Blog - Women’s Money

07Apr 2021 by Elizabeth No Comments

How to Make Your Post-COVID Budget

Budgeting

I received my COVID-19 vaccine last week, and I’ve already started moving from dreaming about my post-COVID vaccine life to actually planning it. Beyond scheduling some practicalities like doctor’s appointments that were delayed during COVID, haircuts, and some nice to-do’s (massage and maybe even a pedicure), I’m now starting to think beyond and consider what my life will really look like in three to four months. What exactly does my life look like post-COVID vaccine? Will we be signing our kids up for full-day camps all summer? We used to have a regular babysitter who came 1-2x/week, so will that become a part of our routine again? What about the gym membership and endless activities for the kids? The reality is that, unlike many Americans who lost jobs and businesses…

29Mar 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

Is a Sabbatical Like a Long Vacation?

Sabbatical Sundays

I’m currently working remotely and also taking some much needed vacation time. It’s wonderfully relaxing. I get to sleep in, go for runs once the sun is up, cook more meals, spend more time with my kids, feel less rushed, and still feel productive. And I find myself wondering: Is this what my sabbatical will feel like? And the short answer is: I hope so. Some people imagine a sabbatical to be like a really long vacation. For anyone who has been on a long vacation before, you know that towards the end of it (even the middle of it), you are ready to go home. There is only so much completely unstructured down time you can have. On the extended vacations I have previously had, I started having weird dreams or getting…

24Mar 2021 by Elizabeth No Comments

What to Do With Extra Money

Saving & Investing

Have you recently received a stimulus payment? Or a tax refund? Or perhaps a company bonus? This time of year is one of the most common to get a chunk of unexpected extra money. In this article, we will discuss the best things to do with that extra money depending on whether you are in debt or not. 4 Ways to Use Extra Money So what should you do with extra money? Here are four ways to use it based on your current financial situation. 1. No Matter What: Spend Some Money on Something Fun Regardless of whether you are in debt or have hefty savings, I always recommend using some of your extra money to spend on something fun. Whether it’s a fancy meal, a mini-vacation, or a shopping…

14Mar 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

I Quit My Job During the Last Recession & I’m Terrified I’ll do It Again

Sabbatical Sundays

On Monday, September 1, 2008, I gave notice to my employer. I quit my job to travel the world. Three weeks later, I dropped off a carload full of stuff for storage at my parent's house and boarded a plane to Buenos Aires. I had saved enough to spend a year traveling the world. My plan was to return at the end of it and easily find a new job. I was happily devouring famous Argentinian steak, drinking Malbec, and taking walks along the Rio de La Plata when the stock market crashed on September 29, 2008. This was the first market crash that began the Great Recession. While it seems like many years ago, those who were scarred by it remember the (seemingly) endless market lows, coupled with an…

10Mar 2021 by Elizabeth No Comments

How to Map Your Own Path

Goals / Taking Action

If you haven’t yet downloaded the Women’s Money Fund Your Freedom Toolkit, now is your chance. The toolkit provides a complete plan to help you achieve the freedom you want. One of my favorite pages in the toolkit is the Map Your Future worksheet. This worksheet is designed to be a printable page that you can post on your wall and help you reach your goal. To help you get started, I’ve asked Sam to share her page. What does freedom look like to Sam? It’s taking a year-long sabbatical. Here is her Roadmap to Taking a Year Off: Now I’ll help you create yours. General Guidance The way to read the road map is that the top row is who you are now, the bottom row is who you will be…

08Mar 2021 by Elizabeth 1 Comment

Ultimate List of Women’s Money Bloggers

Popular

For International Women's Day 2021, we couldn't be more excited to announce that we've updated our Ultimate List of Women's Money Bloggers. Originally created in 2012, we updated the list for 2021 to include as many females writing about money as possible. There are now over 400 on this list! The list below is in alphabetical order - so please scroll through the list and check out and start following at least 10 new female money bloggers to celebrate International Women's Day! (If you're a women money blogger and you're not on the list, just contact us and we will add you.) $12 a Day and a Baby on the Way1099 Mom2 Ringgits’ Worth20 Year Challenge, The444 ExpressAdd VodkaAfford AnythingAlmost FrugalAlong for the JourneyAlways the PlannerAmerican Debt ProjectAnd Then She…

07Mar 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

How Taking a Sabbatical is like The Greatest Showman: It Means Taking a Leap

Sabbatical Sundays

So trade that typical for something colorfulAnd if it's crazy, live a little crazyYou can play it sensible, a king of conventionalOr you can risk it all and seeDon't you wanna get away from the same old part you gotta play'Cause I got what you need, so come with me and take the ride If you’ve never watched The Greatest Showman, take 5 minutes and watch this scene now. The background is this: Zach Effron’s character comes from wealth and lives a very upper-class, posh life. Hugh Jackman’s character comes from nothing, was orphaned at a young age, and is trying to start the circus.The show is loosely based on the life of PT Barnum. In this scene, Hugh Jackman’s character is trying to convince Zach Effron’s character to give up…

03Mar 2021 by Elizabeth No Comments

Airbnb (or VRBO) vs Hotels: How to Find the Cheapest Place to Stay

Travel

Depending on where you are traveling to and who you are traveling with, staying at an Airbnb or VRBO can be a much more affordable option than spending the night at a hotel. But do you know how to find the cheapest place to stay? Here are our top tips to save money on where you stay for your next vacation. How to Find the Cheapest Place to Stay Finding the cheapest place to stay requires that you ask yourself several questions. Be sure to consider the following before booking a hotel or Airbnb/VRBO so that you can save money on travel accommodations. 1. How big is your party size? If you are a family of four or more, usually renting a place will be cheaper than renting multiple hotel…

28Feb 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

How I’m Saving $100,000 to Take a Sabbatical

Sabbatical Sundays

As I’ve been writing about my journey to save enough money to take a sabbatical, you are probably wondering, "how is Sam going to save $100,000 to be able to take a year off of work?" Honestly, that’s a question I am asking myself as well. But, I have a plan. First, let’s start high-level. In order to save $100,000 in a year, here is how I could break the savings down: $274/day$8,333/month$25,000/quarter$33,333 three times$50,000 two times$100,000 once Doing any of these things would allow me to save $100,000 in one year. Note that these don't take into account any interest calculations. This means either earning this much more per day, week, month, quarter, year or cutting expenses by that amount. Or somewhere in between. You’ve probably seen many writers…

24Feb 2021 by Elizabeth No Comments

The Best Way to Save for a Vacation in 5 Easy Steps

Travel

I am ready for a vacation. Perhaps you sensed that in my post about How to Survive the Rest of COVID Winter with Kids. Most Americans don’t take enough vacation time, and we certainly didn’t take enough vacation during COVID-19. So, while we await the vaccine, travel restrictions lifting, and herd immunity, the wanderlust is real. But what’s going to happen when we are all able to take a vacation again? How are we going to finance it? Will you be putting it on a credit card and planning to pay it off later? Perhaps you are counting on another stimulus check or a tax refund to pay for your time away? Or have you set aside money now? According to a 2019 Forbes article, most Americans spend an average of…

Download the Fund Your Freedom Toolkit!