Elizabeth, Author at Women’s Money

05May 2021 by Elizabeth

5 Ways Exercise Will Help You Grow Rich

May is fitness month at Women’s Money. Why? First, because this site is about helping you fund your freedom. If you’re sick, tired all the time, or not healthy, you aren’t going to be able to enjoy the life you worked so hard to earn. More importantly, because I believe that the more fit you are, the richer you will be. How Exercise Benefits Your Finances Here are five ways exercise will help you grow rich. 1. Studies Prove that Fitness Is Correlated to Higher Earnings A study published in 2012 found that those who exercise regularly earn 9% more on average than those who don’t. Think of what nearly 10% more earnings could do to quicken your pace (no pun intended) towards financial freedom. 2. Exercise Saves Money on Health…

28Apr 2021 by Elizabeth

6 Tips to Avoid Falling Back Into Pre-COVID Habits

Take Action

Now that I’m fully vaccinated, I’ve started doing a few “normal” activities again. I have eaten inside at a restaurant, perused the shelves at the store without worrying about who is within six feet of me, and meandered around a shopping mall. Our offices are still working remotely, but I’ve gone in a few times without fear of contracting COVID. It has been surprising how “normal” embracing some of these pre-COVID habits has been. I hadn't eaten inside a restaurant for well over a year, and yet it felt like I could have been there last week. It has shown me how easy it will be to fall back into old habits. Before we rush back into our old habits, it’s worth asking the questions What habits have we fallen into…

21Apr 2021 by Elizabeth

New FSA Dependent Care Changes for 2021

Kids and Money

At the end of last year, we wrote about COVID’s effect on Dependent Care FSAs and how you could make changes at the end of 2020 to save money. Well, if you didn’t make changes at that time, or even if you were able to make some changes but still had money left over in your FSA, there is still hope. Congress passed new legislation that allows you to better utilize your FSA this year. Due to COVID-19, Congress has provided a lot more flexibility for your dependent care FSA. It’s the most flexible FSA setup I’ve ever seen. Dependent Care FSA Updates Specifically, here are the top things to know about your FSA for this year: You can use any unspent funds from 2020 in 2021. This means that…

14Apr 2021 by Elizabeth

Naming Your Money Fears

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What are your biggest money fears? What are the top three things you worry about most when it comes to money? Is it that your spouse will find out that you secretly love to buy X? Or that your friends will find out that while you live a lavish lifestyle, you actually won’t be able to retire because you have no savings? Is it that you will have to work in a job you hate for the rest of your life just to keep up with the Jones’? Do you worry that you won’t be able to afford your house if you or your spouse loses a job? Do you fear having to sell something that you really enjoy (a boat, a car, or a prized antique)? Is it that…

07Apr 2021 by Elizabeth

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…

24Mar 2021 by Elizabeth

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…

10Mar 2021 by Elizabeth

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

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…

03Mar 2021 by Elizabeth

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…

24Feb 2021 by Elizabeth

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…

Author: Elizabeth