Is it just me or have we all been sleeping on the TJ Maxx website?! I went down an absolute rabbit hole recently…. So. Many. Tabs. Of course, I had to share all the great TJ Maxx home decor finds with you guys!
By the way, if you like this, you’ll love my recent roundups of inexpensive home decor under $50 and coastal decor under $50 on Amazon.
Herringbone Bolster // Scalloped Sheets (so many options in the carousel!) // Grasscloth Nightstand // Block Print Swivel Chair ($200!) // Rattan Floor Lamp
As I was scrolling through all the TJ Maxx home decor, I realized that their site has SO MANY sets of scalloped sheets. This blue set is honestly just the beginning. Grasscloth nightstands are usually pretty expensive, but this one really isn’t. You can get (at least) two of them for the price of one elsewhere! The block print swivel chair is too cute. I’d scoop this up in a second if I had a vanity in my bathroom. You could also put it in a walk-in closet.
I LOVE THIS RUG. That one is 5×8 but it also comes in 2×8, 10×14, and 4×6! Off the top of my head, I can think of a handful of bloggers who already own it, which I’m taking as a ringing endorsement (ha). I can’t tell exactly whether this nightstand is gray or green, but I’m stunned that it only costs $130. It looks WAY more expensive.
How darling are these scalloped bunny pillows?! I think they were intended for Easter, but they would also be so, so sweet in a little girl’s room. The gingham on the back is the perfect finishing touch. I would obviously be thrilled to have this blue scalloped outdoor umbrella in my backyard– especially for $80! It also comes in a classic navy and white stripe. This patchwork quilt looks like something you’d find at thrift store or craft fair. I’d fold it at the foot of my guest bed or keep it downstairs for cozy movie nights.
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You want to learn how to be frugal but not cheap… then, you are in the right place.
Simply put… frugal living is saving money at it finest.
To be honest, though, learning how to be frugal can come with spending more money than you planned in the name of frugality. The truth can hurt. But, in order to be frugal, you must save what you would normally spend.
That means you are economical with money.
The list of 175+ frugal living tips seems like a great place to start when you are learning how to be frugal, right?
Wrong!
You need to focus on a few basic habits first. Set yourself up for success. And then, slowly incorporate more frugal ways to save money.
In this post, that is exactly what you will learn.
The frugal habits you need to be successful along with the best frugal life hacks to guarantee success.
Let’s dig in…
Can being Frugal make you Rich?
Absolutely yes!
The key is to save money from your frugal hacks.
Remember the age-old saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
Every penny will slowly add up to the next money milestone.
If you don’t believe me, then check out this millionaire’s story of being frugal.
How Being Frugal can Cost You?
It can IF you are not careful.
Being frugal is about saving money. However, it is possible to spend more money in the name of frugality.
The first example would be being more than you need just because it is a good sale, deal, or clearance price that you don’t want to miss out on.
Next, in your search to find the cheapest option, you actually spend more over time replacing it because the quality isn’t quite the same.
There is a fine line between frugality, being cheap, and simply overspending on deals.
Just be weary of overspending money in the hunt of saving money.
How to be Frugal with Money
These are the habits you want to embrace to become a frugal person.
Personally, I like to think being frugal is being picky with my money.
I loathe my investment accounts going down, so why would I want to buy things that we don’t need or don’t matter in the long wrong. That is why I choose to be frugal with money.
Specifically, I choose to be economical with how we spend money.
Now, let’s dig in to understand how to be frugal with money.
1. Know Your Goals
First, you must know your goals. If you don’t have a goal, then you aren’t going to make any progress. Period.
In today’s society, it is SO easy to spend money without even realizing it. That is the point of business – they are out to market for your money (and they are good at it, too).
You must prioritize you first.
This is something we hear over and over. Prioritize your self-care before taking care of others. The same holds true for your money.
Action Step #1 – Sit down and write out your financial goals.
If this is something you haven’t done before, then check out our helpful guide to rocking your financial goals.
2. Understand your Spending Habits & Triggers
This one is HUGE!!
If you don’t know how and where you spend money without thinking, then you will never be able to stop the spending. You can’t slow the bleed.
First of all, I will admit that uncovering your spending habits is hard. It is introspective. It can be painful. Maybe even demoralizing.
But, until you let go of your previous financial failures, you won’t be able to move on.
This is an important step to make serious progress in your life. You may be amazed how this seemingly simple things will hold you back.
Action Step #2 – Review bank statements or credit card transactions. Look for things you bought without planning for them.
This will highlight your spending habits.
As for your triggers, watch your emotions and think what you automatically do when you are happy, sad, mad, and celebrating.
3. Save First
Oh my, pay yourself first.
This is something I focus on a lot at Money Bliss and for good reason. Saving money is the backbone to financial success.
If you don’t save money, then you are left scrambling when you need cash or stuck going into debt. This is a vicious hamster wheel that debt will overtake you.
Start by saving $10 a day. Many times you can find that money by uncovering your spending habits.
From there, look at increasing your saving percentage each month.
Action Step #3 – Figure out how much you save each week, each month, and your saving percentage. Brainstorm ways to increase how much you save.
To help our readers, you will find many spreadsheets and printables to help you figure out how much you save and track your savings progress. Once signed up on our email list, you will receive the password.
4. Spend Less Than You Make
Your expenses must be lower than your income. Period.
If you are currently spending more than you make, then you must look at ways to drastically cut expenses. Stop hoping that your situation will change and actually do something about it.
This seems like a very easy math concept. Yet, most people struggle with basic money management.
If you don’t believe that saving an extra $5 day, then think about having $1825 in your pocket.
Now, let’s flip it the other way, if you are overspending by $75 a week, then by the end of the year, you are in the hole $3900 plus interest if you took out debt.
Action Step #4 – Figure out your bare bones budget. Then, decide what fun spending items to keep to make sure you spend less than you make.
Here is a guide to help you figure out your bare bones budget. Also, you will find bare bones budget printable in our free library area.
5. Patience
Lastly, you must have patience.
Changing your money management won’t happen overnight. While you can have quick wins and successes, this is the race won by the turtle.
Patience comes with planning and that is one thrifty habit you should pick up.
When you become frugal with money, you plan how you spend your money and save your money. Many times, that means waiting for a sale to buy an item you need or accumulating money for another date.
Action Step #5 – Show self-restraint and try a no spend week or month.
By holding a no spend challenge, it will help you reshape your finances as well as help you prioritize what is important. As a reader, you have access to our no spend printables, too!
Frugal Life Hacks
These are the specific frugal hacks to save money.
These are the key areas you need to focus your energy on. Over time, they will become habits.
1. Pay Yourself First
Yep, this one again.
If you are frugal, then you pay yourself first.
You are focused on two things – how to save more money and how to make more money.
This pay yourself first concept will have you winning at money management – guaranteed!
2. Budget
A frugal person always has a plan on how they plan to spend their hard-earned money.
This makes sure that spending is always below income.
While many people hate the term “budget,” it doesn’t have to be constricting. We like to call it a “Cents Plan.” You make a plan for your money.
Just like you make a plan for your time on the weekend. Same concept.
The more you save now, the greater freedom you will have later.
3. Cook Meals at Home
Cooking food at home costs at least 25% of eating out. While the convenience of eating out is nice, it comes at a monetary and wellness cost.
You can make healthy meals under $10 for six servings. And not be a slave in the kitchen.
Shop the outer area of the grocery store. The expensive stuff is in the middle.
Hint: Try to incorporate a meatless meal 1-2 times per week. Plant based meals are cheaper to make.
4. Shop Less Often
This goes for general shopping, buying groceries, and adding items to your Amazon cart. The more often you go, the more likely you are to spend more money.
Decide ahead of time when you plan to shop (remember that patience concept from earlier).
For example, to get groceries for our house. I plan two pickups per month at the local grocery store and then have organic produce delivered on odd weeks with Misfits Market. Then, Costco run every month to 6 weeks. (Mind you… I have two children that are hitting the pre-teen phase.)
For me, I have shaved 30% off my grocery budget by implementing the strategy to shop less often.
5. Use Cash for Key Categories
If you are tempted to spend more than you should in certain areas, then you need to look at using cash.
When cash has been spent, you must wait until you full up that envelope again.
This helps so much with overspending.
You can do this with the cashless envelope system as well.
6. Own Less Stuff
The more items you have, the more it cost to buy and maintain.
So, by owning less stuff, you are accomplishing one of the most frugal life hacks to save money.
You don’t even need to become a minimalist. You just need to own what you need and that is it.
If you don’t believe me, look around and pack up anything you haven’t touched in the past 30 days.
7. Don’t Buy New
Buying new can be expensive. The best example of buying new is cars, trucks, and SUVs. The price instantly goes down the second you leave the dealership.
If at all possible, always look for used items that you can get at a discount or even for free.
With online forums and groups, it is much easier to find used items.
Of course, there is a caveat to this life hack; there are some things that are worth the investment and should be bought new. Just watch for sales or discounts.
8. Check your Receipts
It absolutely amazes me how many times I can be charged inccorectly. You would think with technology that this wouldn’t happen, but it does.
It takes a quick thirty seconds to scan your receipts and check for errors.
Sometimes, it may be the warranty you declined or double charged for apples. Other times, the sales price not have been rung up correctly.
Don’t hesitate to ask for the correct price!
9. Review Insurance and Ongoing Subscriptions
This may seem like a mundane task to do, but you could save yourself money.
This past summer, our homeowner’s and auto insurance went up again. We shopped around and ended up saving $1800. The same is true for cell phone and cable service.
You have to call and ask for discounts.
More often than not, these companies want you to continue as a customer and will lower your rate.
Insurance Options:
Automated Options to Save Money:
10. Switch to Reusable Products
When you throw something out, you have to buy new again.
This can fall into many categories. However, here are the main things you can reuse and ditch the waste.
This is what you want to look for:
11. Drink Water
Nothing is more frugal than drinking water.
The costs of various drinks can be a drain to any budget.
If you don’t like your tap water, then you can invest in a cheap filtration pitcher or even an under-mount filtration system. This is the one we installed and have been very happy with!
12. Watch Out for Fees
There are so many little pesky fees that can add up. Some examples include shipping, account maintenance, service fees, banking fees, etc.
While $2-8 may not seem like much, they will balloon over time. Look for promo codes or alternative ways to skip the fees.
13. Cut Cable or Unused Subscriptions
If you don’t use, then don’t spend money on it.
You can’t save money if you spend on things that don’t matter to you.
This is hard for many of us to do because we like conveniences and we don’t want to be seen as different.
Ways to Cut Cable:
The key when cutting cable is not to replace it with more subscriptions that end up costing more.
14. Collect Your Pennies
A true life hack to get you ahead financially is to know your money.
You know where you money goes. You know when you spend it. When you save it.
Also, you will never leave money on the table. If you see a penny, you pick it up and save spare change. If you lose a dollar, you want to get it back.
This means you are actively looking for ways to make more money. You want more pennies to collect that will add to your net worth over time.
15. Free Things to Do
The last frugal life hack is to always look for free things to do.
Here is a little secret… having fun doesn’t need to cost money!! We have been trained that having fun costs money. But, it is so not true!
Some of the best things in life are free.
For all of you, here is a guide of over 101 things to do without money.
Which Frugal Life Hack Will Save Money for You?
Being frugal is a lifelong habit. Yes, there are quick wins you can have here and there. But, in the long run, these frugal life hacks will have the biggest bank for your time.
Learning how to live frugally and be happy is about understanding your priorities and how you want to spend your money.
If you are serious about learning how to be frugal with money, then plan a time to examine your finances. In less than 30 minutes, you will uncover things to change the trajectory of your spending and saving habits.
Just remember… pennies do add up. So, watch your pennies and watch your net worth grow.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Should I save or pay off debt? It’s a tough financial choice. Prioritizing debt repayment can help you pay off what you owe faster, freeing up more money in your budget for saving. It can also help you spend less on interest charges. But that approach can also backfire. If you delay saving and get hit with an unplanned expense, you can end up with even more high-interest debt.
Whether it makes sense to pay off debt or save depends largely on the specifics of your financial situation. The right decision might actually be to try to do both.
When You Should Consider Paying Down Debt First
In certain situations, it makes sense to prioritize paying off debt over putting money into savings. This could be the best path forward if:
• You have high-interest debts. High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can quickly accumulate and become overwhelming. The longer it takes to pay off, the more interest you’ll accrue, making it harder to escape the debt cycle.
• Your debt is causing you significant stress or anxiety. If having debt hanging over you keeps you up at night and you want to clear your balances as quickly as possible, putting debt repayment ahead of saving might make sense, provided you have at least some money in the bank for emergencies.
• A large portion of your income is going toward monthly debt payments. Having a high debt-to-income ratio (DTI) not only limits your financial flexibility, but can also negatively impact your credit score. A lower score could make it hard to secure loans at low interest rates or even rent an apartment in the future.
Strategies to Pay Down Debt
Once you commit to paying down your debt, you’ll want to come up with a plan for how to do it. Here are some strategies to consider.
• Avalanche method: With this approach, you list your debts in order of interest rate. You then funnel any extra money toward the balance with the highest rate, while paying the minimums on the other debts. Once the highest-interest debt is paid off, you move to the next highest, and so on. This strategy minimizes the amount of interest you pay over time.
• Snowball method: With the snowball method, you list your debts in order of size, ignoring the interest rate. You then funnel extra money towards the smallest debt, while paying the minimum on the rest. When the smallest balance is paid off, you move on the next-smallest debt, and so on. This can provide psychological benefits by giving you quick wins and motivating you to continue.
• Debt consolidation loan: A debt consolidation loan is a type of unsecured personal loan with fixed interest rates and repayment terms. If you have multiple debts, consolidating them into a single loan with a lower interest rate can simplify payments and reduce the total interest paid.
• Balance transfer: For credit card debt, a balance transfer to a card with a low or 0% introductory rate can help you save money on interest and pay off your debt faster. Just be sure that you’ll be able to pay off the balance before the promotional rate ends. If not, you could end up paying more in interest than you are now. Also be aware of transfer fees.
• Automate your debt payments: Setting up automatic payments ensures you never miss a payment, which helps avoid late fees and keeps you on track with your debt repayment plan.
When You Should Consider Saving First
Aggressively paying off debt isn’t always the best first choice, however. You may want to prioritize saving money over paying down debt if:
• You have little to no emergency savings. Without a cushion of savings in the bank, an unplanned expense or loss of income could result in racking up even more debt, putting you further in the hole.
• You have low-interest debts. If you have debts with relatively low annual percentage rates (APRs) and don’t feel unduly burdened by them, it’s fine to focus on saving, while paying off your loans according to schedule.
• Your employer offers a 401(k) match. If your employer offers a retirement savings plan along with a company match, it’s a good idea to try to contribute at least enough to get the maximum employer match. This is essentially free money you could be missing out on.
Recommended: 10 Ways to Save Money Fast
Determining How Much to Save
How much you should be saving will depend on your age and situation, but here are some general guidelines to keep in mind.
• Emergency fund: Experts recommend building an emergency fund of three to six months’ worth of expenses and stashing it in a high-yield savings account. If you’re self-employed or work seasonally, you may want to aim closer to eight or even 12 months’ worth of expenses.
• Retirement savings: If your employer offers a 401(k) match, you’ll want to contribute at least enough to get the full match, then build from there. One rule of thumb is to work up to saving at least 15% of your pretax income each year, including employer contributions.
• Other savings goals: For other savings goals, such as a vacation, large purchase, or down payment for a house, you’ll want to set a timeline and break down the total amount into manageable monthly savings targets. For savings goals that are five-plus years away, like paying for a child’s education, consider contributing to investment accounts that can potentially yield higher returns over time.
Recommended: How to Set and Reach Your Savings Goals
Tips on Balancing Paying Debt and Saving
If you have high-interest debt under control and already have some cash in the bank to cover a minor emergency (like a car or home repair), consider saving and paying down debt at the same time. Here are some tips to help you manage both.
• Create a budget: A basic budget can help you track your income, expenses, and savings. The key is to allocate specific amounts for debt repayment and savings to ensure both are addressed every month.
• Automate saving: Once you have target monthly savings amounts, it’s a good idea to set up automatic transfers to your savings accounts. This ensures consistent saving without the temptation to spend the money.
• Increase income: You might want to explore ways to boost your income, such as taking on a side gig, freelancing, or asking for a raise. You can then use the additional income to pay down debt faster and/or boost your savings.
• Cut unnecessary expenses: Review your expenses and identify areas where you can cut back. Redirect these funds toward debt repayment and saving.
• Use windfalls wisely: If you receive a bonus, tax refund, or any unexpected sum of money, consider using it to pay down debt or boost your savings rather than going on a shopping spree.
The Takeaway
Saving and paying down debt is a balancing act. Which is more important? There’s no one-size-fits all answer. Generally speaking, you’ll want to fund your emergency savings account and take advantage of an employer match on retirement savings before you aggressively focus on debt payoff. After that, you can focus on saving and knocking down debt at the same time.
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FAQ
Is it better to pay off debt or have money saved?
You may want to prioritize saving over debt payoff if you don’t have an emergency fund, aren’t taking advantage of an employer’s 401(k) match, and/or have low-interest debts. If, on the other hand, you have a solid emergency savings fund, high-interest debts (like credit card debt), and no employer retirement match, you may be better off focusing your efforts on paying down debt over saving.
How much money should I save before paying down debt?
Before aggressively paying down debt, it’s a good idea to save three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund in a high-yield savings account. If you don’t have any savings to draw on to cover an unexpected expense or event, you may have to rely on high-interest credit cards to get by, which would compound your debt.
What bills should I pay down first?
You generally want to prioritize paying down high-interest debt first, such as credit card balances and payday loans, as they accrue interest rapidly. Next, focus on any other unsecured debts, like personal loans, followed by secured debts (like car loans and mortgages), which tend to have lower interest rates.
Photo credit: iStock/malerapaso
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.
As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
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For Green Thumbs
The Sill
Eliza Blank founded The Sill back in 2012 after combining her love of gardening from her family’s Filipino roots with the need to refresh her own apartment. While the brand has a wide offering of healthy plants to shop, they also sell creative decor for greenery. The Landscape Growframe doubles as art and a planter with its sleek, mountable design and built-in grow lights.
For Abstract Pieces
Vivee Home
Vivee Home co-founders Katya Warm and Meryl Ware create fine and modern art-driven home decor that’s both stunning and sustainable. They utilized their backgrounds in art and marketing to launch the brand and channel their joy for life (vivee translates “to live”) in their collections. Plus, five percent of Vivee Home’s profits go to The Art Therapy Project.
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For Stylish Pet Parents
Approved by Fritz
After adopting her dog, Fritz, in 2021, Danielle Heeren combined her love for canines and design to launch a dog- and planet-friendly lifestyle brand. Her Approved by Fritz collection includes sustainable, modern home goods that can seamlessly fit in your space, like this fully recycled dog bed.
For Luxurious Lounging
Yellow Leaf Hammocks
Now 20% Off
Yellow Leaf Hammocks’s co-founder Rachel Connors pitched her brand alongside husband Joe Demin on Shark Tank in 2020. With their million-dollar deal, they launched the brand with the help of craftswomen of the Mlabri Tribe in Northern Thailand, also known as “the people of the yellow leaves.” The co-founders’ Hammock Throne is one of the most luxurious hammocks you can buy, thanks to its 360-degree swivel design and “extremely comfortable” and “customizable” qualities.
For Harlem Residents
Harlem Candle Company
Teri Johnson founded her candle brand, the Harlem Candle Company, to pay homage to the Harlem Renaissance and the iconic figures of the ’20s and ’30s who defined the era. This iteration is inspired by entertainer Josephine Baker, also known as the bronze goddess of the Harlem Renaissance, with its sensual blend of rose, jasmine, warm amber, tonka bean, and sandalwood notes.
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For Modern Furniture
Lulu and Georgia
For founder Sara Sugarman, home decor has always been a family business, thanks to loved ones who worked in hotel, residence, and interior design industries. When building Lulu and Georgia, she kept community and family in the brand’s DNA, even down to naming her company after her grandfather, Lou, and her father, George. This Harlowe swivel chair’s sculpted arm rests give it a modern, cozy feel designed for a corner nook or family room.
For Tea Lovers
The Qi
Translating to “life energy,” Lisa Li’s brand The Qi is rooted in providing energy to all its customers via sensory-based teas. In addition to offering flowering herbs, which helped the founder recover from work burnout, her collection includes heat-resistant glass cups and saucers to help you see your beverage in full bloom.
For Backyard Barbecues
Crow Canyon Home
Founded in 1977 and owned by Cara Barde, Crow Canyon Home is known as an originator of splatter enamelware. The brand offers kitchenware like this durable tray that’s safe to use on the stovetop, grill, and in the oven.
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For Cocktail Parties
Material
Material CEO Eunice Byun and co-founder David Nguyen create stylish and functional kitchen tools like prepware and cookware to help unite people over cooking and sharing a meal. She partnered with Death & Co. to create this cool pitcher with a wavy handle that’s easy to stir and pour.
For Eclectic Home Decorators
Annie Selke
Founder Annie Selke’s self-titled home decor brand started with rugs, thanks to her love of textiles. It has since expanded to feature everything from colorful and coastal to bohemian and modern furniture and decor. This jute rug will bring a textural element to your home with its all-natural, braided top-weave design.
Hello! Today, I have a great debt payoff story to share from Davina (from the blog Davinas Finance Corner). Here’s how Davina went from being in payday loan debt for 1.5 years to being debt-free, saving over $50,000 and building a five-figure investment portfolio. Enjoy! In this post, I will share how being stuck in…
Hello! Today, I have a great debt payoff story to share from Davina (from the blog Davinas Finance Corner). Here’s how Davina went from being in payday loan debt for 1.5 years to being debt-free, saving over $50,000 and building a five-figure investment portfolio. Enjoy!
In this post, I will share how being stuck in payday loan debt for 1.5 years completely changed my relationship with money. I will detail how I saved over $50,000, became debt free and built a five-figure investment portfolio.
I’ll talk about the mistakes I made, the lessons I learned, and the crucial changes that helped me turn my financial life around.
I understand that many people struggle with their finances and I want to share my story to inspire you.
I want to show you that no matter how bad your situation may seem, you can make changes and achieve your goals. You don’t have to deprive yourself, it’s possible to create a plan that works for you and still enjoy life.
Related:
My Story
I grew up in a single-parent household with my mum and older brother and we did ok. We had everything we needed but I was aware that we were a low-income household.
My friends had the latest name-brand shoes and clothes, but my mum couldn’t afford to buy those things for us. FOMO is real when you’re in school so I felt it.
I remember thinking when I get older I want to create a life for myself where I don’t have financial restrictions.
When I was younger I was actually good at managing my money. My mum drilled the importance of saving into my head, so when I got my first job that is what I did.
I had a part-time retail job while I was a college student and we were paid weekly. Each week I would calculate my hours to work out how much I would be paid and plan my spending.
You would think that I was destined to have a good relationship with money but somewhere along the way, my good money habits got lost.
How I got into debt
I got my first credit card when I was 18, I didn’t need it for any particular reason I just signed up because the bank offered it to me. When I received it in the mail I didn’t use it, it was just sitting there.
Then a few months later I was made redundant from my job so I activated the credit card and used it to maintain my lifestyle. This was my first mistake.
I was unemployed so I had no money to repay the balance, but I wasn’t thinking about that. All I cared about was maintaining my lifestyle which consisted of socialising with friends.
Eventually, I got another job and was back on my feet but I didn’t pay off the credit card I just ignored it. For a very long time!
A few years later I turned 21 and wanted to buy a car but instead of saving up for it, I decided to get a loan. So I took out the loan, bought a second-hand car and less than a year later I was made redundant again!
I didn’t have any savings (clearly I didn’t learn from the past) so I was back to square one. I was unemployed, but this time I had $6,200 debt ($2,000 credit card, $1,200 overdraft and $3,000 loan). The banks were chasing me for payment but I told them I wasn’t working and ignored the payment demands.
The final debt I incurred was the worst. It was a few years later and I had a good job. I was making decent money for someone in their 20s who still lived at home and my expenses were low.
I was living life and having fun, but that fun was expensive. Every weekend I was out with friends. We were going out to clubs, dinners, concerts, festivals and going on holidays.
I was living paycheck to paycheck and still didn’t have any savings so if I ran out of money I had to borrow it from family or friends. Some months were ok and I could get by, but it was tight. Then one month I made a terrible mistake.
It was the week between Christmas and New Year’s and I was broke. We were paid a week early and I had spent all my money on Christmas presents and festivities.
My cousin asked me to go out, I had no money so I should have said no. But instead, I said yes and I took out a payday loan. I received the money instantly so I got ready and went out.
The next month the company took the loan repayment plus a lot of interest from my account so I was broke again. But it was my birthday month so I got another payday loan so I could fund my celebrations.
The next month, the same thing happens. The loan repayment was taken so I took out another loan to get by and this cycle continued for the next 1.5 years!
Every month once I repaid the loan I was left with no money. I had no savings to fall back on and I had debts that I had ignored for years so I was stuck.
At this point, I started to feel the weight of the mistakes I had made (finally). Every month I was worried about how I would get by. I felt embarrassed and stressed. I also felt disappointed with myself because I was making decent money and I knew better.
So I finally decided to do something about it. I needed to figure out a way to get out of the hole I had been digging myself over the past few years.
I Got Help
I did a Google search to try and find some resources. I found a debt charity that could help so I called them up and explained my situation.
We went through all of my debts explored my options and agreed the best option would be to go on a debt management plan.
The way this worked is I would make a monthly payment of what I could afford to the charity and they would distribute it among all of my creditors.
This wasn’t going to pay off my debt fast, in fact, it barely made a dent in the balance. But it was a step in the right direction and it would stop the creditors from chasing me and ease my stress.
A Lucky Break
Side note: Have you read The Alchemist? If you haven’t I highly recommend you do. In the book, there is a quote that says “When you want something the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.” That is what this lucky break felt like.
The following year I found out I was being made redundant again! (Clearly, I have bad luck with jobs lol) But this time I was going to receive a payout. Initially, I was excited and thought yes big payout I can use the money to buy a new car.
But the whole process took about three months and during that period I had time to think. And I decided to use the money to pay off some of my debt and save the rest.
At this point, I didn’t want to make the same mistakes and I knew that I needed to build up my savings and change my spending habits.
Once I received the redundancy payment I stuck to my plan and repaid the payday loans and the overdraft and I put the rest in my savings account.
Debt recap:
Credit card – $2,000
Loan for the car – $3,000
Overdraft $1,200
Payday loans – $3,600
Total debt = $9,800
Redundancy payment = $7,000 – $4,800 towards debt and – $2,000 in savings – $200 to spend on myself.
Remaining debt = $5,000
I wasn’t completely debt-free at this point, but I reduced my debts and finally had some money in savings. I got a new job shortly after and every month I made sure I contributed to my savings.
I was determined to change my relationship with money so I tried to learn as much as I could about personal finance. Once I applied my learnings I was able to pay off all my debt, completely change my relationship with money and save over $50,000.
How I paid off my debt and saved over $50k
To put things in perspective, I work in Finance and make decent money but I’m not well off. I did get a lucky break with the redundancy payout which I am very grateful for. But it wasn’t enough to pay off all my debts. And it took me about 3 years to save this money.
The most important thing I did to help me was to educate myself about money, change my money mindset and create a plan that worked for me.
Below, I will share the steps I took to get there.
Changed My Mindset
Before I received the redundancy payment I had a reality check. I had to admit to myself that I was living above my means and I had to take responsibility. No one was going to save me I had to make changes to get out of this mess.
I looked at the facts and thought to myself I make decent money so there is no reason I can’t build up my savings and spend money on things I enjoy. But I needed to learn how to manage my money and stop letting my money manage me.
This meant making changes to my lifestyle and sometimes saying no to social invitations. I didn’t like the way I felt when I was stuck in the payday loan cycle so I was committed to this new journey.
If you’re in a similar situation the first step is to understand what got you to where you are. Once you understand this you can put things in place to help you improve.
I Educated Myself About Money
Now that I was committed to making changes I started to research how money really works. I wanted to understand how people manage their money, learn healthy money habits and implement them into my life.
I started to listen to podcasts and watch finance YouTube videos and came across a lot of people who were once in debt but managed to create financial freedom.
This was super helpful for me because they were regular people who managed to change their circumstances and they were sharing the blueprint.
I also started reading books about money. I read the classic personal finance book Rich Dad Poor Dad I also read The Psychology of Money and The Millionaire Next Door. Here is what I learned from all of the information I consumed.
To create financial stability or financial freedom you need to do the following.
Stick to a budget
Live below your means
Avoid spending money on liabilities
Find ways to grow your money
Invest in yourself
One thing I did and I recommend others do the same is I took the information I learned and adjusted it to fit my lifestyle. I didn’t take everything I heard and copy it. Instead, I used it as inspiration. Personal finance is personal so always do what works best for you.
For example, investing in the stock market was highly recommended, but I wasn’t ready at the time. So I focused on saving instead but I made sure I used a high-yield savings account. This way I could earn interest so money was still growing.
Here are the YouTube channels that I learned the most from:
Nischa
Jennifer Thompson
Earn Your Leisure
I Got My Priorities In Order
My number one priority on this journey was to build up my savings. I understood that aside from my poor spending habits not having money set aside led me to get into debt. So that is what I focused on.
I didn’t have a specific amount I wanted to save, I just wanted to have a cushion to fall back on. So every month when I got paid I made sure I contributed to my savings. I started off small but once I changed my spending habits and cleared all my debt I was saving about 50% of my income.
Looked at My Spending Habits
My spending habits were the biggest factor for me so once I committed to repaying my debt through the charity I knew that I needed to make some changes and get my spending under control.
I got my bank statements, looked at my spending over the last few months and used an Excel spreadsheet to categorise everything.
Most of my money was being spent on eating out, takeaways, shopping and socialising. The most shocking part for me was the amount of money I was spending on food.
I was spending over $300 a month on eating out with friends and takeaways! I knew I was spending too much, but seeing the actual number was the wake-up call I needed.
This was something I could change so I started planning my meals and doing weekly grocery shopping. Having my meals planned saved me so much money because at meal times I didn’t have to overthink about what to eat. And it helped me reduce the amount of takeaways I was eating. I also cut back on going to dinner with friends.
I didn’t change everything at once, I focused on the areas that made the biggest difference and over time I made more changes. It can be overwhelming to change everything at once so you can start small and build up over time.
Once I started to see improvements like having money left over in my account before payday and seeing my savings build up I was hooked and wanted to keep going.
Created a budget
I knew that I needed to create a budget to help me manage my spending. But it had to be the right budget for me.
I didn’t want to be rigid and stop doing the things I enjoy. I believe in balance and knew that if I restricted myself I wouldn’t stick to it.
So I thought about the things that I valued and found a way to include them in my budget. For me, those things were travelling, going to the theatre and having dinner with friends.
I sat down at my laptop and put all of my numbers in an Excel sheet. It looked a bit tight but I knew if I made some changes I could make it work.
I Made Some Changes
I looked at my monthly direct debits and subscriptions and got rid of what I didn’t need. I was paying $90 for a gym membership that I was hardly using so I cancelled it.
I had cable for over a decade but I found a cheaper TV alternative so I made the switch.
Once my phone contract expired I switched to a SIM-only contract and saved $50 a month.
To optimise my budget, I paid any bills I could upfront instead of on a monthly basis. This included bills like car tax and insurance and Amazon Prime. By doing so I was able to take advantage of discounts offered by providers as an incentive for full payment. And it meant I had fewer expenses every month.
Doing weekly grocery shopping was working well for me, but I was spending about $250 a month which is a lot for one person. So I fined-tuned my grocery items and switched to a cheaper grocery store which saved me over $100 a month.
I also signed up for a loyalty card at the grocery store so I would get discounts and collect points when I was shopping.
I gave myself a monthly personal allowance to spend on fun so I was still able to do the things I enjoyed, I just did it within a budget. And once that allowance was finished so was my fun for that month lol I used a separate bank card for this allowance to help me stay accountable.
I created a sinking fund for my holidays and I made sure I saved a portion of my paycheck every month no matter what. I treated it like a bill.
Another change I made was I started working as an independent contractor which increased my income by about $20,000 a year. I was doing the same job, I just figured out a way to work smarter.
Even though I was making more money, I didn’t increase my spending, instead, I increased my savings. This is one of the best tips I can give to avoid lifestyle creep.
Once I started seeing the impact of these changes I became obsessed. I turned into a savvy spender and was always looking for ways to spend smarter and save money.
At this point, I was managing my money well and my spending habits were under control. So I finally called up the debt collectors and agreed to repay the rest of my debt in equal payments over 6 months. I was so happy and relieved when I made the final payment!
I put my money in places to grow
Once I paid off the rest of my debt and had saved up about $20,000 I knew the next step was to invest my money. So I did more research and decided the best option for me was to invest in index funds.
I am risk averse so I took a long-term approach and committed to investing an amount I could afford consistently every month. I also put my savings in a high-yield account so I was earning interest on my savings.
I was able to do this because I finally had some room to breathe in my budget. I wasn’t living paycheck to paycheck. Also, my mindset and my priorities had changed.
It Worked
By the middle of 2023, I was completely debt-free, had $54,000 in savings and had built a five-figure investment portfolio. It wasn’t easy, but I am proud of myself because I came a long way.
Upon reflection, I am grateful for the lessons I learned because they completely changed my relationship with money. It also helped me learn to prioritise spending money on things I value instead of material things.
I love to travel and now I can afford to travel at least twice a year. I have been on some amazing trips and I am looking forward to many more.
This money journey also taught me that sometimes less is more. Now I buy less stuff because I am content with what I have. I only buy what I need and I feel lighter and more free.
Here is a picture of me in Thailand. I felt so happy on this trip because I could afford to do the things I enjoy and wasn’t stressing about money.
Future Plans
I plan to use some of the money I have saved to buy an investment property because I understand the importance of buying assets. And I will continue to invest in the stock market. I am also working on my blog davinasfinancecorner and hope to monetise it this year.
Having financial stability is priceless and it has given me more options. I am intrigued by digital nomads at the moment so we’ll see where the future takes me 🙂
Do you have debt? Do you have a plan to pay it off?
Author Bio: Hey there! I’m Davina. I have worked in accounting and finance for over a decade and have learned the best ways to budget, save and make more money. Now I have created Davinas Finance Corner to help you do the same. I have experienced first-hand the struggle of being in debt, living paycheck to paycheck and not having enough money to do the things I enjoy.
I didn’t like that feeling so I was determined to break free from that cycle and change my circumstances. Once I applied the principles I learned from my career in accounting and personal finance I was able to pay off my debt, save my first $50,000 and build an investment portfolio.
Through my blog, I aim to empower women to take control of their finances, build wealth and work on their personal growth. Whether it is finding ways to save more, make extra money or improve yourself I am here to provide information to help you on your journey.
Maui is a popular Hawaiian vacation destination for a reason. The island boasts beautiful beaches, year-round warm weather, welcoming locals and a rich culture to learn about and experience during your trip. But it’s also a very expensive island to visit, with hotel rooms averaging more than $550 per night before taxes and fees in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from Hawaii Tourism Authority.
If you’re looking to book a Maui vacation without breaking your budget, below we dive into the best hotel on Maui to book with points, including the best hotels on Maui for families and for guests looking for a luxury stay.
Hyatt’s best hotels in Maui
Hyatt has a relatively small footprint on Maui, with only four hotels on the island: the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hana-Maui Resort, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, and the Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka’anapali Beach. Still, these are great options to use Hyatt points.
Best overall Hyatt hotel on Maui: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
View from the balcony of an ocean view room at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. (Photo courtesy of Josh Garber)
On 15 acres of beachfront in Wailea, the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is a beautifully designed luxury property.
The hotel features five pools (including an adult tranquility pool for guests 18 and older), a spa and four on-site restaurants. Be sure to check out the Feast at Mōkapu Lu’au, an oceanfront luau that takes place at the hotel on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights.
Rooms at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort start at 35,000 Hyatt points per night.
Best Hyatt hotel for families: Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka’anapali Beach
For families visiting Maui and looking to use Hyatt points, the Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka’anapali Beach is your best bet. The Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka’anapali Beach has a number of family-friendly options, including a children’s area of the pool, a small in-hotel market where you can shop for snacks and sandwiches, and rooms with full kitchens.
Rooms at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka’anapali Beach start at 25,000 Hyatt points per night.
Cards for Hyatt points and perks
World of Hyatt Credit Card
on Chase’s website
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
on Chase’s website
Annual fee
Welcome offer
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Earn rates
• 4 points per $1 at Hyatt hotels and resorts.
• 2 points per $1 on dining, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, gym memberships, and local transit and commuting.
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 4 points per $1 at Hyatt hotels and resorts.
• 2 points per $1 in your top three spend categories each quarter through Dec. 31, 2024, then your top two categories each quarter.
• 2 points per $1 on fitness club and gym memberships.
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Benefits
• Earn one free night on each cardmember anniversary to redeem at any Category 1-4 World of Hyatt property.
• Earn five elite night credits when you get the card, and two additional elite night credits for every $5,000 spent.
• Earn one free night on each cardmember anniversary to redeem at any Category 1-4 World of Hyatt property.
• Earn up to a $100 Hyatt statement credit on your cardmember anniversary.
• World of Hyatt Discoverist status.
• Earn a rebate of 10% of points (up to 200,000 points) redeemed after reaching $50,000 in annual spend.
• Earn five elite night credits for every $10,000 spent.
Learn more
Marriott’s best hotels in Maui
Marriott has the largest hotel footprint on Maui, with 10 hotels throughout the island. Given all the options, here’s which Marriott Maui property to stay at if you’re booking with points.
Best Marriott hotel in Maui: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali
Ka’anapali Beach on Maui. (Photo courtesy of Josh Garber)
Located beachfront on Ka’anapali Beach on Maui, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali is a great hotel for couples, families and even solo travelers.
While you could easily spend your entire stay on the property (taking advantage of the pool, spa, restaurants and beach right in front of the hotel), the hotel is right next to Whalers Village, an outdoor shopping mall that includes local shops and restaurants, including Monkeypod, Hula Grill and Leilani’s on the Beach.
Rooms at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali start at 64,000 points per night.
Best Marriott hotel for a luxury experience: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is a 54-acre resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean with amenities that include two 18-hole championship golf courses, six distinctive restaurants and a spa with treatments inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions.
Rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua start at 84,000 points per night.
Best Marriott hotel for families: The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas North
For family trips on Marriott points, check out The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas North.
All rooms at this hotel feature either a full kitchen or kitchenette, which can come in handy if you have hungry kids who just need a quick snack (or if you’d like to save money from dining out). The hotel also offers one- and two-bedroom villas, which can be a great option for families that would like a bit more space and privacy.
The hotel has a separate children’s pool and a cultural center for families wanting to learn more about local traditions and history.
Rooms at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas North start at 70,000 points per night.
Cards for Marriott points and perks
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
on Chase’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
on Chase’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Annual fee
Welcome offer
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!
Earn 85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Earn rates
• 3 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 2 points per $1 on other travel purchases (such as airfare, taxis and trains).
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 on up to $6,000 a year in combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 4 points per $1 on up to $15,000 a year in combined purchases at grocery stores and on dining.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Benefits
• 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status
• Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite status, plus path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
• 1 Elite Night Credit toward Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
• Gold Elite status, plus 15 Elite Night credits each year toward Platinum Elite status.
• 1,000 points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott Bonvoy at participating properties. Terms apply.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 85,000 points) every year after your account renewal month.
• Platinum Elite Status and 25 Elite Night credits per year.
• Fee credit for either Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
• Up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
• Terms apply.
Learn more
Hilton’s best hotels in Maui
Similar to Hyatt, Hilton also has a small footprint on Maui with only four hotels (although Hilton is opening a fifth hotel in June 2025).
If you’re looking to book a Hilton hotel with points on Maui, the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort has the honor of not only being the best overall hotel to book on Maui with points, but also being the best luxury hotel and family hotel.
Best overall Hilton points on Maui: Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
Palm trees and green grass at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort. (Photo courtesy of Josh Garber)
The Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort is a massive property, sitting on 40 acres with 844 rooms (of which 57 are suites and 50 are villas) that range in size from 640 square feet to 1,300 square feet. The hotel is perhaps best known for its Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, which is actually a collection of nine pools spanning 25,700 square feet that are connected by waterslides and a lazy river.
The Wailea Canyon Activity Pool is enough to make the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort the best resort for families (and arguably the best hotel for families on the entire island of Maui).
Not only does the pool feature a lazy river and waterslides connecting the nine pools mentioned earlier, but it also features a Tarzan pool with rope swing, six waterfalls, caves, a sand “baby” beach and a swim-up bar for parents who need some time away from the kids. If you or your kids are more adventurous, you can enjoy the Lava Tube Slide, a three-story waterslide with 360-degree turns where you can reach speeds as fast as 22 miles per hour.
The hotel also offers a Grand Passport for kids. During check-in, children are given a passport that maps and lists all educational and cultural activities on the island to keep them engaged during their stay.
After a day at the pool, be sure to make reservations for dinner at Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, the hotel’s signature beachfront restaurant that specializes in seafood.
Rooms at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort start at 110,000 Hilton points per night.
While Hilton does have another luxury option on Maui, Ho’olei Villas at Grand Wailea, rooms at that hotel will set you back around 574,000 points per night. Given that you can stay at the Grand Wailea for 110,000 points per night, the Grand Wailea wins as the best Hilton points hotel on Maui for a luxury experience.
Cards for Hilton points and perks
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual fee
Welcome offer
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024. Terms apply.
Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 6/5. Terms Apply.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Earn rates
• 12 points per $1 on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
• 6 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.
• 4 points per $1 on U.S. online retail purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 12 points per $1 on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
• 5 points per $1 on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3 points per $1 thereafter.
Terms apply.
• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.
• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 5 points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels booked American Express Travel.
• 1.5 points per $1 in key business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2,000,000 in purchases per year).
• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Benefits
• Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, which gives you an 80% points bonus, as well as complimentary breakfasts at select hotels and room upgrades at select properties where available.
• Path to Diamond status. Get an upgrade to Diamond if you spend $40,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.
• $200 annual statement credit for eligible Hilton purchases on your card (doled out in $50 statement credits per quarter).
• Potential free night. Earn a weekend night reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year.
Terms apply.
• Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, which gives you an 80% points bonus, as well as complimentary breakfasts at select hotels and room upgrades at select properties where available.
• Path to Diamond status. Get an upgrade to Diamond if you spend $40,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.
• Potential free nights. Earn a free night reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year and a second when you spend an additional $45,000 in the same calendar year ($60,000 total).
• Airport lounge access. Ten complimentary Priority Pass visits each year. Enrollment is required.
Terms apply.
• Access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including AmEx’s own Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta).
• Credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
• Hundreds of dollars a year in credits for travel, shopping and entertainment. These include up to $200 a year for incidental fees on an airline you choose, up to $240 for digital entertainment from select providers, and up to $200 a year for Uber. Enrollment required. See terms for details.
Terms apply.
• Get 35% of your Membership Rewards points back when you redeem points for an eligible first or business class flight on any airline, or a flight in any cabin of travel on an airline you choose (up to 500,000 points per year).
• Access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including AmEx’s own Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta).
• Credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
• Up to $1,000 a year in credits for various business expenses and travel. These include $400 a year for U.S. Dell purchases, $200 a year for incidental fees on an airline you choose, $120 for a U.S. wireless credit, and more. See terms for details.
Terms apply.
Learn more
Final thoughts on the best hotels on Maui to book with points
Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton all have great options for guests looking to stay at a hotel on Maui using points. Some of our favorite points properties on Maui include the Hyatt’s Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Marriott’s The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali and Hilton’s Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
The prospect of a dinner party prompted this mini dining room makeover. (Courtesy Marni Jameson)
The prospect of hosting a dinner party at my house filled my heart with panic. I had been wanting to update my dining room. Suddenly, I had an incentive — and a deadline.
The dinner party wasn’t my idea. A few months ago, a friend hatched a plan to auction off a dinner for eight at my house for an Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra fundraiser.
“You know how your column is At Home With Marni?” was how she framed it. “Well, this would let people actually be at home with Marni. Get it?”
Oh, I got it. If I’d known when I started writing a home design column what all I’d be getting myself into, I would have become a pet therapist. People assume I live up to my words! Before I agreed — and because no one should pay to eat my cooking — I called a chef I knew to see if he’d help. Chef Angelo Bersani generously agreed to donate his time to prepare and serve dinner, if I paid for the groceries. Done! Chef and I became a package deal on the auction block.
I live in the real world, so redecorating does not mean tossing all my furniture and starting over. It means working with what I have and making small refinements to get, ideally, big results. The trick, however, is knowing what those small moves are. So I called Los Angeles interior designer and long-time friend Christopher Grubb for help, asking if he’d call the shots while I did the legwork, which included shopping for materials, gathering samples and coordinating workers.
With a chef and a designer on board, I could feel my lungs fully expanding, my blood pressure dropping. Over the next eight weeks, we exchanged dozens of texts, photos and a few sobbing emojis, and made the following small refinements, which yielded big results, and just might do the same for a room or two in your home:
Added lampshades: Although I had replaced the dining room’s dated light fixture a few years ago, I had not “finished” the fixture off with chandelier shades, which Grubb advised. I test drove three shade styles, ordering one of each and returning the rejects, before settling on a black tapered shade. Because black shades direct light down, not out, they can make lighting more dramatic.
Filled in the art niche: Art niches in walls can be difficult to work with, as they limit the size of art you can hang in them. The niche in my dining room’s accent wall was 5-feet square and 3-inches deep. Until recently, a large tapestry hung over the niche and covered it. But, as part of my attempt to make the space more contemporary, I sold the tapestry and now had this, uhh, hole in the wall. “Art niches just make you ask why?” said Grubb, who recommended having a drywaller fill it in.
BEFORE: A shadeless chandelier, dated chairs and a wall niche that limited art options. (Courtesy Marni Jameson)
Put up wallpaper: To make the open room feel cozier and more intimate and to distinguish the alcove from the entryway, Grubb suggested covering the now smooth back wall and ceiling with sea-blue grasscloth, which added character and texture to the room.
Replaced mirrors: Although Grubb liked the idea of two mirrors flanking the art on the main wall, he suggested replacing the existing round ones with larger, vertical mirrors to make the room appear taller. Since we were moving toward a more transitional and less traditional look, we kept the frames simple.
Updated end chairs: Although our goal is to replace all the tapestry-covered dining chairs with more contemporary seating but keep the existing table, here we hit an impasse. I couldn’t find any chairs I liked that would also be available in time for my dinner party. Rather than compromise, I bought the chairs I wanted and accepted the fact that they wouldn’t arrive until September. Darn that supply chain. Meanwhile, I recovered the table’s two armchairs in a bold zebra-print fabric and painted the wood lacquer black. These chairs, which I wrote about a few weeks ago, are now fixtures in my living room, but for dinner parties they double as end chairs.
Added ambiance: With the new furnishings in place, all I needed to do was add the finishing touches — a fresh centerpiece of pale roses, patterned table linens, crystal and silver, candles and, of course, illustrious guests — to make the room come together like a symphony.
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books, including the recent “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow.” Contact her at [email protected]. Join her on May 23 for a free, virtual event, “Rightsize Your Life and Live Well Now.” Register at https://extras.mercurynews.com/events/.
Inside: Get a financial budget binder to help stay on track with spending and saving goals. Learn how to use it as a guide to help you reach your financial goals! Stay motivated.
I know that when my family and I set a goal for saving money in our budget binder, we’re more likely to do so because we have visual reminders throughout the year of how much has been saved and what still needs to be done.
When it comes to financial goals, we want them all.
For example, you are trying to save more money or pay off debt, but you cannot track the progress you are making or find ways to make it happen.
You need to create a cute budget binder so you know the overall picture of finances and how it lines up with other events in your life.
It can be time-consuming to create a financial plan because most people lack what needs to be included. Save yourself some time and energy by using a personalized budget binder.
This in-depth guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up your budget binder along with downloadable worksheets to help get you started.
Learn how to create your budget binder and what tasks you can break up into sections for each week of the year.
Also, find out why it is important to be specific with your goals and how goal-setting can help us reach our financial goals faster!
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What is a Budget Binder?
Budget binders are designed to keep track of expenses and income.
A budget binder is a tool that helps you organize your finances and plan for the future.
They can be used for various purposes, such as budgeting, tracking your spending habits, maintaining a financial diary, or even identifying the best times to save money.
Why a Budget Binder Matters?
It’s important to start this as early as possible because it will help keep you on track with your money goals and make sure you’re saving enough money for them.
A budget binder is a place where you can keep your personal finance worksheets. Each budget sheet found in the budget binder is tailored specifically to each person, so if there are certain aspects of managing your finances that aren’t working well for you, then it would be best to bring those sheets up with someone who can help fix them.
You can use it to create your own budgets from scratch or use a paid template.
If you’re creating your own personal budget sheets, don’t worry too much about making them Pinterest perfect! If they work for you, that’s what matters.
The Benefits Of a Budget Binder
It is important to have a budget binder. This is especially true for those who are looking to pay off debt or manage their finances in the future.
The benefits of using this budget binder as a tool include:
Helping you organize your finances and stay on track with your financial goals.
Providing insight into how much money you spend, where it goes, and what can be done about that.
Showing you exactly what steps will help you fix your current situation.
Ultimately, budget binders can help people with their personal finances by helping them stay out of the red and save for a rainy day.
It also helps in managing expenses and debt, which is important for saving up to live off of while still having some convenience. Plus anyone has access to the binder if they need it and can pick it up without skipping a beat.
With financial freedom comes an easier life where you don’t have to worry about money management and enjoy time freedom from your busy schedule because it all becomes automated!
Plus… This budget binder is also a great tool to use with children because it teaches them about saving up for their goals. This will teach kids that they can’t have everything right now and need to save.
How To Make a Budget Binder
A “Budget Binder” is a binder that contains the various budget printables for different places on the internet. These include sheets to help you get started, and use whatever sheets apply to your needs.
If you are tired of losing track of your finances and overspending money more than you would like. You don’t want to stress about what you spend or how much money is left over for retirement.
Let’s keep things simple with a custom budget binder!
This space-saving product will help you organize all of your receipts and bills so that nothing falls through the cracks, while still being stylish at the same time!
To help you get started, check out the Money Bliss Budget Binder.
What supplies do I need to put together a Budget Binder?
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
The budget binder can be as simple or fancy as you like and that’s the beauty of it – you’re creating something that you actually stick with!
At the end of the day, you need something to stay organized and keep you motivated.
Here are the supplies you need for your binder:
Binder: A 3-ring binder will do just fine. I use a 1″ inch binder and that suits my needs just perfectly. Here are some binders to choose from.
Dividers: Your budget binder will be divided into sections. So you need 5 or 8 tab dividers. Here are the ones with binder pockets (that I prefer) or ones without pockets.
Clear Sleeves: These are great to keep your vision board front and center as well as any other current financial goals you are working on.
Fun Colorful Pens: You need pens that will motivate you to actually use the binder. When I first started using my budget, it was hard because not many people know about this system. So what I did is I bought a pack of pens in my favorite color and I put them right on the inside cover. These are the pens I love!
Highlighter Set: This is a necessity. I have found color coding to be helpful and it makes the process of bill paying more fun. Especially, when you are coloring in your debt payoff chart or saving money chart. These are the marker set I use!
Sticky Notes: Let’s face it… we all love to use sticky notes.
Cash Envelopes: This is extremely helpful if you use the cash envelope system. You always know where your envelopes are located. Find cash envelopes that fit into your binder.
Printer: You have one of two options. You can print all of your budget binder printables from home or you can take them to get printed. The choice is totally yours. Personally, I have found laser printers to have the best value for printing at home.
Hole Punch: I would recommend a heavy-duty hole punch. This is something that will get heavy use and is easy to slide into a desk drawer.
Paper: Lastly, let’s talk about the paper. For the budget printables you use the most, you may want to upgrade from the basic 20# copy paper. You will see the difference by using at least 24#.
Budget Binder Categories
In your budget binder, you will need various sections to help you reach your money goals and improve your money management skills.
Specifically, this is what should be in a budget binder:
How many accounts do you have
How many credit cards are open
Any outstanding debt unpaid
How you want to live your life with money
When your bills are due
How to handle that stack of paperwork and mail
A budget
Your net worth
Your credit score
Investment summary
Your first money goal
Your vision board
You can also use these printable binders for keeping track of bills, debts, savings, expenses, and more!
Whatever your goal is for the financial aspect of your life, you can create a binder that will help motivate and inspire you to work towards it.
Budget Binder Printables
A budget is the most important tool to get your finances under control.
The Budget Binder Printables are a great way for you to create and stick with your own personal budget that has goals, targets, and an overall financial plan. It allows you to stay on track of what’s going into each account so that it can be tracked regularly throughout the year (and even before then).
A budget binder is a living and constantly used document that contains all of your financial and personal information, such as income and expenses.
These are the types of budget binder printables you need:
Establishing a budget.
Listing monthly goals as well as long term vision.
Organizing personal information into categories.
Tracking income and expenses.
Bill Payment tracker
Saving tracker
Debt payment tracker
The Budget Binder Printables is a great way to stay motivated with your financial goals.
It will give you the motivation and tools that you need in order to achieve what it takes.
It’s important to keep track of your income and expenses so you can stay on track with your goals.
Budget Binder Ideas
Many people have their own budget binders in order to help them practice spending only the amount that they earn and to motivate them to earn more income.
By creating your own budget binder, you are able to utilize whatever inspiration you want which is why one can use their binder as whatever motivates them. If you are looking to save money, then the budget binder can be full of pictures and graphics about saving up or getting out of debt.
Typically, I recommend making your own budget binder because it gives you the flexibility to add to it.
Many people rave about their budget binder with envelopes as well.
However, looking at other budget binders will give you the best budget binder ideas. Here are some great examples:
Budget Binder from Walmart
Here are the Budget Binders you can find at Walmart. As always, we look for those with higher reviews!
Walmart is known when you need somewhere cheap to buy all their necessities, that is the place to go!
Pen+Gear 5.5″ x 7.5″ Budget Planner, 80 Pages
Track your spending and set your financial goals with our Pen+Gear Budget Planner.
This colorful 80-page planner is designed to help you keep your budget on track while staying organized when it comes to your spending. With guided prompts for tracking spending and financial goals, this handy-dandy planner is a must-have item for any parent, student, traveler, busy body, or young professional.
Use the labeled sections to keep track of things like housing costs, entertainment spending, your emergency savings account, and even charitable donations. Plus, its compact size makes it easy to plan your budget from anywhere you are, wherever you go.
Buy Now on Walmart
12-Month Budget Planner Bill Tracker Organizer with Calendar and Pockets
Whether you’re managing your household finances, just venturing out on your own or running a small business, the Budget Binder is your comprehensive guidebook to help you stay on track to your dreams (and thrive within your means!).
Knowing your financial status each day/week/month is powerful intel that you can use to make good decisions about your money. Good decisions add up to a financial future you dream of! The first step of this journey is yours.
Buy Now on Walmart
Budget Binder on Etsy
Handmade items are becoming more popular, and Etsy is a great place to find them. If you are interested in purchasing an item that has been personalized, the seller might still be able to do so for you.
An Etsy budget binder is a unique way of keeping your financial goals in one easy-to-access location. It can be made from any material you choose – paper, cloth, or even wood! You can use it as a planner or just have it sit on your desk as a decoration.
This PAYCHECK BUDGET planner is perfect for those who want to track their planned paycheck income, savings, and expenses against the actual amounts. Use this either to track your income and expenses during each paycheck period, or for the month.
Flexible to use for either traditional budgeting or for zero-based budgeting. With zero-based budgeting, all of your income is accounted for specific expenses and savings.
This Budget Planner’ is based on the zero-based budget method, which is a great way to keep your finances in order and gives every dollar you earn a job to do.
By using this budget planner, you can understand exactly where your money is going and help you get on track with your finances.
You will be able to notice patterns in your spending behavior, whether good or bad, and gain control over your spending habits to reach your financial goals.
Buy Now on Etsy
Digital Budget Planner
If you’re ready to take control of your money, this is the tool for you. This digital budget planner was created to help you think critically about your spending habits and make better decisions with your money.
A hyperlinked PDF that can be used with your Apple iPad or Android device, stylus and favorite annotation app.
It includes a monthly and paycheck budget, along with a debt, expense & bill tracker, just to name a few. It’s the perfect tool for anyone looking to get their finances in order.
Buy Now on Etsy
Printable Finance Planner Print at Home Budget Plan Budget
This print at home page is one of our many, printable planner pages. It is perfect to assist you in planning your life, and keeping on top of your day-to-day life.
You will receive (instant download) .pdf files, which are ready to be printed at home or sent to a printing company for more professional printing.
Buy Now on Etsy
Budget Binder at Amazon
The best part of shopping for Budget Binders at Amazon is two-day shipping. Also, the prices tend to be more competitive than you would find elsewhere.
Even if you cannot decide which one you like put it in your cart for later or create a wish list of the budget binders you are considering.
Clever Fox Budget Planner & Monthly Bill Organizer with Pockets
Are you looking for the best monthly budget planner to keep your finances organized?
Clever Fox Budget Book will help you keep your money organized, spend well, start saving, set and achieve financial goals.
It can help you to manage all your personal finances, savings, budgets, debt, payments, bills due, cash flow and expense tracking in 1 place.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:52 am GMT
Smart Planner Budget Book
63,28 €
Take control of your personal finances with our 12-month budget planner.
Containing a wide variety of trackers, calendars and budget planning sheets. This financial planner is ideal for tracking your income, expenses, budget, savings and money goals.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:57 am GMT
Gogirl Budget Planner and Monthly Bill Organizer
Are you looking for the best compact monthly budget planner to keep your finances organized?
GoGirl Finance Planner will help you keep your money organized, spend well, start saving, and set and achieve your financial goals. It can help you to manage all your personal finances, savings, budgets, debt, payments, bills due, cash flow and expense tracking in one place.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:53 am GMT
Lamare Budget Planner
A budget planner should help you gain control over your finances – but too many people LACK THE TOOLS to truly make a change.
The Lamare Budget Planner and money saver features highly effective money planner tools, including a Daily Spending & Budget Tracker, bill tracker, Money Saving Organizer, Debt Tracker, goal setter, and Monthly & Yearly budget overviews.
A 12 month plan to get you on your way to financial freedom.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:57 am GMT
Budget Binder at Target
Most women like to shop at Target. they want clothes that are affordable without sacrificing style. Consumers flock to the chain for its wide selection of trendy items, reasonable prices, and convenient location.
Plus with curbside service, you can order online and pick-up same day!
Budget Binder Cover Ideas
Every personal goal, small and large, starts with a dream.
Without knowing it intuitively, we can think of something we want or want to do and you can make it a reality.
With your cute budget binder, create a cover page that you will love and inspire you.
This is something you will identify once you make your smart financial goals.
Are you ready to Make Your Budget Binder DIY
A budget binder is a DIY money tool for beginners and everyone along their money journey.
It contains a worksheet with the different parts of your budget and an open-ended spreadsheet to track how much you spend on each area.
If you want to live life with intention, creating a budget binder will help your progress faster.
Since the budget binder is a physical binder in which you keep all of your monthly bills, receipts, and other expenses. It is best to create a Budget Binder DIY.
It is easier for you to live life on your terms when you live below your means. The budget binder, whether in paper or digital format, can help you organize your tasks for productivity and success.
Once you finish yours, please share pictures with us!
This is one tool that will help you find long term financial success.
Whether you track your spending or use an app like Simplifi, having this tool at hand can help with staying on track financially even though there are always going to be unexpected expenses such as a broken appliance.
Now, learn how to budget on a low income.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
It’s no secret that dating can be expensive. Be it fancy dinners or flowers and gifts, the cost of impressing your date can add up quickly.
But spending more doesn’t always correlate with a successful date—or relationship, for that matter. In fact, sometimes cheap date ideas are more effective at creating connections and leading to long-lasting relationships. Here are a few fun cheap date ideas that can fit any budget.
How to fit dating into your budget
Whether you’re committed to a strict spending plan or simply want to save more and spend less, figuring out how to date on a budget is completely doable with these tips.
Alternate between cheap or free and regular date nights
Not setting a budget for dates ahead of time can quickly devolve into overspending. Likewise, coming up with a cute cheap date idea every time can feel like a chore and take the fun out of planning. Instead, try switching between one pricier and one cheap or free date night activity so you’re only spending a sizable amount on half of your dates. This way, you’ll be able to indulge in going out sometimes and still find ways to save money on date night.
Take advantage of good deals
Just because something’s half price doesn’t make it any less fun or romantic. Instead of splurging on a three-course meal, consider a happy hour date to score lower-price drinks and appetizers. If you’re in charge of planning the date, there are plenty of free or cheap date ideas to help you have fun while staying within budget.
Cheap first date ideasto explore
First impressions matter, so you might find yourself shelling out some cash on a first date. But don’t feel like you need to go overboard to impress your date—here are a couple of fun cheap date ideas that won’t hurt your wallet.
Grab a casual bite
Ditch the Michelin-starred restaurants and eat like a local, meeting at a neighborhood cafe or a popular hole-in-the-wall spot. Opting for cheap eats over formal dining options can help keep the date lighthearted and the vibe relaxed as you’re still getting to know one another.
Take advantage of free events
Another cheap first date idea may come courtesy of your local chamber of commerce or public library. Most cities offer free outdoor activities like concerts and festivals, while libraries often share free or low-cost passes to state parks and local museums.
Cheap romantic date ideas for staying at home
After you’ve been on a first date (or a few) and you and your partner are both comfortable, you may favor staying in. Save even more with these cheap romantic date ideas you can have at home.
Some cute cheap date ideasat home include visiting a farmer’s market to buy ingredients for a home-cooked meal—and then cooking it together. Or if cooking’s not your strength, keep it simple with a charcuterie board and board game. Host a backyard or rooftop stargazing session to ramp up the romance—bonus points if you align it to a meteor shower or other astronomical event.
Level up your relationship
As you get to know one another, you may feel ready to take your relationship to the next level. Consider these cheap date night ideas that focus on aligning your financial values to help ensure a long-lasting, happy future.
Budget for cute date ideas together
While maybe not the most exciting idea, reserving one night to figure out plans and set a budget for future date nights is one of the easiest activities you can do. It’s also a great way to ensure you’re both on the same page about how much you want to spend and what activities you’d like to try.
Learn about your financial outlook together
Take a financial personality quiz to see how your beliefs shape your financial behaviors. With a clearer sense of how you both view money, you can better align on things—like how much you want to budget for date nights—without compromising your relationship over money.
Plan your financial future together
If you’re serious about your relationship, discussing your financial future on a regular basis can potentially set your relationship up for long-term success. Establish a regular time to talk about your finances—potentially once a month—and keep it casual. Especially if engagement and marriage are on the table, making a habit of talking about money can ensure your financial aspirations are aligned.
Date night doesn’t have to break the bank
Brainstorming fun cheap date ideas can be a date all on its own, and sometimes, the free activities are the most meaningful. Now is also a great time to think about what you can do with the cash you’re saving and how you might use it for your future together. If you’re planning a more extravagant experience, like a trip or big party, consider putting that money away in a high-yield savings account. With a clear budget and plan for staying on track, you can ensure your cheap date nights are just as rewarding as the pricier nights out.
Once you’ve got your date night budget sorted, check out the features of a Discover® Online Savings Account to see how you can make your money work a little harder for your next big date.
Articles may contain information from third parties. The inclusion of such information does not imply an affiliation with the bank or bank sponsorship, endorsement, or verification regarding the third party or information.
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode:
Explore how to protect yourself from identity fraud, understand its emotional toll and learn fraud recovery steps.
How can you protect yourself from identity theft and fraud?
What steps should you take if you become a victim of financial fraud?
Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner delve into the unsettling world of identity theft and fraud prevention to help listeners safeguard their finances and wellbeing. They begin with a discussion on the various facets of identity theft, with tips and tricks on identifying fraudulent activity, enhancing personal banking security and dealing with the aftermath of having your identity compromised. Then, they discuss the differences between identity fraud and scams, the importance of good cyber hygiene, and the steps to take immediately if your personal information is breached.
Sean also speaks with John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud at the National Consumers League, about the current trends in identity theft and the forms of fraud that are on the rise in 2024. They cover topics such as new account fraud, the impact of zero-day vulnerabilities on personal data security and the necessity for consumers to stay vigilant with software updates and report incidents promptly.
They also explore how victims can navigate the process of recovering from fraud, including freezing credit reports, changing passwords, and engaging with financial institutions and law enforcement to document the crime and seek restitution.
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Episode transcript
This transcript was generated from podcast audio by an AI tool.
Sean Pyles:
So there you are just going along with your life, running errands, finishing work projects, walking the dog, making lunch, paying bills, and then you realize, something is very, very wrong. Someone has gotten into your accounts and stolen your money.
Charlene MacNeil:
August 28th was a normal day. I took my cat to the vet, went and got groceries. That morning, I checked my online banking just to make sure I had enough money to do everything. It just seemed like a normal day and then everything changed that evening when I got that email.
Sean Pyles:
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast. I’m Sean Pyles.
Sara Rathner:
And I’m Sara Rathner.
Sean Pyles:
We’re back with our Nerdy deep dive into identity theft, fraud, and scams, and their potentially devastating effects on your finances if you become a victim. As we said last episode, and we’ll continue to reiterate over and over, these crimes do not discriminate. Absolutely anyone can find themselves in deep water with their money situation because these financial criminals have so very many tools and options at their disposal.
Sara Rathner:
Yeah. And, Sean, I think we also want to repeat the message that this doesn’t just happen to you because you’re ignorant or careless. It happens because as our guest last week said, “We have to be 100% right all the time.” We have to be watching our accounts and changing our passwords, realizing we’re talking to someone who’s pretending to be from a bank, etc., etc. And the criminal only has to be right once to get what they’re after. So if they catch you in a moment where you’re tired or hangry, they might just do that.
Sean Pyles:
So the last thing that you should feel is embarrassed or ashamed if you do become a victim of ID theft or a scam. Angry and upset, yes, ashamed, no. The more we all talk about it, the more educated we become and the harder we make it for the thieves and scammers.
Sara Rathner:
Yes. Let’s take our power back.
Sean Pyles:
Yes. So last week we talked about identity theft, how it happens, what to be on the lookout for, and how to protect yourself as much as possible. Today we’re going to look at the next step in that process, which is the identity fraud that happens after the theft.
Sara Rathner:
It’s the credit card opened in your name. It’s the tax return that isn’t really yours. It’s the healthcare account that also isn’t yours that gets the thief medical care on your dime. Listener, we’re going to help you understand what it looks like, how to avoid it, and what to do if it happens to you.
Sean Pyles:
All right, well, we want to hear what you think too, listeners. Tell us your stories of identity theft or share how you’re working to fight it or recover from it. Leave us a voicemail or text the Nerd hotline at (901) 730-6373. That’s (901) 730-NERD, or email a voice memo to [email protected].
Sara Rathner:
So, Sean, where do we start today?
Sean Pyles:
Well, we’re going to start today with a real world tale of identity fraud. We’re hearing from Charlene MacNeil, a mom from Alberta, Canada. She’s got a story about what happened when someone was able to get into her account at BMO Bank, a subsidiary of the Bank of Montreal. Then after Charlene, we’re going to talk with an expert in ID fraud, who’s seen it all in his capacity at the National Consumers Union. Charlene MacNeil, welcome to Smart Money.
Charlene MacNeil:
Hello. Thanks for having me.
Sean Pyles:
Charlene, you experienced a form of bank account fraud. When did you first realize that something was wrong?
Charlene MacNeil:
On August 28th, I had just put my kids to bed and I got an email pop up on my cell phone saying that I had a credit limit alert from BMO and it told me that I had $33 left in my account.
Sean Pyles:
And so that was an indication that you didn’t have sufficient funds or maybe your credit was run up. What were you thinking when you first saw that?
Charlene MacNeil:
I panicked when I saw the $33. It just didn’t make sense. So I immediately went onto my online banking and noticed that my line of credit was maxed to the $15,000 mark.
Sean Pyles:
And what steps did you take once you realized that something was very wrong with your account?
Charlene MacNeil:
I immediately called BMO and just told them the email that I got and she told me that she would cancel my card right away and my account and to go to the branch immediately the next day to file a report of what had happened.
Sean Pyles:
So the next day, did you go in and talk with them about that?
Charlene MacNeil:
Yeah, I went in the next morning and I told her what had happened and she had told me that there was a text message that was sent to me like a one-time passcode, and I tried to think back to the day before because I do get text messages or calls from scammers sometimes, but that summer I felt like I had gotten quite a few, but I just kind of always ignored them, so I didn’t really think much of it. And then when she was looking at my account, she asked me if I knew the company Wise, because she noticed that’s where the money had been sent and I Googled Wise right away because I didn’t know what she was talking about.
And when I Googled it, it said international money sending. So she was, “Oh, that’s a red flag. That’s crazy.” She made me feel like we should be able to get the money back, that she would fill out this report and send it off and it should be okay. What had happened was they took my line of credit money, transferred it to my checking account, and they set up a bill payment to the company Wise, and then they sent out the money that way through a bill payment.
Sean Pyles:
So a slightly convoluted way to get the money that you had from your line of credit over to them essentially?
Charlene MacNeil:
Yes, exactly.
Sean Pyles:
And so it seems like things are maybe going, okay, this was a frustrating experience, but you thought you were going to be able to get your money back?
Charlene MacNeil:
Yeah, I went back to work and I felt relieved. “Okay, that’s done. It should be fine.”
Sean Pyles:
But that’s not what ended up happening.
Charlene MacNeil:
No. Two days later, the teller that had helped me, she called me and started the conversation with, “I have some very unfortunate news. They will not refund that money to your line of credit.” And my heart fell because I was just, “What do you mean?”
Sean Pyles:
And this was $15,000 they said they weren’t going to refund?
Charlene MacNeil:
I had a balance on there before. So really they just took whatever I had left in my line of credit and sent it out, so it was like $9,700.
Sean Pyles:
And what reason did they give you for why you wouldn’t be able to get this money back?
Charlene MacNeil:
They had told me that they tried reaching out to Wise, but the money had already been transferred. So whoever the bill was made out to through the company, they had the money and that’s it. They couldn’t get the money back, but she did say, “If you want, we could escalate this and see if there’s something else that they could do.”
Sean Pyles:
Because there have to be some kind of protections. This was an instance of fraud. You didn’t authorize this transfer of money?
Charlene MacNeil:
No, but as this continued on, they kept saying that I had gotten this one time passcode sent to me August 28th at 4:20 p.m., but I don’t recall entering this six digit code that they’re telling me that I entered. But from their records, it shows I entered the code and that it was all good.
Sean Pyles:
It’s also possible that someone could have somehow gained access to your phone number or gotten that code themselves. Correct?
Charlene MacNeil:
That’s what I am trying to explain to them. I just know that I didn’t enter this code.
Sean Pyles:
So did you end up escalating this then?
Charlene MacNeil:
I did. I escalated it three times and then I finally got a final response just saying that it’s really unfortunate, but we can’t get that money back. And they just kept telling me it’s the one-time passcode and that’s the reason why the money was sent out that I pretty much authorized it to be sent out.
Sean Pyles:
I’m really sorry to hear that. Do you know how the people were able to get into your account?
Charlene MacNeil:
I don’t know. I just have a lot of people just giving me different ideas of how maybe it could have happened. I had a conference in Vegas at the beginning of August and it was on the news that Vegas was having issues with scammers.
Sean Pyles:
Was it an issue with people getting on public Wi-Fi and logging into their bank accounts?
Charlene MacNeil:
That or people also told me that maybe somebody walked by my purse and scanned my purse, but people have told me that too, thinking it’s because of the Wi-Fi.
Sean Pyles:
So I’m wondering, Charlene, how has this experience made you feel about the safety of your money? Have you thought about switching banks, anything like that?
Charlene MacNeil:
I’m very nervous because it blows my mind to think that somebody can get onto your online banking and then move money like that without a signature or maybe voice recognition or something. I shut down my line of credit now and I’m kind of waiting to hear what’s going to happen, but I am really considering moving banks. I wish this almost happened on a credit card because I feel like credit card companies have your back more than the bank.
Sean Pyles:
Yeah. Your story brings me back to a theme which is that fraud, scams, anyone can experience these things and it’s not like you followed a typical playbook of seeing a text message come through on your phone or clicking a link in email and entering your login credentials. You don’t know how someone got your information. It just exemplifies that you could be doing everything right and somehow people could still get your information and still get into your bank.
Charlene MacNeil:
Yeah, exactly. August 28th was a normal day. I took my cat to the vet, went and got groceries. That morning, I checked my online banking just to make sure I had enough money to do everything. It just seemed like a normal day and then everything changed that evening when I got that email.
Sean Pyles:
What do you think your next steps will be?
Charlene MacNeil:
I’m not very hopeful, to be honest. It’s something that I just have to accept. And I mean, I’ve done better the last couple months, but in the beginning it was very difficult. I lost lots of sleep, missed some work. It was very stressful. And you feel like you’re the one that did something wrong.
Sean Pyles:
Well, I’m sorry that you experienced this. I’m wondering if there’s anything that you would like listeners to keep in mind as they try to protect themselves and their finances online?
Charlene MacNeil:
Yeah, I mean it’s so important to be checking your banking probably daily just to make sure everything is going as you think. Be very careful, I guess, on public Wi-Fi. I was actually just on a trip with my family to Mexico and so many people use public Wi-Fi. And I did in Vegas just to load my boarding passes.
I did not check my online banking. I know a lot of people when they hear me say that I was on public Wi-Fi in Vegas. I did not check my online banking, but I was on public Wi-Fi and I guess people can be sitting in that room and gain all of your information. So I don’t know. I don’t want people to be paranoid, but I kind of feel paranoid.
Sean Pyles:
It might not be a bad idea in the year 2024 when if you’re on a public Wi-Fi network, someone who’s also on that can get into your device very easily. That’s the truth of where we are right now.
Charlene MacNeil:
Yes, and I heard once they’re in, then they can be in there for a while. If I would’ve checked my online banking a day or two later, they could have seen me enter my codes. Yeah, it’s very invasive.
Sean Pyles:
Well, Charlene, thank you for sharing your story with us today.
Charlene MacNeil:
Well, thank you for hearing me.
Sara Rathner:
Sean, this just makes me so sad and angry that anybody has to deal with this because it’s just not fair. It’s not a fair fight against these really savvy identity thieves.
Sean Pyles:
It’s really not. And what’s so worrisome to me about Charlene’s story is that she still can’t pinpoint exactly how these criminals got into her account. Again, it just shows that this kind of fraud can happen to anyone, but as tempting as it might be to just throw up your hands and yell, “I give up,” that just feeds the beast and doesn’t do us any good.
Sara Rathner:
Well, I’m looking forward to some advice on how to avoid all of this and anything that we could do to keep it from happening to us, to me, to my loved ones, and of course to our listeners.
Sean Pyles:
Well, our next guest will walk us through some of what happens when you’re the victim of identity fraud and give advice on how to avoid it and recover from it if it does happen to you. John Breyault is Vice President of Public Policy Telecommunications and Fraud at the National Consumers League. That’s coming up. Stay with us.
John, thanks so much for joining us on Smart Money.
John Breyault:
Hey, thanks for having me on the show. I really appreciate it.
Sean Pyles:
So last week we spent some time explaining identity theft and the various ways that bad actors can steal our IDs from us. And today, we’re going to explore what they do with all that information once they’ve got it. So I’d like to start by asking you to explain maybe the difference between ID fraud and scams. We’re going to talk about scams in our next episode, but what differentiates the two?
John Breyault:
Both scams and ID theft, we call fraud, right? It’s a crime where it involves typically a scammer trying to acquire information or funds that they can use for their own purposes. So identity fraud is definitely a subset of fraud overall, but it is certainly one of the biggest subsets.
So we know that, for example, the Federal Trade Commission every year puts out their Consumer Sentinel Data Book. It’s a compilation of millions of fraud complaints that they get from agencies and organizations like mine all over the country. And in 2022, which is their most recent data, they received 5.2 million fraud reports and the number one category that they heard about was identity theft. And so clearly this continues to be a major problem that the biggest enforcement agency out there is hearing about. Definitely identity theft is one of the biggest types of fraud, and one I think we continue to see consumers of every age level, every education level, every demographic be victimized by.
Sean Pyles:
And when you think about specific ways that ID fraud and scams can manifest, what makes them distinct?
John Breyault:
I think what makes each scam distinct is often, number one, what is the entry point for the scammer? Is it one where they have to interact with the victim, say by sending them a link that the consumer clicks on and then provides the data to the identity for the scammer that’s then used to commit fraud? Or is this something where the scammers can commit identity fraud really with no interaction with the victim at all?
We know, for example, that due to data breaches, that’s practically limitless information about almost every American out there on criminal forums on the dark web that can be used to basically commit identity theft as a service. With a few hundred dollars in Bitcoin, you too can hire an identity thief to do things like start bogus credit card accounts in your name or try and get healthcare benefits or unemployment insurance. These are all very common types of identity theft that’s out there, and that doesn’t require any of us to do anything.
Sean Pyles:
So you touched on this a little bit, but John, can you give us a sense of what you’re seeing out there right now? What are some of the most prevalent forms of identity fraud in 2024?
John Breyault:
Yeah, I would say some of the fastest growing types of identity theft is new account fraud. It’s not necessarily a new type of identity theft. We’ve seen scammers using information to create new credit card accounts for decades at this point, but certainly it is returning to its previous position as one of the top types of identity fraud. And it’s happening because the resources that identity thieves were devoting to government benefits fraud is going down. As those pandemic relief programs start to wind down, there’s less money for the identity thieves to steal. And so they’ve gone back to some of the tried and true types of identity fraud.
Sean Pyles:
Is there anything that’s relatively new that consumers should know about that maybe they haven’t really heard about?
John Breyault:
What we have seen over the past year has been a staggering increase in the number of data breaches attributable to what are called zero-day vulnerabilities. And if you’ve never heard of a zero-day vulnerability, that’s okay. Basically what it means is it’s a vulnerability that nobody else has identified. Think of it as having a key to a vault that nobody else has, and until the people who own that vault figure out that you have that key, they have no reason to try and solve the problem or change the lock.
Sean Pyles:
So this could be something like a weakness in our phones’ operating systems that allows a bad actor to get into our phones.
John Breyault:
Yes, exactly. It’s operating systems like Windows. It is browsers that can be hacked. It could be Microsoft Office. Really any software program can have a zero-day vulnerability. And so what’s concerning to us is just the increase in breaches that were attributable to zero days. It’s gone up. I believe the number that the ITRC cited was by more than 100% over the past 12 months.
Sean Pyles:
Do we know why this might be? Is it that software developers are maybe pushing out code a bit faster than they should and they aren’t combing through for vulnerabilities? Or is it that hackers are really zeroing in on these vulnerabilities and trying to exploit them?
John Breyault:
Well, I think that’s the $64,000 question, as they say. We have theories on how that is. One of the more worrying ones is that the scammers have learned how to automate their search for zero-day vulnerabilities using artificial intelligence. And if they’re able to search for these zero days at scale, a very low cost, that is scary because I think AI has revolutionized so many other facets of our economy and businesses and government over the past several years.
It definitely has the potential to do the same thing when it comes to fraud. I think many of us who work on fraud and identity theft on a daily basis, we are thinking of the potential of this as the same kind of potential for supercharging fraud and scams that we saw when the internet sort of became a technology that everybody was using. That’s the kind of scale of the threat that’s out there.
Sean Pyles:
And so when people get notifications on their phone saying, “Oh, you have a new software update to patch a security vulnerability,” this might be something that is being addressed. Correct? And it’s important for people to actually update their phones regularly so that they are having the most secure software possible?
John Breyault:
Yes. Cyber hygiene is definitely one of the lowest cost and easiest ways for consumers to reduce their risk of falling victim to identity fraud because once they are detected, the operating systems and browser makers are usually pretty quick to plug the hole. But that is often dependent on consumers paying attention to those little pop-up boxes that say, “Do you want to update your browser? Do you want to update windows?” And actually taking action. Definitely don’t wait to update. Make sure you do that because it really is one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk.
Sean Pyles:
So, John, walk us through some of the ways that listeners can protect themselves from identity fraud. We heard last week about protections from identity theft. So let’s assume that the theft has already happened and now we have to react to prevent the fraud. What are some first steps here?
John Breyault:
Well, number one, I would say act quickly. We know that identity theft is a crime that often relies on consumers doing nothing. If you know that your information has been compromised, take steps to reduce your risk. For many people, that’s going to start with freezing their credit report. All of the major credit reporting bureaus offer consumers the ability to freeze credit.
Number two, I would say try and limit the damage to the extent you can. For example, particularly if your primary email address has been compromised, that can be the entry point for scammers to take over lots of other accounts, your bank accounts, your social media accounts. So definitely change the password on your primary email account right away and turn on two-factor authentication as well to add an additional layer that the scammers have to get through. They’re going to try and use that entry point.
I would do the same for any financial accounts that you may have linked to that email account. In addition, call the banks and let them know what’s going on so that they can place fraud alerts on your accounts. And then finally, make sure and get a police report. Identity theft is a crime in all 50 states, but consumers, I think particularly if you start to see activity related to identity theft, having that report is often documentation that will be needed to get the kind of help from not just law enforcement, but also from banks and other entities that you’ll need.
I think, unfortunately, we know that local police departments aren’t always super excited to create those reports, so you may have to be persistent to do that, but definitely local police departments is the place I would start. And then work your way up to the State Attorney General and ultimately the Federal Trade Commission.
Sean Pyles:
Related to what you were just discussing, let’s go a step further. So let’s say someone took your information and then fraud happened before you could get to it. Who should you really go to for help? Let’s talk about reporting it and starting to deal with the fallout of fraud.
John Breyault:
Yeah. Once fraud has occurred, typically you still have rights. For example, an identity thief created a credit card in your name and started running a bunch of charges. You aren’t liable for that, but you’re going to need to take steps like have that identity theft affidavit and a police report ready to show to creditors who may wonder why you haven’t been paying your credit card bill that you just opened weeks ago. So definitely I would say getting those reports is going to be one key piece of information to have.
Also, call and talk to the entities who the identity thief is using in your name. Let them know who you are, what’s been going on, and see what you can do to address the fraud. Most of us don’t spend all day every day recovering from identity theft, but most of the financial institutions do have people who are devoted to helping you through that journey. But you’ve gotta keep records of that. Grab a notebook, create a little Word document on your computer, and start logging every communication that you have with those entities so that you can create a paper trail because you can’t just depend on them to know where you are in the process and to ensure that in one place they’re going to quickly try and use that information to commit identity theft in other places as well.
Sean Pyles:
Earlier in this episode, I spoke with a woman who experienced a form of bank fraud. A fraudster got access to her line of credit, and her bank didn’t offer much in the way of resolving the issue. She didn’t get her money back. And I’ve heard other similar stories before. What sort of recourse do people in that situation have to try to recoup their losses?
John Breyault:
Generally, if the consumer victim is not the one who is actually hitting send on the money transfer, whether it’s through a payment app or through a wire transfer from your bank, then you have protections under federal law as well as many state laws. So I think it’s important that if in a case like that where it sounds like the scammer got in because they were able to hack this woman’s credentials that she should have rights. Certainly if the bank seems unwilling to work with her, I would say your next stop should be the State Attorney General as well as groups like the Identity Theft Resource Center, which have great resources and help coach victims through recovering from these identity theft schemes.
Sean Pyles:
Yeah. And your advice just there brings up the idea of jurisdiction. The woman that I spoke with was based in Canada, where they have different rules and regulations than we do in the U.S. So I think it’s important for anyone to be familiar with what laws protect them where they’re living, whether it’s in a different country or a specific state.
John Breyault:
Yeah, absolutely. And I would say a great place to start that journey of learning what your rights are and what laws may apply is the FTC has a great website at identitytheft.gov where you can start to go through their checklist and create an identity theft recovery plan.
Sean Pyles:
Well, one final question. I’m asking this of all the experts that we’re talking with for this series, so I’ll ask you too. Have you ever fallen victim to a scam or identity theft or fraud?
John Breyault:
I definitely have. Fortunately for me, it wasn’t sort of life altering, but what got me interested in working on fraud was a trip I took to Jamaica on vacation where I was in a bar, which probably tells you the first thing that I wasn’t thinking very clearly, but one of the locals came up to me and said, “Hey, if you give me $20, I can get you cheaper drinks at the bar.” And I said, “Great.” And so I gave him the $20 and he turned around, bought some beers for him and his friends and just ignored me.
And I wasn’t about to start a fight with a bunch of guys in a bar in Jamaica. So I just said, “Okay, lesson learned.” Don’t always take what people say to you at face value and listen to your gut before you hand over your money. Unfortunately, in this country we have, when it comes to identity theft and being a victim of fraud, we often have this tendency to blame the victim.
And there’s a real stigma attached to being a victim of fraud. And we often use terms like, “You fell for a scam.” Or people say, “I can’t believe I was so stupid.” Or we use terms like, “pig butchering scams,” which suggest that somehow the victim is the one who’s culpable. I think that that is wrong. If I could have one additional message for listeners of this podcast, it’s show a little compassion the next time somebody tells you their fraud story and recognize that these are people who are victims of organized, multinational, very savvy criminals, and help them work through sort of this crime they’ve been a victim of and encourage them to report it.
Sean Pyles:
Well, John, thank you again for talking with us.
John Breyault:
I appreciate it, Sean.
Sean Pyles:
Sara, one thing that I really want listeners to remember is that the cost of experiencing identity fraud can go well beyond the money loss, which of course can be significant. People who are victimized in this way often suffer mental health consequences. Many feel ashamed or like they brought this upon themselves. So like John said, if you’ve experienced a loss like this, get help. Yes, contact the FTC and your local police, but also think about talking with a loved one or a therapist who can help you process your emotions around this.
Sara Rathner:
Yeah, know that you are not alone. You probably know people who have gone through something like this and you could commiserate with each other. The important thing is to receive nonjudgmental help from people who are on your side and will help you wrap your head around everything that’s happened to you, and you can come out the other side stronger and more determined to protect yourself in the future. Okay, Sean, tell us what’s coming up in Episode 3 of this series. I assume there are more horrors on the way.
Sean Pyles:
Unfortunately, yes. Next week we’re going to walk into the lion’s den of the scammiest people on earth. Imposter scams, romance scams, phishing, vishing, all in the name of parting you from your money.
Speaker 5:
That’s what these scammers try to do. They try to rush you into making a decision by telling you something’s urgent or an emergency like the family emergency scam, where they’ll say, “Oh, this is your grandchild and I’m overseas, and I need you to wire money fast because I’m jail or in the hospital.”
Sara Rathner:
Yikes. Well, for now at least, that’s all we have for this episode. Do you have a money question of your own? Turn to the Nerds and call or text us your questions at (901) 730-6373. That’s (901) 730-NERD. You could also email us at [email protected]. Also visit nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode. And remember to follow, rate and review us wherever you’re getting this podcast.
Sean Pyles:
This episode was produced by Tess Vigeland. I helped with editing, Kevin Berry helped with fact checking, Sara Brink mixed our audio.
Sara Rathner:
And here’s our brief disclaimer. We’re not financial or investment advisors. This nerdy info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to your specific circumstances.
Sean Pyles:
And with that said, until next time, turn to the Nerds.