This post was made in collaboration with Chase Freedom Unlimited, all opinions are my own.

2019 goals

I’m so grateful for my Chase Freedom Unlimited cash back credit card because it allows me to earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase to help me on my path to reaching my goals. I am able to use this card for my everyday expenses, to enroll in online courses, purchase video equipment, and paint my walls so that I can prep my home studio to create video content to share with you.

It’s been almost a month since I announced the milestones I set in order to reach my 2019 goals. In case you are not aware, milestones are smaller steps to a larger goal. I use them to reinforce positivity and keep my sights set. Tackling and completing these milestones helps me stay focused.

Today, I’m sharing some of the challenges I have faced thus far, and how I made the adjustments to stay focused and on track.

HOME OFFICE/STUDIO

2019 goals

As stated previously, my plan was to create and set up a studio at home with the right equipment and tools for video recording and production by the end of July.

I’ve been busy converting our guest bedroom into a home studio since we got back from our trip. It’s a lot more work than I had thought. Even though I already have some equipment in place, it is not videography friendly, because most of it is outdated, old, and worn out.

The lighting needed to be replaced because it was not strong enough due to limited light within this room. The backdrop was so bulky and wide that it didn’t fit in the room the way I wanted it to.  The tripod needed to be replaced too, because it was falling apart.

Thanks to my Chase Freedom Unlimited card, I was able to earn 1.5% cash back when I purchased better lighting, a new tripod, a new video microphone, and some neutral paint to make the wall into a backdrop.

VIDEO CREATION/PRODUCTION LESSONS

I have also been very busy taking online courses on how to create professional-looking videos.  There are so many areas of video production that I didn’t know about, like planning the video content, selecting the right background, using the right lighting, and understanding the composition rules.  I can safely say that I was able to reach this milestone and am on track to getting closer to my goal.

VIDEO CONTENT LIST/SCHEDULE

This milestone is a lot harder than I had anticipated. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to produce and when, but after creating a 10-minute test video, which took 3 hours to complete, it still didn’t feel good enough to publish.

Apparently, I was too serious, rigid, and nervous, which is very different than my off-camera persona where I’m bubbly, chatty, friendly and confident according to the hubs. Okie Dokie.

I’m not sure how to tackle this yet but the hubs (who’s an actor and often appears on camera) gave me some tips and tricks. I will need to spend more time in front of the camera to feel more comfortable.  Doing a photoshoot is easy but once the recording button is hit it is nerve-racking!

I have yet to determine how often I want to publish the videos. I thought about twice a week but having to spend 3 hours for a 10-minute video put a different perspective on using my time wisely. 

Despite some of these challenges, I’m very determined to launch my pilot video in August and I can’t wait to share it with you!

I’m so happy to have my Chase Freedom Unlimited card with me at all times because I know I’m always earning on every purchase, bringing me one step closer to my goal.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know about my progress towards producing videos!

24 Comments

  1. I’ve been thinking about getting this card. I’m not happy with the one I’m using right now, and I think the Freedom Unlimited card would be a better fit for me.

    • Janise Reply

      You will love this card! There are so many benefits that you can use not to mention racking up $$ rewards at the same time.

  2. Sounds like this card has a lot of great benefits. How nice that you are getting your projects and goals accomplished.

    • Janise Reply

      Yes, this is pretty exciting and I can’t wait to share!

  3. I’m going to have to see if this rewards program is better than the one I’m currently enrolled in, through Chase. Thanks for the info!

    • Janise Reply

      Let’s hope you found the best one that works for you!

  4. I love to use a credit card which has the cash back facility, so glad to discover about y Chase Freedom Unlimited card, looks like it has helped you a lot

    • Janise Reply

      It sure has! Right now there is a 0% APR so I can shop ’till I drop without worrying about paying any interest 🙂

    • Janise Reply

      It sure is. Love seeing my cash reward increasing each time I use my card 🙂

  5. This is a great card with great benefits. Good luck with your pilot

  6. alexandra cook Reply

    Never heard of this card. I’ve been using a different card now and not sure how I managed without it! I really need to take a look with this. Thank you for sharing

    • Janise Reply

      Take a look…it’s always good to shop around for the best card that suits you the most. This card works for us 🙂

  7. Annemarie LeBlanc Reply

    It does look like a good card to have with all the rewards you can get. I will check it out and review its terms thoroughly. I must also involve the husband in this. He is better with understanding financial matters.

    • Janise Reply

      Hope you guys can get some great rewards out of this card as I have 🙂

  8. I have this card and love it! Having a great filming studio at home is so important for content creators.

  9. Our credit card gives us points. I’ve never explored one with cask back yet! This looks great!

    • Janise Reply

      Thank you so much, Catherine! Chase Unlimited Freedom is my favorite card 🙂

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