The Financially Free Blog

The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

4 Ways to Change Your Money Mindset from Scarcity to Abundance

Have you ever felt like you’ll always be stuck in a negative money mindset? Do you always feel like there’s never enough money? If that’s the case, we hate to break it to you: you have a scarcity mindset. You focus on lack, rather than growth. Here’s the good news: you can switch up your money mindset! Is it easy? No. But it’s possible to make progress, so you can better your relationship with money. Here are four ways to shift your money mindset.

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Kylie Lipinski, A Certified Financial Trainer Kylie Lipinski, A Certified Financial Trainer

How to Handle Federal Student Loan Default

During difficult financial times, student loan payments often get put on the back burner. By the time a borrower has their finances back under control, they may find that their student loans have gone into default. If this has happened to you, you are not alone; on average, 15% of student loans are in default at any point in time. The good news is that you have options for getting out of default and moving on with your financial life.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

5 Financial Goals for the New Year

2022 is here! While making a resolution is not a requirement, many people feel that it is a good way to start off the new year, and financial resolutions are often among the most popular. You might be thinking…

“I want to make more money!”

“I want to pay off debt!”

These financial goals are well and good — but they’re not specific enough to keep you motivated and accountable.

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Shannon McLay, Founder and CEO Shannon McLay, Founder and CEO

Message from the CEO: Running on Empty

Years ago, I published a blog, Financially Blonde, and every Monday was themed “Music Mondays” where I took a song and tied a financial lesson to it. For those of you who don’t know me, music is a very key component of my life. I’ve never been great at an instrument and I’m certainly not meant to sing outside of the shower or karaoke; but everyday when I was growing up…

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

9 Healthy Trader Joe’s Meals on a Budget

A common New Year's resolution that many people embark on year after year is to eat healthier. It’s a tried and true resolution and one that feels good and attainable after the holiday season.

This year, we thought it would be fun to not only show you how you can eat healthy on a budget, but how you can eat healthy on a budget at Trader Joe’s-- a fan favorite! And if you aren’t located near a TJ’s-- that’s not a problem-- you can pick up any of these items at your favorite local grocery store as well.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

How to Choose a New Year's Resolution for 2022

New year, new habits — at least that what many Americans strive for when declaring a new year’s resolution, especially after the year that 2021 was! Resetting the calendar can feel like the perfect time to wipe the slate clean and set a new course toward personal growth.

Here are a few steps toward a more meaningful — and sustainable — resolution or goal for the new year.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

4 Financial Stress Triggers and How to Manage Them

Money can help catapult you closer to larger life goals making rewarding milestones, like buying your first home or retiring early, a reality. On the flipside, the lack of money can also feel like a setback keeping those very goals away from arms reach.

Knowing what the most common triggers of financial stress are — and ways to manage them — can help you feel more empowered about your financial health.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

6 Things to Cut Back on for a Month That Won’t Change Your Lifestyle

Here at The Financial Gym, we are all about making small changes that won’t impact your day-to-day life too much, but will impact your budget (for the better!). Many of these changes have positive effects outside of their impact on you. Below are a list of six things that we think you can easily cut back on (or cut out!) for a month (or more!) that will substantially lower expenses, without too much of a lifestyle change.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

Investing 101: What Are Investment Markets?

If you’re not a seasoned investor, the world of investments can seem intimidating. Between the confusing jargon and the constantly changing nature of the markets, many people choose to put off investing. 

But saving for future goals, like retirement, simply isn’t enough. You need to invest those savings to maximize your money. Here’s a crash course in investment markets to help you feel confident and prepared to make long-term financial decisions.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

5 Holiday Scams to Watch Out For

The holidays are known to be the season of giving, but don’t let the joyous time of year lure you into a false sense of security. During the holidays, potential scammers have tactics that continuously change to catch unsuspecting shoppers off-guard.

There are many types of online shopping scams, so make sure to be vigilant about who you give your private information to by back-checking all sources of inquiry. Here’s what you need to know.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

5 Ways to Shop Locally this Holiday Season

The holiday season is in full swing, giving you a chance to bring joy with a well-thought-out gift while also making an impact in your community.

Big box stores and e-commerce retailers may dominate the advertising space during the holidays, but small businesses and local artisans provide unique, quality gifts that promote sustainability and local economic growth.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

Roundup of Your Trainer’s Favorite Podcasts

One question our trainers always receive is “what is your favorite podcast?” Many of our trainers are avid podcast-listeners and love listening to new podcasts-- so much so that we even have a whole slack channel dedicated to our favorite podcast episodes!

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

6 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money

Teaching financial literacy to children can be a daunting task, but introducing fundamental financial concepts now can set them up for a stable future. Instilling the building blocks of saving, spending and making money early on can help increase prepare your children to be financially wise.

Here are six tools you can use to help teach your kids about money.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

6 Ways to Save Money This Winter

When winter hits, so do the unexpected expenses. From sudden home repairs like frozen pipes to purchasing seasonal gifts or booking expensive flights to visit family members, winter expenses can add up fast. It can be hard to know how to save money on short notice, but it’s simple with the right preparation and knowledge of seasonal deals.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

4 Ways to Manifest Money Right Now

Manifesting money can look different for each and every person. There is certainly not a “one size fits all” approach to manifesting money. It can come from a place of need or desire, but it always starts with a positive and an open-minded attitude. Here are some tips to start manifesting today!

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

How to Answer a Debt Collection Call

If you receive a call from a debt collection agency, you might be unsure of whether or not you should answer. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires debt collectors to adhere to a strict set of requirements when reaching out to consumers about a debt in collection. Knowing your consumer rights and what to expect from a debt collector can help you navigate a debt collection call more smoothly and with confidence.

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The Financial Gym Team The Financial Gym Team

3 Effective Debt Consolidation Strategies to Know

Trying to find ways to get a handle on your debt? You might consider debt consolidation, a process that can simplify your debt and possibly lower the amount you pay in interest on your loans. If you’ve been wondering how to consolidate debt there are several approaches you can take. Here are the pros and cons of debt consolidation.

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Investing Victoria Sechrist, Chief Economist at The Financial Gym Investing Victoria Sechrist, Chief Economist at The Financial Gym

Here's What You Need to Know About the Bitcoin Futures ETF

It’s been a big week for Bitcoin and not just because the cryptocurrency reached record highs. The first Bitcoin futures ETF debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. It’s officially called the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF with a ticker symbol of BITO.

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Budgeting The Financial Gym Team Budgeting The Financial Gym Team

5 Ways to Plan Your Holiday Budget Now

It’s the most wonderful time of year for a lot of people. But for your wallet? It can be the most stressful time of year. This year, retailers are rolling out the holiday marketing even earlier than usual. Whether you’re shopping early sales or trying to get ahead of long shipping times, keep in mind these smart holiday spending tips.

Before you go on a spending spree, create a list of who you want to buy gifts for and set a budget amount.

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