Budgeting

Buying your first car is a rite of passage, a badge of independence, and one of the first major financial decisions you’ll make as a young adult. But here’s the catch—not all of us can waltz into a car dealership and shell out for a shiny, straight-off-the-assembly-line ride. For most young drivers, buying a car on a budget is the name of the game. And trust me, “budget” doesn’t have to mean settling for a rusted clunker that barely makes it out of the driveway.

Weddings are a celebration of love—and a masterclass in financial juggling. You’re planning one of the most meaningful days of your life, but also wrangling vendors, navigating family expectations, and trying to avoid hemorrhaging your life savings in the process. Fun.

I’ve sat across from 25-year-olds panicking about saving for retirement and 55-year-olds still wondering if they should open a Roth IRA. The truth? There are some financial rules that shift with age—but the smartest money moves? They’re timeless.

When I first tried “no spend days,” I thought I’d found the golden ticket to saving money. The idea was simple: pick a few days each week where I’d spend nothing outside of fixed bills. It sounded disciplined, almost elegant in its simplicity. For a while, I even enjoyed the little rush of marking a clean square on the calendar.

Have you ever felt stuck trying to reach your big savings goals? You're not alone. Life can sometimes be more like a marathon than a sprint. But what if I told you there was a way to turn your financial marathon into more manageable sprints? Enter the 90-day savings sprint—an approach that breaks down savings into achievable, short-term goals that keep you motivated and on track. Let's dive into why this method works and how it could be just the change you need to see your savings soar.

Shopping can be one of life’s simplest pleasures. Whether it’s snagging a cozy sweater on sale, grabbing a thoughtful gift for a friend, or treating yourself “just because”—there’s a little spark of joy in finding the right thing. But as much as we all love a little retail therapy, overspending can quickly turn fun purchases into financial regret. And no one wants that.

Net worth is supposed to be the gold standard of financial progress. Add up everything you own, subtract everything you owe, and voilà—you get a number that supposedly reflects your financial health.

No one likes surprise bills. And even the “not-so-surprising” ones, like insurance premiums or annual subscriptions, can feel like a slap in the face when they hit all at once. One minute, your budget is cruising. The next, you’re shelling out hundreds, maybe thousands, and wondering if budgeting is just a fancy word for surviving.

Navigating the financial demands of birthdays, weddings, and holidays can feel like walking a tightrope. The struggle is real, as these events seem to arrive quicker than expected, and each comes with its own set of expenses that could easily dip into the unprepared wallet. But what if I told you there's a way to celebrate life's beautiful moments without raiding your emergency fund? It’s not magic; it’s smart budgeting. Let’s dive into some strategies I’ve honed over the years as a finance enthusiast who loves a generous celebration—but not at the expense of financial stability.

I started decluttering because I wanted my apartment to feel less chaotic—not because I expected it to change my financial life. At the time, I was convinced I had a space problem, not a money problem. My closets were crammed, my shelves were teetering, and I could never find what I needed without sifting through what I didn’t.

Debt can be loud. It’s the overdraft alert you get mid-grocery run. The “minimum due” email that shows up before payday. The quiet dread when your credit card bill lands and you’re not sure how it got that high again.

Credit cards tend to get a bad rap. I get it—when people think “credit card,” they often think of crushing debt, high interest rates, or that one friend who’s perpetually stressed about their minimum payments.