The Financially Free Blog
6 Tips to Manage Your Impulse Buying Triggers
On average, Americans spend more than $300 per month on impulse purchases. Retailers actively encourage impulse buying because it helps their bottom line—not yours. Try these tips to reduce your impulse buying and regain control of your spending.
4 Annoying Bank Fees and How to Avoid Them
Few things get me more riled up than shelling out cash unnecessarily. This is especially true for bank fees! I feel this way about my own bank account and those of my clients. I hate seeing that a bank has taken hundreds of dollars over the course of a few months from a client’s account when that hard-earned money could have gone towards something they valued. Fortunately, most of these fees are avoidable.
3 Money Mindsets to Cultivate this Spring
The year comes with natural cycles; your energy may ebb and flow or feel different throughout the seasons. Rather than expecting yourself to feel and act the same way all year, you can take advantage of the natural seasons to cultivate positive money mindsets. Here are three money mindsets worth cultivating now.
How to Furnish an Apartment Without Breaking the Bank
Moving is expensive, especially if you need to furnish an apartment. As humans, we tend to prioritize making our new homes cozy and comfortable, but this comes at a cost. By the time all is said and done, your bank account is likely a few thousand dollars lighter and your budget is bogged down by a handful of new 0% interest Affirm loan payments.
3 Reasons Not to Use Your Tax Refund to Pay Down Debt
While most people don’t enjoy doing their taxes, a healthy tax refund can be a good consolation prize. For many people, a tax refund is the biggest windfall they receive each year. It’s tempting to immediately put that money toward your debt balances, but it might not be your best financial move in the long run. Here are a few signs that you should pause and think before paying down your debt.
How to Bridge a Gap in Health Insurance
Whether it’s due to a layoff or striking out on your own, losing your employer-sponsored health insurance is scary but not uncommon. In 2022, 11% of people experienced a gap in health insurance. Luckily, there are options to protect your health and mitigate your risk. The best option for you will depend on your budget and—most importantly—your health.
How to Refresh Your Spring Wardrobe Without Spending a Lot
Spring brings warmer temperatures and the desire for a refresh. You naturally want to shed old layers and bring something new into your closet but buying clothes adds up fast. Even if purchasing a whole new wardrobe isn’t in the budget, you can still spruce up your clothing selection with these tips.
What to Know About Paying Taxes on Debt Settlement
When making minimum debt payments becomes overwhelming, some people turn to debt settlement as a way to handle it. Working with a debt settlement company can come with many drawbacks including high fees, a major hit to your credit score, and eventually, a higher tax bill. Here is what you need to know about paying taxes on your debt settlement.
How to Get Comfortable with Negotiating Your Salary
Negotiating your pay can be intimidating—it highlights your fear of how others perceive you and can also reveal a lot about how you perceive yourself. These are natural feelings to have but you shouldn’t let them stop you from asking for more because negotiating is worth it—literally. As you prepare for a job offer, get in the mindset to ask for what you’re worth with these tips.
What is Happening with SVB & How Do I Know if My Bank is Safe?
Do not panic! As long as you have less than $250,000 in your FDIC-insured bank account (<$500,000 in a joint account) your money is safe. By keeping your money in your bank you’re doing your part to avoid making the problem worse, by not creating a bank run.
4 Ways to Improve Your Financial Anxiety
We know that money is one of the top sources of anxiety among Americans. Paying bills on time, tackling student loan debt, supporting a family-- all of these tasks (and more!) can be very daunting and overwhelming. We’re here to tell you that it’s okay if you’re feeling stressed. You’re most certainly not alone-- and we have a few tips that might help you.
The Other Gender Wealth Gap: The Investing Gap
More and more people are talking about and bringing attention to the gender pay gap. This is fantastic and we need to keep talking about it until all women are paid equally & equitably for their work when measured against their co-working men. But there is another gender wealth gap that isn’t getting the attention it needs, which is the investing gap!
Do I Have to Pay Taxes on My High Yield Savings Account?
High yield savings accounts have a major advantage over your typical savings account at a brick-and-mortar bank: you can actually earn a noticeable amount of interest. But if you recently switched to a high yield savings account, you may find that this advantage comes with one small asterisk when you file your taxes this year: a smaller tax refund.
Ask A Trainer: How Much Rent/Mortgage Can I Afford?
Housing, whether that is rent or a mortgage payment, is the biggest line item in most household budgets. It also takes the most time, money, and effort to change, so when you are deciding on this part of your budget, it’s worth careful consideration. But knowing how much you should aim to spend on housing can be confusing.
4 Ways Women Pay More While Making Less (& What to Do About It)
It’s no secret that on average, women are paid less than men. But economic inequalities extend beyond the pay gap. In fact, even though women make less money, they have to shell out more cash (often just for basic necessities) than their male counterparts. Here is a roundup of some of the ways that our economy takes a bigger bite out of women’s paychecks.
How to Find the Right Tax Professional
The U.S. tax code is notoriously complicated. There are professionals out there who can help you with your tax questions and quandaries, but finding the right help is a challenge in its own right. To add to the complication, there are several different types of tax professionals and there is some overlap in how they can help you.
4 Simple Ways to Save Without Sacrificing Quality
In today's economy, saving money has become more important than ever. With the cost of living continuing to rise, it can be difficult to make ends meet. However, there are several simple ways to save money that people tend to avoid, but they can make a big difference in your budget.
4 Signs That a Balance Transfer Card Might Be for You
A balance transfer card is a handy tool in your debt repayment toolbox if used correctly. This type of card allows you to move your credit card balance (and sometimes other types of loans) to a credit card with 0% interest for a limited period of time, typically 12-21 months.
How Do You Break the Habit of Spending Money?
Breaking or forming a habit is no easy task. Often you need to develop a habit in order to break one. Habits are elusive, they say it takes 21 days to form a habit but this is misleading, it really depends on the habit you’re trying to build and what is motivating that habit in the first place.
3 Reasons to Make Money Dates a Priority
Money Dates are a hot topic any time of year!
There are a lot of reasons why money and coupledom need to be a discussion. One is that when we choose to share our lives with someone, that person’s financial wellness affects us, and vice versa. Another is that having money fights early in relationships is a strong predictor of a future divorce, so we need to learn how to avoid them.