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 ... Read more...
How to Ask for a Raise
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 ... Read more...
How to Get Fabulous Makeup Without Spending a Fortune
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 ... Read more...
How to Earn $1,000 a month as a Brand Ambassador
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 ... Read more...
How Refinancing Your Student Loans Can Save You Thousands
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 ... Read more...
How a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Business Earns Jennie Hundreds
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 ... Read more...