Savvy with Abbie

Have you ever felt like you have done everything that you can - without lowering your standards, values, or goals - but nothing seems to go your way? Blogging and writing are my therapy so, if you are reading this, brace yourselves. This may be repetitive as I have mentioned over and over how tough it has been living out here in California. I moved here 18 months ago on hopes, dreams, $25,000, no debt (except my never-ending student loan) and dreams of winning the lottery (that doesn't seem to be a joke anymore). The year of 2018, I have been hoping for getting that "big break" with a job. See, I am the type that always strives for more, works hard, sets goals, and focuses on what I want and reaches for it. When I see a Social Media Manager job position here in Central California with a pay range of $11/hour (no joke! I have a screenshot if you don't believe me!) it makes me re-think my strategy and plan in life. This plan and future worked for me in Utah and I had no

When my brother was 18 years old, I remember him telling me, "Abbie, Lexi (little sister) and I both know you are rich." This quote has stuck with me because I have never been rich. I like to say that since I was 20 years old, I have enjoyed "financial freedom." I would take my little sister to the mall and spend hundreds of dollars at once. 🛍️🛍️ I would go out to eat, go where I wanted and when I wanted, go on vacations, go to the casino and spend hundreds (or more), and order clothes online as if I didn't have a budget. Until I sold my condo in 2016. I made a lot of money in an amazing Utah economy and then it hit me. I paid off $30,000 in debt. Not only that, but most of it was credit card debt. This didn't include my student loan! So, to my brother who is now 21, I have never been "rich", I have just enjoyed living outside of my means. 💳💳 I have always had a love/hate relationship with money. Mainly love because when you have a credit car

On February 15th, 2017, I took a plunge and moved from Utah to California. I left my family, my friends, and my life that I had built up for more than 20 years. My initial goal was to live with my cousin in San Luis Obispo (SLO), California, for three months. Well, 15 months later, I'm still here! I absolutely love and adore every aspect of SLO. I have been to many restaurants since being here and was asked and approved to write a blog post on "10 Amazing Food Places in San Luis Obispo (SLO), California." And since being new to the city and providing an outsiders perspective and view on new experiences, I figured, why not? Below are the top 10 food places that I have been to and I did put them in order based on my experience - #1 being my favorite. There are several recommended restaurants and food places that I did place at the bottom of the page but I have not had the opportunity to experience them yet myself, so I did not add them to my top list. Enjoy! 1.  Flour Ho

Fifteen months ago I decided to take a huge risk and jump into a sudden move to California. I knew what to expect before moving here: High rent, high housing, high gas prices, expensive food, expensive drinks, but at that point in time, and still to this day, the rewards outweigh the risks. Moving from Utah to California I have experienced a new dynamic, a different social atmosphere, a paradise, amazing and fresh olive oil, wine, wine tasting, amazing views, cuisine, fresh food, rolling hills, cooler weather and stunning sunsets. But fifteen months later, here I am. Unemployed. Again. I knew finding a job would be hard but I didn't realize that keeping a job would be harder. Utah's job force was extremely opposite of what I have experienced thus far. I had a job for six and a half years, another for three and a half years. Since moving here, I had a job for ten months, was unemployed for two months, was employed for two more months and, as of today, unemployed. So it's b

Photo credit: Amazon Back in 2012-2013 when I had the worst anxiety of my life, I asked the online world on what I could or should do to help eliminate this anxious and worrisome phase. One person recommended that I read "The Four Agreements". Due to the anxiety and not being able to concentrate on one thing for too long before freaking out, I only read through a few pages. In 2018 I decided to buy the book again and see if there was a way I could make things better for myself. I had moved to California the previous year but lost my job almost two months ago. I had time to read so I decided to see what this book was about and how it could help me maintain my confidence throughout this hard time. This book was extremely powerful to me. I'm not sure why but I got sucked in. I could not put the book down. I like seeing others perspectives on life. Before going into the four agreements, the author spends quite a bit discussing how we are all born and raised believing

It's 2017 which is an era of online opinions, disrespect, do-what-you-want-when-you-want-how-you-want, spoiled rich kids, bullying, online bullying, suicide, hiding behind a computer screen, extreme violence, lack of trust in our surroundings, riots, racism, lack of trust in professionals, and that's just the beginning. As a Millennial, I am thoroughly embarrassed by the NFL. As a Millennial, I automatically get judged as one of the "disrespectful, do-what-you-want-when-you-want-how-you-want spoiled rich kids." I am educated, wrote a book, open to diversity and opinions,but I have never understood kneeling during the national anthem. I get irritated internally when people talk during the national anthem, are on their phones during the national anthem, or don't take their hats off during the national anthem. I have been to many games - college football, high school football, NFL, NBA, college basketball, hockey games, and right now, I am embarrassed. Let me bac

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man Photo Credit: Amazon If I could go back in time, back to my teenage years, back to when I only read books in school because I was forced to, I wish I could have forced myself to read this one book - Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey . I read this book at age 32 and, looking back, everything that I put myself through in my dating life is all spelled out in this book. Although maybe my younger self may have not understood the book the way I do now. After experiencing many of the ups and downs, the positive and negative situations, I believe that without these life experiences, I wouldn't be where I am today. I have actually found someone that appreciates and loves me for me and my flaws, who has more confidence in me than I have in myself, who is my support and one of my best friends. If you don't like truth, especially in dating and relationships, you may find this book very difficult to read. It discusses mature to