Author Archives: Tope Ganiyah Fajingbesi

Black Friday, Cyber Monday – Survival tips for the shopping season

Today Black Friday, marks the beginning of the ‘crazy’ shopping season. A lot of people are now resting their tired and aching muscles after this morning’s ‘door busting’ moves, and retailers are smiling to the bank while releasing more incentives to ‘get out the money’ again on Cyber Monday.’  This trend will of course continue, albeit withContinue reading “Black Friday, Cyber Monday – Survival tips for the shopping season”

Go ‘BIGA’ if you want your small business to grow

Ever wondered why your small business remains small after all these years? Can’t stop thinking about the fantastic business venture you ran that died a painful death? Is your business struggling to keep up with your debt and other financial obligations? Are you getting frustrated that no banks or investors want to put any moneyContinue reading “Go ‘BIGA’ if you want your small business to grow”

Dear Small Business Owner

Dear Small Business Owner: Congratulations on taking the risk and following your passion, you have done what 90% of the rest of the world will never be bold enough to do! However, I hope you read this note and implement the simple tips therein to make sure your venture does not end up dying prematurely like 50%Continue reading “Dear Small Business Owner”

Till Death or Debt Do Us Part?

A friend recently shocked me when she said: “Tope, can you tell me how an individual can declare bankruptcy?” That sentence began a long discussion about a marriage gone wrong leaving not just emotional scars but also a significant and an unfair amount of debt on the shoulders of one of parties. I am definitelyContinue reading “Till Death or Debt Do Us Part?”

Your Kids and Money – What My Mother Taught Me

My mother used to tell my siblings and I lots of folktales when we were young kids, but for some reason I never realized this particular tale was not a real life story until I was much older. Almost every time she scolded us for doing something bad, she would tell us about this youngContinue reading “Your Kids and Money – What My Mother Taught Me”

5 Reasons your savings account has a zero balance

So you opened a savings account immediately you got that dream job five years ago and you have been putting money into the account religiously, so why do you keep getting a statement that shows that you barely have anything but crumbs in your savings account when the bank isn’t stealing from you? The answerContinue reading “5 Reasons your savings account has a zero balance”

Great tips for a ‘financially fun’ summer vacation

Our love of warm weather, the need to take a break from hectic work schedules to recharge our batteries or our children’s holiday from school are some of the valid reasons many of us give for taking vacations during summer months. However many individuals and families return from vacation completely broke and/or in debt, and therefore spend the subsequentContinue reading “Great tips for a ‘financially fun’ summer vacation”

Stop leaving your wages on your employer’s desk

My last post (https://ourfinancialcoach.com/2012/02/16/women-employment-and-money-101/) has ‘landed’ me in a few long conversations with a number of my friends; after one of these conversations last night, I thought I’d write a few words that can perhaps help people, particularly women, immigrants and people of the Muslim faith (who are concerned about the issue of interest) navigateContinue reading “Stop leaving your wages on your employer’s desk”

Women, Employment and Money 101

Did you know that? Women are less likely to get retirement benefits from their employers? This is because women are more likely to work for employers who do not offer a retirement plan. Women often earn less than men, therefore women in the USA receive less Social Security income than men due to the factContinue reading “Women, Employment and Money 101”