I read a recent post on Facebook of a Hmong daughter who was born with a disability. Long story short, her parents projected that she wouldn’t be able to provide for herself and that her disability may be an obstacle for one to marry her, and also be used to value her dowry at a $0 value.

 J.K. Rowling — 'Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.' 

If that’s not a slap in the face for all Hmong daughters, I don’t know what it is. I see the view that she has a disability, but that shouldn’t determine her fate or worth. The people around her should use her disability as a foundation to build her value.

It saddens me that no matter how much one Hmong daughter can achieve, they will not be equal. It happened and happens in every situation possible. Here are just a few situations:

1) DIVORCE: If it's a daughter, no one cares who she has. If it's the son, the husband's side will fight for him. But once the daughter gets married 18+ years later, the father will come reap the benefits.

2) CHORES: At the age as early as eight, a daughter is expected to learn how to cook and clean. Meanwhile, the sons have zero to little milestone expectations. In the old world (Thailand/Laos), sons would go out and hunt with their father. Times have changed, and so should expectations.

3) FAVORITISM: I have witnessed sons getting spoonfed over and over again. A daughter would slave her life away, in every age group, and will not be rewarded as much as the son.

4) HOPEFULNESS: At the end of the day, parents can’t put their lives in the hands of their daughter. This is just disgusting. It’s disgusting that a husband would attempt to ban this. I know for a fact, that I myself personally provide for my parents just as much, if not better, than my brothers. I know that I’m not the only one. There are so many strong, ambitious, and courageous daughters out there that are so much more dependent than their brothers, and yet, her parents can’t put in hope in her.

 I completely understand that this is traditional, but times have changed and expectations haven’t. I’m not saying that parents should suddenly move in with their daughters’ family, but I am asking that parents do not treat their daughters for the gender they were given (scientifically and spiritually). I’m also not saying daughters are better than sons either, but they should be treated equally to the love and opportunities from their families.

As always, thank you for reading. I was inspired to blog by this video. It is in Hmong.

I don’t eat at Fazoli’s often but I’ve picked up a few things about how to save and maximize your money there in these ways:

• REWARDS PROGRAM: $1 = 1 point and every 50 points is $5 earned.
• This can add up real fast if you find any receipts laying around whenever you’re in the restaurant. You can scan the receipt to earn those points. Knowing fazoli’s the average receipt is about $10+. My luck so far has been $20+. So after 2-3 receipts, that’s $5 free for me. 
• Their reward redemption is unique too! You don’t have to redeem it in certain increments. You can do $6, $8, or even $1, any amount that you want to redeem. d. 
• Once in a while, they’ll give you freebies like a free drink or dessert.
• Purchase their $20 gift card and get a $5 voucher. Gift card purchases are also points earned.
• To really max your savings is to combine it all with coupons that’s usually mailed to you. 

Here’s a scenario of how good it can get once you do everything I mentioned: 

I didn’t intend to be part of the minimalism wagon, it just happened. Having a lot of things is a lot of work and hauling, so when I moved for the third time, I had to let go of a few items.

What is minimalism? Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it (credit)

1. Microwave
When I first came to Madison, WI, I had a microwaved. Then I moved to this nice gated apartment that came with one, so I didn't take it with me. After my sublease for that apartment, I came to my duplex without one.
I was concerned at first, but after a month without it, I was completely fine. Not having a microwave is definitely inconvenient; you can't just microwave whatever at the tips of your fingers. But the good thing was that this meant I had to cook food and not buy frozen food.

2. Refrigerator/Grocery
At my first two apartments, my fridge had a decent amount of food. That was really cool, but it was painful to clean when I moved out. This time, I'm not doing that to myself. I figured that I eat out most of the time anyway, so I don't buy grocery to stink up the fridge anymore.

3. Huge Dresser + Dining Table
I had this huge dresser with a really nice mirror, but it was such a pain to move it. It was what I’ve always wanted as a child. I tried to sell it so I didn't have to haul it over, but no one wanted it when I needed it gone. After I moved, it sold for $80, and I only got it for $50. Once I let that go, I was able to let go of my dining table too, which I got for $50 and resold for $80. It was a really pretty set, but it just didn’t fit the space I had.

4. IKEA Organizer
Like a basic girl, I had an 8-cube organizer as my tv stand. It was beautiful and everything, but just too bulky. I was able to get rid of it before my move; got it for $20 and resold for $60.
The next items I need to get rid of are:

• Small toaster oven
• Futon
• Bedframe
• Coffee Table
• Clothes, lots of clothes (I am down to one closet now though :D)
• Kitchen items/utensils

After all that, the only big item I’ll be left with is my 65 inch tv, desk/tv stand, and big sofa. I can’t let go of the sofa at all. It has too much memories and it’s extremely comfortable. I have considered giving my parents the 65 and going back to a 40 inch tv, but I’m just so used to my 65. I just remembered to include my awesome foamy mattress. It was pretty mind blowing when it was leaned on the wall when not in used. All of a sudden, the room expanded. I guess that was my moment of realization that it felt good to decluttered.

I hope this entry inspired you to get rid of a few items. Thank you for reading!

I knew I had student loans before I moved out of free housing with my parents to live on my own. While living on my own, I racked up my credit cards because I qualified for them :D That was very bad, so don't be like me.

After having student loans and credit card balances for over three years, I decided that this year (2018) was the year to tackle it as mentioned in my previous blog.

It's been about three months in and I've been doing really good. I paid off two student loans so far and going on the third one in March (what's up with the threes?). With my couponing math skills, paying debt is just a number's game. How much do I make and how much am I going to pay my debt? It sounds so easy, but trust me, it sucks the life out of you and you have to hustle hard, but at the same time, it'll all be worth it. Just keep your eye at the light of the tunnel. That freedom.

I am better at self-discipline this time around paying off my balances because not only do I already have the necessities in life, but also teaching myself to get rid of the habit of spending. With couponing, I have not spent much on clothing and food, which made up a majority of my spending habits. I can coupon clothes and food for less than $1 and free if I wanted to.

I ignored my debt for the longest time because I constantly wanted things and told myself it was OK TO HAVE DEBT. But it is not at all!! My 2011 Camry is going to be paid off this November and I am so excited. With that timeline, I am so motivated to pay off everything else off as well. I also don't want to go into my 30's with any debt either (three again?). Big things happen at 30, the #1 answer on Family Feud of the most expensive age in life: house, wedding, kids, and previous debt. It can all be done, but I am going to spread out the expenses. That isn't a choice for some; they are stuck. For me, it's important that I am in control of my life though.

Another motivation to pay off debt is to get a bigger debt: mortgage loan! lol. With my debt paid off, I will be able to get a $900+/month mortgage by myself. The thing with a mortgage is paying interests ($1k+/year guaranteed), but wait, I'm not paying it! I'm renting it :D. I could've been here three years ago, but oh well, I am going to get this all done now instead.

If you haven't reached this point in your life and you're still in your spending phase, it's ok. You can do it in your twenties all you want, but when you're close to 30, you will realize it, so I suggest you take the lesson out of this post to NOT TAKE ON ANY UNNECESSARY DEBT and also PAY OFF ANY DEBT you have, even if it's just $20 or $50 extra a week.

I have no idea how it all really happens, but it's a mix of a normal 30 hr job, 2 part-time, reselling, and side jobs on the weekends. March/April is extra special because I hope I'll get back at least $1.5k from my refund. I made so much more money three years ago, so I spent more and paid so much less for my debut. But there's a saying by J.K. Rowling:

'Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.'

I abused my "privilege" salary and now I have to redeem myself with my average salary. It's ok. It sucks, but I caused it to myself, and I will also undo it myself.

Thank you for reading. I hope my financial journey motivates you to take care of yours. You can follow me here:
https://werkhang.tumblr.com/
https://www.instagram.com/werkhang/

Happy (late) International Women's Day! The Breadwinner is on Netflix! Go watch it now! I think it's a great way to celebrate the day by watching a movie about a young girl who overcomes discrimination, inequality, and fear.

“Here's to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”

First of all, when my sister Yerisawesome told everyone in my family that the Breadwinner was on Netflix, my mind processed the trailer for First They Killed My Father because Angelina Jolie was a producer. After two minutes in, I differentiated the two. Here's the Google summary.

Summary: Parvana is an 11-year-old girl who lives under Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001. After the wrongful arrest of her father, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy to support her family. Working alongside a friend, she soon discovers a new world of freedom and danger. Drawing strength from the fantastical stories she invents, Parvana embarks on an epic quest to find her father and reunite her family. (Google.com)

I only watch a movie if it's good in the first five minutes and if it's not, I stop. The Breadwinner will grab your attention from beginning to end. I was touched by the entire movie. I resonated with everything and my heart felt everything the movie presented. This movie reflected all the women and moments in my family as a Hmong female.

The film takes place during a time that discriminates women (and still do?), which was why Parvana had to cut off her hair to be a boy. The beginning of the film shows how women are treated for simply being a woman, which is nothing. They can't do anything without a male "chaperone," even vendors can't sell anything to them. Discriminating women is practiced everywhere in the world, just at different levels. Of course, I am angry that and I resonate that with Parvana. It simply never makes sense.

The short Google summary doesn't give you the details that Parvana's father is a teacher. As a teacher, he taught Parvana how to read and write. This reminded me of my dad as an (uncertified) educator, philosopher, and politic. My dad was one of the handfuls that knew how to read and write during the Vietnam War and was appointed to be a Hmong historian by General Vang Pao. Growing up, I never appreciated his passion to read and write, and especially correcting facts when necessary. With all this politics going on, it's all making sense to me and why I really enjoy Stephen Colbert covering the news. Back to the point of education, it is restricted, especially for girls.

The importance of education was displayed as a skill. Parvana and her father sat on the street to offer reading and writing. I was confused with what they were trying to do/market in the beginning but after her father was taken away, a vendor gave her a letter to read and paid her, in her disguise as a boy because girls were banned from reading.

As cliche as it sounds, knowledge is power and people that live in a country that doesn't have to climb mountains and waters take it for granted. When I think about that statement, I think about my mom. She would be on a completely different track if she was more educated. Every time we lacked our school work, she always said she wished she had access to education. Every time we don't want to go to work, she wished she understood English so she can work an office job. My mom may not have an "educational degree," but she accomplishes so much more than people with a degree. Nothing was ever impossible for her to achieve. She always had the mindset of "it can be done" and that is in my genes. I've always lived a determined life because of her.

I don't want to say too much; the movie can speak for itself. This entry was rushed, so my thoughts weren't as organized and there are just too many things that come to my mind when I reflect on the movie. You just have to watch it to feel it. Thank you for reading this post.

My mom, sisters and I are going to see the cherry blossoms in DC this April! You can come too, just not with us. But I/we did the research. Believe me, it was not easy to agree with six (+baby sister) very strong, educated, and ambitious girls. Each person did their own research of how it was best traveled and it took us two days to finally get the ball rolling. Here are the costs so far:

• $99 – roundtrip flight from Chicago (ORD) to Baltimore (BWI) with Spirit, Saturday morning to Monday morning. It’s cheaper to fly from major airports and “shitty” airlines. In addition to that, a $40 rebate popped up after my purchase. When I called the phone number to get directions about how to get it, they asked if I fly Spirit most of the time and I said yes, so they my rebate changed to $50. Sounds nice, but it does require some effort to get it. 1) Must be enrolled in their FUN program for $1 the first month and $16.99 after 2) The rebate will only mail or be active if the membership is active too. 
• $7/way – Train from BWI to DC, where the cherry blossoms is 
• $25/night lodging – $150/night split by 6. Yes, we are sharing a room 
• $6/day car parking
• =$181 and potentially -$50 rebate = $131 for the bare cost to get to DC. 

Other costs that haven’t been calculated and will vary by traveler:

• Uber/taxi fees
• Food
• Admission fees 

FLIGHT: Our flight is flying Saturday morning. The ORD group didn’t want to go on Friday night because we didn’t want to land at midnight, just to sleep over there. Not just that, it was a bit more. So if you find yourself in a situation like that, you can decide if you want to save cost or be prepare for the next day, which was the other group flying from MSP.

TRANSPORTATION: One huge topic we couldn’t decide on was rent or uber/taxi. A lot of travel sites and video suggest to avoid driving yourself at all cost. I think it makes sense if you’re traveling in a group under 4. For our group of 8, I still stand that it’s the same cost, therefore I would choose a car rental. However, we are moving forward with no rental.

BOOKING FLIGHT TIPS: 1) If you choose your own seat, there is a charge, at least with Spirit Airlines. My sisters and I choose to save $11 each way by not sitting with each other; we all gon get there. I wouldn’t advise this if you’re flying for the first time ever in your life. 2) If you’re sitting separate anyway, I also recommend purchasing them separate. I was able to get two special pop up offers with two different transactions. That’s really nice if it’s a rebate, which make sure you’re using two different addresses too. Most rebates are 1 per household. 3) Always do any kind of reservation in private/incognito mode. Supposedly the sites track your ip and change the rates if they see you’re visiting often. 4) Book directly with the airlines once you’ve compared your prices. If you want to read more tips about flight purchases, click here

I think I am a great traveling person/buddy. I adjust to anything and any plans. Some people have die hard plans that they have to meet. For me, I just want to get out there. I told my sisters that I have no care to see cherry blossoms, our main purpose, if that’s what it comes down to. I hate the idea of getting mad over an agenda; this ain’t a job.

Why cherry blossoms? My oldest sister wanted to see it, I think. She’s always been in love with it from a young age. I just like seeing new places.

Thanks for tuning in. I can’t wait to write the after trip entry of how everything went, lol. Seven girls with brains going on a trip is going to be a lot of educated recommendations and preference.

Although I'm sad about missing an exam for a job that is near impossible to get in, I think God has a plan for me. It was just too odd that I forgot about it. I posted it on my IG, Google calendar, and even saw it last night. I knew forever about this exam, I knew it every single day of this week and somehow I missed it on the day of. I wake up everyday and look at my emails and notifications and it was just completely out of my radar this morning.

But God always tells me that they're watching, so I got over it. Maybe I didn't get it because God knows me better than myself; I hustle too much and this schedule will drag me somewhere down the line and I'll be in the same spot.

How do I know? It's always the numbers, I'm telling you! Every time I coupon and the numbers work out, it's seriously because of God. A friend and I both went to coupon at the same store, did the exact same deal, and with the exact same coupon. She ended up paying tax and my transaction was completely free, which was the deal. When I'm stressed out about something (like the other day), my mistakes or previous decisions shows up in the form of numbers. That's exactly what happened today!

First, I miss the exam and all. That led me to being sad and beating myself up, "Why am I so stupid? How did I miss it? How can I miss it?" Guys, I have never missed an interview or exam in my entire life. I don't do that to myself, and somehow I happen forgot...as if it was being blocked...by someone. I woke up all morning knowing I had to be somewhere, only to find out after the time passed.

This is where/how I have these moments I know God is watching. My sister called me and told me that we're giving $50 each to a relative in Thailand. I said ok. She said to Facebook pay my brother who is at home, who will withdraw the cash and give it to my mom to do the transfer. And this next part is where it gets weird, and a confirmation from God. Instead of sending my brother the money, my sister sent it to me without realizing it. Our portion total is $100 now. Now I have to send my brother $100 for our portions with Facebook pay, but then somehow my facebook pay account wasn't working too and my brother doesn't have a paypal either. This lead me to give the $100 to my other sister who has one. Coincidentally, I bought our tickets to DC together and she didn't get a chance to give me her part, which happened to be DING, DING, DING $100.

Literally, this means I no longer have to do any transfers. But for me, this is also a confirmation from God that there is a plan for me and God knows me better than myself. I'm sad it didn't work out. I wanted it really bad. But I am now at peace knowing God has a better plan for me.

Thank you for reading this post. Have a wonderful day/night!