ECONOMY & FINANCE
high. We all need to plan for both the immediate and long-term future.” If anyone in her circle is struggling financially, Marlo asks them to do a “500 Challenge” by saving an extra $500 a month. “This is easier than you’d think,” she says. “For example, instead of going to Starbucks every morning, drink Mountain Cabin Coffee . Instead of going to a restaurant for steak, cook Riverbend Ranch Black Label Beef at home. These little things really add up!” Marlo also tells her team to achieve financial freedom by taking action with their Melaleuca business. “If you’re consistent in building your business, your paycheck will increase,” she shares. “I carve out time for Melaleuca every day just as if I’m punching a clock at a nine-to-five job. I set my alarm for 9 a.m. every single morning and spend that hour ‘eating the frog’—doing the scary approaches, following up, plugging holes, scheduling team-building activities, and anything else that needs doing.” Ultimately, remember to take a page out of Dave Ramsey’s book and make sure you are in control of your dollars instead of letting your dollars take control of you. You’ve got this!
Marlo Payne Executive Director 6
Married to a frugal farmer, Marlo has always lived within her means. And she has the advice to prove it! According to Marlo, one of the best ways to stay afloat is to avoid a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality.
“Set your
goals and stick to a budget to achieve what you want.”
“Once you start earning money that you weren’t earning before, it becomes really easy to overspend and live beyond your means,” she says. When Marlo and her husband married 17 years ago, they purchased a small home— nothing special, but one they could afford. While they had the goal of moving into a bigger home after five years, they realized that it wasn’t feasible with their budget. “We could have bought something larger within that time, but our debt would have skyrocketed,” she explains.
In 2020, Marlo surprised her husband with the deed to the house. Instead of jumping into their dream home right away, they lived three years totally debt-free, saving money that they allocated toward building a house instead. This New Year, they’ll celebrate in their newly finished home! “Financial planning is so crucial, especially in the times we are living in,” she says. “Set your goals and stick to a budget to achieve what you want. Will it take a little longer? Sure. But I promise it will be worth it, and your stress levels will thank you for not rushing the process.” Aside from living within your means, one way to achieve your financial goals faster is to have an additional stream of income. That’s the reason Marlo built a Melaleuca business in the first place. “These days people don’t just want an extra source of income—it’s a necessity,” she says. “Job security isn’t what it used to be. Inflation is still relatively
A few final tips:
• Pay off credit card debt as soon as possible (“This is not free money,” says Marlo. “It accumulates a huge amount of interest. If you must use a credit card, consider the Melaleuca ® Rewards Visa® Card , which has no annual fee and gives you 6% back in Loyalty Shopping Dollars that you can use for your monthly Melaleuca groceries.”) • Take advantage of the Melaleuca Marketplace to receive exclusive discounts with a wide range of online retailers • Double up on payments if possible (“If you do the ‘500 Challenge’ and save $500 a month, put that extra money toward outstanding bills,” Marlo says. “For example, I paid double on my mortgage using my Critical Activity Bonus.”) • Celebrate you—apply for Melaleuca’s Financial Freedom Awards at Melaleuca.com/FinancialFreedom
JANUARY 2024 | MELALEUCA.COM/LIA 49
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