Another day, another data breach in the news. With each new revelation of data exposure, our expectations for privacy get lower and lower. While there is little you can do to keep your data from being exposed through a third party, you can still take action to protect yourself against the worst-case scenarios. When it comes to protecting yourself financially, freezing your credit should be at the top of your list.

The excitement of a new purchase (especially now!) — whether it’s a small purchase at the department store or a large purchase, like a new car — feels good. Psychological studies reveal that the excitement and anticipation of getting a reward (i.e. what you’re buying) increases dopamine levels in the brain. This chemical shift gives shopping and spending money almost addictive quality.

Until you realize that you’ve blown your budget or the psychological “high” of the purchase fades and you’re faced with buyer’s remorse. Don’t let your spending habits reach this point out of boredom! You can preemptively avoid this spending cycle by practicing these tips to avoid buyer’s regret.

Many of us were never taught how to manage credit cards or how they even work. Let’s start off with some basics before jumping into how to pay down your debt faster.

Avoiding your federal student loans isn’t really a problem until one day it is—your credit score drops, your paycheck gets garnished, or your tax refund is withheld. For more than four years, federal student loan borrowers have been largely shielded from the consequences of missed payments and default, but that’s about to change. September 30th marks the end of two initiatives that have been helping borrowers: the “on-ramp” and the Fresh Start program.

When your car is on its last leg and it’s time to start looking for another vehicle, you may wonder which is better: leasing or buying? The answer: it depends. Leasing a car has many short-term benefits but long-term drawbacks. Here’s what you need to know to decide if it’s a good move for you right now.

We have a lot of clients who freelance or have side hustles that aren’t W2 jobs. While we all know that there are processes we should have in place to keep our lives simple come tax time, life is busy. We often don’t keep up with paperwork and tracking and expenses the way we should, and then have to slog through hundreds of transactions to figure out which transactions were business expenses and which were personal. It can be hard to figure out how much you’ve earned through your independent work when you just deposit into your personal bank account and it gets mixed in with other income.

Let’s face it, most personal finance advice has been centered around shame and scarcity, and while it has worked for some people, it can also do a lot of damage and discourage others. Human-beings have evolved to have a negativity bias, which explains why we are more motivated by negatives than positives. That’s why this blog post might have caught your attention as opposed to a title like “How to create an abundance mindset around money.” While the negativity bias was a helpful trait to have when we were running from tigers in the wild, it can really hold us back in modern life. Scarcity is related to our negativity bias because it is the belief that there aren't enough resources to go around, money is a struggle to come by and we have to scrimp to conserve and hoard what is ours. And scarcity can make us do irrational things... like creating a non gas shortage into a real gas shortage.

While many people focus on making life changes at the start of a new year, the fall has a certain back-to-school energy making it a perfect time to focus on new habits and routines. Even as adults, something about this season makes us want to pull out our planners, sharpen our pencils, and get down to business. If you are ready to transform your finances, here are four financial habits that will help get you there.

We are in the full swing of summer! At the Gym, we know this is the peak season for all things outdoors. It's usually the case that we all let off the gas on our financial road trip. Purchases are happening, trips are being planned and enjoyed, weddings are back on schedule, so it’s easy to get lost in the midst of all these events happening to bank accounts and credit cards.

Negotiation is a nuanced term. To negotiate means to obtain or bring about by discussion. The art of negotiation isn't taught and it is not innate. It is a process of calculation, evaluation, confidence, and effective communication. It is more important than ever that you learn and hone the art of negotiating so you can advocate for yourself, own your power and understand your value.

Road trips are the epitome of freedom and adventure. With the open road ahead and countless possibilities, it's no wonder so many people dream of hitting the highway. But how do you plan a road trip that won't break the bank? Here’s your guide to making it happen.

When emergencies happen, your whole life can be put on hold. You have a death in the family, your car gets totaled or you find out quite unexpectedly you’re getting let go. These are considered emergencies because they must be dealt with right now and the severity can consume all of your attention. Not only that, it can also cost you a lot of money too. That’s why you need an emergency fund.

Savings bonds—once the “responsible” go-to gift for baby showers, birthdays, and graduations—have fallen out of fashion. Still, as a millennial or Gen Xer, it’s entirely possible to stumble across a long-forgotten pile of paper savings bonds and wonder what to do with them.

Although summer is coming to a close, the next big travel season is kicking back up again thanks to the holidays. It might feel too early to think about holiday travel, but let’s be honest, those Halloween decorations are already creeping onto store shelves.

According to Skyscanner, August is the best month to book flights domestically while September is ideal when booking international travel. If you’re looking for ways to save money on your next vacation, there are other travel hacks to keep in mind aside from good timing.

Have you ever felt bad about your spending and then spent even more money to make yourself feel better? If so, you, my friend, have experienced a spending shame spiral.

While it may seem counterintuitive, spending shame spirals are common because of the way that shame affects our behavior. Shame is an extremely powerful (and unhelpful) emotion. Rather than motivating us to make decisions to reduce our shame, it leads us to take actions that replicate it again and again. Fortunately, there is a way out of the shame spiral.

I don’t know about you, but I love the Olympic season, both winter and spring. To me, there is nothing like the drama, joy and exhilaration the Olympic games makes you feel. Every night I watch the coverage on NBC in awe of the athleticism, nervous for the athletes and parents, filled with pride for Team USA and most of all, I’m inspired by the stories of athletes who are there for a comeback journey and shot at redemption.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes,” but millions of people can avoid taxes for at least a few days each year through a sales tax holiday. Read about what a sales tax holiday is and how to get the most out of it.

Maybe you saw it coming, maybe it blindsided you, but it happened: you lost your job.  Whether it’s from a change in the industry, a layoff due to company finances, or even something specific to you and your role, the end result is the same: you’re looking for work.

Summer is a time for fun, but between travel, activities, and cookouts, it can be hard on your bank account. Luckily, you probably already have something in your wallet that can help reduce costs and make your summer more enjoyable: a credit card with perks. Here are the best credit card perks to take advantage of this summer.

Federal student loan borrowers have been experiencing whiplash as legal challenges to the SAVE plan move throughout the courts. In late June, district court judges in Missouri and Kansas paused parts of the SAVE plan, but an appeals court ruled that parts of it could continue. On July 18th, another appeals court ruling of the Missouri case blocked implementation of the SAVE plan entirely until that case is resolved.