Q: What is Lavish & Thrifty LLC? When did you start out and what was the motivation behind the vision and creation of the business?
A: Lavish and Thrifty, LLC started as just a blog back in 2017. I took a trip to Dubai and everyone was telling me how lavish my pictures were and they wanted to know how much things cost over there. Little did they know it was a thrifty trip. So I wrote a blog about my whole trip. What was so concerning was the fact that everyone agreed it was a thrifty trip but they still felt like they could not afford it. So I decided to start sharing my personal finances and lifestyle and how I plan for lavish trips and experiences all on a thrifty budget.
Q: As the owner of Lavish & Thrifty LLC, tell us a little bit about your background to include your educational background and previous career experience that helped lead you to creating your business? What is one of the biggest takeaways you want people to have from your company and it's services?
A: As a high school student, I found that I had a knack for numbers and problem solving, which led me to pursue a degree in Accounting at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Shortly after college, my need for variety over consistency drove me to start a career in public accounting as a healthcare auditor. After being promoted to Senior Associate and gaining about four (4) years of public accounting experience, I transitioned into the public sector as an internal auditor. The monotony of the day-to-day operations of city government led me into the financial services industry where I obtained my Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation and was promoted to Senior Auditor. After making a smooth transition to Charlotte, NC at the end of 2018, I moved back to my hometown of Richmond, VA after a year to continue my career as an Audit Manager in the financial services industry. My versatility, curiosity, and ability to learn new things has allowed me to become a well-rounded individual leading me to success across multiple industries. Through my often challenging transitions and opportunities, I have been able to connect the dots and found out what I really like and prefer to do. While I enjoy auditing and problem solving, the helping aspect of my roles are my passion. I got such a thrill out of providing recommendations on how to improve and save my clients money as an auditor that I decided to take things personal and become debt free while building wealth. In 2018, I started Lavish and Thrifty, LLC so that I could teach others how to do the same. My goal is to empower the next generation with practical money skills while encouraging them to make healthy and confident financial choices. My hopes are that this will ultimately allow them to plan for their future, spend wisely, and manage life’s most challenging events while living their best life. My motto is simple: “if you stay ready you ain’t got get ready”.
Q: What specific products or services do you offer?
A: My financial consultation service may consist of a review of new or existing concerns that may have an impact on your financial situation. I provide my recommendations and strategies that I live by and follow daily. Anyone will be able to use the tips and techniques right away. Consultations can include the following:
Creating the right money mindset
Understanding your habits related to money
Making your money work for you
Building a better budget
Understanding your debt & how you got there
Developing a solid debt elimination plan
Knowing how to distribute your money
Savings & investing in yourself
Spending Wisely
Relationships and money
Other concerns related to life and money as necessary
Q: Can you explain from your perspective how important financial literacy and wealth building is and especially the importance in the black community?
A: Financial Literacy is very important – especially in the black community. The best thing we can do in the black community is to invest in ourselves through financial education. Without the appropriate education, our lives can become very expensive and lack options. And based on my business name you know that we never do lavish without the thrift. Financial education can be the difference in you paying $15, 000 for a car or $21, 000 for the same car due to interest, or it can mean that you only have the option to rent when you really want to own. Expensive lifestyles and lack of options will not lead to financial freedom.
Q: Financial literacy and Financial freedom in the black community is still something that is evolving. In your experience, what is the greatest area you think that the black community could improve upon to increase our financial literacy skills and in what ways can we do a better job in not only preparing ourselves but the future generations to be financially free?
A: In the black community we have to stop thinking like a consumer and starting thinking like an owner. The black dollar only stays in the black community for 6 hours. Once we learn how to control our buying power we will be in better shape. When we normalize ownership within the black community, we’ll be able to pass down businesses and assets to our children instead of debt and ensure that our kids are financially educated to continue the legacy for generations to come.
Q: How can people contact you to schedule services and are there any ways people can donate or offer support to assist?
A: Please feel free to contact me via my website at www.lavishandthrifty.com. To set up a consultation with me click on the Services page and the link within. To book me for a speaking engagement, donations, or to offer support, please feel free to contact me through the contact form on the home page of the website. Also please feel free to subscribe to my website through the home page, be clicking on login.
Q:How can people contact you to schedule services and are there any ways people can donate or offer support to assist?
A: I can be reached at (804) 299-6596.
IG: lavishandthrifty
FB: Lavish and Thrifty
Email: lavishandthriftyllc@gmail.com
