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ARE YOU A BLACK WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR SEEKING TO ...

■ Grow your business to $1Million+.

■ Transition from side-hustler to CEO.

■ Be inspired by and learn from a community of BOSSES.

■ Easily access info about small business grants, funding and business opportunities.

■ Gain insider tips and information about business funding options.

■ Succeed in business AND be inspired to practice self-care.

■ Discover Black women-owned and socially responsible brands.

■ Meet authentic champions of Black women-owned businesses who want you to succeed.

■ Have fun!

The same method holds for many As-Seen-On-TV pain relief creams, some of which contain ingredients contraindicated to your medical regimen. You decide to give it a try, and put it on your card, only to learn that it contains wintergreen, which cannot be used if you are taking blood thinners, or perhaps the key ingredient is turmeric – great to fight inflammation, but not such a good idea if you take prescription heart medications. It may seem a waste of your time and energy to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing over-the-counter remedies (after all, they're harmless, right?), but even if you don't have any conflicting health issues your wallet will certainly thank you!

Some people see a product on TV and decide they need it now or ASAP, so they visit Amazon. They find the item, and they order it. As they checkout, they get a notice that if they are using Prime, they need to add another item to bring the total to $35.00. They followed the advice, and now the total is $50.00. You see an offer from Affirm that you can pay in installments using a preferred credit card. You apply because, after all, it is just four payments of a small amount, and you can easily cover that. You are approved, and Affirm does not report to the credit bureaus. Your purchase is done, and you are approved. But wait, a birthday is just around the corner, your anniversary is in a couple of weeks, and your favorite author has just released a new book. You pay using Affirm. Now you have two Affirm accounts, along with your other impulse cookware purchase and vitamin purchase. You are elated that your items will arrive in a day or two. Life is good.

The items arrive, and three weeks later, you begin getting overdraft notices from your bank. It is two weeks before your next payday, so you take out a short-term loan to clear the overdrafts. You now have an interest loan, and the new payments will last longer than the installment payments on Affirm. You have now reached the financial danger zone. Your debt ratio has increased significantly, you have a new hit on your credit score, and you have no way to earn or access more money What can you do to turn things around?

You can start by decreasing the amount of time for impulse buying. Make fewer trips to stores that trigger the behavior Set a time limit for shopping, keeping it as short as possible. Make a list and, if necessary, have things delivered. The fees will be significantly less than making an impulsive purchase. Don't shop when you are emotional, i.e., sad, depressed, or take someone who dislikes shopping with you. Only buy what you need and can afford without using credit cards. Do not be a joiner Do your due diligence and research items before purchasing. Read the reviews. If the item is medically related, check with your healthcare provider first, or call your pharmacist to ensure the ingredients don't interfere with your established medical regimen. Keep a journal of your feelings every day Opt out of email subscriptions for products, news outlets, and other product updates.

We are all tempted at one time or another to impulse buy gum, mints, the irresistible candy bar, bag of chips, or a soft drink, but just keep it to under a couple of bucks and you will be fine!