Articles

Using Money As A Tool Of Hope During Difficult Times

We’re getting towards the end of 2020, which has been an incredibly difficult year for so many of us. We’ve spent upwards of nine months mostly in quarantine, not sure when things might be safe...

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How To Have Positive Money Conversations With Your Loved Ones

Money conversations can be challenging even at the best of times. In fact, money is one of the top causes...

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5 Steps That Will Help You Financially Prepare To Start A Family

I’m about to enter the third trimester of my first pregnancy. As a soon-to-be mother, I’m excited and scared. As...

What’s At Stake This November And How You Can Get Out The Vote

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 6 months, you likely know that we have an important...

How To Recognize The Signs Of Financial Abuse

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence is defined as...

  • lifestyle

  • healthcare

Budget-Friendly Ways To Get Support For Your Mental Health

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so now, more than ever, it’s important to talk about mental health. In our...

How Women Can Change The World With Their Money Choices

Have you ever thought about the idea that how you spend your money can make an impact on the world...

How The United States Has Criminalized Poverty And How To Change That Now

Over the past several weeks and months, I’ve been thinking and talking a lot about the intersection of social justice...

  • career

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Why Disability Insurance is Essential for Working Women

Disclaimer: if you use the Breeze links in this article, I will receive a small affiliate fee. Thank you in...

How Cash Bail Disenfranchises People Of Color And Makes Our Criminal Justice System Inherently Unjust

Have you ever taken a moment to think about the cash bail system in the United States? If you’re like...

How White Allies Can Do Better And Fight Racism

First, I want to say to my Black readers and friends, I see you. I stand with you. I do...

  • career

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How To Pay For College Besides Taking Out Student Loans

This week, on the Money Circle podcast, I interviewed Pam Andrews, college admissions consultant and the founder of

  • lifestyle

Resources for Folks Who Are Pregnant During COVID-19

Want to learn more about what you should know if you’re pregnant during COVID-19? Listen to this week’s Money...

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Financial Resources For Families With Kids Who Have Special Needs

April is Autism Acceptance Month. In honor of that, I interviewed Femme Frugality’s Brynne Conroy on the Money...

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How To Use Your Stimulus Check

Like many Americans, you may have received your stimulus check via direct deposit already. If you haven’t yet received your...

What You Should Know About Taxes This Year

I originally was going to write this piece under the assumption that this Wednesday, April 15th is Tax Day. But...

Your Personal Finance Glossary, Part 1

April is Financial Literacy Month. It’s okay if you forgot, because I almost did too! The COVID-19 crisis has thrown...

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What The Coronavirus Stimulus Package Means For You

On Friday, March 27th, 2020, Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as...

  • lifestyle

What You Should Know During the COVID-19 Crisis

What a mess. The last several days and weeks have been scary and confusing for all of us. The global...

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What To Do With Your Money During Uncertain Times

Hey friends. How are you holding up? I know that things feel really scary and confusing right now. For many...

  • lifestyle

5 Steps You Can Take to Build a More Equal Future

Happy International Women’s Day! I personally celebrate women and their accomplishments and push for equality everyday, but I’m happy to...

  • career

Why Women Need to Ask For More

March is Women’s History Month and March 8th is International Women’s Day. This is an important time to reflect on...

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How to Practice An Abundance Mindset

Today I want to focus on abundance and practicing having an abundance mindset. I’m sure you hear the word abundance...

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Working Through the Money Taboo

Have you ever been told that it’s “rude” to talk about money? Have you ever felt your face get hot...

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Revisiting The Money Talk With Your Partner

Three and a half years ago, in one of my very first blog posts, I wrote about why it’s so...

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How to Have the Money Talk With Your Parents

Have you every considered that it’s important to talk about money with your parents? And I don’t mean talking to...

  • credit

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5 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

If you’re an adult living in the modern world, you’ve most likely heard of a credit score. There are many...

  • budget

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How to Prioritize Your Health When You Don't Have Much Money to Spare

It’s still January, so I’m pretty sure new years resolutions or 2020 goals are on your mind. Last week,...

  • debt

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How to Pay Down Credit Card Debt This Year

Recently, I’ve been reflecting upon the past year and making plans for this year. And I’ve obviously been encouraging you...

  • lifestyle

My 2020 Goals

Do you need some help setting goals for this year? Come to the Money Circle meetup in DC this...

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Celebrating My 2019 Wins

A few years ago, I started writing out all of my accomplishments from the past year, rather than only focusing...

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How To Get Back On Track After Holiday Spending

Happy holidays, y’all! As of today, we are two days away from Christmas and a day into Hanukkah. That means...

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Creating Money Affirmations You Actually Believe In

Do you ever create and write down affirmations in order to change your mindset? I do it sometimes. And I...

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Starting Financially Fresh in 2020

As of this writing, we only have 22 days left in December, which means there’s just over three weeks left...

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How to Stay Focused on Your Financial Needs This Holiday Season

Happy December! We’re officially in the swing of holiday season. In the last several days, we’ve experienced Black Friday, Small...

  • healthcare

Women Hate Open Enrollment Season, But It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way

Open enrollment runs from November 1st until December 15th. Make sure that you enroll through your employer-based healthcare plan by...

  • healthcare

How to Make Sure You Get What You Need During Enrollment Season

Pre-S: Open enrollment season has begun! If you are going to enroll in marketplace insurance, you have from November 1...

  • healthcare

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  • debt

Why It’s So Important to Have Health Insurance

Pre-S: Open enrollment season has begun! If you are going to enroll in marketplace insurance, you have from November 1...

  • healthcare

  • lifestyle

Why I Regret Using Marketplace Insurance (But It Might Be Right For You)

Pre-S: Open enrollment season has begun! If you are going to enroll in marketplace insurance, you have from November 1...

  • lifestyle

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How to Support Victims of Domestic Violence

Content warning: this article makes references to abusive relationships, particularly those where financial abuse is in play. If you are...

  • lifestyle

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How to Prepare to Leave an Abusive Relationship

Content warning: this article makes references to abusive relationships, particularly those where financial abuse is in play. If you are...

  • lifestyle

What Financial Abuse Looks Like

Content warning: this article makes references to abusive relationships, particularly those where financial abuse is in play. If you are...

  • lifestyle

3 Financial Hurdles That Keep Women in Abusive Relationships

Content warning: this article discusses the topic of domestic violence. If you’re in an abusive relationship, there are people out...

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Why You Should Take a Money Minute Every Week

If you’re in the Money Circle Facebook group, or if you’re one of my coaching clients, you know...

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How to Practice Actual Self Care on a Budget

This week, I’m revisiting a post from nearly three years ago about self-care and adding a bit more.

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All the Things That I Love to Spend Money On

Almost two weeks ago now, I attended my fourth FinCon. It’s an annual conference where financial professionals and brands...

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Cultural Background Affects Americans' Ability To Reach Financial Goals

In a December report, The Cut: Exploring Financial Wellness Within Diverse Populations, Prudential Financial builds upon the findings from...

Yes, The Wage Gap Exists

A few weeks ago, I spoke at a college leadership event in Virginia. I led a workshop that helped college...

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How Women Can Improve Their Financial Optimism Despite Growing Anxieties

This past spring, two different studies were released that delve into financial anxiety and optimism; the Spring 2019 Merrill...

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How Our Friends Hurt Our Finances

Have you ever felt like the only way to get your money right is to become a hermit and just...

  • lifestyle

Comparing Yourself to Others Means You'll Never Feel Satisfied

Have you ever heard the saying “comparison is the thief of joy”? I’ve found it to be incredibly true in...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Podcasts, Confidence, and Sawbones

Happy Friday, everyone! Here’s what I was up to.

  • lifestyle

How to Improve Your Financial Confidence

Nearly four years ago, when I was just realizing that I wanted to pursue the financial industry for my career,...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Coworking, Confidence, and Travel

Happy Friday, everyone! Here’s what I was up to.

  • career

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How to Manage Your Business Finances as an Entrepreneur

When I first started my business, I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Money Satisfaction, Pool Parties, and Financial Advice

Happy Friday, everyone! Here’s what I was up to.

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5 Books That Make Personal Finance More Accessible

Did you know that I wasn’t born with all of the financial literacy that I have now? Shocking, I know....

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Painting, Wedding Loans, and Style

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m back to business after traveling for over a week. Here’s what I was up to.

  • debt

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Don't Take Out a Wedding Loan

A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by a Washington Post reporter about wedding loans. My feedback wasn’t included in...

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Despite Having Less Support, Women Outpace Men In Financial Independence

In April, Merrill Lynch and Age Wave teamed up again and released the report, “Early Adulthood: The Pursuit of...

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I Believe In Money Advice, But Only If It Looks At The Whole Picture

Recently, there have been several different articles written that criticize the personal finance industry. And for good...

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10 Free or Cheap Ways You Can Have Fun This Summer

As I wrote last week, it’s important to plan ahead all year in order to have fun during the summer....

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How to Plan Ahead So You Can “Splurge” All Summer

It’s mid-June, which means that we’re in full swing for summertime! Although summer is never as fun as it was...

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How to Maintain Financial Independence After Merging Finances

One question I’m asked pretty often is this: how should I merge finances with my partner? And there isn’t a...

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Apps That Make Splitting the Check So Much Easier

One thing that I hear about a lot from clients (and have experienced myself) is how difficult it can be...

  • budget

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3 Reasons Why Women Should Get Life Insurance

In the last several months, I’ve thought a lot about estate planning and life insurance. I wrote on my

  • debt

What Does Bankruptcy Mean and Should You File For It?

I remember while I was growing up, I only really heard about bankruptcy when it came to celebrities like MC...

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Student Loan Debt Has Huge Mental Health Impacts

Content warning: This piece discusses difficult topics like suicide. If you will feel triggered by this, please do not read....

  • lifestyle

Women Are Working More Than Ever, But They Still Take On Most Household Responsibilities

This piece was originally published for Women’s History Month in March on my Forbes Women column.

  • credit

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The Pros and Cons of Balance Transfers

I’ve written in the past about using a balance transfer in order to consolidate your debt or lower your...

  • debt

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So You've Defaulted On Your Loans

Defaulting on a loan means that you’ve missed payments so long that you’ve broken the payment contract with your lender....

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Subaru, Health, and Easter

Happy Friday! Here’s what I was up to this past week.

  • savings

How to Keep Your Hands Off Your Emergency Savings

An emergency fund is one of the most important financial accounts you can have. It is there for you...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Credit Invisibility, Twitter, and Video

Happy Friday! Here’s what I was up to this past week.

  • credit

What is Credit Invisibility?

You’ve probably heard of bad credit or good credit, credit scores and credit reports. But have you ever heard of...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Obedience Training, Sinking Funds, and FinCon

Happy Friday! Here’s what I was up to this past week.

  • savings

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How to Use "Sinking Funds" to Save for Goals All Year

Happy Financial Literacy Month! You know I’m trying to teach you about money all year long, but this month, money...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Vermont, Stress, and Trivia

Happy Friday! Here’s what I was up to this past week.

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How Money Stress Affects Women

Money is a tricky subject. It touches every single part of our lives, be it our relationships, our careers, our...

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Despite Their Priorities, Nearly Half Of Americans Over 55 Still Don't Have A Will

Last week, Merrill Lynch and Age Wave published findings from their new study – Leaving a Legacy: A Lasting...

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What You Should Know About Financial Abuse

You’ve heard of physical abuse. You’ve heard of emotional abuse. You’ve heard of sexual abuse. But have you heard of...

  • lifestyle

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The Economics of Menstruation

Happy Women’s History Month! This month, my blog will focus on issues that specifically affect women and their financial futures....

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How to Treat Your Financial Profile Like Your Tinder Profile

Have you ever worried about what a potential romantic partner might think about your financial standing? Have financial issues ever...

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The Lasting Economic Effects of Racism

Disclaimer: I am a white lady. I am working to make myself as aware and informed as possible. This article...

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How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Without Buying Gifts

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! That means you’re being inundated with ads from companies that sell diamonds, flowers, chocolates, and more....

Preparing for Another Recession

If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, or if you’ve been looking at your 401k in the past...

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Financially Preparing to Get a Pet

As you may have seen in past posts or on social media, my husband and I are in the process...

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How to Cope with Your Money Shame

According to research professor, Brené Brown, there is a big difference between shame and guilt. She says that “…guilt...

  • career

The Real Reason Minority-Owned Businesses Aren't Getting Funded

A new report released by Morgan Stanley found that the majority of investors and bank loan officers do...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Robot Vacuums, Corgis, and Big Goals

Happy Friday! I hope you’re staying warm out there. Here’s what I was up to this week.

  • lifestyle

How To Complete a Low-Spend Month

New year, new budget. Do you want to take control of your money this year? Start off strong by doing...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Therapy, Low-Spend January, and Resolutions

Happy Friday! Here’s what I was up to this week.

  • lifestyle

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How to Get Your Financial Life in Order in 2019

A few weeks ago, in the Money Circle group, someone mentioned that they want to get their financial shit...

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Celebrating the Wins of 2018

It’s almost the end of 2018! I honestly can’t believe how quickly the year flew by. Something I’ve been doing...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Homemade Candles, Herbal Tea, and Speaking

Happy Friday! Here’s what I was up to this week.

How to Talk to Loved Ones If You Don't Want to Receive Gifts

Last week, I saw a series of Instagram stories from Melissa Hartwig, co-founder of Whole 30. Melissa shared...

  • lifestyle

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Why And How Women Must Prepare Differently for the Future

As a financial coach, I choose to work specifically with women, because I know that women’s financial situations differ from...

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5 Mistakes I Made While Planning My Wedding

It’s been less than a month since I got married! In fact, we just got back from our honeymoon this...

  • budget

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How to Manage Finances Once You're Married

One of the most popular questions I get from clients and readers is this: how should we combine finances after...

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What Should I Do With My Wedding Gift Money?

Congratulations, you’re married! And the wedding planning part of life is finally over! Plus, if you’re lucky, you’re walking away...

  • budget

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How to Plan a Honeymoon on a Budget

I’m on my honeymoon right now! Well, I’m actually in the air or in an airport somewhere. We left DC...

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Is Pre-Marital Counseling Worth Spending Money On?

Dan and I are getting married this Saturday (!!!???). It’s been a pretty long engagement, and if we could do...

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Why I'm Keeping My Name After I Get Married

Disclaimer: This article is going to be super heteronormative. I’m speaking about my own experience and the research that has...

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How I Had the Money Talk with My Dude

One of the first articles I ever wrote about money was about how to have the money talk with...

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How to Throw a Bachelorette Party That Won't Break the Bank

Last month, I celebrated my bachelorette party. I had only been to one or two bachelorette parties in the past,...

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Money I Don't Regret Spending on My House

Last September, my fiance, Dan, and I closed on a house near Hyattsville, MD. It’s right next to a new...

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How I Saved Money for My Wedding (While Buying a House and Quitting My Job)

If you’ve been following me at all in the past year, you know I’ve been going through a lot of...

  • budget

How to Plan Ahead for Holiday Spending

You know how it is. Holiday season sneaks up on you and you suddenly have to buy a bunch of...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Meal Delivery, Reproductive Health, and Self Worth

Happy Friday! I hope you had a fantastic week. Here’s what I was up to!

  • lifestyle

It's Time to Prepare to Protect Your Reproductive Health

If you’ve been conscious at all within the last few months (or the last two years), you know that there...

  • lifestyle

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Why It's Important to Separate Your Self Worth from Your Money

This blog post is part of the 3rd Annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Month blog tour. If you are feeling suicidal,...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Budgeting, Lifestyle Creep, and Airbnb

Happy Friday! I hope you had a fantastic week. Here’s what I was up to!

  • budget

  • career

5 Ways to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

According to a 2015 Nielsen study, 25 percent of Americans earning over $150,000 are living paycheck to paycheck. That...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Bicycles, Budgets, and Bachelorettes

Happy Friday! I hope you had a fantastic week. Here’s what I was up to!

  • budget

How to Trick Yourself into Sticking to a Budget

Budgeting and money management is not an innate skill that we’re born with. Yes, some people are naturally more disciplined...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Be Heard Podcast, Bachelorette Parties, and Jealousy

Happy Friday! I hope you had a fantastic week. Here’s what I was up to!

  • lifestyle

How to Deal When You're Jealous of Your Friends' Finances

It goes a little something like this: your best friend goes on an amazing trip to Europe, you graciously “like”...

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How to Overcome Financial Impostor Syndrome

One of the number one problems that my coaching clients have is financial impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome is “a...

  • budget

What to Do If You Get a Windfall

So you’ve come into a bit of cash, congratulations! First thing’s first, what’s a windfall? A windfall is when you...

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Why Spending Money On "Happy" Is Worth It

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I’m not one of those financial bloggers who...

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What to Do and Not Do When You're Unemployed

It’s one of the scariest positions to be in. It’s the thing that you hope will never happen. But unemployment...

  • career

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Should You File for Unemployment?

A few months ago, I was talking to a friend who had recently been laid off from her job. She...

  • debt

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What's a Personal Loan and When Should You Get One?

Full disclosure: I had never heard of a personal loan until I started coaching women around money. I knew what...

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How to Stay on Budget While All Your Friends Get Married

Have you gotten to a certain age when it feels like everyone you know is getting married? I’ve personally been...

  • lifestyle

All the Times I've Felt Guilty for Spending Money

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I am not the type of financial expert who says you...

  • credit

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What You Should Do After Paying Off Debt

Congratulations! You paid off some or all of your debt! I bet it felt like this day would never come....

  • credit

The Difference Between Your Credit Score and Your Credit Report

If you’re an adult living in the modern world, you’ve most likely heard of a credit score. There are many...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Garlic Knots, Keynotes, and Green Tea

Happy Friday! Has anyone else had just awful allergies this week? My eyes don’t want to be open at all....

  • debt

What Do I Do If I Get Sued By a Creditor?

I’m sure you can picture it: you get your mail just like any other day. You open a plain, white...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Wedding Shoes, the Dominican Republic, and Student Loan Consolidation

Happy Friday! I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the springlike weather in DC this week. It makes me so happy to have...

  • debt

What Are My Options for Student Loan Consolidation?

This month, I’ll be writing full articles answering questions that have been asked by my clients and Money Circle...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Donuts, Antiques, and Women-Owned Businesses

Happy Friday, y’all! Is it just me, or do short weeks always feel the longest? Here’s what I was up...

  • budget

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How to Stay in Control of Your Wedding Spending

So I’ve talked about creating a wedding budget, keeping your sanity while planning, and making sure you’re

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Elevate You, Values, Bosses

Happy Friday, y’all! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a long weekend of fun and relaxation. Here’s...

  • lifestyle

How I'm Incorporating My Values Into My Wedding

I’m a fierce feminist who has always been outspoken about my opinions and beliefs. I’m also a straight, white, cisgendered...

  • founder friday

Founder Friday | Meal Planning, iPhones, and AAUW

Womp, womp. It’s basically not stopped raining this week. It’s super gloomy, but I’m honestly happy it’s not 90 degrees...

  • lifestyle

How to Plan a Wedding and Stay Sane

I knew planning a wedding would be tough, but I didn’t realize just how hard it would be. I’m a...

  • budget

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How to Create a Wedding Budget

At one point in my life, I almost considered myself a professional wedding guest. My now fiance and I went...

  • lifestyle

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When, Why, and How to Invest in Yourself

When you hear people talk about investing, you probably think about the stock market and your retirement account. But do...

  • debt

What Are Your Options for Debt Consolidation?

Do you have a bunch of different debts? Do you get overwhelmed by multiple monthly payments and growing interest fees?...

  • budget

How to Use One Budget Number to Manage Your Money

I think the number one issue I hear about from clients and readers is not knowing how to budget. Or...

  • lifestyle

What's the Difference Between Retirement Accounts?

Hopefully you know how important retirement savings is. Most Americans can no longer rely on pensions or Social Security when...

  • credit

How Does Credit Card Interest Work?

Happy Financial Literacy Month! This is the month of the year that you’ll probably be seeing financial topics discussed everywhere....

  • lifestyle

How Financial Security is a Feminist Act

For me, financial security is not just about money. It’s not about having more money so that you can have...

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Women Who Broke the Glass Ceiling in Their Industry

For the past two weeks, I’ve been writing about very important, but depressing, issues that affect women. This...

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The Truth About the Wage Gap

I’m back again this week with another depressing financial issue that negatively affects women. This time, it’s the wage gap....

Founder Friday | Bossed Up, Airbnb, and Women

Happy Friday! We made it! Plus, the sun is out and will stay there all weekend.

#WomenRockMoney: Celebrating International Women's Day

This post is part of the #WomenRockMoney movement, a large group of female personal finance bloggers who have come together...

  • lifestyle

The Financial Impact of Sexual Harassment and Abuse

Happy Women’s History Month! This is the one month out of the year that is dedicated to celebrating the contributions...

Founder Friday | Art, Coaching, and Aliens

Happy Friday! Here’s what I’ve been up to this week!

  • lifestyle

How to Get to Your Happy Place Before Doing Your Taxes

Have you heard that it’s tax season? (Yes, I’ve mentioned it about five times already.) Well, you have less than...

Founder Friday | Taxes, Activists, and Podcasts

Happy Friday! I hope you’re staying dry on this misty day. Here’s what I’ve been up to this week!

When You Might Want to Hire a Tax Professional

I’ve written before about how to do your taxes easily and on the cheap. But sometimes, based on...

Founder Friday | Pastries, Vagina Monologues, and Nashville

Happy Friday! What did you get up to this week? For me, it was a week mixed with love, pleasure,...

  • lifestyle

Stop Fighting About Money With Your Valentine

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, there’s been a study released by Elevate’s Center for the New Middle...

How To Do Your Taxes

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Just kidding, it’s tax season. Taxes can feel overwhelming, so I wanted...

  • career

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Why I Quit My Job to Be a Full-Time Financial Coach

On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, I told my boss that I would be resigning from my position at the end...

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How to Hygge on a Budget

No, hygge is not an Icelandic yogurt. Hygge is the Danish concept that means “coziness”. It’s pronounced “hoo-gah”. It’s...

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5 Signs You Might Need a Money Coach

January is often used as the month to reflect on the previous year and set goals and intentions...

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Easy Financial Goals for 2018

Ah, a brand new year. It’s that time when we all set New Year’s resolutions and vow to be a...

  • lifestyle

Reflecting on 2017

A couple years ago, I came across the idea of celebrating your wins of the past year, rather than solely...

  • budget

  • lifestyle

Celebrate the New Year Without Breaking the Bank

Merry Christmas, if you’re celebrating today! I hope you’re spending the day with people you love, or indulging in some...

  • budget

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How to Stay on Budget When Traveling for the Holidays

Most articles about holiday spending and budgeting focus on giving gifts. Of course, I’ve already written several of the...

  • budget

How Chasing Sales Can Actually Blow Your Budget

The holidays are upon us! As I mentioned in my last post, we’ve been inundated with ads for weeks...

  • budget

How to Create a Holiday Gift Budget

You KNOW the holidays are almost here. You’ve been inundated with ads since before Halloween. Christmas music has been playing...

What Trump's Tax Plan Means for Millennials

I’m sure you’ve heard about the new tax bill that moved to the Senate floor today. If you’re like...

  • lifestyle

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Why Health Insurance is Worth Paying For

As I’ve said during the entire month of November, it’s open enrollment season! That means that until December 15th, you...

  • lifestyle

Why Healthcare is Self Care

I hear about self care everywhere I look these days. And it’s a good thing; we all need to take...

  • lifestyle

What You Should Consider When Choosing a Healthcare Plan

November 1st until December 15th is the open enrollment period this year. If your employer doesn’t cover your health insurance,...

  • lifestyle

  • budget

What You Should Know About Open Enrollment This Year

Open enrollment season began on November 1st! This is the time of year when Americans can enroll in a health...

  • lifestyle

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Radon

This is a bonus blog post from real estate agent Liz Delgado-Steo!

  • career

How to Start Your Own Business

October is National Women’s Small Business Month! As of 2015, 9.1 million business in the United States were owned...

  • lifestyle

What to Expect When You're Inspecting

There is a man on a roof with a flashlight peering into a crack near the outside of a chimney....

  • lifestyle

  • budget

The Lowdown on Down Payment Assistance Programs

You did it! You found the house! It’s a 3 bed, 2.5 bath with gorgeous master bedroom, open concept kitchen,...

  • lifestyle

Financing Options When It's Time to Buy a Home

Buying a home is unlike buying anything else in your life – no one needs an agent to buy a...

  • lifestyle

  • debt

What I Wish I'd Known Before Buying a Home

Oh, homebuying. It’s sold to us as the American Dream. And it really is great to know that you own...

  • lifestyle

  • budget

How to Care for Your Mental Health on a Budget

This blog post is part of the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month blog tour in partnership with Debt Drop. If...

  • budget

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Budgeting for the Fun Stuff

I am not one of those financial bloggers who tells you that you have to give up every single thing...

  • budget

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How to Budget as a Couple

I’m not sure if you know this, but money is pervasive in all areas of our lives. And it sure...

  • budget

  • lifestyle

Clutter-free Finances: Applying the KonMari Method to Your Bank Account

If you are feeling bogged down by the clutter in your home (and maybe also humidity in DC these days?),...

  • credit

What to Do If Your Info Was Compromised by the Equifax Hack

I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the Equifax breach. If not, the quick story is that the social...

  • budget

Budgeting 101

The blog theme this month is all about budgeting!

  • lifestyle

How to Help When You Feel Helpless During a Crisis

When a crisis is occurring and we are far away from it, we can feel either helpless or indifferent. When...

  • lifestyle

Free Things to Do While Traveling

Travel always seems like something that is so expensive. There’s the transportation, the accommodations, the food, the activities… And yes,...

  • lifestyle

  • credit

How to Use Credit Card Rewards for Travel

Disclaimer: While I fully take advantage of credit card rewards programs, credit cards are not for everyone. If you struggle...

  • lifestyle

Fight White Supremacy with Your Wallet and Your Voice

I want to use this platform and my privilege as a white woman to explicitly condemn the racist white supremacist...

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3 Ways to Prepare for Short Trips

Oftentimes, when we (and the internet) talk about vacation, we’re referring to big, expensive trips across the country or overseas....

  • lifestyle

  • budget

How to Save Up for Travel, Big or Small

Since August is a huge travel month, the blog theme is financially responsible travel! Tune in for plenty of tips...

  • career

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How to Feel More Confident at Work

Do you ever feel insecure at work? Like you aren’t really contributing to your organization? I’ve been there too! In...

  • career

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How to Ask for a Raise

Welcome to part four of July’s theme of getting the most out of your career! If you haven’t yet, check...

  • career

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How to Know if a Job is Right for You

This month, we’ve talked about what benefits you should negotiate and how much money you should ask for....

  • career

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How to Pick a Salary Number that Works for You

A very common salary question I get is: how much money should I ask for?

  • career

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Non-salary Perks You Should Ask For

This is part one for July’s theme of getting the most out of your career!

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Financial Infidelity and the Damage it Does

Financial infidelity is when someone lies about or withholds important information about money. This dishonesty can happen within romantic relationships,...

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How to Talk to Your Friends about Money

This is part three for June’s theme of money and how it relates to our loved ones. Check out part...

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How to Stop Trying to Keep Up with "the Joneses"

Pre-S: This month’s blog theme is money and how it relates to our loved ones.

  • lifestyle

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How to Financially Prepare for Family Occasions

This is the final post under the May theme of living your values on a budget. Check out parts

  • budget

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How You Can Afford to Donate to Charity

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’ll donate to charity when I’m rich”? I know I have. I have fantasies...

  • budget

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Voting with Your Dollar on a Budget

I talk a lot about voting with your dollar and choosing to spend money on companies that share your values....

  • savings

Why You May Want to Plan Ahead for Your Child’s College Tuition

Have you ever wished that your parents had saved money for your college education? Are you a parent who wants...

  • budget

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5 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget

This is part two of the May theme of living your values on a budget. Check out part one...

  • lifestyle

  • budget

How to Help Save the Planet on a Budget

Earth Day was on April 22nd, and this past Saturday was the Climate March. While pondering what more I...

  • savings

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  • debt

Here's Why You Should Pay Yourself First

You’ve probably heard “pay yourself first” a lot. I’ve said it many times on social media and to my clients....

  • credit

You Can Make Credit Cards Work for You

Credit cards get a bad rap. We are taught that they are inherently bad and to avoid them at all...

  • budget

How to Create a Budget that Works for You

Happy Financial Literacy Month! This week, I want to talk to you about creating a budget that works for you....

  • career

How You Can Fight for Equal Pay

Equal Pay Day is tomorrow, April 4th. Equal Pay Day is the symbolic day when the average American woman’s earnings...

  • lifestyle

  • budget

Are you stressed out about doing your taxes?

You’re not alone!

  • lifestyle

5 Politicians Who Will Change the World

This is part three of my celebration of women during Women’s History Month. Read my piece about philanthropists here...

  • lifestyle

5 Kickass Entrepreneurs Helping Get Your Money Right

This is part two of my celebration of women during Women’s History Month. Read my piece about philanthropists here....

  • lifestyle

10 Amazing Philanthropists Uplifting Other Women Worldwide

Happy Women’s History Month! For the month of March each year, women get a shout out. Personally, I believe we...

  • debt

  • credit

What's the Difference Between "Good" Debt and "Bad" Debt?

I am often asked about the difference between “good” debt and “bad” debt. I put them in quotes because using...

  • savings

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What is the Fiduciary Rule and Why Does it Matter to Your Money?

I’m not an expert on financial regulation, by any means. But I do know that after living through (and graduating...

  • lifestyle

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How to Celebrate Valentine's (or Galentine's) Day Without Breaking the Bank

Tomorrow’s the day! (But Happy Galentine’s Day, if you’re celebrating!)

  • lifestyle

  • budget

  • savings

How to Do Your Taxes on the Cheap

Like I said last week, tax season is upon us! You have until Tuesday, April 18th to file your...

  • debt

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Here's How You Should Use Your Tax Refund

It’s tax time! I know I’m probably one of the only people who gets excited about filing their taxes, but...

  • lifestyle

Do Your Money Habits Align with Your Values?

Last weekend, I started an intense coaching training program with CoachDiversity Institute. (It’s so awesome!) One of the most...

  • lifestyle

  • savings

3 Easy Financial Goals for 2017

I wrote two weeks ago about setting goals instead of making resolutions. However, you might be having a hard time...

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Why It's Important to Get Your Money Right (As a Woman)

I became a financial coach for women because I’m passionate about women being in control of their lives and futures....

  • lifestyle

Do This Instead of Setting New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year! Let’s hope that 2017 is better than 2016 was. Now, how many of you make resolutions every...

  • lifestyle

  • budget

  • debt

You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Get Your Money Right

I don’t know about you but ever since I was a little girl, I tried to be perfect. Once, when...

  • budget

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  • savings

How to Ensure the Holidays Are (Financially) Stress-Free

I don’t know about you, but I want to feel happy and carefree during the holiday season. However, this is...

  • budget

  • savings

How to Be Prepared for Non-monthly Expenses

If you have a budget, you should have an idea of your typical monthly expense. But do you budget and...

  • budget

  • lifestyle

5 Ways to Practice Self Care While on a Budget

The past two years of election coverage have been pretty rough. And for many of us, the election didn’t turn...

  • lifestyle

Where You Can Put Your Money If You're Feeling Hopeless

Whew. Last week was a tough one. I’m not sure about all of you, but I was (and still am)...

  • credit

  • debt

  • budget

Why Credit Card Interest Sucks and What You Could Be Spending It On Instead

Sorry for the beach picture when summer is clearly over… BUT think of it as motivation for your future goals!...

  • debt

  • budget

  • savings

The Personal Finance Checklist To Make Sure You’re Financially Healthy

Back in October, I attended the Millennial Week Unconference in Washington, DC. I walked away with a lot of...

  • budget

  • lifestyle

5 Low-Cost Outdoor Activities to Do Before it Snows

Before it gets so cold that you hibernate for 3 months (hellooo Netflix), you should go get your fill of...

  • credit

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Why You Should Check Your Credit Report Regularly

Your credit report is basically like your resume, but for your credit history. It lays out all of your past...

  • debt

  • budget

  • lifestyle

How I Paid Off $25,000 In Student Loans In 4 Years Instead Of 10

Student debt is one of the largest financial burdens on the millennial generation. As you’ve probably heard, Americans owe nearly...

  • lifestyle

How Money Can Help Me Feel How I Want to Feel

In September 2015, I began working with a life coach. I felt lost. I didn’t know where I wanted my...

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What Survivors Wish You Knew About Financial Abuse

As a financial coach for women, it is incredibly important to me that women are financially independent. I am passionate...

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Personal Finance Resources For Beginners

In September, I spoke at the brunch portion of Bossed Up Bootcamp here in Washington, DC. It was an...

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Why I Became a Financial Coach for Women

After living in Washington, DC for over 6 years, I found myself feeling lost and unfulfilled. I didn’t know what...

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What Volunteering For The DC Abortion Fund Taught Me About Money

Last year, I was a volunteer case manager for the DC Abortion Fund (DCAF), which meant that for a...

  • budget

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  • lifestyle

How To Become The Ultimate Gift-Giver (Without Going Broke)

We’ve all been there. Your best friend’s birthday is coming up, your out-of-town buddy let you crash at their place...

  • budget

  • lifestyle

3 More Ways to Spend Less While Traveling (that I just learned)

I just got back from a two week vacation to Iceland and Spain (with a few hours spent in downtown...

  • budget

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9 Easy Changes to Make Now to Spend Less Money

It can seem impossible to cut your spending, even by a little bit each month. Even if you succeed, it...

  • budget

  • lifestyle

How to Vacation on a Budget

I’m in Iceland right this very second. (!!!!) So I thought a good topic this week would be travel. Specifically,...

  • savings

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Why You Need an Emergency Fund

Have you ever suddenly lost your job? Or needed a surprise root canal? Perhaps your car broke down, or your...

  • budget

  • lifestyle

You Can Have Fun with Your Friends While Spending Less

It’s an unfortunate (and false) belief that if you’re going to spend less and save money, that you won’t be...

  • lifestyle

  • debt

How To Stop Procrastinating Emotionally & Have The “Money Talk” With Your S.O.

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but money is reported to be one of the top reasons for relationship...

  • credit

  • debt

  • lifestyle

Why You Should Care About Your Credit Score

Back in June, our Money Circle theme was credit scores. The conversation was so rich that I wanted to...