When it comes to your career rule number 1 is to ALWAYS negotiate your salary! This is honestly the easiest money you will ever make. It’s more than a few thousand dollars. If you don’t negotiate your salary when you first start a job you will be further behind financially. Annual raises are usually based on a percentage the more money you have to start out with the higher your pay raises will be, and the further ahead you will be in the long run. I didn't negotiate my first salary because I was just happy to have a job, but a few years into my career I started learning the power of negotiation, and how I should go about the awkward conversation of asking for more money and other benefits.  1.) Don’t just ask for more money because you have bills. News flash everyone does! Sell your value. What do YOU bring to the table that warrants a higher salary. Is it a recent certification or a degree? Do you bring in additional leadership experience from your community involvement? Thin...

In April of 2015 after about 18 months of living in the DMV area, I got the opportunity to interview for a promotion in Benton Harbor, Michigan. At the time I had been dating my then boyfriend and now husband for a year and 5 months. So I did what any logical young ambitious woman would do, and I followed my career. That month I interviewed for the job and got it! I was excited! I would be making more money and living in a cheaper location, so I would be able to set myself up better financially. Of course I was concerned about where this left my relationship, but one thing that I always said is that if it is meant to be it will work out, and if not at least I live in a new place. (I know I can be kind of harsh, and I am not even going to lie and say that I am working on it because I am not.) Anyway I had the conversation with my boyfriend Eddie and I said, so what do you think I should do. Do you know where our relationship is headed? He said, well you are right I am not your husband...