When I was a kid, I overheard my aunt telling my mom how uncomfortable she felt asking my uncle for money. In the 1970s, as a stay-at-home mom, she didn’t have her own income, and getting her own credit card wasn’t easy. So, every night before bed, she would ask my uncle for $20 to…
The road to financial freedom can be tough. It demands time, perseverance, determination, and full alignment with your partner. Despite the abundance of tools and solutions out there, the easy ones rarely work. In just 21 months, I went from having $17,000 in the bank to being $52,000 in debt, and then I managed to…
Today, I’ve teamed up with Shannon from The Heavy Purse and some amazing bloggers to talk about getting serious about your finances. You can find the other posts on The Heavy Purse site. A lot of us tend to ignore our financial reality. Maybe this means you know you need to make more money to…
### The Importance of an Emergency Fund: Real-Life Stories from Personal Finance Experts Having an emergency fund is the best way to prevent budget disasters, but are you really prepared for everything life might throw at you? Think again. Even 22 personal finance experts, who should have their finances in order, have faced unexpected budget…
I started working when I was around 12 or 13 years old. It wasn’t child labor; I began by babysitting and then tutoring younger kids. Since I could play the piano quite well, my music teacher would let me use the music room at lunchtime to give an hour-long lesson. I remember charging $20 for…
I’m a big fan of Airbnb, the website that lets you rent out your room to travelers for a night, a week, or even a month. I love the flexibility it offers and, of course, the extra income! If you’re new to hosting on Airbnb, here are some tips to boost your profile and attract…
Over a decade ago, after reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, I decided to become a full-time real estate investor. The book taught me the importance of passive income for financial independence, and I chose real estate as my path. My plan was to generate enough cash to buy and hold properties for…
Lewys Aron, also known as The Frugal Student, is a 23-year-old dividend growth and value investor from Wales, UK. Currently, he’s studying Welsh at Swansea University and has a passion for finance and investing. Instead of accumulating debt like many students and millennials, he will graduate with over £15,000 invested in dividend-paying stocks. While it’s…
My family has been on a journey to embrace minimalism and simplicity in various aspects of our lives—financially, in our work, and at home. With two kids and all the stuff that comes with them, it’s been a challenge, but we’ve managed pretty well. Over the past few months, we’ve gone through our house one…
I found a way to earn extra money by starting a side hustle while working my full-time job as an engineer. My side gig involves helping clients redeem their frequent flyer miles for air travel, which can often be confusing or overwhelming for those not familiar with the process. HOW I GOT STARTED The concept…