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      17 amazing business lunch deals to take advantage of in Dubai

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      To get a change of scenery from meetings in the office, or if you’re looking to try out a brand new restaurant in Dubai, take advantage of these fabulous business lunch deals.Having recently opened its first Dubai brand after being a huge success in Abu Dhabi, if you’ve been thinking about trying 99 Sushi then their business lunch could be the perfect time to do so. Their ‘Omakase’ business lunch – which means “leave it with me” – includes nine courses of incredible Japanese cuisine for Dhs149.For a sky-high business lunch, Ce La Vi has to be your go-to. With a fabulous contemporary Asian menu, you’ll get three courses for Dhs140. The package also includes water, tea and coffee as beverages. Alongside an incredible meal, you’ll also be treated to unparalleled views of the Burj Khalifa and the whole of Dubai.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-3pm.
      BB Social Dining

      Enjoy the best of BB Social Dining at their 4B business lunch. Literally incorporating the 4B’s: bites, baos, bowls and BBQs, this wallet-friendly business lunch at the DIFC hotspot is the perfect place to get away from the office for the afternoon. Running from 12 to 4pm, prices start from Dhs30 per person.
      Couqley

      Fancy a French feast for lunch and based near JLT? Couqley is the place to go. On weekdays, it’s the perfect spot for a lunch meeting with its two-course deal for Dhs99 – this can consist of two starters, a starter and a main or a main and a dessert. Signature dishes including the grilled portobello to start, salmon for main and chocolate fondant are a must-try.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-3pm.
      Indochine

      Infusing French cuisine with Vietnamese, Indochine’s business lunch is the perfect time to try the famous DIFC hotspot for the first time. For Dhs120 you can get one salad, one roll and one main. Popular dishes on the set menu include vegetable summer rolls, amok cambodgien and jungle curry.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12.30-3.30pm.
      La Serre

      Traditional French restaurant La Serre recently launched a new business lunch deal. The Rendez-vous lunch menu is priced at Dhs110 for two-courses and Dhs130 for three courses. The varied menu includes a choice of red bream ceviche marinated in tiger milk with tomato confit and chilli, grilled prawns with spinach cream, or a cherry tomato salad with goat’s cheese and hazelnut to start. For mains, select from either fish of the day served with crushed potato, asparagus and lobster sauce, chicken breast supreme with mashed potato, green beans and Périgueux sauce, or homemade gnocchi with endive and blue cheese sauce.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-5pm.
      LPM Restaurant & Bar

      Perfect for lunch meetings, especially if you’re craving some quintessential French cuisine, LPM Restaurant & Bar has an express lunch menu. The two-course menu priced at Dhs135 per person is designed for guests to be served within 60 minutes, making it the ideal location for an out-of-office meeting with clients.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-3pm.
      The Maine Land Brasserie

      For a chic and grand setting for a lunch meeting during the week, look no further than the Maine Land Brasserie in Business Bay. With Wagyu beef tataki and tuna tartare on the many for starters and shrimp linguini and roasted eggplant for mains, as well as a sticky toffee pudding for dessert, it’s a deal you can’t pass up. For Dhs130 you get one starter, one main, one dessert, water and coffee.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-4pm.
      Roberto’s
      For an Italian feast with a new on the menu each week Roberto’s is the place to go. It’s Dhs125 for a starter, main and dessert.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-3pm.
      ROKA

      Given that this new Business Bay eatery only launched just before the pandemic, you may have not had a chance to try out the new Japanese Robatayaki restaurant ROKA. Their business lunch deal is the perfect time to visit the new Downtown Dubai hotspot to try some of their signature dishes including the sake teriyaki and gyuhireniku wagyu. For Dhs115 you’ll get four starters and a main course.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-3pm.
      Zuma
      For a luxurious and chic lunch setting, Zuma is the place to go. It’s Dhs137 for soup, two starters and one main.
      The business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday 12-2pm.
      Cipriani

      Enjoy a leisurely lunch out of the office at Cipriani in DIFC. For Dhs150 per person enjoy three courses which includes some of their fresh salads like the fennel and avocado with shaved Parmesan cheese; signature mains including their handmade Italian pastas or homemade potato gnocchi; and for dessert choose from some of their signatures including pistachio ice cream topped with rich chocolate sauce, candied nuts and cherries.
      This business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday from 12pm-5pm.
      L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

      If you’ve been looking to try this new fine-dining French restaurant, which only opened at the end of 2020, then their business lunch deal for Dhs129 per person is the perfect time to do so.
      This business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday from 11.30am-3.30pm.
      Shanghai ME

      This DIFC hotspot, which is one of Sheikh Mohammed’s favourites, has one of the best business lunches on offer where you get three courses for Dhs120.
      This business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday from 12pm-2.30pm.
      Kayto

      Enjoy some delectable cuisine with Burj Al Arab views at Kayto in Jumeriah Al Naseem with their business lunch deal. Enjoy three courses for Dhs130 per person.
      This business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.
      Samakje

      Head to Samakje at The Pointe Palm Jumeriah for the ultimate business lunch deal for just Dhs95 which features fresh seafood, mezze including lobster kibbeh and fish tajin and delectable desserts including cheesecake and chocolate mousse pastilla.
      This business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday from 12pm-3pm.
      Tulum

      If you happen to find yourself at Dubail Mall during the week, then pop in to Tulum to take advantage of their three-course business lunch deal. For Dhs199 per person enjoy an array of traditional Mexican dishes from starters, to mains to dessert.
      This business lunch runs from Sunday-Thursday from 12pm-3pm.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied More

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      The estimated dates for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr have been announced

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      The predicted dates for the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr have been announced.
      As per UAE Barq, Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, who is a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, has estimated when the crescent will appear to mark the beginning of Ramadan.

      Al-Jarwan expects the Ramadan crescent to be born on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 06:31pm UAE time. The holy month of Ramadan would then begin the next day on Tuesday, April 13.
      ALSO READ: All the UAE public holidays coming up in 2021
      However, these dates are only predictions at present and the firm dates will be announced by the UAE government.

      Eid Al Fitr then falls on the last day of the Islamic month of Ramadan to Shawwal 3. It’s been predicted that Eid al Fitr could fall on May 13, a Thursday, which would mean a potential three-day weekend.
      Public holidays for 2021
      At the end of last year, public holidays for 2021 and 2022 were announced by the UAE cabinet following a meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai.
      His Highness approved the holidays for the following two years for both public and private sector employees.
      This decision, according to Sheikh Mohammed, is to streamline the work in both sectors, as well as being able to give UAE citizens and residents a longer lead time to plan holidays.

      مجلس الوزراء برئاسة صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم يعتمد أجندة العطلات الرسمية للعاملين في القطاع الحكومي والخاص لعامي 2021 و 2022، وذلك في إطار تنظيم سير العمل في القطاعين وضمان استمراريته مع مختلف القطاعات. #حكومة_الإمارات pic.twitter.com/UaU7tOdL9v
      — UAEGov (@uaegov) December 19, 2020

      The holiday dates for 2021 and 2022 are as follows.
      2021
      January 1: New Year
      29 Ramadan to 3 Shawwal: Eid Al Fitr
      9 Zul Hijjah: Arafah Day
      10 to 12 Zul Hijjah: Eid Al Adha
      August 12: Islamic New Year
      October 21: Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday
      December 1: Commemoration Day
      December 2 and 3: National Day
      2022
      January 1: New Year
      Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3: Eid Al Fitr
      Zul Hijjah 9: Arafah Day
      Zul Hijjah 10 to 12: Eid Al Adha
      July 30: Islamic New Year
      October 8: Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday
      December 1: Commemoration Day
      December 2 and 3: UAE National Day
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Feature Image: Abu Dhabi Tourism More

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      Here’s who is eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Dubai

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      Just before Christmas, it was announced that Dubai had approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be administered in the emirate.
      After undergoing numerous clinical trials, the vaccine has been found to have 95 per cent efficacy. With that, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has outlined exactly who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

      At present, senior citizens of all nationalities with a valid residence visa over 60 years are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Similarly, people with chronic diseases which include, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, liver and kidney diseases, hypertension, obesity and people with a BMI of 35 or more.

      People with disabilities, often known as ‘people of determination’ in the emirates; frontline workers in the public and private sector, including medical staff, non-medical hospital workers, emergency services and employees in sensitive and vital positions, such as government employees working to tackle the pandemic are also eligible.
      However, there are certain categories which aren’t yet eligible to get the vaccine as per the DHA including pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, people with immunodeficiency diseases and more.

      At present, individuals receiving the vaccine require to have two doses spaced three weeks apart.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Feature Image: Visit Dubai Instagram More

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      The ultimate round-up of the best rooftops in Dubai

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      As the UAE’s cooler climate continues, now is the time to savour these next few months being able to sit outside with these gorgeous al-fresco hotspots with stunning views overlooking Dubai’s skyline.
      ALSO READ: 7 chic outdoor restaurants to watch the sunset from in Dubai
      Whether it’s a sunset dinner you’re looking for or a daytime brunch in the fresh air with fantastic views, these lofty perches with city views are just the ticket.
      Cé La Vi

      Taking rooftop dining to the highest level, while indulging in delicious Asian food, guests can enjoy a magnificent ambience with captivating views of Dubai. Ce La Vi offers an outdoor oasis with sweeping city views, right in front of the Burj Khalifa, located at Address Sky View Hotel in Downtown, they’re the masters of serving contemporary Asian cuisine straight to your plate.
      Pure Sky Lounge

      Situated on the 34th floor of Hilton Dubai The Walk, with stunning views of Dubai’s coastline and the iconic Palm Jumeriah, the lounge provides a choice for lounging with an impressing live entertainment setting while adding a few playful twists on classics and serving inventive concoctions.
      Amazonico

      Located in the heart of DIFC with jaw-dropping views of the city’s skyline, Amazónico is a luxury hotspot that’s a must-try. Open from 6pm until late, the rooftop is the perfect place for post-work sundowners, pre-dinner cocktails or leisurely al-fresco catch-ups.
      Luna Sky Bar

      With special blends and spectacular skyline views, this luminous rooftop lounge was designed by Adam Tihany, with elevated cocktails and international bites served on this expansive terrace. Located at the Four Seasons in DIFC, the structure is designed to evoke the symbolism of the falcon.
      Treehouse

      This urban rooftop overlooks the Burj Khalifa with an outdoor patio setting. From chilled tunes to Mediterranean-Asian fusion bites which are utterly irresistible, located at Taj Dubai, this lounge is definitely a must-visit.
      Mercury Lounge

      With Mediterranean vibes in the heart of the Middle East, this dynamic Dubai rooftop has one-of-a-kind views overlooking the Dubai skyline and the Burj Khalifa, with a glamourous rooftop and a relaxed atmosphere as you. Tune in to the vibes of the Cote D’Azur. Located at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, this new concept is a must-try.
      La Mezcaleria

      This vibrant hotspot is located at the rooftop of the Oberoi Hotel in Business Bay. It’s the perfect place for weekend sundowners with friends and sweeping views of Downtown Dubai.
      Atelier M

      Encompassing various floors, this fabulous restaurant is an art-deco inspired lounge with evening entertainment and a rooftop terrace offering one of a kind views of Dubai Marina while offering a luxury dining experience and impeccable service. Located at Pier 7, the restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine with a twist.
      Folly by Nick & Scott

      Along with the views of serene waters, the sensational menu delivered by chef duo Nick and Scott, tickles your tastebuds with its exquisite range of seasonal treats with enchanting views of the Burj Al Arab at Souq Madinat Jumeirah.
      SoBe

      This alfresco dining terrace has gorgeous sunset views with South Beach-style cuisine at W Dubai. From views of Dubai’s skyline to catch glimpses of roaming entertainment through live performances, the deco includes street style with a touch of modernity.
      Asia Asia

      The exotic, award-winning Pan-Asian fusion cuisine in a beautiful setting is inspired by the culinary delights of the Far East offering its unique atmosphere and style at an exotic destination. Located at Pier 7, the venue offers chic views overlooking the yachts.
      Roka

      Situated in The Opus Business Bay, a building designed by Zaha Hadid, Roka has brought its unique style of contemporary Japanese Robatayaki cuisine to Dubai and it’s an absolute must-try. Roka’s terrace has unbeatable views of the Burj Khalifa and the Downtown Dubai skyline.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied/Instagram More

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      Khalid Al Ameri and Salama Mohamed TikTok’d their way to Burj Khalifa

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      Khalid Al Ameri and Salama Mohamed have already reached new heights and we’re less than a week into 2021.
      The social media star couple have cultivated a huge online following by sharing their innovative content and entertaining and inspiring stories. This has now led them to being featured on the tallest building n the world.

      In their recent collaboration with TikTok, where the couple creates daily videos for their followers, Khalid and Salama have had their latest piece of content projected on the world’s tallest tower.
      Khalid announced the exciting news that he and Salama had “TikTok’d [their] way to the Burj Khalifa” to his 1.2 million followers

      “Can’t believe it,” he added. “Thank you [TikTok Arab creators] for the incredible opportunity and all of the support you have given our work, we are so excited for the year ahead and all the stories we are going to tell together”.

      Not only do the pair create lighthearted and funny videos to share with their audience, they also continually share stories of inspiration and triumph.
      Khalid has previously discussed how his son’s autism has changed him for the better in a heartfelt video, raising awarness for World Autism Day in 2020, and has also made a brave video about his wife’s skin condition, vitiligo, which she has had since she was young.
      Last year, Salama told Emirates Woman her husband’s video about her vitiligo – which was made two years ago – still brings tears to her eyes.
      However, the video is a reminder for Salama on how far she has come on her journey to self-love. Today, Salama embraces her condition with “every inch” of her being, and she’s actually more than happy to answer people’s questions if they ask about it.
      “[It means] I can explain and educate, so I can support other women and men going through what I went through, to let them know they are not alone, and that we are beautiful in our own unique way,” she told EW.
      From debunking myths to making videos on to being social media stars, Khalid Al Ameri and Salama Mohamed adding their own twist with satirical flair to simple couple problems, they’ve managed to become social media stars, loved by all.
      From debunking myths to making videos on to being social media stars, Khalid and Salama adding their own twist with satirical flair to simple couple problems, they’ve managed to become social media stars, loved by all.
       – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Khalid Al Ameri Instagram More

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      Want to Launch Your Business This Year? Read This First

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      I love the fresh start that a new year presents. The metaphorical clean slate; the revitalized energy to work and plan toward your goals. What better time than this to start thinking about launching your business? Something that has always helped me in my freelance work is recognizing that it’s all about progress over perfection. Following a few key checks and then just unleashing your idea or services or products onto the world and using that trial and error to strengthen and fortify your work and your business. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together eight important things to put in place before you launch your biz this year—everything from figuring out your current ideal clients to strategically launching your website with our go-to platform, Squarespace. Read on to start planning for your own launch, and don’t miss our free checklists! 

      1. Narrow in on your niche 
      I used to think that if the market was saturated it meant that I shouldn’t even consider entering it. If other graphic designers are out there creating brands for clients, why should I do it too? Oh, how wrong I was.
      Now I realize that we can all coexist within the market by narrowing in on niches. What do you bring to the table that is different from everyone else? Even if your products are similar—for example, brand and logo design—who are your specific ideal clients or customers? How does your business work in a way no one else’s does? When you get really detailed with these questions, you’ll hit on your niche and the place where your business will operate the best. Before you do anything else for your business this year,  take a moment to answer these questions. And remember, your niche can grow and change as your business and you do. This is just a blueprint for your next year. Who do you want to attract? Who are your dream clients? 

       
      2. Map out your services, products, or rates 
      After you’ve narrowed in on who exactly your ideal customers and clients are, it’s time to do an inventory of everything you’re offering. If you’re a service-based business, determine your pricing model. Will you bill by an hourly rate? Or a per-project rate? Do your research to determine what others in your industry are doing. Transparency within pricing has come such a long way over the years and the detailed cost information available now is so helpful when you’re starting out. Try a tool like How Much Should I Charge? or seek out peers or thought leaders in your field on places like Instagram, where they might be sharing about their process. As a designer with a branding and lettering studio, I love how open Molly Jacques has been about her pricing model. She creates lots of helpful pricing examples for designers, like this one. 
      If you’re a product-based business, seek out similar shops and do your research on the going rate-per-product. Map out your business costs like keeping inventory, shipping, and packaging and be sure you’re charging enough to avoid a deficit. Remember, these numbers aren’t carved in stone either. You’re allowed to raise your prices as your business grows and evolves. 
      READ: Here’s How to Charge What You’re Actually Worth

      Source: @kellyetz

      3. Start tracking your time 
      Even if you’re not planning to charge by hourly rate, tracking your time can be essential. Figuring out how long tasks actually take you—everything from packaging products to emailing clients—will help you determine your rates and understand how much time you’re putting into your business overall. You’ll be able to map out how much work you can realistically take on, whether you’re a full-time business owner or a freelancer or anywhere in between. To get started, try a time-tracking app like Harvest or Toggl. 

      4. Figure out your finances 
      Now that you have all your info gathered for what you want to charge and how long tasks and projects are actually taking you, it’s time to do a deep dive into your finances. This is definitely something I’ve struggled with in my freelance business, and trust me: figuring out a system for tracking your money right from the get-go is essential. It will save you so much time and headache later on. Start tracking every dollar that is coming in and out of your business so you can get an accurate picture of what you’re making. This will also save you during tax season, when you’ll have to account for how much you owe. 
      This is also where you’ll want to account for all the services you use to run your business. A huge reason I love Squarespace (and use it for my freelance biz) is that so many services are bundled in one place, so I don’t need to be juggling tons of different sites and logins. With Squarespace, I run my website and my online shop, integrate my email marketing, pull stock photography, link my shipping fulfillment automations, and more. That synchronicity saves me tons of time and effort. 
      READ: 7 Things to Do for Your Business RN to Save Time and Money Later

      Source: Social Squares

      5. Do a brand identity check 
      When you’re just starting out, you may not need all the bells and whistles of a full brand identity, but having things like a simple and chic logo, a predetermined color palette, and brand fonts will help your business look instantly elevated and pulled-together.
      Remember that a huge part of a successful business is about first impressions. What your audience sees when they first land on your website or your social media channels can determine whether or not they become a client or shop with your business. So you’ll want to put your best foot forward with your design. The good news is, you don’t necessarily need to hire a designer or invest in a lot of fancy design programs when you’re getting started. If you’re looking to DIY initial branding until you’re ready to invest, focus on keeping things simple and minimal. I always say to go with a text-based logo to start. Pick a font that you like, type in your business name, and go. If you have a Squarespace site, they make this process so easy by allowing you to create your text-based logo when you’re creating your site, with hundreds of high-quality fonts to choose from. Or, try out Squarespace’s free logo maker tool for a quick logo that still looks professional and modern.

      Keep in mind that minimal and simple don’t equal boring, especially in the design world. And by minimalism I don’t mean that you have to only use one font or just use black and white as your color scheme. It’s more about letting the simplicity of something speak for itself. If you get stuck, create a moodboard of designs that you like and refer back to that when needed. What colors do they have in common? What elements are repeated over and over? Squarespace also comes with pre-made font and color palette options, which is a great way to get started with something you know will look good. You can select different options from the backend of your site, and see the changes in real time, helping you create a site that looks cohesive without the headache of trying to figure it all out yourself from scratch. 
      READ: A Branding Expert Shares the Most Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

      6. Launch your website 
      As you’re figuring out the look and feel of your brand, it’s a great time to start putting together your website and preparing it for your launch. As I mentioned earlier, Squarespace is my go-to website platform, not just for myself but also for my freelance clients looking to build a site or online store. 
      I’m a big believer that at first, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to website design. I’ve backed myself into a corner many times by being too much of a perfectionist about my site, and then not having anything to launch at all. Remember, progress over perfection, in all areas of your business. I love that Squarespace allows you to start with demo content so that you can plug-and-play your own text and photos to get going. Not having to start totally from scratch makes such a difference in the time and effort it will take to build out your site.
      READ: Ready to Publish Your Website? Read This SEO Checklist First

      Source: @ayyonks

      7. Create a marketing schedule 
      Time to start planning how you’ll get all your beautiful work out into the world. If you want your business to thrive, you’ll want to be reaching new customers and clients on the platforms that make the most sense to you. Remember those questions you answered earlier? They’ll already start coming in handy as you analyze where your ideal clients are—whether that is Instagram, LinkedIn, email inboxes, a combination of all of the above, etc. 
      A little trial and error is completely normal here, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see hundreds of clients rolling in in the first week. This is where creating a marketing schedule will help, because you can refer back to what you’ve already tried and those results and tailor your future strategies accordingly. Utilize the data as it rolls in as well—keep track of where your traffic is coming from to your website to help you understand which platforms are working the best for you. Squarespace makes this easy with integrated analytics right within your site dashboard. 

      READ: Your Business Marketing Strategy, According to Your Enneagram

      8. Celebrate 
      You did it! Taking the time to be proud of where you’re at and how far you’ve come is so important and will help you continue to drive and care for your biz throughout the year. Celebrate your wins with your community as well, it will help people get to know you and start rooting for your success right alongside you. 

      This post is sponsored by Squarespace, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

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      6 Changes I’ve Made on My Journey to Being Debt-Free

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      Last summer, in the midst of planning a wedding and a cross-country move, I found myself in a real financial mess. While I wasn’t delinquent on payments or behind on my rent, I had no clue how I’d cover my upcoming expenses. It became pretty clear that, despite having a great job and a degree from an impressive university, I was broke.I’m one of the millions of Americans who graduated from college with student loan debt. And in my case, after paying on my loans for five years, I still had a six-figure balance and monthly payments equivalent to a second rent! And in conjunction with credit card bills and a car note, I was one missed paycheck away from spiraling out of control.
      I had a decision to make. If I ever wanted to realize my dreams of buying a home, traveling the world, and—most importantly—building wealth for my future family, something had to change. So I pushed past my self-doubt, frustration, and embarrassment, and started attacking my debt, one dollar at a time. And today, I’m more than halfway to a $0 balance. Here are six changes I’ve made along my journey.
       
      1. I convinced myself it was possible
      Prior to embarking on this journey, I was clueless as to how bad my financial situation really was. I could pay my bills on time, enjoy local restaurants and bars, shop every so often, and still have a few dollars in my account in between paychecks. In my mind, I was doing well!
      In reality, I was barely staying afloat. And it took a few wake up calls—like barely having enough for my bills after an unexpected doctor’s visit and realizing I couldn’t scrape together the deposit for my dream wedding photographer—to get my head out of the clouds. Aside from $200 in a “savings” account that I dipped into every time my checking account went into overdraft, I had nothing to fall back on. And when I finally worked up the nerve to open all my statements and tally up my balances, I could barely breathe. 
      How am I ever going to pay this off?
      After a minor meltdown and a self-loathing session, I had a decision to make. While I had no idea how I would get it done, I knew I’d never be debt-free if I accepted defeat before I gave it a solid effort. I spent time envisioning, in great detail, what my life could look like if I was debt-free, free from monthly payments, and no longer living paycheck to paycheck. It may sound silly, but focusing on the life I can live once I’m financially stable became my biggest motivation. And with Future Me in mind, it became a lot easier to take tangible steps to close the distance between my current situation and the life I want.

      2. I said “no more” adding to my balances
      The most overwhelming aspect of my debt payoff journey was coming to grips with the daunting amount I owed. If I was somehow able to put every penny of my annual salary toward my debt, it would still take nearly two years to pay off. The reality of my circumstances helped me draw a hard line in the sand: if I was going to get myself out of this mess, I had to stop digging the hole I was in. That meant waving goodbye to my credit cards.
      I reluctantly dumped my credit cards out of my wallet (even the ones with the great travel perks) and started leaving the house without them. Going out with only cash and my debit card to rely on scared me and I started checking my balance obsessively, trying desperately to avoid the embarrassment of having a transaction declined.
      But, as uncomfortable and unenjoyable as turning my back on credit cards was, I saw a near-instant change. Getting in the habit of checking my account so often forced me to think about each purchase before and after I made it. I’d gone from using credit as a makeshift emergency fund when I ran out of money to only buying what I could actually afford. Taking credit off the table sparked a level of discipline I didn’t know I was capable of. 

      3.  I reduced my fixed expenses
      As I started looking into ways to save more money and speed up my debt payoff, it became clear that I needed to cut some of my expenses to free up some money. Despite some of the “easy” recommendations for savings, I really hated the idea of never ordering a cup of coffee on my journey to debt freedom. Instead, I looked for ways to keep my small pleasures by lessening my largest expenses—namely my housing.
      At the first opportunity I had, I downsized my apartment and signed a lease that helped me save over $200 each month. When this money freed up, with newly minted discipline on my side, I prepared to put the money toward my debt payments (as opposed to shopping, brunch, and entertainment).

      4. I drafted a realistic budget
      Before I got serious about paying off my debt, I would have incorrectly said that I knew how to budget. In reality, despite the budgeting apps and resources I had on my phone, I was simply tracking my spending. It wasn’t until I decided to start putting “extra” money toward my debt each month that I realized my approach was all wrong. I needed a true budget.
      I started by writing down the dates and expected amounts of my paychecks. Next, I listed every recurring bill or expense I had each month—like my rent, car payment, and student loan payment—and organized them by due date. From there, I bucketed my expenses by paycheck to ensure I’d have the money and my payments wouldn’t be late. Then I layered on the estimated costs of my essentials, like gas and groceries, and any other unavoidable costs I had coming up and split them across my paycheck buckets. With any money that was left, I set aside a portion for non-essentials, like brunches and happy hours, and set committed to using the rest to attack my debt.
      While the idea of budgeting initially stirred feelings of overwhelm, embarrassment, and restriction, I’ve come to see my budget as an organizational tool. Determining where my money will go and how much I’ll spend in certain categories at the start of each month takes the stress and emotion out of my payments and purchases. And I use a budgeting app so my goals and guidelines are always accessible.
      Since I’m the one in charge of drafting my budget each month, I can apply lessons learned and adapt my allocations month to month. I put a little less toward debt to fund holiday gifts, for instance, and more toward debt when I get a gift or bonus.

      5. I decided on a plan of attack
      Once I got organized and identified additional money I could put toward debt pay down each month, I needed to decide what to pay off first. After a bit of research, I decided between two popular debt payroll methods: the avalanche and the snowball. 
      If I used the avalanche method, I’d make additional payments on whichever debt has the highest interest rate. Once my highest interest debt was paid off, I would add whatever I was paying on it to the payments on my account with the next highest interest rate. This strategy would save money, as I’d pay less in interest over the course of my journey. 
      If I used the snowball method, I’d make additional payments on whichever debt had the lowest balance. Once my lowest balance debt was paid off, I would add whatever I was paying on it to the payments on the next lowest debt. This strategy would help me build momentum in my payoff journey, paying off my smallest debts quickly before focusing on my largest balances.
      My debt balances and interest rates really varied and, initially, I wasn’t sure which payoff method made the most sense for my situation. But when I considered how long my journey to debt freedom would be, I knew the snowball method would be my best bet. By focusing on my smallest balances first, I was able to celebrate a few “small wins” early on. When I paid off my first credit card (a $1,200 balance), for instance, I felt incredibly energized around my goal—I could do this! And after a year of following this approach, I paid off five separate accounts and am putting more money than ever toward my payments.

      6. I shared my goals with my girls
      Along this journey, I’ve learned just how tough it is to say “no, I can’t make it” when I actually mean “I’d love to come, but I’m broke!” But I knew that making real progress with my finances would mean scaling back on the (really enjoyable) money traps I set for myself each month. That meant fewer weekend brunches, weeknight happy hours, and aimless trips to Target. And it ultimately meant learning to say “I can’t” when my friends invited me out.
      Initially, I struggled with the embarrassment of being the (seemingly) “broke” one of the group and then the guilt of blowing my friends off. But after a few months of vague excuses and declined invitations, I gradually lowered my guard and let my friends know why they were seeing me less often. And despite my initial hesitation, sharing my goals with my family and friends was one of my best decisions since starting this journey. 
      While a few people couldn’t make sense of my efforts, most of my friends were quick to offer their support and understanding. And in the time since, many of them have stepped up to cheer me on or ask for advice on their own debt-free journeys. Even though I’m on a different personal finance journey than some, I loved that money has become less of a taboo topic in my friend groups. More

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      in lifestyle and culture

      Today marks 15 years of Sheikh Mohammed leading Dubai and the UAE

      by

      Today, January 4, 2021, marks 15 years of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s – the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai – leadership in Dubai and the UAE.
      Following the death of his elder brother, the late Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum on January 4, 2006, Sheikh Mohammed ascended into the role of Ruler of Dubai. The following day, 15 years ago, His Highness was then appointed as the new Vice President of the UAE by the Federal National Council and shortly after on February 11, 2006, President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan nominated Sheikh Mohammed as Prime Minister for the country, which was also approved by the council.

      Marking his 15 years in the role, which has seen Dubai and the UAE grow exponentially, His Highness penned an open letter which was posted to his social media channels outlining his continued efforts to support the success of the country and to “preserve its union, safeguard its interests, respect its constitution, and look after the interests of its people”.

      He outlined the many successes of the nation through the years which includes the strength of the UAE passport globally; legislative reform in the country; furthering financial literacy; being the second-largest economy in the Middle East; being a leader in the Arab region; and much, much more.
      His Highness also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in his letter.
      “During this journey, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has been the greatest friend, companion and leader,” he said.
      ‘Without his support, the federal government would not have succeeded and advanced at such speed. His wisdom, vision and unlimited support have enabled us to be among the best and most successful countries in the world.”
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Feature image Instagram @dubai More