Personal finance articles related to our interaction with money in everyday life.
It’s 2020; old age is looming closer, accompanied by the threat of a lackluster retirement. Of course, you’re anxious about your financial future. But you’re too busy taking care of everyone else to do anything about it. According to this study by Employee Benefit Research…
While it may take several more months before regular parties are again the norm (especially inside), entertaining is slowly becoming possible again. Getting together with others feels more important than ever, after months of social isolation. Still, when you’re trying to save money, it can…
Whether you’re buying your first home or your third, it’s an exciting time. After all, it’s one of the most significant purchases you’ll ever make, and it’s a place where you’ll make lasting memories. It’s also quite a process to get from home viewings to…
What if saving money and investing for the future could be fun? Or at least, not so daunting or stressful? Managing money can be more motivating – even enjoyable – when you gamify it. At the very least, gamifying gets you started on the right…
![Make Your Budget Work [Tips for overcoming obstacles]](https://womenwhomoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/woman-facing-challenges-with-her-budget-768x403.jpg)
You’re ready to take control of your finances and use a budget to plan for your income and expenses. But that “b” word doesn’t exactly give you the warm fuzzies. You know though, telling your money where to go is better than wondering where it…
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…
![52 Week Savings Challenge [ways to spice it up!]](https://womenwhomoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/52-week-savings-challenge-in-52-piggy-banks-768x403.jpg)
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
![Financial Rules of Thumb: Important to know [and ignore]](https://womenwhomoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/financial-rules-of-thumb-1-768x403.jpg)
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…