Hi I'm Lauren Bowling, and I'm excited you're here! I'm on a mission to help people live their best life – and figure out how to pay for it. I've been blogging about personal finance, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and the money-self worth connection for nearly seven years now and I've been sharing what I've learned plus tips and tricks along the way.
Whatever you want to do: quit your job, start a family, travel the country in a van…I’m here to encourage it. But I know from first-hand experience how any big dream takes some type of money.
Which is where I come in: from a shopping addict with major debt to six-figure online entrepreneur- I‘m going to show you how money is the ultimate tool to help you live out your “best life.”
What I Believe About Money
The only way to live your best life is by taking control of your money.
You don't have to be an expert to manage your money well.
You'll never coupon your way to wealth. You gotta flex that hustle muscle instead.
Be gentle with yourself when it comes to money decisions.
Money is a lifelong process. You won't get it right all the time or learn how to be better with it overnight.
From Money Mess To Money Success
2009: Lauren graduates college with $10,000 of credit card debt from a shopping addiction.
2010: Moves to NYC to pursue an acting career, ends up as a receptionist at a big-money hedge fund.
2011: Lauren pays off $10k in 14 months. 2016 Rebrands from “L Bee” to “Financial Best Life.”
2012: Returns to Georgia, starts first blog “L Bee and the Money Tree” as a money diary to share with friends.
2013: Buys first home + turns it into a real estate investment.
2013: Runaway renovation on home leads to more debt.
2015: Pays off $8,000 in 3 months. The “$8k in 90 Day Challenge” article goes viral online.
2015: Leaves full-time career in marketing to be her own boss and run the blog full-time.
2018: Lauren sells her first home for over $150,000 in profit.
2019: As a newlywed, Lauren begins co-managing money for the first time.
Five Things To Know About Me
Here's how I've increased my income 308% over the last seven years: writing a book, freelance writing, running this blog, real estate investing + side hustles.
I have no formal training in anything business related and I graduated from college with a theatre degree.
I'm SUPER clumsy and can only roller skate on one leg.
I'm a classically trained singer. The only thing I've spent 10,000 hours doing is blogging … and learning how to sing.
Atlanta is where I call home.
My Favorite Content
Money move I’m most proud of? It’s probably a tie between becoming a homeowner at 26 for $1800 and paying off $8,000 in 90 Days. Both of these things really happened!
Call me biased, but I urge you to read all my most important how-to money posts. They have all the best financial techniques and money saving tips I use with my own money and they are the perfect companions as you work your way through your own journey to living your best life.
The weirdest thing I’ve ever written for the blog is this piece on what I’ve done when freelance clients refuse to pay.
I love reading income reports and showing people a “peek” behind my online business. Not because I want to brag, but I share it because I really want everyone to know that if I (a girl with a theatre degree and zero online or marketing experience) can find a way to build an online business and make money, you can too.