Happy Friday! I hope you survived the week without too much stress. I’m just glad the sun came out for a day. So here’s my weekly round-up!
How I Earned Money This Week
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A new, one-time client paid for and scheduled her one-time session.
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The money hasn’t come in yet, but we listed our basement Airbnb and already have 5 bookings for the next couple of months! I was worried we wouldn’t get a lot of guests, but it seems successful already.
How I Spent Money This Week
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On Sunday, I met up with my friend Nina for tea and some shopping. I had a coupon for a free drink at Bakers and Baristas, so I only spent $3.50 on my chocolate croissant. Then we went to LOFT, where I spent $60 on a blouse and a cardigan. Each item was originally $50, so I got a great discount. I’ve been slowly trying to create a wardrobe that I’m happy and confident in, so I’m glad that I was able to find two pieces that I like! Plus, I can pull this expense from my fun fund.
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I bought a (teal) arm chair, curtains, and a new light fixture for my home office! I’ve been waiting to do this for about two months, and I have the business savings to cover the costs. Bonus: the expense will be tax-deductible since it’s for the office I use exclusively for my business. Pictures to come!
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I’ve been putting off buying new skincare products for a while now. But it’s finally getting to the point where I can’t neglect my face and hope it still looks good. So I splurged on several Glossier items, which cost about $100 total. This kind of spending isn’t really in my budget at the moment, but that’s what I have my fun fund for!
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We spent a little over $100 on groceries this week. We were out of a lot of staples and stocked back up. Dan also made a big chicken pot pie dish that lasted for a few days. We also have our weekly Hungry Harvest delivery coming on Friday, which costs about $24 for a dozen eggs and a whole bunch of veggies.
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Last weekend, Dan and I did another wine tasting at our wedding venue. We picked out the white wines that we’ll be serving to our guests. It sure costs more than three-buck Chuck at Trader Joe’s! So we had to pay the invoice for that order, but luckily we already had wedding savings set aside to cover it.
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I spent more money than I planned this week! I went out to happy hour on Wednesday with some friends. I’m trying to prioritize friendship, especially now that I’m working from home and living out in the ‘burbs. So the $15 on beer and bratwurst was worth it.
What I’m Writing
It’s tax season, so I wrote about how to get started on doing your taxes. It doesn’t have to be the most stressful time of year!
What I’m Excited About
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Dan and I booked our wedding photographer and I officially bought my wedding dress (with tax, it was $254.40)! When things start getting done and I can cross them off my list, this all feels a lot more exciting and real.
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I was asked to do two speaking gigs! More details to come, but they’re exciting opportunities.
What I’m Fan-Girling Over
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Loving the Stuff Mom Never Told You episode about whether marriage can be feminist. Bonus: Jill Filipovic is the guest! Can’t wait to read her book, The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness.
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I also enjoy pretty websites that also help us take care of ourselves. Check out Touch-Yourself.com to learn how to properly give yourself a breast exam.
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A Practical Wedding! I’m sure I’ll be referencing them a lot when I write my posts about wedding planning, but I want to give them a shout out today. If you want reasonable, supportive wedding advice, they should be your go-to! And if you haven’t read their book yet, check it out!
Money Tips to Take Into the Weekend
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If you’re in the DC area, it’s going to be raining all weekend. So grab some affordable snacks and snuggle in for the weekend. Don’t want to be alone? Invite a friend over to watch your favorite old movies and eat homemade popcorn.
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Take 30 minutes this weekend to sit down and review your budget. Compare your spending so far this month to your monthly budget (if you have one). Do you need to slow down on your spending to stay on track?
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Pick out a crockpot meal recipe for next week. If you double the recipe, you can end up with enough food for lunch all week. It’ll save you time and money! I personally love chicken noodle soup.
Have a wonderful weekend and stay dry!
Maggie Germano
Certified Financial Education Instructor. Feminist and financial coach for women. Founder of Money Circle.

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