Get your finances in order: Stop throwing money away.

Last year I was very fortunate to land a new job with a damn good salary.  I remember when I first got  the offer I said to myself, Damn my life is about to change.  About three months into the job I realized that while I was making more money there was still too much money going out and not enough being saved.  They say you are supposed to have enough saved to pay rent for up to six months in the event that you lose your job. Well folks I barely had enough to pay for two months. Can you say check to check? LOL     I kept saying to myself, "Damn I need more money in my savings."  

 Every time I tried to save there was another bill popping up messing up my plan. Cable bill, cell phone,   school, rent, etc....   So I sat down and said somethings got to give and started looked at some of the things I had that was just a waste of time.   I am not where I want to  be but I am in in a far better position thatn I was before.   Here is are few of my tips that helped me save more.

* Get rid of unnecessary music and book clubs.  Being in a book club may be cool but you end up paying more for the book or CD you ordered due to the shipping and handling.   Also most of the clubs have featured selections and if you don't reply in time they end up sending you stuff you never wanted in the first place then you end up having to waste time to send it back.  So now I just stick with Itunes if there is a song I want and I listen to the sample.   As far as books go to the library or buy the book from Borders they always have great deals.

* Pay the full amount on your credit cards (If you can).  Don't  be wasting your time with multiple credit cardsyou only need one.  A few years back I was just juggling my debt paying on card off with the other and slowing bringing my credit score down.  Try your best to pay the balance in full or make sure you are never late. Always pay more than the minimum.  Pay just the $20.00 minimum will get you nowhere.  These credit card companies have all kinds of sneaky hidden fees and late fees.   I paid off all my credit cards and only use one of them now.  My credit score has awesome now.  (Wow I sound like an infomercial.)

* Brown bag it.  Stop making those morning trips to these overpriced coffee shops.  Spending $2.00 on a damn cup of coffee and another 75 cents adds up. Instead get up early in the morning and have breakfast at home and make your lunch for the day.   Spending  $5.00to $10.00 dollars a day on lunch is crazy, save that money.

* Automatic payments and deductions.   Most of the companies allow you to go pay online and set up auto payments.  This is good for those who tend to forgot that a bill is due.  With automatic payment you don't have to stress about being charged that $30.00 late fee.   Also contact your bank and have them take money out of your checking to go into your savings.   Try putting  away $10 or $25 a week into your  into your savings. You will be surprised how much it adds up.  The old school way of stashing money under the mattress works too. (That's if you don't have crack head cousin living with you. LOL)

* Stop wasting so much money on movies and cable.  There are many cheaper options like joining Netflix or watching your favorite cable shows on sites like Hulu.

* Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses.  More than likely they are struggling with bills just like you. Liveve within you means. You know damn will you can't afford that Ashton Martin.  LOL

* Barbershops  and Beauty Salons.  Now I love my barber but I realized buying a nice pair of clippers cutting my  hair saved me a few bucks. I now only go to him on once a month.

* Invest in your future, find out what kind of 401k plans your job has.  Start reading the Forbes and Money Magazines to learn what's really out there.  Learn about investing etc. There are people out here making a lot of money.

Those are some of the things I have done to save money. We have to keep an eye on our fianances. Too many times we make the mistake of not paying attention to this stuff and end up living check to check for the rest of our lives.  You should be able to know where all your money is going.  Come on people get your finances in order.

HUMP DAY!! You can get over it!

Good Morning people it's time to rise and grind.  I know it's been an exhausting work week even with having Monday off.   Please don't stress it you've made it this far so keep going Friday is not too far away.   Don't worry about that annoying ass boss just smile and shake the dirt off your shoulders.  Don't let nothing stress you. If you are like me and your job is not your career but something to hold you over until you career gets off the ground don't stress just keep telling yourself that you have a bigger plan and this is just one small step.  So just hold on a change is coming.   I gotta go I get that catch that train.  LOL

Esperanza Spalding makes Grammy history winning best new artist, but who is she?

Justin Beiber fans were in an uproar when Jazz singer  Esperanza Spalding took home the Grammy for best new artist.  This marks the first time in Grammy history that a jazz artist has won in this category.    This was truly an upset win being that she was up against the likes of Drake and Justin Beiber. I was 100% sure either  Drake or Beiber would have left with the trophy.
 
The question on many people's minds was who in the hell is she?  Twitter is lit up with angry Beiber fans.  A few idiots even  vandalized her Wikipedia page.  I have to be honest I really don't know her music but I have heard a lot of good things about her.  My thing is are these people really serious with all the hate over her winning an award?  Do you think the Justin Beiber is that pissed off about losing? I am sure his career will continue.  It's all so very unnecessary for all the hating.   I hope that these are not grown ass people acting up like this.

Instead of being upset how about doing what I did and that's do some research?  Try finding out why the Grammy members voted for her.  Raised in Portland Oregon, Esperanza Spalding is a jazz composer who plays upright bass, she blends soul and bossa nova into her jazz tunes.  At only 25 years old Esperanza has toured with the one and only Prince. Music legends like Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder sing her praises.  She performed at the request of President Obama when he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.   That's pretty darn impressive. So to all the people saying they never heard of her, so what.   Just because she was not shoved down our throats all year long does not mean she does not have talent. 

Now that you know the name check her out, open your mind up to something different. I for one find it refreshing that she is not one of the music industry's manufactured creations.  You  all know the type I am talking about, the really attractive singer that has a team of producers behind her but can't sing live.  Esperanza is a true artist and musician and for that I say congrats on your win!!

Singer EL DeBarge Enters Rehab



EL Debarge bringing the house down at the BET Awards



 R & B crooner El Debarge announced that he will be putting his tour dates on hold to enter rehab due to substance abuse struggles.  The 80s superstar known for hits like my jam , All This Love,  and I like It to name a few told CBS News   “I hate to disappoint my fans but it is necessary for me to take the time to work on me.”

While I am a bit disappointed I am glad that El is attempting to get himself together.   This past November he released his first album in 15 years titled Second Chance.  Since then he has made  a quite an  impressive comeback appearing on various talks shows and performing on the BET Awards, Soul Train Awards,  The UNCF Tribute to Chaka Khan and The Celebration of Gospel. He also has reality show on BET's Centric station called Inside El.   On top of that his new album was nominated for two Grammys.

 The brother is really trying to get himself together by checking himself into rehab, I can't be mad at that. I don't know what it's like to fight drug addiction but we've all seen how it can destroy lives, my prayers are with you brother.  Stay strong.

http://www.eldebargemusic.com/



The Album Second Chance is a must have !!

On the cover of EBONY Magazine

Her Story: Independent Soul Singer Mary I AM Doing It Her Way!!

As part of the Your Story Series, I sat down with independent funky neo soul singer Mary I Am, who shared her story about breaking down doors and taking her music career into her own hands. Enjoy!

Mary I Am

Capricorn Groove: I just want to say I am so glad that you are allowing me to do a feature story on you.  I think you have one of the kindest spirits and such great energy.   Tell me how long have you been singing?

Mary I Am:  Hey man, thanks for asking because I’ve been singing all my life, but the earliest recollection is 5.

CG: Wow you started young. Who are some of your influences? 

Mary I Am: It’s so many to name but I came from an era where music was original and creative, female artist like Dinah Shore, Ettta James, Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, Queens of Soul Aretha Franklin and Patti Labelle, Stephanie Mills, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Phyllis Hyman, Angela Bofil, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Janice Joplin, Teena Marie, Tracey Chapman, Chaka Khan,  Sly & The Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Maxwell….all the soul and Neo soul genre.

CG: That's an awesome group of influences!!  When did you first realize that you could sing?  What was that moment like?


Mary I Am: I never thought about it, singing is like breathing for me but I always get positive reactions from family, friends and strangers. When I sing no one ever told me. "Shut up you can’t sing." lol

CG: What were you doing before you started singing?

Mary I Am: Well I started out in corporate America being an administrative assistant/word processing operator. I got tired of being in an office and decided to go to hair school. I became a cosmetologist and opened up a hair salon. I did that for about 10 years or so but the irony is I always wanted to sing just didn’t have the know how or confidence at the time.

CG:  I can definitely relate to getting the confidence. When was it that you decided that you wanted to sing professionally?

Mary I Am:  When I was doing hair one of my co-workers, who was into hip-hop, used to rap, write his own songs and perform in talent shows.   He encouraged me to start writing my songs, record them and start performing. I took his advice and the funny thing is I never knew I could write, but before you knew it, I found myself writing up a storm. Before you knew it 15 songs were born, but I only recorded 10 which are on my album called "Spiritual Evolution."



Spiritual Evolution is available on Itunes



CG: How would you describe your sound?  What sets you apart from the other artists out there? 

Mary I Am:  My sound is universal and it's very soulful.  I have a deep rich voice which can be compared to Phyllis Hyman, Angela Bofil and Toni Braxton but you can see I have my own style.  I am doing everything for myself promoting, marketing, writing my songs co-producing, getting my own gigs, and forming my band.  I sing songs about love, peace and universal togetherness.

CG: How do you juggle working a 9 to 5 with a music career?

Mary I Am: I don’t juggle I just do what’s necessary, I put as much energy in my music as I do in my job it’s not a career for me.  lol

CG: As an independent artist, what have some of your struggles been?   Have you ever been frustrated with your career? 

Mary I Am: I wish I had the money I needed for all the marketing and promoting that is required like being able to pay my band  getting a manager, and a booking agent so I can just  concentrate on just being an artist.



CG: I know what you mean about getting the money together that can be a real pain especially trying to weed out the flaky managers and producers. I think concentrating on being an artist is wonderful but we artist must also handle our business because there are a lot of snakes out there.  As we all know the music industry is a young people’s game.  Lately it seems that the only female artist they are interested in are in their 20s and half naked with very little talent.  How do you feel about that? 

Mary I Am:  It’s a travesty of course because it doesn’t allow them to be themselves, some of them can really sing but can’t be original or creative because the industry don’t want them to be. It’s mostly male dominated so they don’t put much value or attention to real singing,  just on how they can use you as a sex object or eye candy as they prefer. There is no age limit to talent, anyone can sing from 8 to 80 or beyond. The industry needs to let go of the superficial aspects and get to the heart of the talent so that good music can be made to last forever.

CG: Where have you performed?

Mary I Am: The first place I performed live was at the world famous Lenox Lounge in Harlem. I have also sung at Soul Café, The Underground, and Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar. I was a featured artist on this public access program called "Fade To Black" and performed some of my songs that aired in Brooklyn and in Queens for a couple of months.  I also had my record release/listening party at a Bar Lounge called Honey and did various open mic venues in Harlem.  I also did background for a group called the Rhythm Makers and performed at the Harlem State Office Building.  I currently do background from time to time with Benny & The Ben-Jam-Min Band.  ( A soul group based in New York City)



Mary I Am live on stage!



CG: Would you like to be a signed artist on a major label or is being an independent artist better suited for you?

Mary I Am: Right now Independent is the only way to go because I have full control over my career, maybe later on I would consider being signed. But it would be on my terms.

CG: As a singer I am sure you've had your share of haters, people telling you to stick to your day job or saying that you can’t sing.  How do you handle that? 

Mary I Am: Well actually to tell you the truth no one ever told me I couldn’t sing and or to stick to my day job. I’m quite sure there are a few naysayers that’s talking behind my back. lol  I honestly believe I would be holding my own self back by not doing anything to advance my career.

CG: Are there any particular haters that you want to say something to? Get if off your chest.

Mary I Am: To any haters that don’t feel I will be successful in my career I say. GET A LIFE!!! lol 
God has something planned for each and every one of us, but it’s up to you to make it happen.

Mary I Am

CG: What advice would you give to that little girl or boy sitting at home dreaming of being a singer?

Mary I Am:  Believe in yourself first and foremost, don’t be afraid to go out and sing at talent shows, or contest it will get you exposure because you never know who will see you and help you pursue your dreams.

CG: What’s next for Mary I Am? 

Mary I Am: Look out this year people new single being released around March called "Somewhere" along with a music video to follow, continuing to record more songs for my second album, more shows and touring promoting my singles.

CG: Thanks for taking the time and sitting down with me and sharing your story. You are a true inspiration and I wish you nothing but success. Keep doing your thing.  

Mary I Am is doing her thing, links to her sites and music are as follows:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/spiritual-evolution/id331712743

http://www.facebook.com/Maryiamrah

http://www.myspace.com/sistahmaryiamrah

http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Evolution/dp/B002PBUTA8/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1261893555&sr=301-1

http://play.rhapsody.com/mary-i-am/spiritual-evolution

http://home.napster.com/ns/music/artist_search.html?artist_id=12899015



FREE YOURSELF BY MARY IAM

Free Yourself by Mary I Am

The National Anthem: I take Maya Rudolph's version over Christina Aguilera's any day.

People are still talking about Christina Aguilera's disastrous version of the National Anthem at this years Super Bowl. "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming."  What in the hell was that?  Come on get the damn words right.  I must admit I got a kick out of Aguilera fumbling over the anthem especially since I am not a fan of her over the top style of singing.  Perhaps she would have gotten the words right if she wasn't so busy trying to lay some stank down!!  Don't get me wrong she can sing but she has a habit over over singing and doing too many runs. Just sing the damn song. LOL      In honor of that I decided to post a very funny version sung by Maya Randolph on Saturday Night Live.   Unlike Aguilera's version this one was actually meant to be funny.     If you want to hear Aguilera's version go to You Tube.

        

CAPRICORN GROOVE CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Happy Black History Month. February is Black History month, we should be celebrating the accomplishments of black people all year long and never forget that we stand on the shoulders of giants that fought so hard for equality and have contributed so much to this nation.   We should never forget.