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What a good point! I used to work at a hospital and one of the things they used to focus on a lot is employee wellness initiatives. They certainly understood that the healthier their employees, the less costly their care, so healthy employees = a win-win for everyone.

I definitely got lucky early on in my career as my first employer (spent 6 years there) had a very good retirement package that matched a very good percentage of whatever I put in. It helped me get the ball rolling before the age of 30, which meant that compared to most people my age, I’m doing pretty well. Certainly a factor I’d consider the next…[Read more]

I don’t think that makes you a bad person at all. I always only give as much as I can stand to not have anymore and thats ONLY if I really want to give at all. They have other resources. You don’t have to be one of them. They will figure it out.

Thanks for the ideas!

Absolutely! My mom has an awesome insurance package where she gets PAID to go to well visits. We’re talking checks of $100 – $300 if she visits and gets her annual exams. She typically does them at the end of the year and uses the checks for Christmas instead of her personal funds.

I love all of the companies that are doing things like this. It…[Read more]

Cara, those Sunday car drives to no where in particular was a staple as I grew up I have wonderful memories of those days.

Yikes, dating can be expensive for sure! Instead of dinner, which always means higher prices on everything, maybe meet for a specific fabulous dessert and coffee? Or, like Stacey suggested, breakfast; I am a big fan of brunch dates. Or “let’s check out the X,Y, or Z” dates (farmer’s market, street art festival, classic car show, etc).

The…[Read more]

Hi Kayla! What a great question – I’m super interested to hear what others have to say on this topic. For me, it’s pretty clear that carrying cash makes it easier for me to spend. So I try to avoid carrying cash because for me, mentally, as soon as I withdraw cash from the ATM, the money is already “spent.” I can’t easily track where the money…[Read more]

Wow, I understand. That’s a bold resolution and probably a tough one to stick to, if (like me) you’re prone to feeling anxious about money even in the best of times. The best things about being self-employed, in my opinion, are having control over your own schedule and the freedom to do diverse projects that are interesting and rewarding. But the…[Read more]

I haven’t tried this myself as a provider, but I have recently been using apps like Thumbtack and Takl as a client. The apps connect users with providers of household services – everything from simple repairs to furniture assembly to yard work. From a provider perspective, it eases the burden of marketing yourself, bidding on projects, and…[Read more]

I think Stacey’s got the right idea: having a set budget so you don’t spend what you can’t afford. One more idea that might help stretch your dining/entertainment budget – rewards programs. Depending on the program, sometimes the reward is a free meal at a specific restaurant or sometimes it’s points that can be redeemed in a number of ways (your…[Read more]

Wow, what a great suggestion. Thanks, Kayla! I’m like Antoinette – I tried eBates or something similar years ago, in the dinosaur days before apps – but it didn’t really work for me. If I’m going to use something consistently, it needs to be dead simple. Anyway, savings apps haven’t been on my radar at all before now, but this could really work…[Read more]

Great topic, Stacey! I agree with you about flying kites on the beach. When I lived in the SF Bay Area, this was a super fun, relaxing way for the family spend a weekend afternoon, and it cost us absolutely nothing. If you don’t live near the beach, local parks are great too. These days, I’m lucky enough to have access to park areas that have…[Read more]

I agree – the little things really add up, and it is hard to find the right balance. I find that this is when having that set budget comes in handy. While it might feel like deprivation, if I only have x amount of money set aside for the little things – I pick and choose much more carefully.

I agree – it is hard!

Antoinette, dating can get expensive! Dinner and a movie can really add up. One less expensive alternative is meeting up for appetizers and a drink during happy hour, coffee and breakfast in the morning, or plan a picnic at the beach.

Kayla, I keep thinking that I should set up a Christmas fund. With six kids, it always stretches our budget. The presents, the food, the decorations, and entertaining adds up super fast!