The thrill of pulling out a jacket from last season, putting your hand in one of the pockets, and unearthing a $10 bill is unmistakable. Some people–including yours truly–even get excited when they notice loose change on the sidewalk. What if there were hundreds of dollars waiting for you somewhere? If you’re part of the […]
Managing Money in Everyday Life
What is the 52 Week Savings Challenge? [+ ways to spice it up!]
Have you heard of the 52-week savings challenge? The concept is simple. In the first week, you save $1. In the second week, you save $2. You then continue saving one extra dollar every week until you save $52 in the 52nd week. At the end of this savings challenge, you’ll have saved $1,378 in […]
How Can Personality Types Affect Your Finances?
Your personality affects a lot about how you interact with the world. But did you know it also affects how you perceive and use money, too? One popular personality map is the Enneagram, a method that’s been in use for several decades, helping people understand themselves and what motivates them. Read on to learn how […]
What is Elder Fraud and How Do We Prevent It?
Elder fraud is a large and growing problem, costing many seniors the savings they worked hard for in their younger years. Reports indicate older Americans lose anywhere between $2.9 to $36.5 billion each year. According to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, individual victims of elder financial fraud lose an average of $34,200. In 7% […]
What Is a Money Story and How Can It Affect Your Finances?
If I had more money, ____ wouldn’t be a problem. I work hard. I deserve that new _____. I’ll never be able to pay off this debt. I can’t earn enough to get ahead. I need X amount of money to have peace of mind. I’m a cheapskate. Spending money on things for yourself is […]
What Should an Emergency Budget Include? [Adjusting finances in a time of crisis]
What’s your plan if you lose your job? What will you do if your work hours get reduced? What happens if you lose your child care? These aren’t easy (or fun) questions to answer. Yet everyone should think about what they would do in a financial emergency. Whatever the situation, you would need to take […]
Organize Your Google Drive with these Easy Steps!
Google Drive is an awesome tool for managing home, money or business tasks. It’s a great resource for Women Who Money! 🙂 It’s free (up to 15GB), convenient and syncs with all of your devices. Did I mention free? It’s a place to upload, create, organize, share, and store all of your electronic files. It’s […]
How Will My Expenses Change in a High Cost of Living Area?
If you’re moving to a higher cost-of-living (HCOL) area from a lower cost-of-living area (LCOL), you’re probably anticipating higher prices for housing and food. Have you also thought about other expenses likely to increase, like childcare, transportation, and utilities? Moving to a more expensive city or state can drastically increase your expenses so you need […]
The Pink Tax: What does it cost and how do I fight it?
It costs a lot of money to be a woman today. The wage gap is still pervasive, and the United States is also the only industrialized nation to not offer paid maternity leave. These financial issues are being discussed and debated more commonly, but there’s a price to being female that many people overlook. It’s […]
Budget-Friendly Self-Care Ideas for Your Wellbeing
15+ Budget-Conscious Self-Care Options As cliche as it may sound, life’s hard. You’re constantly juggling competing demands and, sometimes, unfortunately, you’re faced with emotionally challenging situations. You know you can’t be at your best when you run yourself ragged. So, to prevent burnout and other mental health concerns, you must practice regular self-care – especially […]
Buying a House: What do you need to consider and what are the best first steps?
From the down payment to financing to finding the right home – there are many things to consider when buying a home. It’s all much easier – and less stressful – when you understand the process and prepare. Though it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, buying a house is one of the […]
My Wallet is Lost (or Stolen) What Should I Do?
At one time or another, you’ve likely felt the icy chill of panic associated with a lost wallet. Oh no, there goes my week – and my credit! At that moment, it occurs to you how vulnerable we are to identity theft and fraud when we carry around documents that contain our most private information. […]
Glossary of Personal Finance Terms
When you begin taking control of your money and reading about personal finance, you may come across finance terminology you aren’t familiar with. This can end up frustrating you or lead to mismanagement of your funds. And we certainly don’t want that! Below you’ll find a reasonably comprehensive list of financial definitions to help you […]
How to Get Your Credit Score for Free
Taking control of your personal finances means spending plenty of time looking at numbers. It can be overwhelming tracking expenses, creating a budget, monitoring credit card balances, and growing your income and net worth. But it’s also some of the most important work you can do for yourself. Another number you need to watch is […]
Federal Funds Rate: What is it and how does it affect you?
You might have heard of the Federal Reserve and the terms federal funds rate, and discount rate. But what do they mean? And more importantly, how do they affect you? The short answers are: The Federal Reserve is the central bank system providing financial services to banks and government entities. It does not provide services […]
What Is #GivingTuesday and How Can I Get Involved?
You may have spent the last few days in stores or online getting some of your holiday shopping done. The #BlackFriday deals you found along with a few #CyberMonday specials saved you a lot of money. You even stuck to your holiday budget because of the deep discounts offered by retailers! Shopping isn’t the only […]
Make a Difference on a National Level, Charities Who Need Your Support
It’s important to take care of our neighborhoods and communities, and there are plenty of ways to get involved on a local level. However, the interconnectedness of our towns and cities thanks to travel and technology means that helping at a national level is equally important. Below are some ways you can give to a […]
Using Your Values to Make the Best Money Decisions
What’s most important to you? What do you value most in life? Do your actions each day line up with what you say matters most to you? Do you spend your time and money in ways that support your values? Whether you realize it or not, your bank and credit card statements tell a lot […]
Are My Financial Fears Common? [Overcome 17 money worries]
You probably didn’t stress out about money as a kid. If you got an allowance, earned money, or received cash as a gift, it usually meant you could buy something you wanted. Even if your parents made you save part of it or set aside money to donate to others, spending money was exciting and […]
In What Ways Can I Cut Monthly Expenses and Reduce Spending?
You’re ready to tackle your debt. You need to save more. You want extra money to invest. Or you need to create an emergency budget. Whatever your money goal, you want to find the best ways to cut expenses so you can reduce spending today. Deciding on the optimal place to start can be a […]
Important Financial Rules of Thumb: What to know [and ignore]?
From a financial perspective, living today and planning for the future are difficult tasks. It takes work to figure out how to allocate our earnings both for our current needs and for investing in our futures, including retirement. Luckily, we can learn a lot from all those who’ve already done it. If we follow some […]
SmartPath: A sales-free digital financial coaching program
If you’re struggling in the paycheck to paycheck cycle or have financial goals you can’t prioritize or stay motivated to meet, a SmartPath financial coach could be your answer. Financial coaches empower clients to save more, pay down debt, and improve their credit scores. They provide straightforward steps to help you master budgeting, pay off […]
Rich vs. Wealthy: How do they differ?
Do you want to be rich? Or would you prefer to be wealthy instead? Most people consider rich and wealthy as the same thing. But contrasting them and considering what they mean on a deep level can make a big difference in your finances. In simple terms, being rich is having the ability to spend […]
What Apps Can Help Me Manage My Money Better?
It happens to the best of us. We set a budget, try to save, and then the end of the month comes, and we’re back in the red. Budgeting and money management are practices many people struggle to master. Fortunately, in today’s mobile world, there are plenty of options to help you get on track […]
Needs vs. Wants: What is the difference? [& how do you afford both?]
One of the most common pieces of financial advice is to focus on needs instead of wants. Knowing how to prioritize your needs over your wants truly is an effective starting point. But to take that first step, you need to understand the difference between them. Let’s review how to evaluate your needs versus wants […]
