Today I thought I’d discuss a topic I’m passionate about, but have never covered before—the gender investing gap. Although women tend to be more effective investors than men and earn higher returns, we don’t invest as often. Women keep up to 71% of our assets in cash, and some of us aren’t investing any of our money at all. About 66% of men currently invest
How to Deal With Recession Fatigue
Recently I read an article about recession fatigue. It’s a feeling of financial exhaustion that many Americans are dealing with right now. For over two years, we’ve been faced with a lot of economic uncertainty. The pandemic caused many workers to get laid off and record levels of inflation have strained our budgets. Now we may be heading toward another recession in 2023. It’s been
This Book Changed My Relationship With Money
Believe it or not, my favorite personal finance book isn’t loaded with money-saving tips. It isn’t even a personal finance book at all. It’s called Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke, and it’s about neuroscience (dopamine specifically) and how to find balance in our age of instant gratification. Reading it fundamentally changed my relationship with money and helped me stop overspending, so I wanted to
5 Things You Should Never Buy Used
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
4 Financial Tips I’d Give My Younger Self
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
Is Getting a Big Tax Refund Bad?
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.
How To Protect Your Savings From Inflation
In May, inflation hit a 40-year high of 8.6%. The cost of essentials like gas and groceries has risen sharply, so we’re all losing purchasing power and feeling the pinch. This high-inflation environment is also eroding the value of our savings. Bank accounts don’t offer enough interest to outpace inflation, so we’re effectively losing money by parking our cash in savings accounts. With economists predicting
Why Moving Away From The City Was Great for My Finances
Before I moved to rural Michigan, I had always lived in cities or suburbs. I never imagined that I would end up living in a farmhouse out in the country. But my partner dreamed of moving back to the Midwest and settling down on a big tract of land in a quiet, small town. Since I can work from anywhere as long as I have
How I Save Money With My Minimalist Beauty Routine
In this day and age, there’s a lot of pressure on women and girls to look good because of social media and societal expectations. Studies have shown that girls as young as seven believe they’re judged primarily by their appearance. Researchers have even found that how much makeup you wear can affect your career success. Women who don’t wear makeup are viewed as less competent
How to Save Money By Being Handy
Home repairs are a major line item in many people’s budgets. On average, homeowners spend at least one percent of their home’s value on maintenance every year. But luckily you can save money by fixing things yourself instead of calling a contractor every time something breaks. Even if you’re not a handy person, you can learn how to do minor home repairs. Here are some