Living for today - Planning for Tomorrow
Shopping secondhand is a great way to save money and benefit the planet by giving discarded items a second life. However, there are some items that simply aren’t safe to buy used, such as bike helmets. And depending on the item, it may be better to spring for a new version from the store that will last longer and give you more years of use
Previously, I’ve written about the ways that being a minimalist can save you money. Practicing minimalism can help you buy less, stay organized, and give you the mental clarity you need to focus on your financial goals. Decluttering may also make it possible to downsize to a smaller home or apartment to save money. But there are also some downsides to minimalism that are worth
Like most other millennials, I’m an avid social media user. My favorite social media sites are Reddit, YouTube, and TikTok, which I just discovered a month ago and haven’t been able to put down since. I’ve been scrolling through TikTok for an hour before bed and have mainly watched interior design clips. I’ve noticed that consuming lots of decorating content on TikTok has made me
I used to think mantras and meditation were kind of silly. I didn’t think repeating a word or phrase over and over in my head would be enough to improve my mental health. But when my therapist suggested I use daily affirmations to help with my financial anxiety, I decided to give it a shot. After all, it didn’t cost me anything but a few
Many people swear by paid budgeting software like You Need a Budget. They say YNAB helped them get in control of their finances and save thousands of dollars, so it’s worth the cost. But I can’t justify spending money on budgeting software, no matter how many useful features it has. Budgeting is all about eliminating unnecessary expenses and saving more money for the future. So
Every year before Christmas, my parents would ask me to write a list of things I wanted so they could give it to Santa. I was always surprised and delighted to see a few items from that list under the tree on Christmas morning. But I usually didn’t get everything I wanted, which taught me to be patient. If I was really pining for something
It’s probably no surprise that summer is the most expensive time of the year. The cost of road trips, outdoor concerts, and summer camp for the kids adds up. A study by MassMutual showed that half of Americans spend more money during the summer than other seasons. Women were more likely than men to report that they spend more in the summer months, especially due
Do you ever look back on financial mistakes you made when you were younger and cringe? There are many money-related things I wish I’d done differently during my teen and young adult years. If I could go back and give myself financial tips, I’d probably be better off today. Too bad I don’t have a time machine! I can’t fix my past mistakes, but at
Every year my partner and I usually get a big tax refund. In total, we received about $4,500 this year, which is around $1,000 more than the average tax refund. Many personal finance experts say you should adjust your withholding if you receive large tax refunds to avoid giving the government an interest-free loan. However, getting a large tax refund has some underrated financial benefits.
Inflation reached a 40-year high in May of 8.6%. The price of food is up 10.8% and gas costs an average of $4.88 a gallon. These drastic price increases have caused many Americans to feel financially strained. I’ve been finding it hard to stick to the budget I created two years ago. If you’re frequently going over your budget too, it may be time to
