Debt Free After Three

If you’re like me, you’re sick of personal finance experts advising you to give up lattes and avocado toast in a quest to build wealth. But I’ve just discovered an opportunity that allows you to save money without getting rid of anything. The best part? This opportunity is also good for the environment at the same time. 

My big discovery? Solar panels. Installing solar panels on your house can be a huge cost-saver for decades to come. If you have high energy bills or you live in a state with high energy prices, putting in solar panels could result in paying hundreds of dollars less per year. In a recent article, the International Energy Agency found that solar is now the cheapest energy source in history.

Many states offer special incentives and tax rebates for homeowners who install solar panels. This minimizes the cost and makes it more affordable for homeowners. Plus, many solar companies have payment plans that spread out the payments over several years. Making solar more affordable than ever and putting solar panels within financial reach for millions of people. 

Click here to read my eBook: Can Going Solar Help You Achieve Your Financial Goals?

In this guide, I cover the following essential financial concepts:

Solar Calculator

Net Metering

Federal Rebates

State & Local Incentives

The Payback Period

Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

Home Equity

Long-Term PV Efficiency

I’ve also included a case study from one of my followers detailing her experience with solar. I hope you’ll check it out!

Many of us have felt the wrath of student loan debt– I know I have.

There’s no doubt that debt can accompany a bit of anxiety. It can make you feel that certain milestones like moving out or buying your first home are totally out of reach. In fact, 61% of millennials claim they’ve delayed buying a house because they felt overwhelmed with debt and underprepared.

But, I’m here to tell you that doesn’t have to be the case. You can save for life’s major purchases while still paying your bills and living your life comfortably.

How, you ask?

If you feel like you’re struggling financially, don’t let it stand in the way of buying your first home and living your best life. Here are some ways you can save up for your dream home with a little bit of hard work and dedication.

1. Know what you’re spending money on

Before buying a house, you should know certain aspects of your financial status like your credit score and your debt-to-income ratio. The higher your credit score and the closer your debt-to-income ratio is to 43%, the better your chances are for getting considered by a lender and approved for a mortgage.

A mortgage is likely one of the biggest investments you’ll take on in a lifetime and determines the amount of each monthly payment you’ll be paying over the course of the loan term, so it’s important to know which loan best suits your lifestyle and spending habits.

There are several different types of mortgages you can apply for such as conventional loans, government-backed loans, and jumbo mortgages. All of these loans differ in approval standards, interest rate, and down payment, which will all affect how much money is needed to buy your desired home.

Keep in mind, too, that mortgages can be refinanced once you’ve built up equity in your home. This can ultimately lower your monthly payments to fit your ever-changing lifestyle and spending habits. To find more information about refinancing home loans, read this post or visit the Quicken Loans blog to learn about the home buying process.

2. Develop a system for saving

Once you’re fully informed about the expenses that come along with home buying, you can start developing a budget that allows you to save money for those expenses.

Many financial experts swear by a 50-30-20 spending rule. Using this guideline, 50% of your monthly income is dedicated to your needs such as rent and phone bills. Then, 30% would go toward your wants like going out to eat, while the final 20% would go straight into your savings. This system lets you enjoy your favorite activities while still allowing you to set money aside to put toward your first home.

To help your savings exceed that 20%, pile up any extra cash and put it toward a special account for your home savings. You can also go back to the piggy bank method– set aside any coins you accumulate and watch them bring you closer to your goal slowly but surely. Or, there are other ways to get extra income, like selling unused items or finding paid part-time work.

It’s also helpful to set up auto-deposits from each paycheck so that you’re left with no choice but to handle your earnings responsibly.

3. Pay off existing debt

Similar to a healthy credit score and an appropriate debt-to-income ratio, a small amount of existing debt will better your chances of getting approved for a loan. That said, minimizing your existing debt before applying for a mortgage can increase the amount you’re approved for. Plus, paying off credit card debt or any other loans will take away one more monthly expense that you can instead allocate to your home savings.

It’s recommended that you pay off debt with the highest interest rate first and that you pay more than the minimum balance when possible. And, if credit cards are a large portion of your debt, make sure to halt the spending on them while you’re paying them off. The faster you get those balances cleared, the closer you are to landing your dream home.

4. Reduce your monthly expenses

Changing your spending habits is the best way to accelerate your savings and prepare you for the home buying process. Even small adjustments to your behaviors can save you a ton of money in the long run. If you’re like me, you’re subscribed to so many services that it can be hard to keep track of. Cutting back temporarily on these subscriptions can help you save up and pay off debt fast. And remember, music and TV streaming services can always be acquired back later on.

If you aren’t willing to give up some of your monthly services, look for cheaper or free alternatives. Consider at-home workouts instead of a gym membership to conserve cash. Other lifestyle adjustments like buying off-brand products, packing lunches at home, and cutting back on transportation will lower daily costs and you’ll be able to put more toward a down payment for your first home.

Making changes in your day-to-day can be a tough challenge, but reaching your goal of buying a home is absolutely worth the struggles along the way. Find the time and determination to build up a comfortable savings account and put big bucks toward your dream home.

Do you have any insider tips on how you saved for your first home? Leave a comment below!

Hi y’all,

I’m super excited to announce an exciting change – Debt Free After Three is now Conscious Coins! The new name represents my new journey through blogging, an attempt to share how I’m being more mindful with my money (or trying to).

The content will remain somewhat similar, but I’m also expanding my coaching services. Now, you can easily schedule a 1-on-1 coaching call with me if you want specific advice on tackling your money problems.

But moving on, why did I feel the need to change my blog name?

My Blogging Journey

I started blogging in 2011 when I was a newspaper reporter in northwest Indiana. The blog was connected to the newspaper, and within weeks of starting the blog I realized I was spending more time writing blog posts instead of my real assignments. When I left the paper, I started blogging on my own (shoutout to all my original Tumblr followers).

A couple years later, I moved the blog to DebtFreeAfterThree.com and in November 2014, I paid off my student loans – three years after my first payment.

It’s been almost four years since that time and if you’ve been reading, you’ve noticed a shift in tone. I don’t write as much about paying off debt and living frugally. I’ve learned how to invest, a skill I never thought I’d have. I’ve become more conscious of how I spend my time, which affects how I spend my money. Since I’ve self-employed, my husband and I outsource more tasks as we attempt to be more efficient in our work.

I still care about paying off debt and I encourage people to do so, but I also want people to start investing now while they’re young. I worry that focusing too much on student loans hides the larger issue of saving for retirement.

Why Conscious Coins?

During the past year, I’ve started meditating every day. I have a huge problem with anxiety and focus and meditating regularly has helped me deal with my feelings better. I’m still not great at keeping my thoughts clear, but I think I’ve gotten better.

Meditating has also helped me understand my emotions around money. I naturally veer towards retail therapy and when I’m bored, sad or lonely, I automatically head to Nordstrom Rack or if it’s late at night, Poshmark.com, to relieve my feelings.

Being more mindful has helped me understand when I’m shopping because I truly want or need something and when I want to feel whole.

It’s this new attitude that helped me tackle investing for the first time. I’ve been saving for retirement for a few years, but I always had my dad pick my investments. I was too scared to invest and I told myself I wasn’t smart enough to do it.

Over the past year, I’ve been teaching myself more about the stock market and how to create a balanced portfolio. I’m still not a qualified expert, but I feel comfortable picking my own funds. I’m still kicking myself for not doing this earlier. I spend years being too scared to invest and not trying to conquer my fear.

I firmly believe that our emotions have a huge impact on how we handle money – or how we avoid handling it.

Case in point: my first budgeting disaster. I first tried budgeting my senior year of college. I was only a few months away from graduation and I felt like I needed to start being responsible.

I set up an account on Mint.com and gave myself a basic budget, part of which included an $80 line item for eating out. That was enough for a weekly indulgence like Chinese food or pizza.

A couple weeks in, Mint  sent me a notification that I was already overbudget on eating out. I called my mom confused about how I could’ve failed so spectacularly.

“How have I already spent $80 when I’m only two weeks in?” I asked her. She asked me what I had bought and I recounted the purchases. “Well, I got a salad on Tuesday and then I ordered pizza on Friday and the week after I bought pad Thai.”

When I did the math, it didn’t make sense. I knew the numbers added up to $80, but I didn’t feel like I had gotten $80 worth of stuff. I wasn’t thinking about those meals consciously so they snuck up on me.

That’s what this blog is about – how to spend money consciously. It’s about investing in a way that makes sense for your life, buying things that you truly want or need and saving money on the stuff you don’t care about.

I’m not here to tell you not to buy $100 jeans or $4 coffees – but you should be mindful about it. Last year, I bought $70 denim shorts because I’d spent weeks trying to find shorts that fit. I felt a little guilty splurging on shorts, but I’ve worn them more than a dozen times since. It was a conscious choice and I’ve never regretted it.

That’s how you should feel after every purchase – no regrets.

It’s ok to have a few slip-ups. There are plenty of times when I buy something I regret 20 minutes later (usually it’s something I can’t return). Remember, I spent years of my life listening to someone else’s investing advice because I didn’t think I was smart enough to handle it.

This blog isn’t going to be me talking down to you and showing how perfect I am with money. It’s about us going on this journey together. I’m still learning and figuring out how to be more mindful with my money every day.

Lately, I’ve been seeing the word “self-care” thrown about often. I feel like I see it on every social media platform and in magazine ads and I hear it when I’m talking to my friends.

I am a BIG fan of self-care. My favorite ways to self-care are going to my therapist, doing a facial mask a few times a week and eating more veggies than I used to.

But lately, I’ve seen self-care bastardized and co-opted for marketing campaigns and by Instagram influencers. They use self-care to sell you something you probably don’t even need. But in an age where self-care is a valuable commodity, everyone is hopping on the self-care bandwagon.

My Self-Care Journey

When she was stressed out, my college roommate Leah would sometimes declare a “mental health day.” She’d skip class, indulge in a favorite romantic comedy and generally just chill out.

When I was stressed out, I would often indulge in retail therapy, another bullshit term used to entice women to shop. In fact, I became so good at retail therapy that I ended up with a bulging closet and a collection of bras so large my friends used to make fun of me.

My retail therapy took a huge upswing when I lived in New York for a summer, interning at the Associated Press. I was so stressed out with work that I often overspent just to make myself feel better. I’d take a cab instead of the subway or buy food out instead of cooking at home. At one point, I was buying take-out three times a day – THAT’S INSANE!

I used money to make myself feel better, but it never really worked as a long-term strategy. I remember one day I had really messed up at my internship and I went down to the bookstore, where I spent approximately $84 on books and notebooks. Then, I went to the diner to have lunch. I felt sick to my stomach with all my spending, which wasn’t helping me forget about my work mistake.

Money isn’t a band-aid. It isn’t a magic salve that will help you forget about your troubles. In fact, it usually amplifies them.

When I started working as a newspaper reporter making $28,000 a year, I couldn’t afford to rely on retail therapy. After paying my $350 student loan payment, I barely had anything left over. Suddenly, I had to face whatever feelings I was running away from.

Do You Use Self-Care as an Excuse to Spend Money?

I was reading this article from finance guru Tonya Rapley, where she shared her journey from financial abuse victim to financial warrior.

I read this line and immediately knew what she meant:

 But when I left, I had no savings to speak of, and thought that healing myself meant not worrying about how much I was spending.

I’ve never been a victim of abuse, but I’ve been depressed and anxious and thought that worrying about money was counter-productive. Dealing with your finances seems like it’s a chore, but in fact, caring about money is the biggest self-care activity you can do.

One way I hear people talk about stress, self-care and money is this phrase. You’re going to jump back in your seat when you read this. Are you ready? Ok here we go:

I had a bad day, so I DESERVE THIS.

Whoa! Did you just jump back? See, I said you would. Deserve is one of those words that makes it seem like spending money is ok, that it’s great for your mental health. But in fact, it’s just a trick, an excuse your brain uses to spend money when you know you shouldn’t.

How often have you been feeling crappy and used the phrase “I deserve” to justify buying something? It can be as small as a new NYX lipstick or as big as a Kate Spade purse, but this phrase is DESTRUCTIVE TO YOUR FINANCES.

How to Do Self-Care on a Budget

Ok so if bottomless mimosas and retail therapy are outlawed, how can you actually relax, take some time for yourself and not feel bad about it afterward?

Here are my favorite ideas for self-care on a budget:

Take a bubble bath

Ok, yes, you might be thinking: isn’t this kind of an old-fashioned idea? But lemme tell you something: Bubble baths work! Any time I’ve taken a bubble bath, my first thought is, “Why don’t I do this more often?” Quietly soaking in a hot bath is one of the most invigorating activities you can do.

I don’t even buy pricey bubble bath. I just use body oils and body wash I already have and pump in lots of my favorite moisturizer. My bubble bath doesn’t look perfect, but I leave with smooth skin and a calm mind.

Do something with my hands

Most of the time when I feel the need for self-care, I really just want some quiet. The world can feel so loud and noisy and even scrolling through my Instagram feed can seem too much. Sometimes it feels good to get back to the basics and do something tactile. I’ll usually get out my sewing or jewelry-making supplies and work on a simple project.

Sometimes I’ll even get out my watercolors or drawing pencils. Ever wondered why adult coloring books were so popular? It’s the same reason. They allow us to make something with their hands instead of just absorbing content. P.S. For bonus frugal points, I try to find art supplies on sale. Sometimes you can find people giving away free stuff at yard sales or on Craigslist.

Declutter my house 

Ok, I know this sounds like work, but honestly, throwing stuff away is ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. I love the satisfaction that comes with filling up a 32-liter garbage bag and tossing it away (or putting it in my donate pile).

Decluttering always makes me feel I’ve truly accomplished something. And since I’m still in the stage of life where I move almost every year, I know that every garbage bag I throw away is one less garbage bag I have to pack. Plus, it’s always fun going through old stuff (at least if you’re a weirdo like me).

Bake something decadent 

I love to bake. I think it comes from my mom not baking a lot as a kid and me being jealous of kids who always had boxed brownie mix in their pantry. In college, I made cookies and brownies all the time and started experimenting with my own recipes.

Recently, my husband and I have been watching “The Great British Bake-Off” on Netflix and I’ve rediscovered a love for baking. Last time, I made a two-tier chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. It was so good – I still dream about it when I’m feeling hangry. Baking is one of my favorite self-care activities because it’s so innately satisfying. Baking requires your utmost attention and since I struggle with getting through a sentence without – SQUIRREL – losing track, I love the focus I have to spend on baking.

Baking something yourself is so much better than buying it from a store, unless you’re going to a real bakery in which case you’re spending a lot of money. Not only is the act of baking itself enjoyable, but then you get to eat what you made! Even if you don’t love baking, try making a box cake next time you need self-care. I promise you’ll enjoy the process.

Watch a favorite movie 

Ok this idea kind of seems like cheating because, “Duh, everyone knows watching a movie is a good idea when you’re feeling bad.” But trust me, when was the last time you sat down to watch a good old-fashioned chick flick?

A few weeks ago, I discovered that “Miss Congeniality” was on Netflix so I immediately started watching it while painting my nails. IT FELT SO GOOD. The combo of watching a movie I basically grew up with combined with doing something indulgent like an at-home manicure filled my soul.

If you’re lucky enough to have some girlfriends near you, invite them for a full-blown spa session complete with rom coms. One time, my friends and I made homemade strawberry yogurt masks and did a coffee scrub on our legs. It was hilarious, especially when we realized that we’d left the curtains wide open and everyone on the street could see us with red faces and legs covered in leftover coffee grounds.

Exercise

I hope I don’t get any flack for this comment, but there’s a reason why people recommend exercise when you’re depressed or anxious. When I’m feeling anxious, I tend to think about skipping the gym. But every time I go, I feel better. Maybe instead of your normal routine, do something different. Take a bike ride, do some basic yoga or hit the heavy bag (my personal favorite).

Remember, self-care isn’t always about doing the easiest thing. It’s about doing what will truly help you in the moment and in the long run.

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How do you do self-care on a budget? What are your favorite frugal ways to indulge? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

When I first started this blog, my main mission was to share how I was paying off my student loans early and to inspire other people to do the same. I did so at first by cutting expenses, living frugally and putting all my extra income toward my loans.

I was only making $28,000-$30,000 a year, but I still managed to pay off my debt in three years.

Now that I’m on the other side of debt freedom, I realize where I went wrong in my journey: I should’ve focused on earning more.

Yes, cutting expenses is great and necessary, but earning more money is better. Why? The 30 minutes you spend making your own laundry detergent could be spent brainstorming side hustles, updating your resume or selling your old clothes on Poshmark.

One of the best ways to make more money without getting a part-time job or driving for Uber is to negotiate your salary. So here are my tips on how to negotiate and get the raise you deserve.

Why You Should Negotiate and Ask for a Raise

When I graduated from college with a degree in journalism, I spent months applying for jobs. I sent out almost 200 job applications, including jobs in newspapers, magazines and PR firms. I applied every time I saw a position that I was remotely qualified for, even if they were asking for years of experience that I didn’t have.

A few weeks into my job hunt, a friend of mine told me about a job opening at her former workplace. She put in a good word for me with the editor and I had a phone interview within a couple days. They offered me the gig with a salary of $28,000 – more than what my friend made when she was working there. I was so ready to be done with the job hunt that I said yes immediately.

So what was my biggest mistake? Not negotiating the salary.

Fortunately, I’ve learned since then how to negotiate and ask for what I want. I haven’t always gotten a bigger salary, but I’m no longer scared of asking the question.

Here’s what I learned about negotiating – and why I think everyone should do it.

Negotiate Before You’ve Accepted the Job

When a company is looking for an employee, they’re usually anxious to find the right one. They need someone who can fit into the company culture, understand their role quickly and adapt to a new position. Usually, they’re also scrambling to find someone quickly because most people only give two weeks’ notice.

Even if you’ve been job hunting for weeks or months, you still have some power when you’re offered a position. If the company wants you, recognize that and ask for more money – before you’ve accepted the job.

Because the prospective employer doesn’t know if you’re going to accept the position, they have more reason to give you what you want. But this only works if you haven’t said yes yet – once you do that, there’s less incentive for them to agree.

Be Confident

Many women, myself included, suffer from Imposter Syndrome. We don’t think we’re as qualified, smart or capable as we truly are. While this can create some self-esteem issues in our personal lives, it can be financially devastating in a professional setting.

If you’re feeling unconfident when you ask for a raise, your boss will be able to sense it, even if it doesn’t seem overt. Anytime you go into a negotiation, you have to be feeling your absolute best. I don’t care if you have to crank up the music in your office before you’re ready, do whatever it takes to feel your most valuable. (I used to listen to “Defying Gravity” whenever I needed to be pumped up).

Try practicing your negotiating skills with someone close to you, like a friend or significant other. Ask them if you sound unsure, meek or timid. A third-party can tell you if you sound like a shy mouse versus a proud lion. Don’t be arrogant either – that’s not helpful.

If you want more help, check out this book on negotiating which can show you how to negotiate in any situation!

Provide Proof

If you’re negotiating when you already have a job, you need to give your employer proof that you deserve a raise. How do you do that? By making a list of your accomplishments and how you’ve served the company well. For example, I used to be in charge of the marketing budget at my old job.

One day, I was going through the budget and found a few areas where I could cut expenses significantly. I went to my boss and asked him if I could get a bonus if I saved the company money. We agreed on a goal and in a few months, I earned my $1,000 bonus.

Another way to earn a raise or bonus is to provide other ways you’ve either made the company money or saved them money. Supervisors like to see tangible results – it’s not enough to say, “I’m a really good worker.” You have to provide proof.

It can be helpful to create a spreadsheet or list of your achievements so your boss has something to look over. Use numbers if possible – like I increased customer retention by 20%. The more specific you can be, the more likely it is you’ll get the results you want.

Ask for More Than What You Want

My friend Melanie taught me this trick when she was asking for a raise. If you really want $45,000, ask for $50,000. No one wants to automatically agree with your request – they’ll almost always try to give you a little less than what you’ve asked for. So ask for more than what you want so if they give you less, you’ll end up somewhere close to what you were hoping for.

This might seem like a shady tactic, but negotiating is all about planning one step ahead.

Do It for Everyone Else

As a woman, I’m aware of the gender pay gay and how it affects the other women around me. So when I get nervous about negotiating, I try to think about the other women I know who deserve to be paid fairly.

If you’re having trouble asking for more money, imagine that you’re asking for someone else who really deserves it. Every time you ask for a raise, you’re telling your employer that you deserve to be compensated equally. Think about it as taking a stand for feminism and equality everywhere, not just in your own office.

Just so everyone understands me, I don’t think women themselves are responsible for fixing the pay gap, but negotiating is one way you can minimize its effects. Consider this: the guy next to you in the cubicle probably already negotiated his salary, so don’t let yourself fall behind.

What Happens If They Say No?

Most people I know hate the idea of negotiating because they’re scared of the possibility that someone will say no. It’s the same fear that keeps us from asking out that cute boy who works in the coffee shop or attending the hip hop dance class at your gym.

So it’s time to face that fear: yes, your boss might say no to your request. So what happens then? You have two options. You can either walk away from that job (or quit your current one) or keep working. A writing coach once told me if you keep working for a place after they deny you a raise, you basically signal to them that you were just bluffing.

However, I’ve negotiated and not gotten more and still kept working. Some companies truly can’t offer more than they’re currently paying you. Either way, it’s ok to stay and it’s ok to leave. It just depends on your current situation.

If you hear a no, don’t let it sour you on negotiating. Don’t let it reinforce the idea that you don’t deserve more. And please, above all, don’t take it personally. It’s usually no reflection of your abilities, but a symptom of the company’s bottom line. It’s always ok to try again later.

Have you ever negotiated or asked for a raise? How did it go?

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When I first decided that I wanted to pay off my loans early, I realized I needed to cut costs. Everywhere. That included my makeup and skincare products. Gone were the days of going to Sephora every time I wanted a new lip color, in came drugstore makeup.

Growing up I was always envious of girls with designer lip glosses and eyeshadows, so it felt amazing once I started buying the brands I once coveted.

But spending so much money on makeup seemed frivolous once I realized how much I owed on my student loans, and many people claimed that you could find the same quality for cheap. If that was true, then why was I spending so much money?

Unfortunately, I haven’t entirely converted to drugstore makeup, but that doesn’t mean I’m OK with buying full-price products. There are ways to save when you’re shopping at Sephora or Ulta.

Do Tons of Research

Anytime I’m in the market for a new eyeliner or lipstick, I go to the number one place to read reviews: MakeUpAlley.com. You have to register there to see the reviews, but it’s so worth it.

For example, if I want to get a new tinted moisturizer, I’ll go there, click on Product Reviews, Tinted Moisturizer and search. I can instantly sort the options based on price, number of reviews and average rating. Usually, I do it by the number of reviews because if someone’s rated an item five starts once, it’ll be the highest rated.

Once I’ve found a few I want to learn more about, I click on the links and read the individual reviews. I like knowing if a foundation made someone with oily skin break out more or if the facial sunscreen left a white cast. Reading lots of reviews makes me prepared to actually go to the store and start shopping.

MakeUpAlley includes both drugstore and high-end brands in their reviews, so you can easily see if there’s a CoverGirl tinted moisturizer that works as well as the Nars or Laura Mercier. I love that! Who wants to spend more money for the same product?

Find Duplicates

Sometimes when I find a high-end product I really like, I still don’t want to splurge on it, especially if it’s something non-essential like setting powder or eyeshadow. I’d rather save my coins for foundation or eyeliner, something I use every time I put on makeup.

So if I have a product in mind, I’ll go to Temptalia, a blog that does makeup reviews and finds duplicates (or dupes). Most of the time, the dupes are cheaper versions of the same product. Temptalia writes about how the two are different, and she’ll rate how close the drugstore version is to its high-end twin.

Here’s an example. I looked up MAC Ruby Woo and found a bunch of dupes. Temptalia recommends the Maybelline Very Cherry – and even shows how it’s $9.51 cheaper than MAC and matches Ruby Woo 94% – what a win!

Seriously, if you’re not looking at drugstore duplicates, you’re really missing out.

Try Before You Buy

If you haven’t found a drugstore version of the makeup you like, it’s ok to get it from Sephora or Ulta. Sometimes, quality is more expensive. But before you splurge on $50 foundation, try a sample of it. Nowadays, I always get samples before I buy makeup because I want to see how it works on my skin away from the bright lights of Sephora. I also like samples because you can make sure your skin doesn’t have a bad reaction to it.

Sephora’s employees are super nice about letting people take samples, but the people at Ulta can be a little hesitant about it. Still, it’s better to get a sample before you buy something you don’t like. Too many people end up not returning something, so that’s why I recommend getting a sample first.

Wait for Sales

Ulta and Sephora rarely have sales or coupons, so definitely stock up when they do. Sometimes I’ll even buy my favorite NARS foundation when it hasn’t yet run out because I don’t want to wait and miss the sale. Sephora’s sales are in April and November, while Ulta always has some around the holidays.

Join the email list so you’ll be notified when it happens. Ulta also has weekly coupons you can use on their cheaper products, which is also a great deal.

Join the Rewards Program

Both Ulta and Sephora have a rewards program that is free to join, so definitely sign up for that if you haven’t already. You can get free gifts on your birthday – I’ve gotten a mini free NARS lipstick from Sephora that was perfect for my skin tone and a travel-size Fresh cleanser. Plus, it makes it easier to return items if they’re linked to your card.

Sometimes Sephora has special deals where they’ll double how many points you earn with each purchase. Since Sephora’s rewards are actually super valuable, this is also a good time to buy anything you need.

I always wait to use my Sephora rewards until I’m 100% sure I want the product. Sometimes I’ll have enough to redeem for a special gift, but there’s nothing I actually like. But if I’m patient, eventually I’ll find something I like.

Also, if you shop online at Sephora.com, you can usually get extra samples and offers if you spend more than a certain amount. You can find this in the Beauty Offers section.

Check the Sale Section

Both stores have an in-store and online sale section that can have great stuff if you poke around. I’ve gotten good deals from their clearance area before too. Plus, you can usually sample the goods at Sephora so you’ll know if you’re getting a good deal or a crappy product.

My Favorite Budget Beauty Buys

Nowadays, about half of my makeup comes from Sephora and half comes from Target or Amazon. I research carefully before deciding if I want to splurge or if I can save a few bucks. I rarely buy new makeup, so it’s always a big deal when I need to replace something. I’m really confident in my recommendation, so here’s a list of my favorite budget beauty items:

Real Techniques Brushes

A good makeup brush is almost more important than the makeup itself, so I’ve always strived for quality when it comes to my brushes. The great news about Real Techniques is that their brushes are affordable AND highly rated.

I’ve slowly replaced most of my brushes with Real Techniques. If you wash them regularly with gentle soap and cold water, they’ll last forever.

I also save money because as you can see, I don’t own a ton of their brushes – just the blush and foundation brush. I still have an eyeshadow brush from EcoTools that I use, but when it starts to fade, I’ll replace it with a Real Techniques.

They work well, distribute color evenly and last forever. Just make sure to keep them away from your dogs, who might think your eyeshadow brush is a small chew stick.

Cost: Ranges from $3-$8 per brush on Amazon

Wet n Wild Color Icon Collection Eye Shadow Trio in Silent Treatment

This is my favorite eyeshadow palette. I can layer the colors to create a sophisticated look, and they hold up throughout the day.

I would recommend this to anyone who doesn’t want to splurge on the Naked palette but still wants a few good neutrals to wear. Did I mention it was less than $3?

Plus, since I travel a lot, I can fit this easily in my makeup bag. It holds up throughout the day (even better when I layer eyeshadow primer underneath it). Even though I have a bigger palette now, I still reach for this one when I’m in a hurry.

Cost: $2.99 at Walgreens

L’Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara (Waterproof)

For a while, I was buying my mascara at Sephora, but I went on MakeUpAlley (duh) and this mascara had great reviews. It’s held up really well and doesn’t run like other drugstore mascaras I’ve tried. I get the waterproof since my eyes get teary, but I think the regular version also does well.

Cost: $7.99 at Ulta

What are your best tips for saving on makeup and skincare? Share your favorite tips below!

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Any time I coach someone on how to pay off their student loans, I always mention they should find ways to earn more money. The people I talk to are often doing the best they can, budgeting, living frugally and putting every spare dollar toward their loans.

But sometimes that’s not enough. Sometimes spending less isn’t enough – you need to find a way to make more.

How to Make Money as a Brand Ambassador

I first met my friend Melanie Lockert in 2013, when we were both starting to write about personal finance. She was paying off $81,000 in student loans including a Master’s degree from NYU. She was also writing a blog, Dear Debt, featuring letters people wrote to their debt (like Dear John). Side note: Now, Melanie is a published author! Check out her book: Dear Debt: A Story About Breaking Up With Debt.

Melanie talked about how she worked as a brand ambassador to pay off her student loans. I’d never heard of being a brand ambassador, so she explained it to me. You know all those people at festivals and concerts who are giving out samples of tea or chips? Those are brand ambassadors.

The great part of being a brand ambassador is that you can do it anytime you want. If you’re busy with your regular job, you don’t have to sign up for any gigs. But if you really need the money, you can pick up as many brand ambassador gigs as you can handle.

I asked Melanie to share some of her experiences working as a brand ambassador.

Why did you start working as a brand ambassador?

I started working as a brand ambassador because I needed cash fast. When I was in New York, struggling to make ends meet, I looked on Craigslist and found a post to be a brand ambassador for a pet adoption event in Central Park. The gig paid $20 per hour and said payment would be within 2 weeks. I applied and got it!

So I handed out flyers in Central Park promoting this adoption event. Pretty uneventful really, but I couldn’t believe I was getting paid $20 per hour to hand out flyers. After that first gig, I was hooked.

Were you nervous talking to strangers and promoting a product?

No. I am a natural extrovert so I wasn’t nervous. There are those days where I’m not in a good mood or not loving the idea of chatting with someone, but you do it for the job. The only thing I really hated was when someone would be unnecessarily rude. People just don’t want to be bothered even if you’re giving away free stuff.  

Was it easy to find gigs? How did you determine which gigs were worth it?

Once I figured out how it worked, it was fairly easy. I signed up for a ton of marketing agencies and created a profile. So I had a resume, headshot and other photos. When a gig was available they’d send out emails to see who was available. I’d respond quickly and book a gig.

Responding quickly is key. It also helped that I lived in New York City and then Portland, Oregon which are bigger markets. I don’t know how many brand ambassador gigs there would be in small towns.

When deciding if it was worth my time, I’d look at the pay (I never took anything below $17 per hour), the hours, and what the brand represented.

During my extreme debt payoff, I actually was an alcohol brand ambassador twice. Once on St. Patrick’s Day. It was a nightmare. I had to wear a skirt and heels and give out shots and it didn’t feel like me at all. After that, I vowed to never promote liquor again or do anything that would make me uncomfortable, even if it had higher pay.

It’s important to ask yourself if you’re okay with representing a certain brand. You are the public face — even for a moment — of the company.

How much did you make per brand ambassador gig?

Pay is different every gig, but typically ranges from $17 to $25 per hour. Some gigs might pay more or less, depending on the brand and the market.

I would say I made anywhere between $200 to $1,000 per month as a brand ambassador. Summer months were busier with festivals, concerts, and conventions. Holidays are also a busy time. Brand ambassador work definitely has seasons, so some months were pretty slow and some months in the summer I was booked every weekend.

Would you recommend this to someone else looking for a side hustle?

Definitely! If you’re an extrovert, can stand for long periods of time and talk to people, this is a great gig. You can get paid between $17-$25 per hour. I would not work for less than that as that is a pretty standard market rate.

I loved this side hustle as you only take on the gigs that actually work with your schedule. There are many brand ambassador gigs nights and weekends, so it’s perfect to do on the side.

What’s your advice for someone looking to make money as a brand ambassador?

I would join the “Brand Ambassadors of  [Your City]” Facebook group. Check out different marketing agencies that post in there so you can be on their list. Look on Craigslist — there are legit gigs there. Zina’s note: Also check the “Brand Ambassadors of [Your State] Group if you live a in smaller city.

Have recent photos to share. Respond quickly. When you get booked, arrive on time, be friendly, smile and put your phone away. Make friends with other brand ambassadors, because if they need coverage they can ask you.

Anything else I forgot to mention? Like any pros and cons?

The pros are that it’s a fairly easy job and pretty good pay for a side hustle. You also can work for some cool brands. I once worked for Columbia Sportswear in Bryant Park helping people do karaoke in an igloo! I also got $500 worth of free clothes. That was by far my favorite gig.

On the other hand, sometimes you don’t really know what you’re getting into and it could be a brand you find boring or it may be totally different than what you thought the gig was. Also, the worst con is that it can take up to 8 weeks to get paid. Only once did I have to follow-up three times and call the head of HR to finally get paid.

What to Know Before Working as a Brand Ambassador

Working as a brand ambassador is great, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

You’ll have to pay taxes on your earnings. Any time you earn extra money, you have to report it as income on your taxes. That means you can also deduct any expenses related to your side hustle. If you took the bus to get to your side hustle, you can deduct that. If you drove, you can deduct the gas mileage. Try to keep all your receipts so you can reference it during tax time. Want to learn more about deductions and earnings? Check out my comprehensive blog post with everything you need to know about taxes.

Most jobs are on the weekends. Most brand ambassador gigs are held on the weekends, so this isn’t something you can do while you’re lounging in your PJs. Still, you can decide to only work one or two weekends a month to have the rest free for friends and family (or just binge-watching Netflix).

You can’t slack on the job. Because this is a public-facing gig, you can’t pretend you’re only there for the money. A successful brand ambassador is charming and gracious even when people don’t want to try your samples. Bring a smile and a good attitude and you’ll get called back for other gigs.

Have you ever worked as a brand ambassador? Share your experience in the comments!

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Sometimes people ask me what’s the biggest mistake I made when I was paying off my student loans. I tell them, “I didn’t refinance my student loans.”

Honestly, I didn’t even know I could refinance my student loans. Companies like SoFi, CommonBond and Earnest were barely around when I graduated from college and refinancing wasn’t as widespread as it is today.

Now, SoFi has ads during the Super Bowl. Even so, many of my friends aren’t aware that it’s an option, even though it could save them thousands of dollars.

Even so, many of my friends aren’t aware that it’s an option, even though it could save them thousands of dollars. Refinancing can save you thousands of dollars, especially if you have high-interest rate loans. Generally, if you’re paying more than 4-5% on your student loans, then you should see what your refinancing options are.

What Does Refinancing Mean?

When you refinance your loan, you’re selling the rights to your loan usually to a new company in exchange for a lower interest rate or lower monthly payments. Most of the time, people refinance so they can save money by paying less interest overall.

Not sure if you’ll benefit from refinancing? Check out this calculator from Student Loan Hero that will show you if you’ll save money on refinancing – and how much.

For example, if you have a balance of $35,000 on a 10-year term (with 10 years left) at an interest rate of 6.8%, you’ll save more than $3,000 total if you refinance with today’s rates. If you think that’s a small difference, consider this: you could go to Europe on $3,000, pay for a major repair on your car or start a new business. The money you save by refinancing could speed up a lot of things you want to do.

If you think that’s a small difference, consider this: you could go to Europe on $3,000, pay for a major repair on your car or start a new business. The money you save by refinancing could speed up a lot of things you want to do.

Go here to see the best student loan refinance companies!

Am I Eligible?

Unfortunately, refinancing your student loans is tricky. Student loans are an unsecured loan, which means there’s no physical collateral behind them, unlike a mortgage or car loan. If you have a car loan and stop making payments, the bank can repossess your car and recoup their investment. But if you stop making payments on your student loans, no one can take away your degree.

That’s why companies that offer student loan refinancing have to be very careful about who they accept as customers. They can’t afford to have people default on their loans.

They’re usually looking for two things:

High income

High credit score

You can’t change your income overnight, but you can change your credit score pretty quickly. Your credit score is a numerical grade that tells a lender how reliable you are. It’s how they determine if you’re good enough to lend money to. It doesn’t matter if you have an amazing job or a BMW; if you don’t have a great credit score, you’re not getting a loan.

For the most part, you need a credit score between 650-700 to qualify for a loan. Credit scores range between 300 and 850. The closer you are to the 800-club, the more likely you are to qualify for a student loan refinance and get the best interest rate.

Not sure what your credit score is? You can find it for free through sites like Credit Karma. I check my score using my Mint app and through my Capital One bank account. Check to see if your bank will give you a free look at your credit score. Each credit score is weighted differently, so don’t be surprised if you see a slight difference in your scores when checking different sites.

Go here to see the best student loan refinance companies!

What If I Have a Low Credit Score?

If you have a low credit score and want to refinance your student loans, don’t worry! Hope is not lost. You can raise your credit score in just a few months and be ready to refinance.

First, get a copy of your credit report. A credit report shows every credit account you’ve ever had and all the gory details, like if you’ve paid on time, if you’ve used too much of your balance or if you’ve opened too many accounts in the last six months. All that information goes into your credit score, which I’ll explain further down.

You can check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only place to get free access to your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. It will show any negative marks you have, which could explain a low credit score. I recommend checking your credit report every four months.

Once, I checked my credit report and found a medical bill that had been sent to collections. I called my doctor’s office, telling them I had never gotten the bill (I had just moved across the country) and that I would pay it in full if they would take it out of collections. It was a scary moment – seeing that red flag. Thankfully, just a couple phone calls later and it was removed from my report. Phew! But the experience taught me how important it is to check your credit report often, especially if you’re applying for a loan or refinance.

A credit score can not only get you a great deal on a loan, it can also help you find an apartment or get a job. Yep, some jobs will take a look at your credit score before they hire you, especially if you’re going to be responsible for handling large sums of money. Having a bad score can disqualify you, even if they don’t tell you why. Your landlord will also usually check your credit score before approving your application. If you don’t have a good enough score, you’ll be denied or have to get a cosigner.

Go here to see the best student loan refinance companies!

How Can I Increase My Credit Score?

Increasing your credit score is fairly simple. That’s because your score is determined by the following factors:

Payment history (aka paying on time): 35%

If you pay on time, every month, your score will increase. Companies want to see you’re reliable and can handle making payments. I like to set up autopay so I never forget to pay. You can also use reminders in your phone’s calendar to double check that your payment went through. Mint also has a bill pay feature that notifies you when your bill is due. You don’t even have to pay all of your balance – just paying on time is enough!

Amount owed: 30%

The amount you owe affects a third of your score. But it’s not about the total amount you owe, it’s how much of your available credit do you utilize. For example, if you have a credit card with a $5,000 credit limit and you have a current balance of $4,000, you’re utilizing 80% of the balance. That’s way too high. Credit bureaus like to see an overall utilization of 35% or less. This figure mostly only pertains to credit cards, so if you have any cards, check the balance to make sure you’re not using too much of it at one time.

Length of credit history: 15%

The longer your credit history is, the higher your score will be. A long credit history looks good to credit bureaus and lenders because it gives them a better sense of what kind of customer you’ll be. You can’t really do anything about this part, except to always keep your oldest accounts around if possible. If you have a credit card you opened 10 years ago, use it once a month to keep it current. Closing your oldest accounts will drag down your average age and hurt your score.

Credit mix: 10%

Credit bureaus like to see that consumers have a mix of credit on their history, including credit cards, mortgages and other types of loans. However, you should never open a loan just so you’ll get a different type of credit reported. Opening new loans to improve your score is a terrible idea. Just ignore this part.

New credit: 10%

If you have any recent inquiries, they’ll account for 10% of your credit score. Every time you apply for a new account, it sends a hard inquiry to your credit report where it will affect your score for the next year. Opening a lot of cards (or trying to) is an easy way to get denied. If you’re trying to increase your score, don’t open any new cards unless you don’t have a card at all. When I get denied for a credit card, it’s usually because I have too many recent inquiries.

Go here to see the best student loan refinance companies!

What Are the Risks of Refinancing?

Because the federal government doesn’t refinance student loans, you have to go through a private company if you refinance. When you refinance federal student loans, you lose all the protections that come with them, including deferment, forbearance and the slew of income-based plans that you can fall back on.

Deferment and forbearance options might be available with your new loan, but it’s something you have to ask for when you’re considering a refinance. For example, SoFi offers to suspend your student loan payments for three months while they enroll you in a “career strategy” program to help you find a new job. However, you can qualify for up to 12 months of forbearance if you have federal loans. The interest will still accrue, but you won’t have to worry about payments.

This is just one example of what you’re giving up if you refinance. Worried about losing your job and not being able to make your payments? Consider this: at most, it takes 2.5 months to find a new gig. If you’re in an entry-level gig, it takes even less time. So the odds of you needing more than three month’s worth of forbearance is unlikely. Plus, if you have a fully-stocked emergency fund, you’ll be in an even better position.

Another benefit to federal loans is that they have so many repayment options you can use if you’re having trouble with your monthly bill. Most refinancing companies don’t have those generous types of repayment plans. Again, you can ask about this when you’re looking to refinance.

One huge disadvantage to refinancing is losing access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which is the federal program that forgives your student loan balance after 10 years of payments. It only applies to those working in the public sector, including government and non-profit jobs. If you think you’re going to be eligible for this program, then hold off on refinancing.

Go here to see the best student loan refinance companies!

What to Know Before You Refinance

When you’re comparing the interest rates for refinance offers, you’ll see two figures: variable APR and fixed APR. What does that mean? A variable APR is an interest rate that fluctuates as the market changes. If you sign up for a variable-rate loan, your interest rate will fluctuate within a certain range.

Usually, the starting APR for a variable-rate loan is lower than a fixed-rate loan, which attracts lots of people. However, you have to be prepared to make higher payments if the market changes over time. Find out what your maximum payment could be before you decide on a variable-rate loan and if you’re not comfortable with it, then choose a fixed-rate loan instead.

A fixed-rate loan is one where the interest stays the same over the life of the loan. No matter what happens in the economy, your interest rate will stay the same.

Another thing that I found surprising was that you can apply for a student loan refinance in less than 10 minutes! I know the reason most of you avoid refinancing is because you think it’s a long and complicated process, but it really isn’t. The questions are simple, like what’s your income and how much do you have in student loans. You’ll quickly find out if you’re approved and for how much.

A rep from a refinance lender also told me recently that his company is willing to take on borrowers earning at least $24,000. I was shocked! Most of the time, you hear that refinance is only for high-income customers. But that’s not true.

Go here to see the best student loan refinance companies!

The Best Student Loan Refinance Companies

LenderFixed APR RangeVariable APR RangeMinimum Credit ScoreAverage SavingsHow to Apply jQuery(document).ready(function() { jQuery('#table_14240268').DataTable( {"destroy": true,"bPaginate": true,"bLengthChange": true,"bFilter": true,"bSort": true,"bInfo": true,"bStateSave": true,"bAutoWidth": true,"sPaginationType": "full_numbers",} ); }); LendKey3.25% - 7.26%2.67% - 6.31%680$15,270Apply Here SoFi3.35% - 6.74%2.79% - 6.72%Good or Excellent Score$22,359Apply Here CommonBond3.35% - 6.74%2.79% - 6.72%660$24,046Apply Here Laurel Road3.95% - 6.99%2.99% - 6.42%660$20,200Apply Here Earnest3.20% - 6.39%2.65% - 6.19%660$21,810Apply Here Citizens Bank 3.74% - 8.24% 2.78% - 8.03680$137 a monthApply Here

My Favorite Picks

 I recently spoke with a representative from LendKey, which is a company that helps match student loan refinance applicants with banks and credit unions. He told me that they frequently approve borrowers with low income, sometimes as low as $24,000. 

Most people assume that you need a high salary in order to qualify for refinancing, but LendKey is different. If you’re worried that you don’t make enough to refinance, try applying to LendKey.

 SoFi is one of the most popular student loan refinancing companies – and for good reason. They have amazing benefits for customers, like job placement and wealth management services.

However, I have heard that it’s hard to get accepted unless you have a high income, so don’t get discouraged if you apply and are rejected.

Other Student Loan RefinanceCompanies

Citizens Bank

Savings of $137 a month

Credit score needed: 680

Fixed APR range:  3.74% – 8.24%

Earnest

Average savings: $21,810

Credit score needed: 660

Fxied APR range: 3.20% – 6.39%

Should You Refinance?

Refinancing is a personal decision. I can’t recommend that everyone refinance their student loans, because the protections of federal loans are impossible to match.

But if you’re paying a lot in interest, have a steady job and a high salary, then refinancing is probably a safe option. Anyone with a variable income or who’s relied on income-based repayment should stick to their current loans, even if it means paying more in interest overall. It’s not worth defaulting just to save a few bucks.

Refinancing isn’t free. Some companies charge origination fees, which is the fee you pay to the new lender for processing the loan, while others will also charge you money if you repay your loan ahead of time. Before you refinance, compare all the fees and interest rates to find the best option. Each refinancing company is different, so make sure to compare all your options thoroughly before you sign up.

Go here to see the best student loan refinance companies!

What If I Get Denied?

If you get denied, the company should usually provide a reason why. If it’s your credit score, then you know what you have to work on. If it’s your income, then you might consider trying to find another job.

However, one trick that works for some people is to not refinance all their student loans at once. For example, if you have $70,000 in loans and earn $50,000 a year, you might not be able to refinance all $70,000. Instead, try refinancing a smaller chunk, like $25,000. Pick the loans with the highest interest rate and refinance those, since you’ll see the biggest savings. When your income increases, you can try refinancing the rest of your loans.

It doesn’t hurt to apply to more than one. Some people even end up refinancing their loans multiple times to get the best interest rate.

Have you refinanced your student loans? What was your experience like? Or what’s stopping you from making the leap? Share in the comments!

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I met Jennie almost 10 years ago, when I worked at the college student newspaper. She was the office manager, in charge of making sure we got paid. I loved her snarky sense of humor and her adorable cardigans. We stayed in touch even when she transitioned to a new job.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that Jennie was posting more dog photos on social media than normal. “Is she fostering a new pup?” I thought. Nope, it turns out Jennie had started a dog walking and pet sitting business. I’m always encouraging people to find businesses and side hustles that can earn them extra money, so I asked her about it.

Turns out, she started doing it to help pay off her husband’s student loans (currently around $15,000).

As y’all know, I’m always recommending a side hustle if you’re trying to get out of debt, save an emergency fund or just have more money. Often, we don’t get paid enough at our day jobs to afford everything we want and need, but a side hustle can bridge the gap between your income and your dreams.

Want to hear how Jennie earns hundreds by hanging out with cute pups all day? Read below. (And then go sign up for your own account at Rover.com) 

Why did you start working as a dog walker/sitter?

I started dog walking/sitting for a couple of reasons. The first being that I love dogs! I think they’re hilarious, adorable, and more fun than a lot of people. I often find myself searching the Petfinder listings and dreaming about bringing them all home with me.

Right now my husband and I live with a little dog named Wallace. He is very spoiled. He has his own Instagram account and we are throwing him a graduation party this weekend for completing his first obedience class.

Wallace would probably love to have a little brother or sister dog, but right now we can’t take on the expense of another pet. Which brings me to the other reason I started dog walking/sitting, to help pay down my husband’s student loan debt. For me, this is a really fun way to earn some extra money to go toward bills.

Was it easy to find gigs? 

I am really surprised at how fast I started receiving sitting requests! I posted my account on Rover and within a few days, I had two requests for dog boarding.

When determining which dogs to stay at my home, it really depends on the temperament of the dogs. I can only bring dogs into my home that get along with other dogs and those that are being well cared for (getting their vaccinations, check-ups, etc.) I can’t put my little Wallace in danger of becoming sick or hurt.

So I text/talk to the owners and get some info first. Then, we set up a time to meet and have our dogs meet each other. The criteria for walking and check-ins is different. With those types of gigs, I have a distance I’m willing to drive to a client’s house set up in my profile. That usually weeds out potential clients that would live just too far away.

How much did you make per gig?

I’ve made anywhere from $15 to $120 depending on the job. The time commitment involved for those payments was anywhere from an hour to a few days. Zina’s note: Currently, Jennie charges $25 for one night of boarding, $12 per drop-in visit, and $15 for a walk. 

The site does take 20% of the rate listed. Although that seems like a lot, I find it worth it in the long run. Through the website it is easy to have people find my services (I don’t market myself at all), easy to get paid (I can link it to my PayPal), and they offer insurance. Zina’s note: One of my friends also set up an Instagram profile marketing her services, which is one way to find more clients.

Would you recommend this to someone else looking for a side hustle?

I would totally recommend this to people who love dogs (and/or cats). I do think it is a great side hustle, but you really have to care about animals (and not mind cleaning up after them!).

A lot of my dog clients have been dogs that wouldn’t do well in a typical boarding situation (separation anxiety, elderly, etc.) or dogs that have lots of energy that need to be checked in on and played with during the workday. So for those that require a visit during the workday, it does require you to have flexibility in your work schedule.

Zina’s note: If you want to try out Rover as a client, check out this link. You’ll get $25 off your first visit!

What’s your advice for someone looking to make money as a dog walker/sitter?

First, make sure you have enough flexibility in your work schedule/lifestyle to have it make sense. Second, you will be dealing with people from all walks of life. And you will need to be able to make them feel at ease leaving their best friend in your care. Customer service is a large part of this job. So, if you like dogs but hate dealing with people, you might consider a different side hustle.

Third, while I know that fanny packs are possibly considered uncool by some crowds, they come in handy for checking in on/walking dogs. I keep dog supplies (poo bags, treats, small toys, etc.) and my supplies (keys, phone, wallet) in mine and always have my hands free for taking care of the doggos. Zina’s note: I use a fanny pack when walking my own dogs! You can find cute ones that won’t embarrass you (or your dog).

Fourth, if you’re thinking of having dogs stay with you, puppy proof your house. And make sure you’ve stocked up on cleaning supplies (accidents happen, especially in this business). Zina’s note: I’ve tried expensive urine removers, but now I just use vinegar and water in a spray bottle with a generous heap of baking soda afterward. Cheaper and easier to use.

What are the pros and cons of dog walking and sitting?

Pros: playing with doggos, getting to see lots of different breeds and mixes, brings more dogs into Wallace’s life/good for socialization, get to meet lots of dog people, get paid to play with dogs.

Cons: cleaning up dog vomit/pee/poo, I really can’t think of too many cons.

What to Know About Side Hustles

Every side hustle, whether it’s a dog walking business or a freelance writing gig, has expenses. For example, when I need a new laptop, I can expense it as part of my business. If you’re going to start dog walking, save and document everything you buy, including cleaning supplies, doggie beds, trash bags and more. You’ll want to save proof of purchase as well.

That’s because when you earn money outside of a traditional 9-5 job, you have to pay taxes on your earnings, usually between 20-30% of what you earn. However, you can deduct your expenses from your earnings, which will minimize how much you owe in taxes. Take a look here for more information on how Rover handles sending out tax information.

You should also consider how much time you spend on each side hustle. Are you making a decent amount per hour? Or is it starting to affect your regular job or your family responsibilities? Don’t let the prospect of a few dollars impact your life negatively.

However, I have to say as someone who’s done dog sitting in the past, it’s a fabulous way to make money. You don’t have to do much besides walk, feed and love on the dog, the latter of which you can do while watching a movie! Plus, I love being around new dogs so dog sitting was always a treat, especially before I got my own dogs.

The best part of starting a side hustle is that if you try it and hate it, you can quit without any repurcussions. So go ahead, sign up for Rover and let me know how it goes!

Have you ever thought about dog sitting or walking as a side hustle? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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Most personal finance bloggers are willing to share how to save on groceries, utilities and gas. They’ll tell you how they use cloth diapers for their kids or buy used clothes from Goodwill. But today, I’m here to talk about the stuff that we all have to buy, but that no one wants to save…

Graduating from college and getting my first “real” job was a huge adjustment. I was living on my own, in a town of 30,000 people and far away from my family and closest friends.

That wasn’t all. I was suddenly responsible for paying off my student loans (on a $28,000 salary). And I had to pay for my own healthcare.

I wasn’t totally screwed. I was still under my parent’s insurance (thanks Obama!), but I did want to be responsible for my own co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses. If I wanted to be an adult, I had to pay my own way.

But as someone who had never so much bought a bottle of Tylenol without charging it to her parent’s credit card, I was shocked to find out what it costs to go to the doctor. I’m the type of person who makes an appointment when I feel a cold coming on, and I was surprised how expensive it could be to visit a physician.

Did I mention I was trying to pay off my student loans at the same time? I had little savings and no concept on how to deal with healthcare expenses. Here’s how I learned how to save on medical bills.

Always Try to Negotiate

Almost every doctor is willing to negotiate if you can’t afford your bill, but you have to ask. My old medical network gave 10% off if you paid in full, but they didn’t advertise this discount. I found out one day when I called to ask about my bill and asked if they had any special discounts or coupons. That’s when the woman told me. The kicker? I couldn’t get this discount if I paid my bill online or through the mail. If I wanted the discount, I had to call and pay my bill over the phone. Weird, right? But it worked.

Healthcare billing doesn’t always make sense, and it’s up to patients to be their own advocates. Always ask about any ways you can save before you pay the bill. Sometimes, you can even schedule a payment plan instead of paying all at once. That might be easier on your budget, especially if it’s a hefty balance.

Start an HSA

The HSA or Health Savings Account is one of my favorite ways to save on healthcare costs. A Health Savings Account is a special savings account that you can only use for healthcare expenses. You can contribute up to $3,400 a year as an individual or $6,750 for families. I typically transfer between $100 and $200 a month, which covers most of my out-of-pocket expenses.

The best part of HSAs is that contributions roll over from year to year. If you put $2,000 in an HSA and only use $1,500, you can use it next year.

HSAs save you money because contributions are tax deductible and decrease your taxable income. When your taxable income is smaller, you pay fewer taxes. I’ve used my HSA for medical bills, prescriptions and more. You can’t use them on premiums or over-the-counter drugs, but I still recommend opening an HSA if you’re eligible and often pay for medical expenses yourself.

You can only get an HSA if you have a high-deductible plan, which has to have a deductible of at least $1,300 for an individual or $2,600 for families.

Avoid Urgent Care and Retail Clinics

Like most people, I hate finding a new doctor. Every time I’ve moved, one of my least favorite things is finding a new doctor in a city I’m unfamiliar with. I try to ask people I know, but then I have to verify that the doctor takes my insurance or is accepting new patients.

So I started going to places like CVS’s Minute Clinic every time I needed to see a doctor. It was easy and convenient. But I didn’t realize that I was paying more by going to a Minute Clinic than if I found a regular doctor. Urgent care and retail doctors are convenient, but they aren’t always the cheapest option.

Again, if you’re truly sick on a Saturday and don’t need to go to the ER, then an urgent care is fine, but don’t go if you’re just avoiding calling a few doctors to see if they can see you in a couple days.

Read Bills Carefully

How many of you actually read your medical bill when you get it? I know, I used to briefly glance at mine before seeing what the total was. Now, I scan it carefully because I know how common billing errors are. Anytime I get a bill and don’t recognize something, I call the billing department and have them explain it to me. It only takes a few minutes, but it could save you a lot of money.

If you get a bill that’s correct, but still seems too high, call the doctor anyway. You might have been billed for something that you thought your insurance covered, and sometimes the doctor will waive the fee as a one-time courtesy. Again, you have to call and ask – they won’t do this on their own.

Find Discount Prescriptions

A few years ago, I started taking anxiety medication for the first time. Not surprisingly, my insurance only covered a small portion of the drug.  Then I learned something really scary: each pharmacy charges their own prices for prescription drugs, just like they do for Tylenol or beer or greeting cards.

I was floored. I’d always gone to the closest pharmacy near me, not knowing I might be paying more than necessary. So I called my mom, the original frugal queen, and she said to go to Costco. They have the best prices around, and it’s where I still go to get my prescriptions and even the heartworm medication I buy my dogs.

I also really like the site GoodRx for coupons on medications. You can use it at any pharmacy, and it could save you 50% off the total cost of your prescription. Seriously, check it out. There’s no sense in paying more when you don’t have to.

Find Substitutes

I’ll never forget the first pair of glasses I really loved. They were designer Ted Baker Tina Fey-type glasses, and they made me feel super smart when I put them on. Eventually, I decided I wanted a new pair.

When I got my Ted Baker glasses, I still had vision insurance through my parents so my glasses were cheap. Now, I was on my own and had to pay for them by myself. Do you know how much eyeglasses cost without insurance? At least $100.

Now when I need eyeglasses, I go to Lookmatic and Warby Parker, both of which cost $95-$99 and have great quality. Plus, you can try on different frames before you buy so you know which ones you’ll like the most. These aren’t the cheapest glasses I could find, but they’re as stylish as my old designer frames. Plus, when you buy from Warby Parker, they donate a pair of glasses to someone in need. Win-win!

For really cheap glasses, my friends recommend Zenni Optical, which has glasses as low as $6.95. That’s insane. I know some people who buy multiple ones so they can have a variety of styles on hand.

I usually got my contacts through 1-800-Contacts.com, but my last eye doctor also recommended Lens.com which is a little cheaper. I also use my contacts as long as possible, probably a few weeks beyond the one-month rule. I also splurge on Clear Care hydrogen peroxide contact solution to prevent infections. This solution is pretty pricey, but I like it. I get mine at Costco where it’s $16 for two bottles.

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I found the notebook that I used for last year’s Financial Planning Days. Almost exactly a year ago, I had $28,000 in student loans. Now? It’s about $12,060. In one year, I have paid off almost $16,000 worth of student loans.

That is amazing. Not to toot my own horn, but that is amazing. When I told my friend Ellie, she asked how I did it. Part of me is unsure. Maybe I robbed someone.

But I also know that I didn’t go out to lunch every day, I didn’t drop $50 at the bar and I didn’t shop retail for most of my clothes. But I also lived alone in a nice neighborhood, went to Israel and New York and mostly ate healthy food.

I hope to pay off the other $12,000 by next November. But even if I don’t, I know I’m pretty amazing.

Since starting this blog, I’ve also become a financial coach. I help people figure out their goals, determine what they need to do to get there and create a plan for them to follow. I love coaching and motivating people. Personal finance is so taboo that many people don’t know where to go for good advice.

Usually what I do with my coaching clients is have them go over their expenses for a couple months and write down how much they spend. Then, we divide the expenses into categories and see how the math adds up.

Inevitably, they’re surprised by how much they spend. When you bring home $2,000 a month, it’s hard to fathom spending it all. That’s why tracking your expenses is so important – it’s the only way to see where the leaks are in your budget.

A major reason for all those leaks? Grocery shopping.

Why Groceries Matter

There are two types of expenses in your budget – fixed and variable. Fixed expenses stay the same every month; these include your rent, internet bill and car insurance. No matter what happens, your rent will be the same next month and the month after that.

Variable expenses change based on your usage and the time of the year, like utilities, gas and of course, groceries. It’s easy to plan ahead for some variable expenses. For example, the amount of gas I use doesn’t change that much month-to-month. I use budget billing for my heating and electricity, so I get the same bill every month, and I also use an HSA that I contribute to monthly and pay any medical bills out of that.

But groceries? Groceries can fluctuate by as much as $200 a month. I’ve had months where I spent $100 for one person and months where my husband and I dropped $600 on food.

When you’re on a tight budget and are paying off student loans or credit card bills, every extra dollar matters. The less you spend on groceries, the faster you can be debt free.

For most people, groceries are their biggest category after housing, transportation, and insurance, and when you change how much you spend on the biggest category, you see the biggest results.

The Biggest Way to Save on Groceries

Meal Plan Ahead of Time

It won’t surprise you that the biggest way to save on groceries is to meal plan before you shop. Meal planning lets you create meals based on what you already have, so you’re not buying all your ingredients from scratch. For example, if you already have chicken thighs in the freezer, why make spaghetti and meatballs? If you already have green peppers and tortillas, why not make fajitas?

It’s like buying clothes: when I buy a new shirt, I run through what I already own. Will this shirt match any of my pants or skirts? Can I wear it for multiple occasions? If it fails the closet test, I put it back. That’s because if I buy a shirt and don’t have anything to match it with, I won’t be able to wear it or I’ll have to buy a set of pants to match. That’s wasteful and inefficient.

Groceries are the same. Plan your meals around what you already have and then go grocery shopping for the rest. I am really, really bad at meal planning, but my husband is a whiz at it. He can scan through our freezer and quickly decide what kind of meal he can make while not buying a ton of new ingredients.

If you’re more like me, then meal planning is scary, overwhelming and BORING. And when something is overwhelming, I tend to avoid it. That’s why I recommend the $5 Meal Plan Service from my friend Erin Chase. She’s a mom of four boys and has created meal plans where each meal costs less than $2 per person.

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Even though I’m not a mom, her recipes still work because they’re quick, good and easy-to-understand. Plus, you can customize by specific requests (vegetarian, gluten free, etc) and even type in what you have to get recipe suggestions. Erin also offers slow cooker meals, 20-minute meals and slow-cooker meals – you get 8 total meals for $5 a month.

If you don’t want to pay or are a little more carefree in your meal planning, there’s other sites that can help you, like Foodily. You type in the ingredients you have and the site spits out recipe ideas. I used to use sites like these ALL THE TIME when I lived alone, because I hated spending a lot of money on groceries and I didn’t want to waste the food I already had.

For example, if I have potatoes and carrots chillin’ in my fridge, I can type those ingredients into Foodily and it’ll spit out some recipe ideas. How cool is that? Seriously, this site rocks.

In general, we always decide what to cook based on what we already have, whether that’s something in the fridge, pantry or freezer. Starting there will always be cheaper, more efficient and less wasteful.

  Take Stock of What You Already Have

Unless you regularly cycle through your pantry, you probably have some food you’ve forgotten about. Case in point: in college, I had a bad habit of buying brown sugar. Every time I went to the grocery store, I convinced myself that I didn’t have any brown sugar at home, so I’d buy a box. At the end of the semester, I had five boxes of brown sugar that had gone stale.

Before you go to the grocery store, take stock of what you already have. Why? Because today I accidentally found some cous cous in the pantry, enough for at least two meals. I also forgot about some falafels and turkey meatballs I have in the freezer. When you shop on a regular basis, it’s hard to remember if you’ve used up everything from your last visit.

Every time my husband and I get ready to go to Costco, we take a quick scan of our cabinets, so it’s rare we buy something already in our pantry. I don’t have to wonder if we have canned tuna, because I checked the house before I left.

Eat from the Freezer

How often do you look inside the freezer to see what you already have? Seriously. Every time I have to dig around in the freezer for ground beef or leftover pasta sauce, I end finding something I’d forgotten about.

My husband and I freeze a lot of stuff and every couple of weeks, we take a couple days to defrost and eat few meal’s worth of leftovers. It’s not as exciting as a hot meal straight from the stove, but it saves us time and money. Plus, there’s no big pile of dishes to clean up afterwards!

Food stored in the freezer doesn’t go bad as quickly, so it’s easy to forget about it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stored away something only to find it right before I moved out.

Shop with a Plan

Have you ever gone grocery shopping without a list? I once did this at Target. I assumed I’d wander the aisles until I remembered what I needed it. It was a disaster. I tried to walk around each aisle, staring intently at plastic wrap and deli meat and wondering if I needed them.

Never shop without a plan. I try to keep a notepad near the fridge where I can quickly note what I need, so when I do go to the store, I’m only buying the essentials. My husband and I also keep a list of what we buy from Costco so when we go there, we just shop based on what the list says. You can do this using a notetaking app or with a physical list – just try a couple of methods to see what works for you.

Be Wary of Sales

Do you ever notice how excited you get when something is on sale? It’s like I can feel the dopamine rushing to my brain when I see a great deal. “Oh my god, I have to get this – it’s on sale!!” I think to myself.

But sometimes the sales are how I get tricked into buying something I don’t really need.

Once after Thanksgiving, I was visiting my then-boyfriend at Whole Foods, where he worked at the time. He told me I should look around the store for any special deals on Thanksgiving-related foods, since they were heavily discounted. I wandered around until I found frozen turkey legs at a huge discount.

Of course, I didn’t really know what I was going to do with frozen turkey legs. I mean, does anyone actually buy raw turkey outside of Thanksgiving? No, they don’t. That’s why the turkey was on sale. Those frozen turkey legs sat in my freezer for months until I finally tossed them.

Don’t get excited just because something is on sale. If it’s an item you love, like Rocky Road ice cream, sure, stock up on a few. But if it’s something you don’t really care that much about, like turkey legs, let it go. It’s better to spend $20 on your favorite meal than $10 on food you hate.

Find Cheap Recipe Ideas

After I graduated from college, I spent a summer interning at a magazine and working part-time at a call center. My internship was unpaid and since I was trying to be an adult, I promised my parents I’d pay for all my expenses myself. It finally hit me that I had left the comforts of university life for the uncertainty of the real world. To that end, I started really looking at my budget, especially my groceries.

I relied on blogs like Budget Bytes for cheap recipes. Some of them were a miss, but most of them I really liked it. Finding recipes is such a chore, and it can be hard if you don’t want to buy a bunch of expensive spices and ingredients.

A few weeks ago, I sent an email to my subscribers about my new garden and how planting a vegetable is like building a budget. It takes time, daily care and fixing problems when they arise. Budgets are like gardens. If you ignore the first sign of bugs, the next thing you know, your garden is infested.

I asked people to respond to my email with their budget challenges. One woman replied:

“Having a boyfriend ruins my budget! We always want to go out and do fun things. We try to live in the moment and are big believers of ‘You only live once’…but that mentality kills my budget a lot.”

As soon as I saw her email, I heard myself say, “Me too.” Even though I write about personal finance for a living and paid off my student loans early, I still struggle with that FOMO mentality. How do you pay off debt, live frugally and not miss out? Fortunately, I’m not alone.

New studies from Dartmouth College and the University of Southern California shows that consumer debt levels are rising and some researchers are attributing that to an onslaught of FOMO or fear of missing out.

People see their friends living it up on social media, and they don’t want to feel left out. People are financing their experiences, like eating out or going to concerts, instead of saving for them or paying for them in cash. And all that spending is leading to debt that will likely take years to pay off.

How FOMO Can Delay Paying Off Debt

In college, I was the girl who constantly ordered take-out and went shopping when I was bored. I bought pizza and Chinese food even though I had a meal plan through my dorm. I said yes to concerts, movies and restaurants.

During a summer internship in New York City, I splurged so much that sometimes I’d eat out three times a day. Yes, I ate out for every single meal. That summer I lived as large as I could, even though I knew I’d graduate with student loans. I didn’t really think about what it would be like to pay them back.

After graduation, reality sank in. First, I graduated and got an unpaid internship at a magazine. I also landed an hourly gig doing market research, but my hours were often cut and I earned a lot less than I originally budgeted. When the internship ended, I moved back home until I finally found a full-time job at a newspaper. A month after I started work, the grace period on my student loans ended and the “real world” officially began.

When I first started paying off my student loans, I felt a lot of FOMO. Remember, I was only making $28,000 a year. After my $550 rent and my $350 minimum student loan payment, I had little left over for anything else. I was depressed, lonely and living in a town of 30,000 people. Plus, I had no money to cheer me up.

It sucked. Suddenly, going out to eat was a huge decision and paying for a manicure was like buying a Rolls Royce. Buying new clothes, without a special sale or discount? Yeah, right.

How I Dealt with the FOMO

I’d love to tell you that I got over myself and happily embraced a life of frugality and minimalism. And I did. Sort of. But I also struggled for a while. I was so jealous of everyone who didn’t have student loans or wasn’t concerned about paying them off early. I judged them so hard. “Must be nice to be living in denial,” I thought. I know, I’m a total bitch sometimes.

I felt so much FOMO when I was paying off my student loans. I decided to avoid going out to eat, which made me a pariah in some circles. Once, a boss asked me if I wanted to go out to lunch with him and a few other coworkers. I declined like I always did. He then got defensive and said, “Don’t you ever have fun?” I was confused where this came from.

I realized later: when you say no to an activity or decision that someone else has said yes to, you can make them question their own choices. When I say no to lunch or shopping, it might make someone feel like I’m judging their decisions. I’d then feel guilty, like I was doing something wrong.

Remind yourself, “I’m not doing this because I’m choosing to pay off my loans.” We let ourselves feel bad when we feel out of control, when the choice is out of our hands. But it’s not. We’re consciously choosing to avoid doing something in order to have more money to put toward our debt. That’s a choice – and an empowered one at that.

It was worth giving up all those things to pay off my student loans, but here’s the thing: I still feel FOMO even now.

Why I Still Feel FOMO Now That I’m Debt Free

A few weeks ago, I went out to brunch with one of my best friends who was visiting me. I started looking around at all the girls in the restaurant. It seemed like everyone besides me was wearing a trendy outfit, while I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt that I bought years ago. No high-waisted shorts or off-shoulder tops for me.

I looked around at the cute girls as I lamented the state of my wardrobe. Nothing I own is currently trendy, and even though I work at home and rarely need to dress up, I still felt left out. Rationally, I know that I could buy one of those crop tops if I felt like it, but I don’t need one (or even want one).

I don’t have any miracle solutions to this problem except that you have to acknowledge what you’re feeling. I learned this during therapy: when you feel crappy or weird or anxious or sad, write down what you’re feeling, what the situation is, how rational your reaction is and what a logical solution is. This is known as cognitive behavioral therapy, and it teaches you that you can’t shift what you feel, but you can change how you react.

For example, I’d write down that I’m in the middle of an ice cream parlor watching the people around me. I’m feeling ashamed because I’m not wearing makeup, haven’t showered in a couple days and am wearing an uninspired outfit of old Nike shorts and a black tank top. I’m feeling like I’m “less than”, because these other girls have perfect messy buns and dresses that they clearly bought in the last three months.

But as I sit here now in my house, I remind myself that when I want to, I can look as fashionable and cute as these other girls, but sometimes I don’t feel like putting on an outfit. Unfortunately, I do care what other people think, and I’m also concerned that everyone is judging me.

It’s easy to feel comfortable in your own house, where no one is judging you for eating leftovers and wearing t-shirts with holes in them. But out in the real world, it’s hard to feel secure in your choices.

You’ll feel FOMO a lot when you’re in debt, but you’ll also feel it after. FOMO is a state of mind, that without that cute new dress or perfect Instagram photo, you’re not as worthy as someone else. I feel FOMO because I haven’t mastered Snapchat, because I have a sunburn instead of a tan and because I’m shocked that even my poorest friends seem to have more stylish clothes than me.

FOMO is about comparing yourself to others and feeling worse off. It’s about looking at everyone around you and seeing their worth as a judgment against you. It can also go the other way. I know I feel smug sometimes when people talk about their lack of retirement savings. I’m just as judgmental about other people as I worry that others are.

I haven’t cured my FOMO feelings (obviously), but I am talking about them and journaling in my diary. And maybe one day I’ll feel less concerned about what others aren’t or are thinking about me.

Do you have FOMO? How do you balance living in the moment and living on a budget?

Sometimes people ask me, what’s the best thing to spend money on? I always say experiences. Travel. Classes. Time with friends. The memories you gain from experiences will outlast the happiness you feel when you buy a new purse or pair of shoes.

The Best Thing I Spend Money On? Therapy

Overall, one of the best things I spend money on is therapy. I’ve been seeing a therapist since I was a sophomore in college and suddenly snapped at my ex-boyfriend. Worried that I had anger management issues, I decided I should see someone.

Since then, I’ve seen four therapists on-and-off over the last six years and I’ve never regretted going to one. Finding a good therapist is like finding a good friend. It can take a while to warm up and share your issues.

Honestly, I hate finding a new therapist because you have to repeat all your childhood stories, all your issues, all your insecurities all over again.

It’s like dating and having to describe why each relationship ended (and why that makes you feel like such a loser). I hate sharing the story about my friend’s brother on whom I had a huge crush and what it felt like when I told him how I felt and he asked if my friend Ashley was single.

I hate sharing how different I felt growing up as an immigrant whose last name is impossible to pronounce correctly. I’ve since learned that many of my American friends have difficult-to-pronounce last names, including my fiancé.

After you get past the introductory questions, therapy, like dating, becomes fun. Each therapist is different, but this last one has been my favorite. She’s given me tools and strategies to use when I’m feeling anxious, when I feel like I’m the worst person alive and when I want to compare myself to every person’s Instagram feed. (She also helped me find a comprehensive book about anxiety that I can use until I find a replacement for her.)

She’s taught me about automatic disruptive thoughts and given me free worksheets that I can use when I’m upset (there’s nothing like pulling out one of these in the grocery store when you’re feeling anxious). I keep a handful in my desk at work and in my purse.  Since I’ve started seeing her, I don’t see other people’s successes as my failures, and I don’t see my failures as character traits.

The only downside of therapy, except for coming back to work after crying your eyes out and deciding between telling people it’s allergies or that you were at your therapist’s office, is the cost.

Therapy can be expensive. When I was in school, each hour-long session cost $25, and my parents paid for my bi-weekly appointments. When I graduated, I was so terrified of spending money on anything except for the basics that I decided not to find a new therapist, even though my anxiety and depression was affecting me on a daily basis.

How I Can Afford Therapy

It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I finally started going to therapy again. The more I talk about it to people, the more I realize many of my friends also go to a therapist and that the ones who don’t aren’t judging me for it.

Therapy is more necessary for me than flossing my teeth, which is a bad example because I never floss my teeth. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression and going to therapy gives me the coping skills to deal with my problems better.

For a while, I resisted going back to therapy because I knew it’d be expensive and that unlike college, I’d be the one paying for it. When you’re used to getting something for free, you don’t value it as much. But I realized that paying for therapy is necessary, at least for me. I value it as much as my $100 gym membership or my $150 sewing class. We all have things we do to relieve stress, and this is mine.

Thankfully, my insurance covers most of my bills, and I’ve only ever had to pay $12-$30 for a half-hour session. So for about the price of a round of beers, I get to share all the things I’m scared of to a total stranger. I also choose to go to a low-cost clinic which charges far less than a private psychologist, and I know that universities often have psych clinics that only charge between $5-$30 a session. If you aren’t sure where to go, Google “low cost clinic therapy” and you’ll find a few results. You can also call your primary care doctor as they might have some suggestions.

Now my therapist is leaving, and I have to find a new one. But I’m also trying something new: anxiety medication. For a long time, I was scared of taking meds. I thought that all I needed was a good psychologist who could listen to my problems and then assure me that I was totally normal. A few weeks ago, the idea of taking meds felt like I was saying, “Nope, talking about stuff isn’t enough. I need even more help than the average person.”

After talking about it at our last session, I realized that it’s ok if I need medication. My therapist assured me that I’ve done a lot of work over the last year and that sometimes my brain needs a little help. Some medication can reset the anxiety that floats around in your brain. Some you only need for certain situations. Others you can stop taking once you don’t need it anymore.

I’ve only been on my new meds for a few days, but I can already tell a huge difference. I don’t get the tight feeling in my chest when I get anxious. Little things don’t freak me out. My fiance says I seem much happier and a more vibrant version of myself. The best part? My new medication only cost $38 at Costco (my insurance doesn’t cover it).

Where I Get My Anxiety Medication

I get my meds from Costco because they’re so much cheaper than any other pharmacy. Seriously. I think they were going to cost about $100 at Walgreens or CVS and about the same as Target. My mom, the brilliant woman that she is, suggested I use Costco because they’re famous for undercharging on prescriptions.

In some states, you can use the Costco pharmacy without being a Costco member, but in other states you do have to join the warehouse club. Membership is $60 a year, so it’s worth it if you save more than $60 on prescriptions. I even get my dog’s heartworm medication from Costco because it’s the cheapest there too.

Another tip is to use a GoodRX coupon when you pay for your prescription. According to their site, they can save you at least a few dollars off your prescription, and you can use a GoodRX coupon at most pharmacies including Target, Costco, Walgreens and CVS.

A few people have also recommended I try an online Canadian pharmacy for my anxiety meds. I know some of these are supposed to be legit, as they require that you fax over your doctor’s prescription. I haven’t tried any myself, so I won’t link to them here. But if you’re having trouble getting an affordable prescription, see if they might be more affordable online.

How I Pay For Therapy and Anxiety Medication

I use my HSA card for any healthcare-related expense, since it saves me money off my taxes. An HSA or Health Savings Account is like a savings account you can only use for medical costs. The benefit of it – and why I use it – is that the amount you contribute to your HSA can be deducted on your taxes. I try to contribute about $100 a month which covers my therapy and anxiety medication, but you can contribute as little as you want.

Plus, the funds from your HSA roll over from year to year,  and you can contribute thousands of dollars each year. I try to estimate how much I’ll spend on healthcare costs throughout the year and divide that by 12 to figure out my monthly contribution. But if I find that my HSA is getting too big, I’ll cut back on saving for a couple months. (Side note: you can use an HSA for any health-related bills such as doctor’s visits, other prescriptions and more).

Sometimes I feel guilty for spending so much money on my mental health, when most people don’t have to. The rational response to that worry is, “Screw other people.” A lot of people are scared of therapy and medication. A lot of them don’t want to own their shit, even if that means being unhappy. I shouldn’t care what a lot of people won’t do.

I’ve also learned that it’s ok to change my budget for something as important as therapy or anxiety medication. In fact, now I can’t believe that there was a time that I avoided therapy for financial reasons. I think back on those years and wonder how much happier I’d be now if I started medication earlier or had kept going with my sessions. I’m just glad I realized now that it’s one of the best things to spend money on.

Do you pay for therapy, anxiety medication, etc.? What are some ways you use money for your mental health?

When I talk to people about paying off their student loans early, I often hear that they’re having trouble finding extra money to add to their loans. They’ve looked at their expenses, trimmed their budget and are still struggling to pay more than the minimum.

I know what it’s like to be on this scenario. Remember, I started off by only paying an extra $10 a month. But I found that my debt payoff really skyrocketed when I began paying $100, $200 and $300 extra on my loans.

So if you’re stuck between a low-paying high salary and high expenses, how do you find the cash to increase your debt payoff? You make more money. 

On this blog, I try to highlight ways to save money and budget responsibly, but I also want to share stories of people making more money. A couple of months ago I featured Harry, who makes $500 a month driving for Uber. Imagine what adding $500 to your student loans would look like.

Today, I’m featuring two friends of mine, Matt and Fae. They decided to rent out their second bedroom on Airbnb and found they could make a lot of extra money. Even though I had extra room in my apartment, I never considered renting out my space (hello, serial killers). But Matt and Fae made it work – and made a ton of money in the meantime.

Here’s their story of how made almost $9,000 in one year off Airbnb.

Why did you decide to start renting a room on Airbnb? 

We decided to start renting on Airbnb in order to make extra income. This income generally paid for our rent each month and allowed us to live basically rent free.

It all began because my fiance Fae and I allowed a friend of a friend rent a room in our house for a couple months after she moved to Indianapolis. After she left, we had a room ready to rent out to guests at a moment’s notice and we took advantage of the situation.

Were you nervous having strangers stay in your house?

While we were slightly nervous about having strangers in our house at first, the rating and review system through AirBnB really helped to allay any fears. After the first few guests, it became clear that we had nothing to worry about. Every person that stayed with us, whoever they were, was respectful, kind, and fun to be around.

How much work was involved in setting up your place and dealing with the tenants?

There is not a whole lot of work that goes into renting out a space. The hardest part was cleaning the room and changing sheets between guests when the old guests left, and the new guest came on the same day.

Others may find that meeting guests for check-in is difficult due to the array of times that people arrive. However, I had a flexible work schedule and worked close to home so it was easy for me to accommodate guests.

Can you share how much you made per night?

We charged $69 per night to stay at our place but actually brought it $67 each night someone stayed. Over the course of 2015, we made roughly $8,900 for little effort.

Would you recommend this to someone else trying to earn money on the side?

I would definitely recommend someone else doing AirBnB on the side. I think it is important to think about your location and how attractive it may be for visitors to whatever city you’re renting in. Your location will greatly affect how often you receive bookings.

Do you have any advice for someone trying to make money off Airbnb?

Always be willing to chat with your guests and help with recommendations around I always had multiple guides and maps in the room as well that I would pick up from various cultural destinations for free too. Also, take advantage of the free professional photography service provided by Airbnb.

Nothing discourages me more than crappy pictures when I’m looking to rent on AirBnB myself. Lastly, always be thinking about your tax liability at the end of the year. Be sure to keep a record of expenses associated with renting out the room in order to write off as much as the income as possible later on. I’m not a tax professional, so please consult one, but portions of your utilities, phone bill, etc could be potential write-offs.

Zina’s note: Matt’s right about this. If you buy anything related to your Airbnb business, you can deduct it from your taxes. Wait, taxes, what? Another thing: if you earn money on the side, you’ll probably owe taxes on the amount. Any money you earn outside of a regular day job is taxed at a higher rate, so it’s important to pay attention to how much you earn. But, you can minimize that amount by deducting any expenses such as linens, cleaning supplies and anything related. Save your receipts and track how much you spend.

The Pros and Cons of Renting on Airbnb

I love Matt and Fae’s story. They did something what few people do – rent out their living space while they live there – and used it to make money and live almost rent-free. A lot of people used to do this to make money. If you remember in the movie, “The Iron Giant,” Hogarth’s mom rents out their guest room to the government agent looking for the Iron Giant.

Boarding is less common nowadays, but it’s still a totally viable way to earn extra money. If you have an extra room or even a couch, you can rent it out on Airbnb.

Here are some things to keep in mind before you do:

It Might Not Be Legal

If you don’t own your own home, then renting out a room might be against your lease. Check your lease specifically for any clauses that specify if you can sublet your apartment. Sure, there’s a chance your landlord will never know, but you should be aware of what you’re getting yourself into. A few cities, such as San Francisco and Santa Monica, have strict rules about short-term rentals. Make sure to read those before you publish your listing.

It Could Be Risky

Anytime you open your home to someone, whether it’s a friend or a paying guest, you risk being liable for something happening to them or them doing something to your property. I’ve often thought about renting out our house on Airbnb when we’re away, but since my husband has lots of musical equipment, I don’t want to risk it.

Airbnb hosts do have access to $1 million in insurance, but it might not cover every specific instance. Again, be aware of this before you open your doors.

You Could Owe Taxes

Remember what Matt said earlier about owing taxes on your rental property? These rules depend on where you live, but many Airbnb hosts find themselves with a tax bill at the end of the year. Try to set aside about 20-30% of your Airbnb earnings for taxes, just in case you find yourself in this position.

Have you rented out your space on Airbnb? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!

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In 2014, I made my final payment on my student loans and reached the three-year finish line of being debt free. I’d been blogging about my journey for two years, and my story went viral. It got picked up by Time Magazine, was featured on Yahoo News and even led to a TV interview on Fox.

I loved sharing my message, because I was certain it would inspire people to do the same. But I never considered what would happen when millions of people would see my story.

I was checking the comments on the Time Facebook page when I noticed how many negative there were. A few people were positive, but most of them said things like, “I bet her boyfriend helped her” or “I’m sure her parents sent her money.” One person implied that I probably sold drugs to make my payments. 

I couldn’t figure out why people were making these kinds of accusations. If they’d read my story, they’d know that my parents and boyfriend weren’t helping me financially and that I worked at a nonprofit, not the local street corner peddling meth (though I lived in Indiana at the time, so I can see why they’d think that).

A friend of mine told me that people attack what they refuse to acknowledge in themselves. I thought about that for a second. So all these people are mad because they can pay off their student loans early, but they don’t want to try?

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I kept reading the comments. Many people said things like, “Well, I don’t want to live in a state like Indiana, even if it does have a low cost of living” or “I can’t find roommates, so I have to pay a lot for rent.”

I realized there was some truth in what they were saying, but mostly it was bullshit. A lot of times when people they can’t do something, they’re really saying, “I don’t want to.”

“I don’t want to get a roommate.”

“I don’t want to live somewhere cheaper.”

“I don’t want to give up something I have.”

“I don’t want to drive a used car.”

But most of all, people don’t want to acknowledge that these are choices and not facts. Every day, we make choices that impact our finances, from the coffee we buy at Starbucks to the happy hour we attend after work. From the car that drives us to the office to the house we come home to at night. Whether you realize it or not, these choices affect the rest of the options you have.

It’s time to acknowledge that we have responsibility for the financial outcomes of our lives and be honest with yourselves. Maybe you can’t control what kind of salary your boss offers you, but you do control what industry you work in. Don’t say that you can’t afford to save for retirement because you’re a teacher making $37,000 a year. 

Look at your expenses, see what you can change and commit to your goal. (Remember, I was making around $30,000 when I was paying off my student loans). There are so many stories of janitors and garbage collectors saving $1 million – there’s no reason you can’t do that too.

So it’s time to be honest. Instead of saying, “I can’t pay off my loans early because I can’t move,” say, “I like living in this apartment complex so I don’t want to get a cheaper place.” It’s ok to make those kinds of financial choices, as long as you’re honest about them.

In The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Charles Duhigg show that when people acknowledge the control they have over their own decisions, they feel less resentful and more capable to stick to their habits. If you acknowledge your financial choices, you’ll feel less constrained by them. But this only happens when you’re honest with yourself.

 Unfortunately, most of us feel so much shame, guilt and fear about money that it’s easier to pay the credit card bill and forget about it. We don’t want to admit that we love our monthly Stich Fix subscription too much to cancel it and put the money toward our student loans. 

That’s my challenge to you right now: stop running away from your financial anxiety. Make a list of everything you want to know, like if your credit card balance is actually going down or if you can find a better rate for your student loans. Are you paying too much in taxes every paycheck or are you barely saving for retirement?

Being physically healthy isn’t just about having low blood pressure and cholesterol readings. It’s about knowing how you really live. Can you honestly tell the doctor how much you exercise and how often you eat too much sugar? 

Facing our finances isn’t easy. Before I began my crusade of student loan payoff, I was a total spendthrift. I shopped for things I didn’t need – and often didn’t use. During a summer I spent interning in New York, I went out to eat three times a day. 

But when I graduated college and entered the real world, I realized that I couldn’t live like that anymore. In fact, if I wanted to pay off my student loans early, I truly had to live in a way I never had before. It was scary giving up the mall, retail therapy and biweekly trips to Target. But coming head-to-head with my finances was the only way I was able to pay off my student loans early. I realized what my real priority was (becoming debt free) and what I was willing to give up to do it (everything besides travel).

Are you honest with yourself about your finances?