yet to visit. From waterparks to zoos to museums, there are multiple ways that you can keep your child entertained. Most of these attractions have special discounts for children on spring break. The draw is that if you receive a discount during spring break, the business suspects that you may want to frequent them in the future if you receive a discount and enjoy your experience. Your child's school may also have coupons, or free access passes during spring break. Visiting sites in your local area can eliminate the need to schedule a flight or book a hotel that would be required if you went out of town to visit attractions. Annette Harris, Founder, Harris Financial Coaching It can get chilly when you're cruising or in North Carolina, so this is one of my favorite outfits to wear! Check it out here: 2 Piece Lounge Set for Travel 3. Plan a Road Trip There are a few options for families looking for an affordable spring break vacation. Consider planning a road trip! Traveling by car reduces airfare expenses and allows you to explore more of your destinations since you're not limited to one airport. You can have plenty of great road trips throughout the United States that don't need to break the bank and will show you a more organic view of the country. Asker Ahmed, Director and Founder, iProcess 4. Visit State Parks State parks provide excellent opportunities for families with children looking for affordable vacations. Whether you camp in a tent or rent a cabin, state parks offer something for everyone and every budget. With activities ranging from fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, and even horseback riding, there is plenty to keep the kids busy. And nothing is better than relaxing around a campfire in the evening while making s'mores. Vacations are about spending time together and building memories. State parks provide the perfect opportunity to do this without breaking the bank. Andrew Adamo, VP, Bullion Shark 5. Explore The Beach Folly Beach and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, are popular spring break destinations for families with children. Springtime is ideal for hitting the beach, as the water is warmer and not too freezing. There are also many water parks, arcades, and miniature golf courses throughout the greater Myrtle Beach area that will surely be a night of fun for any youngster. Alexandre Robicquet, Co-Founder and CEO, Crossing Minds Where are you going for spring break? Leave a comment below.

Embarking on the journey of starting a business can be both thrilling and daunting. Often, it requires additional support and guidance to ensure that the business thrives. To assist business owners in achieving this goal, here are some recommended books that offer valuable insights for starting and maintaining a successful business. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 1. Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz Entrepreneurs can learn how to make their business profitable from Profit First. Often, business owners spend their earnings on various expenses without paying themselves or saving for the future. In the book, Mike outlines the profit first approach, which involves setting up separate business banking accounts for profits, salary, taxes, and expenses. By implementing this method, you can see that your business is profitable, pay yourself a salary, and cover business expenses. 2. Working Moms How We Do It: Maximize Success at Home and Work by Rojan Robotham If you're a mom who's constantly juggling work and family life, things can get pretty hectic. That's where "Working Moms" comes in - it's a practical guide that can help you achieve your goals and manage your daily tasks in a more efficient manner. One of the key techniques the book introduces is the SOAR method, which stands for Support, Organize, Aspire, and Resilience. Through the experiences of real-life moms who've successfully implemented this method, you'll learn how to leverage support, organize your life, aspire to achieve your goals and be resilient in the face of challenges. "Working Moms" offers valuable insights into how successful women have found happiness and success both at work and at home by using the SOAR technique. See my feature in The Best Small Business Books. 3. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message, So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller As an entrepreneur, it's important to understand the "why" behind your business. Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller is a helpful guide that can assist you in identifying your customer, the problem your product or service solves, and creating a plan for success. By determining what success looks like to your customer, you can transform their experience and showcase the benefits of your product or service. In addition, Story Brand can help you simplify your website and focus on what matters most to your customers. Instead of positioning yourself as the hero, it's essential to show your customers how you can help them achieve their goals. By understanding that your business is here to provide a solution, you can communicate the value of your product or service and how it can solve their problems. 4. Type Talk at Work (Revised): How the 16 Personality Types Determine Your Success on the Job by Otto Kroeger Type Talk at Work can help you understand your personality type and work collaboratively with others in a team environment. Even if you are a business owner, you should understand how to personality type your employees and customers. Discovering your personality type can be a powerful tool in enhancing your teamwork skills and collaborating effectively with others at work. It is equally important for business owners to understand the personality types of their staff and clients in order to invest in human capital and increase employee contributions. By cultivating adaptability, you can propel your career and business toward success. See my feature in 25 Entrepreneurs List Their Favorite Business Books. 5. Hustle Away Debt: Eliminate Your Debt by Making More Money by David Carlson Hustle Away Debt by David Carlson is an excellent book for building wealth and eliminating debt. David recommends ways that you can use your skills and talents to create multiple side hustles. Any side hustles can result in long-term passive income or income that can sustain you through hard times. These "side hustles" are not get-rich-quick schemes but enable you to build wealth from skills you have learned in your professional career or things you have learned to fix around the house. Carlson also encourages everyone to be active in the job market. You may be happy with your career, but no one will look out for your finances like you. With this in mind, he recommends that you continually seek opportunities for increases in salary as an employee. This can be accomplished with a free account on Glassdoor. Using Glassdoor, you can compare the wages of others in your field and present this to your employer if you find any significant differences. Finally, Carlson recommends keeping your resume up to date for the next career opportunity available to you. If you feel that your skills and talents are not valued or bored at work, it may be time to find another career opportunity or create a side hustle. What's Your Favorite Business Book? Leave a comment so that others can check it out and add it to their must-read list of business books for the year.

A resort can look beautiful online, but the real question is this: what does it actually feel like once you arrive? That is what I wanted to capture during my stay at Catalonia Royal Tulum. It is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, located on Xpu-Ha Beach. The official resort site describes it as set among jungle, mangroves, cenotes, and Caribbean water, about 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen by car and about 30 minutes from the Tulum ruins. But a good trip is not just about the beach. It is also about knowing what to expect, what to avoid, where your money is better spent, and how to enjoy the experience without feeling like you missed something. As someone who loves travel and looks at trips through a financial-coaching lens, I always pay attention to the details that affect the overall vacation budget. Start With the Walk Through the Resort Catalonia Royal Tulum has a calm, tucked-away feel. When you first arrive, the entrance opens into the lobby, with check-in to the right and the gift shop to the left. The lobby also has seating, live music at times, a DJ on some evenings, and the Margaritas lobby bar, which became a favorite place to relax after dinner. One thing I appreciated is that the resort has a simple layout. There is one main path that connects the lobby, restaurants, rooms, pool, and beach. That makes it easy to navigate, especially after the first day. The pathway is covered in many areas, which helps when it rains or when you want a little break from the sun. Know Who to Avoid at Check-In Here is one of the first tips I would give anyone visiting this resort. When you arrive, the staff in burnt-orange shirts are the bellhops who help with luggage and room arrivals. The people in white shirts may approach you about the vacation club. During my stay, the front desk gave us a helpful heads-up that the vacation club staff may call your room and mention a gift basket. If you are not interested in a presentation or membership pitch, you may want to avoid engaging. This is where travel and budgeting meet. A vacation club may sound appealing in the moment, especially when you are relaxed and enjoying the resort, but it is still a financial commitment. In the video, I shared that the vacation club pricing discussed during the stay ranged from about $5,000 to $21,000 per year, with a 10-year payment structure. That is not a small add-on. Before saying yes to anything like that, I would want to understand the annual cost, contract length, blackout dates, maintenance fees, cancellation terms, and whether I would realistically use it enough to justify the expense. The Resort Feels More Like a Jungle Retreat One thing that sets Catalonia Royal Tulum apart is its setting. You are not walking through a large concrete resort. You are walking through a resort surrounded by foliage, wildlife, and shaded paths. That is beautiful, but it also means you need bug spray. In the video, I mentioned that mosquitoes were active throughout the resort, especially because of the greenery and natural setting. Bring bug spray from home so you do not have to overpay once you arrive. You may also see wildlife. During the stay, we saw coatis around the property, and guests were told to lock their doors because the animals might try to get inside for fruit or snacks. I preferred the second floor for that reason. Room Tip: Consider the Second Floor We stayed in a Privileged Deluxe room, and I liked being on the second floor. The garden view was peaceful, and being upstairs gave me a little more comfort around the resort's wildlife. If you are deciding between room types, think about how you actually travel. Do you care more about being close to the beach? Do you want the quietest area possible? Do you want access to the Privileged section and Beloved restaurant? Those preferences matter more than simply choosing the room that sounds the fanciest. Restaurants and Reservations The resort has several dining options, including Steakville, Rauxa, Mamma Mia, Tao-Cat, La Palapa, Beloved, Bikini Bar, and MaLoo. My practical advice is to make reservations for Rauxa and Steakville. Rauxa includes dinner and a show, so it is worth planning ahead. Tao-Cat was one of the spots I enjoyed, especially because of the outdoor setting and the view near the cenote. If it rains, they may move the experience inside. Overall, the food left a little to be desired, but I still found things that worked. La Palapa was a regular breakfast stop, especially because it gave me more flexibility with my diet. The Beach Is the Real Star The beach is where Catalonia Royal Tulum shines. The resort sits on Xpu-Ha Beach, which the official Catalonia site describes as a three-kilometer stretch between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, known for its white sand and turquoise waters. During our October visit, the water was calm once you got past the first waves. People were swimming, snorkeling, using floaties, and enjoying water sports. Compared with places like Los Cabos, where getting into the water can be more difficult, this beach felt much more usable. There was some sargassum later in the day, but it was not overwhelming during our stay. That can vary by season, so it is worth checking recent beach conditions before you book. You Do Not Have to Wake Up Early for Chairs At some resorts, getting a beach or pool chair feels like a competition. That was not our experience here. There were plenty of chairs available at the pool and beach. I did not feel like we had to wake up early to reserve a spot. The turquoise chairs were for standard rooms, while the Privileged area had its own section. The Exclusive area was tied to the vacation club. That matters because convenience has value. When you are paying for an all-inclusive trip, you want to spend your time enjoying the resort, not managing chair anxiety at sunrise. Privileged Access: What We Used Because we had the Privileged Deluxe room, we had access to the Privileged beach area and Beloved restaurant. We also received a 30-minute massage included with the room category, although I chose to upgrade mine. Here is the money tip: if massages matter to you, compare resort pricing with nearby beach massage options. In the video, I shared that you could walk farther down the beach and find a massage for two for about $75, which may be less than paying at the resort spa. That does not mean one option is better for everyone. The resort spa gives you convenience and atmosphere. The beach option may give you savings. Decide based on what you value most. Airport and Transportation Savings We flew into Cancun because it was cheaper than flying into Tulum. Cancun International Airport serves many international and charter airlines and notes that it is accessible from more than 40 U.S. cities. For transportation, we used Ride Transport and paid about $150 round trip. We also booked excursions through Cancun Adventures rather than directly through the hotel because it was less expensive. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your travel budget. Compare airport options, price out transportation before you arrive, and look at excursion providers outside the resort before deciding. Small Things to Bring From Home Bring bug spray. Bring floaties if you want to enjoy the water. Bring a lock if you want to add one to the love-heart area instead of buying one at the gift shop. In the video, I noted that the resort gift shop sold locks for about $20, with engraving available. These are small purchases, but small purchases add up quickly on vacation. Packing intentionally can help you spend your money on experiences instead of convenience markups. Best Time to Enjoy the Resort We visited in October, and the resort felt calm and peaceful. Sunrise was worth waking up for, usually between 6:30 and 7:00, depending on the time of year. Since the resort faces the sunrise side, you may not get a sunset view over the water, but the morning beach view is beautiful. If you are planning content, photos, or quiet beach time, sunrise is the moment. Final Review of Catalonia Royal Tulum Catalonia Royal Tulum is a beautiful adults-only all-inclusive resort with a peaceful jungle feel, a walkable layout, a strong beach experience, and enough dining options to make the trip enjoyable. What they do not always tell you is that the vacation club pitch may start early, that bug spray is essential, that the food may not be the highlight for everyone, and that transportation and excursions may be cheaper when booked outside the resort. That is why planning matters. A good vacation budget does not take away from the experience. It helps you enjoy the trip without second-guessing every decision. Annette Harris has shared financial insight in national outlets, including Forbes and GOBankingRates. Planning a trip and trying to make the numbers work? Harris Financial Coaching can help you build a travel budget that supports the memories without creating financial stress.

When Life Gets Loud, Sometimes You Need to Step Outside My daughter and I decided to unplug. No screens. No noise. No deadlines. Just us, the trail, the trees, and enough space to breathe. Sometimes we do not realize how much we are carrying until everything gets quiet. The thoughts, the decisions, the responsibilities, the planning, the spending, the saving, the constant need to figure everything out. That day reminded me that peace does not always come from having everything solved. Sometimes peace begins when we pause long enough to notice what is already around us. In Japan, this practice is called shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. It means taking in the forest's atmosphere and allowing your body and mind to settle into nature's rhythm. In the video, I shared how the longer we walked, the quieter my thoughts became, and how the forest reminded me that peace does not have to be earned. It is already present when we slow down enough to receive it. Nature Gives Your Mind Room to Settle There is something powerful about walking without rushing. We noticed the texture of the bark. The light coming through the leaves. The squirrels gathering acorns. The stillness of the lake. Even the unexpected turtle that fell from a tree became a reminder that life can surprise you, even in quiet moments. Research supports what many of us feel when we spend time outside. A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that spending at least 20 minutes in a nature setting was associated with lower stress hormone levels. A review of shinrin-yoku research also found that forest bathing may support short-term reductions in stress and improvements in mood, although researchers note that more long-term research is needed. That matters because stress affects more than how we feel. It can affect how we decide. Financial Clarity Starts Before the Spreadsheet As a financial counselor, I often see that money decisions are rarely just about numbers. A budget can show where the money went. A debt payoff plan can show what needs to happen next. A savings goal can give direction. But when your mind is scattered, your money habits often become scattered too. You may spend to feel better. You may avoid checking your accounts because you are overwhelmed. You may delay important decisions because everything feels heavy. That is why financial clarity is not only about spreadsheets. It is also about your state of mind. When your thoughts are calmer, your choices can become clearer. You may spend differently. You may save with more purpose. You may make decisions based on alignment instead of anxiety. The Squirrels Had a Saving Lesson Too Watching squirrels gather acorns made me think about preparation. They were not frantic. They were steady. That is how saving and investing can work in real life. You do not have to do everything at once. You do not have to be perfect. You build stability through rhythm. A little set aside consistently can become an emergency fund. A small automatic transfer can become a travel fund. A steady contribution can support long-term goals. The lesson was simple: preparation does not have to feel stressful. It can become part of your routine. Black Joy Outdoors Is About More Than the Walk For me, this family adventure was about more than being outside. It was about seeing Black joy in a peaceful outdoor space. It was about creating a memory with my daughter. It was about showing that wellness, rest, and financial clarity can all belong in the same conversation. Sometimes we separate money from the rest of life, but our finances are connected to how we live, rest, parent, work, travel, and care for ourselves. That walk reminded me that the goal is not just to have money. The goal is to build a life that feels grounded, meaningful, and aligned with what matters. A Practical Money Reset You Can Try This Week Before you open your budget or review your spending, take 20 minutes outside. Walk, sit, or stand somewhere that helps you breathe more deeply. Leave your phone alone if you can. Notice what is around you. Then ask yourself one question: What financial decision would feel easier if I approached it from a place of calm rather than pressure? That decision could be to review your spending, set a savings goal, plan a trip, pay down a credit card balance, or check your account balance without judgment. Clarity often comes after the pause. Final Thoughts on Forest Bathing After forest bathing, we ended with tea. Something warm, simple, and grounding. It felt like a closing ritual. A reminder that peace does not always come from big gestures. Sometimes it comes from small, mindful ones. Find clarity in nature. Find clarity in your finances. And give yourself permission to slow down before you decide what comes next. Annette Harris has shared financial insight in national outlets including AARP, Bankrate, and AFCPE. Ready for more financial clarity? Connect with Harris Financial Coaching to build a plan that fits your real life.