In case you were busy enjoying some mid-April sunshine, here are a few posts you may have missed from me on LinkedIn. Let me tell you a surprising hobby that changed my life and how credit cards affected me early on.

Check out the full posts below and some of the best comments from the crowd. 

Connect with me anytime Jessica Medina LinkedIn

Wednesday, April 21, 2021 - Credit Card Debt

How many of us worked at Express during college and racked up a huge credit card bill? Every time I mention this someone always raises their hand and says, hey that was me! Over 4 years of college I racked up $4500 of Express credit card debt. I obviously didn’t appreciate how credit cards worked.

I didn’t grow up with a lot of personal finance education. So when I got to buy clothes now and pay later, I thought I was getting a great deal.

But not with the interest rate I was paying.

As I was heading off to law school, I panicked...and my parents bailed me out.

I then spent many years after that not using credit cards at all.

I did a complete 180.

And I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing.

But the fact that I made that decision out of fear is what’s most important.

Before we can incorporate healthy money habits into our lives, we have to take a look at how we got to where we are.

There may be good reasons why we have certain habits, but if they no longer serve us then it might be time to let them go.

I’m happy to say that I now have an impeccable credit score and cards with credit limits I never would’ve dreamed of.

I don’t exhaust them, but I also don’t avoid them (or their benefits).

And that’s a healthy balance for me.

Turns out I am not alone! Check out some similar (and opposite) stories. 

What's your Express story?

Thursday, April 22, 2021 - Life-Changing Hobby

Did you think I’d let it pass by without mention? Never. It’s National Karaoke Week!!! Yes, that’s actually a thing. And I want to wish all my fellow karaoke lovers future song-filled nights when we’re all able to share a mic again. And until then, a little story...

Karaoke changed my life.

I was working at the SEC and struggling with whether I wanted to leave the law entirely. For the first time in my career, I had time on my hands and to be honest, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I had no hobbies (thanks, Biglaw).

I didn’t know how to have fun (without kids).

Enter competitive karaoke.

I met my DC bestie at an SEC holiday party, complete with office karaoke, and we were inseparable after that. He introduced me to District Karaoke, a competitive karaoke league then operating in DC and VA. Think teams, costumes, props, and rewrites.

I was hooked.

I met more people who were not lawyers than I had met since I left law school.

And one competition night I met my husband.

So karaoke is pretty important to me.

But not just because it’s an insanely fun and communal experience.

Because it helped me tap into the best parts of myself, the parts I had forgotten existed, and opened me up to the next chapter of my life.

So, what’s your favorite song to sing at karaoke? 

Whether it’s in your car or in front of a crowd, here are some fan favorites from LinkedIn.