After searching for five years, Vanessa Hudgens found the perfect Georgian colonial estate in Los Feliz, Calif. to call home. Find out how the High School Musical star transported an old Hollywood home into her “French” and “vibey” dream house.
Nicknamed “The Little DeMille,” iconic Hollywood filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille built the stunning Los Feliz house for his mistress in 1922.
And now, the Princess Switch star, 32, is opening up the doors of the updated home to Architectural Digest for an exclusive tour.
From her DIY remodel in the kitchen, to her “obsession” with candlesticks and vintage books, to the “sexy” and “cave-like” bathroom, here’s the full scoop on Vanessa Hudgens’ luxe Los Angeles home.
An historic Hollywood home transformed into the perfect “escape”
According to Daily Mail, Hudgens purchased the luxurious Los Feliz home from Academy Award-winning actor Gary Oldman. After a 5-year house hunt, Hudgens bought the home in December 2018 for just under $5 million.
The 3,168 square foot Georgian colonial home retains many of its original features.
Sitting on a half-acre, the stunning estate includes three bedrooms and four bathrooms with a separate one-bed, one-bath guesthouse that sits over a detached two-car garage.
Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, the historic Los Feliz home provides the perfect escape for the Tick, Tick…Boom! actress.
“There were so many things about it that struck me,” Hudgens tells AD of her plush property.
She adds: “Walking through the gate and seeing this house covered in ivy, surrounded by olive trees, it was like I had been transported to France or Italy. It felt like such an escape.”
Photo credit: Jenna Peffley for Architectural Digest
Sisters unite! Ashley Tisdale helped Hudgens with the DIY decor
BFF to the rescue!
While Hudgens always “wanted an old home,” there’s no escaping the upkeep and renovations with an older building.
After purchasing the house three years ago, Hudgens enlisted the help of her High School Musical costar and good pal Ashley Tisdale.
“I got new marble, painted the cabinets, got new knobs and drawer pulls—I really wanted brass. My girlfriend Ashley Tisdale does interior design, and I got her advice on where to shop,” Hudgens says.
Photo credit: Jenna Peffley for Architectural Digest
Hudgens also hired Jake Arnold to help bring her overall vision together, including a vast collection of vintage books, colorful art pieces, the perfect lighting for all her house plants, and a wide selection of candlesticks.
“I wanted it to be casual, relaxed and cozy,” she says of the interior design, adding, “I’m a big fan of candlesticks, so you will notice them everywhere.”
The luxe Los Feliz pad also has this “big selling point”
Amid the big plants, abstract art and witchy books, Hudgens couldn’t help but gush about the home’s fabulous floors.
“Oh and the floors!” she boasts.
The herringbone wood parquets “were a big selling point for me when I saw this house,” she shares.
Made from 18th-century French oak taken from an old chapel in Europe, the floors were originally added by Oldman.
Photo credit: Jenna Peffley for Architectural Digest
Hudgens took on a pandemic project to improve her new home
Admitting that her kitchen looked “very different” when she moved in, the Powerless star remodeled it during the pandemic.
“I took it upon myself to have a project, and put it all together,” Hudgens says of the DIY project.
“I painted the cabinets, removed some cabinets, and put big oak beams for open shelving,” shares the actress.
Photo credit: Jenna Peffley for Architectural Digest
Including eccentric wallpaper featuring mushrooms and dragons, Hudgens decorated the breakfast nook with designs from the House of Hackney.
“I figured, Why not? I did what I like to call a facelift to it,” Hudgens says of her kitchen renovations.
The funky wallpaper rests above a custom booth, inspired from “the dopest place ever.”
“I had the booth made for this space,” says Hudgens. “I was really inspired by the restaurant Maison Premiere, this absinthe and oyster bar in New York. It’s the dopest place ever.”
The actress also added extra tile, made of Carrara marble, from the primary bath for the backsplash.
A look at the romantic, the sexy and the cave-like features throughout the plush property
Hudgens invites fans into her “romantic” dining room, which features an Italian chandelier from 1stdibs.
Admitting she doesn’t cook often, Hudgens says, “I’m normally a ‘Let’s get everyone over, have a drink or two, put on a playlist, and then we all figure out what we want to eat and I just order it’ type of host.”
Heading upstairs, the Grease: Live star shows off her bedroom that features feminine art and pops of orange.
“For some reason I just really fell in love with the idea of orange for my bedroom,” she shares.
Hudgens is all about body-positivity, and shows fans a nude painting in her bedroom. “I wanted the house to be super feminine, to celebrate women’s bodies, to be a kind of femme palace,” Hudgens says.
When in California, enjoy the sunshine! The beautiful backyard features a pool, pizza oven, fire pit and plenty of outdoor space for entertaining.
“I wanted a yard that felt like a park where I could run around with my friends, have space to play, and just feel safe,” Hudgens shares.
Saving the best for last, Hudgens shows off her Goth black bathroom which is one of her “favorite places in the house.”
Photo credit: Jenna Peffley for Architectural Digest
Featuring marble countertops, black walls and an egg-shaped tub, Hudgens went for a cave-like aesthetic in the primary bathroom.
“The bathroom is a sexy cave,” shares the actress.
See the luxurious LA home for yourself! From the ivy exterior, to the poolside murals, to the various Teen Choice Awards and the ghost-like painting of herself, check out the YouTube video for a full tour with the High School Musical star.
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Do you ever wonder why it’s so hard to save money — even when you’ve cut the cable and the meals out, and you’ve never even had a latte habit?
One reason it’s so hard to save is that your fixed expenses — the ones that stay the same each month, like your rent or mortgage, car payment, property taxes and insurance premiums — tend to be your biggest bills. These aren’t exactly easy to reduce. Sure, you could lower your rent by moving to a smaller place, but moving itself is also expensive.
We don’t have a magic money-saving trick that will send your bank account balance soaring, but there are plenty of small ways you can scale back. And the little things do add up. Read on if you’re ready to start saving.
How to Start Saving: Set Your Goals First
We get that making a budget ranks right up there with a dentist appointment or trip to the DMV in terms of things you’d rather do. But it’s your essential first step when you want to start saving money.
Fortunately, the best budgeting apps make it easy to keep track of your spending and identify areas where you can cut back. Just be sure to comb through several months’ worth of expenses to get a true sense of where your money is going. Don’t forget about the expenses you don’t encounter every month, like holiday gifts and car registration.
If you don’t set goals, the only thing that budget will do is make you feel terrible about just how little money you’re saving. To get motivated to make saving a priority, spell out why you’re saving.
Think about the short-term goals you’re hoping to accomplish within the next year or two. Building an emergency fund for your family, making a down payment on a home or saving for a vacation may fit in here. Also consider your long-term goals, like putting more money in a 529 plan for your child or saving for retirement.
25 Tips for How to Save Money — Even When Times Are Tight
Here are 25 ideas for saving more money. The good news is that there’s no one thing you have to cut out. If it really matters to you, go ahead and keep spending on it. You can find other things to eliminate that won’t cause too much pain.
1. Time your purchases like a pro.
You may not be able to time a car repair or vet bill, but with discretionary purchases, knowing when to get the best deals can mean big savings. Need a TV? Wait until January, when last year’s models are discounted to make room for the new ones. Looking for new furniture? Retailers often clear out their stock around Independence Day, making July prime time for scoring cheap furniture.
Robin Hartill scored a free birthday sub she got from Jersey Mike’s Subs in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tina Russell/ The Penny Hoarder
2. Master the art of getting stuff for free.
Becoming a hermit isn’t the only way to save money. There are plenty of ways to get free stuff or have fun on the cheap. Some of our favorite ideas:
Use Facebook and Nextdoor. Before you shell out for things like furniture or baby gear, check out buy- nothing groups on platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor to see if one of your neighbors is looking to get rid of something similar.
Score free food by downloading an app. Plenty of restaurant chains offer freebies or BOGO deals for downloading their apps. You can always delete them after you take advantage if you don’t want temptation at your fingertips.
Get free stuff just for being born. You can score tons of birthday freebies if your big day is coming up — often not just on your actual birthday, but any time during your birth month.
Check out your local library for free entertainment. Your library card isn’t just a pass to check out books made from dead trees. Plenty of free library apps allow you to access ebooks, movies, music and more without paying a cent.
Swap goods or services with someone else. Learning how to barter can help you get what you need without spending money.
3. Smash your credit card debt once and for all.
The average APR for people who carry credit card debt is well over 16%. Your bank jumps for joy when you don’t pay off your balance because it’s getting rich off all that interest. Quit padding your bank’s coffers and break up with your credit card debt forever. Some tactics to try:
The debt snowball method, where you attack the smallest balance first.
The debt avalanche method, where you focus on the card with the highest interest rate.
A debt consolidation loan, where you merge your debts into a single payment. This is only a good option if you’re lowering your interest rates.
A balance-transfer credit card, where you transfer your balances to a card with a 0% promotional interest rate. That zero-interest period typically only lasts 12 to 18 months, though, so this approach is best if you don’t have tons of debt.
4. Flex interest rates to your advantage.
Although they may be on the rise, interest rates are still low, especially if you haven’t refinanced your mortgage in a number of years. One good rule of thumb: Refinance when you can lower your interest rate by 1 percentage point or more, since you’ll have to pay closing costs.
5. Lower your student loan payments.
If you’re struggling to pay off student loans, take advantage of the freeze on interest and payments during the forbearance period to talk to your servicers about whether an income-driven repayment plan is an option for your federal loans. These plans will stretch out your repayment over the standard 10-to-20 years — and if you still have a balance after 20 years, it will be forgiven, though you’ll still owe income taxes. If you have private student loans, check with your servicers about whether there’s a way to lower your debt payments.
To save time and money on eating out, Shane and Melissa Courtney prepare their lunches and dinners in their Tampa home. They shop at a local farmers market and use cheaper vegetables like cabbage. They also buy bulk items like rice noodles from Amazon. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
6. Do meal prep. Don’t go overboard.
Grocery stores play all kinds of sneaky mind games with you, and you’re most vulnerable if you shop while you’re harried and hangry. A great way to combat their money-snatching tactics is to make a shopping list and devote a few hours to meal prep every week.
But don’t get too ambitious here. If you’re an UberEats addict whose pantry consists of three spices, you’re setting yourself up for failure if you plan to cook 21 meals a week. Start with a more reasonable goal, like making your own breakfast and lunch each day, plus dinner three nights a week.
Pro Tip
Only buy in bulk if you’re purchasing products that have a long shelf life or ingredients that you have enough freezer space to store for future recipes.
7. Squeeze every cent you can out of your employer.
We aren’t just talking about negotiating your salary and asking for a raise when you’ve earned it — though both are essential, albeit awkward. To build your long-term savings, make sure you’re not leaving free money on the table. Contribute enough to get your employer’s full retirement match if they offer a 401(k) plan. If you have a health savings account, take advantage of any matching contributions to that as well. You can use the money you save for your own expenses, your spouse’s or a dependent family member’s.
8. Got a raise? Congrats, but don’t spend it.
Do your tastes get fancier every time you get a raise? This phenomenon is called lifestyle inflation, and it’s a notorious savings killer. You don’t have to live like you’re on an entry-level salary forever, but make a plan for your future raises so your living expenses increase at a slower rate than your salary. For example, plan to save half of your next pay increase and sock the rest in savings.
9. Be skeptical when something seems like a deal.
Free shipping if you spend just another $11? Step away from the digital shopping cart. If you’re being coaxed into shelling out another few bucks for something that’s “free”… well, it really isn’t free.
Playing the credit card rewards game is another good example. Yes, you can score free airfare and cash back. But it’s only free if you don’t spend more to get those rewards, and if you pay your balance in full every month. Otherwise, you’ll shell out way more in interest than you’re getting in rewards.
Getty Images
10. Cancel automated purchases for non-necessities.
Curbing mindless spending isn’t just about cutting out late-night Amazon purchases and impulse grocery buys. You probably have monthly subscriptions and memberships that are draining your bank account each month for things you rarely, if ever, use.
One of the best ways to save money is to look carefully at gym memberships, streaming services, subscription boxes and anything else that you automatically pay for each month. If you haven’t used it in the past month, it probably belongs on the chopping block. Also be on the lookout for any free trials you forgot to cancel.
Pro Tip
Avoid storing your credit and debit card information on websites you frequently shop on. You’ll make it harder for yourself to spend mindlessly.
11. Find energy suckers that are driving up your electric bill.
No, we aren’t going to tell you to invest thousands of dollars on solar panels for your home as a way to save money on your electric bill. But there are a few inexpensive tricks that can help you save money on utilities. Simple things like regularly changing air filters and switching to more efficient light bulbs can make a big difference on energy costs.
12. Repair what’s broken instead of buying new.
Just because something’s broken doesn’t mean it’s destroyed. By learning some basic DIY techniques, you can make your lightly damaged goods like new again without shelling out for repairs. For instance, learning a few basic sewing stitches will help you repair your clothing for you and your family, even if you don’t have a sewing machine. There are plenty of ways to learn home repair skills for free online.
But for major repairs, know when to call a pro. It’s worth the cost when you’re repairing a big-ticket item or doing anything that could jeopardize your safety.
13. Save money on prescription drugs.
Whether you have health insurance or not, it often pays to do some detective work before filling your prescriptions. If you don’t have insurance, you can save up to 80% on generic medications and 40% on name-brand drugs through Amazon Pharmacy or find medications nearly at-cost at Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company. Even if you have insurance, a prescription drug card could help you save money. You can ask your pharmacist to run the cost using your insurance and the card to find out which option is cheaper.
If a medication is expensive because you have to pay for it out of pocket or your insurance company puts it in a pricy tier, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. A lower-cost alternative may be available. For over-the-counter meds, always buy generic. The FDA requires generic drugs to be chemically identical to their more expensive name-brand counterparts.
14. Ditch your cell phone plan if you have a major carrier.
You don’t have to worry about spotty service when you switch to a discount cell phone plan. Most discount plans run on the network of one of the four major carriers, so the only thing you have to lose is your out-of-hand bill. Depending on the plan, you may have data restrictions. Some also require an unlocked device.
15. Find money you’ve long forgotten about.
Some money-saving strategies require a ridiculous amount of discipline. So here’s a super easy trick that could give you a quick savings boost in just three minutes. Find out if someone owes you money by searching your state’s unclaimed property website.
At least 1 in 10 Americans has missing money waiting to be claimed. You could find money from old security deposits or bank accounts, or even a life insurance policy you didn’t realize a loved one left you. The key to making a one-time windfall work for you is to use it purposefully. That can mean saving or investing your money, or putting it toward debt.
16. Get cash for switching banks.
Another way to get a quick cash infusion: Switch bank accounts. Some of the best bank promotions will give you $500 or more just for opening a new account. Just be sure to read the fine print, since a bank account with ridiculous fees or minimum balance requirements could cost you big.
17. Be strategic about your tax refund.
Some personal finance types will shame you for getting a big tax refund because you’re giving Uncle Sam an interest-free loan. We say, do whatever works for you. Opt to have less money withheld from your paycheck if you’ll actually save it or apply it toward debt. But if the idea of a giant tax refund motivates you, it’s OK to make the IRS play piggy bank. Just make a plan for how to spend your tax refund that will pay off in the long run. Some of our favorite ideas:
Put it in your savings account for an emergency or upcoming expense.
Pay down your highest-interest credit card.
Make an extra mortgage or car payment.
Give your Roth IRA a boost.
Put it in your child’s college fund.
Aileen Perilla/The Penny Hoarder
18. Travel by two wheels whenever possible.
Even if it’s not feasible to ditch your car, bike commuting a couple days a week can help you save money on obvious expenses, like gas and parking. But there’s a bonus here: When you’re on your bike, you can fit a lot less in your basket or backpack than you can in your car trunk. So if you have a habit of making extra trips to the grocery store or stopping for takeout on your way home, traveling by bike reduces the temptation.
19. Cancel the insurance you don’t need.
Insurance can seem like a money-sucker, because hopefully, you don’t need to use it very often. Having sufficient homeowner insurance or renters insurance, car insurance and medical insurance is one of the best ways to prevent an emergency from destroying your finances.
That said, some types of insurance are a waste of money. For example, you probably don’t need collision insurance or comprehensive insurance on a car that’s paid off if it’s older and one fender-bender away from scrapyard heaven. You may not want to shell out for accident insurance or critical illness insurance either, because the circumstances they’ll cover you for are so limited. Even life insurance may not be worth the cost if you’re single with no dependents.
Pro Tip
You can often get discounts on insurance by bundling your coverage. For example, you may save money by getting your car and renters insurance from the same company.
20. Do a no-spend challenge
Duh. It sounds so easy: To save money, just don’t spend it. But doing a no-spend challenge, where you commit to not spending any money over a certain period — be it a month, a week or even a single day — can help you reign in your spending.
Or you could try a modified version. Do a pantry challenge, where you avoid the grocery store and use the ingredients you have on hand to feed your family. Or build a capsule wardrobe, where you select a certain number of clothing items and make those your only wardrobe for the time frame of your choosing.
Students work on patients at the Dental Hygiene Clinic at St. Petersburg College in Pinellas Park, Fla. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
21. Find discounted services at vocational schools
If you’re looking for ways to save money on expensive services, sometimes it pays to let a student practice on you. You can get services like beauty treatments, sonograms and massage therapy at steep discounts from local vocational schools. If you live near a university and you’re truly brave, you could even get low-cost dental work from a student dentist.
22. Get free or low-cost financial help
If you’re struggling to stick to your budget or keep your spending in check, it’s OK to ask for help. You don’t need to spend big bucks to work with a financial pro. Unlike financial planners and advisers, who often cater to people with a higher net worth, a financial counselor is trained to help regular people manage their money from day to day. Many offer their services at little to no cost through a bank, school or nonprofit, or they practice on their own and use a sliding scale based on your income.
23. Find ways to earn extra money.
There’s no way around this one: Even when you have a bare bones budget, sometimes saving money just isn’t possible. One reason is that your fixed costs, like your rent or mortgage, medical insurance and car payments are often your biggest expenses — and those are the hardest to lower.
If you’ve cut everything you can and still can’t save, it’s time to find ways to make extra money. Switching to a higher-paying job isn’t always realistic, but you can still take on a side hustle, find a work-from-home job you can do part time or make extra cash selling stuff online.
24. Find cheap ways to treat yourself.
Any successful savings plan has a little built-in flexibility so you can treat yourself from time to time. Rather than downing drinks at happy hour, buy yourself a good but cheap bottle of wine to enjoy at home. Have a DIY spa day using simple ingredients you probably have on hand. If you’ve been stuck at home for too long, you can refresh your home’s look without spending a dime.
25. Talk about your struggles and your successes.
One of the best ways to save money is to tell other people that you’re trying to save money. Doing so can help you prepare your friends and family for when they hear you say no to joining them when they suggest expensive plans.
But that’s not the only advantage. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who’s struggling to save money, especially when you scroll through Instagram. But you’re far from alone. Find other people who are trying to save money, either within your social circle or by connecting with a like-minded online community. You can swap tips for saving money and find encouragement when times are rough.
And when you reach your savings goals, no matter how big or small? Pay it forward. Talk about it. Let others know exactly how you managed to save money — and that they can do it, too.
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior editor at The Penny Hoarder. Send your tricky money questions to [email protected].
“If you can handle stress and keep your cool, then this could be a good career choice,” says Orwat.
“You’ll have the opportunity to work at many different venues, see how different vendors work and experience a lot of weddings,” Orwat says. “It’ll also give you an idea of how physically demanding it is to work weddings.”
On wedding days, you’ll be on-site, on your feet (with a smile!) for up to 15 hours straight. Source: thepennyhoarder.com
Platforms like Facebook and Pinterest can quickly broaden your reach and put your business in front of potential customers. Use these expert tips on marketing your business on social media.
In addition to training and experience, it just takes a special kind of person to be a wedding planner.
How Much Does a Wedding Planner Make?
Still, the hard work is rewarding: Wedding planners seem to truly love their jobs.
The national average salary for a wedding planner is around ,500 to ,500 a year, or about ,262 per wedding.
Try these marketing tips to promote your wedding planning business:
As a side gig: $5,000 – $10,000
As an experienced full-time planner in a major city: $75,000-$200,000
As a full-time planner in a rural area: $25,000-$75,000
You’ll also have to plan and attend many events — so it’s imperative you’re OK working evenings and weekends.
Here are some annual salary ranges wedding planners can expect, according to experts:
Most wedding planners offer different packages (with different price ranges) to clients. Full-service packages are the most expensive option while day-of planning services are the least expensive. Some wedding professionals also offer consulting services by the hour. Starting your own business isn’t easy. It’s more than brainstorming cute names for your company and designing stylish business cards. You need to ensure your wedding planning business is well-planned out, properly registered and legally compliant.
What Does a Wedding Planner Do? Roles and Responsibilities
Your specific wedding planner salary depends largely on your location, training, experience and if you work independently or for an agency. Angelina Colhouer talks to guests about her wedding planning business at a bridal expo in Tampa, Fla. Heather Comparetto/The Penny Hoarder
Answering calls and emails from clients
Negotiating and securing contracts with vendors
Creating wedding day timelines
Hiring a caterer
Finding a venue
Scheduling a band or musician for the wedding reception
Selecting wedding invitations
Cake tasting
Picking out floral arrangements
Managing invoices, taxes and other business tasks
Angelina Colhouer of The Apostolic Wife got started by planning and designing her own wedding. When she was new to the business, Colhouer determined her rates by speaking with established wedding planners in her area.
According to industry pros, here are some key traits shared by the best wedding planners.
It’s your job to pull off the perfect event without breaking the bank.
Wedding planner job duties often include:
Don’t expect it to be easy, either. The job is “demanding both physically and mentally,” says Debbie Orwat, founder and chief inspiration officer at Planner’s Lounge, a community for event planners.
How to Become a Wedding Planner: Education, Certification and Training
Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
There might be a lot of family drama going on as well.
Certifications
While a college degree isn’t required, majors like business, communications, public relations, hospitality management, marketing and event planning provide a helpful foundation.
Organizations like the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners, the North American Wedding Academy and the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute all offer courses you can take to hone your skills and earn a certification.
Cost varies widely, from 0 to ,500 and up.
Deciding whether to go solo or work for others totally depends on you, your preferences and your experience level.
“We live to solve problems, keep everything on time and manage 20-plus vendors without breaking a sweat,” Orwat says.
Continuing Education Opportunities for Wedding Planners
More important than degrees or certificates? Experience.
Write down your goals and map out why you think your wedding planning company will be successful. A good business plan should include the services you plan to offer, a sales pitch, a list of direct competitors and your anticipated fixed and variable expenses.
Watch webinars
Read articles and blog posts about the wedding planning industry
Listen to wedding podcasts
Attend workshops and conferences
Explore local networking events and meet-ups
Check out industry studies like WeddingWire’s Newlywed Report and Brides.com’s American Wedding Study
A wedding planner certification may be worth the cost if you’re just starting out in the industry and don’t have much prior experience in event planning or hospitality.
Juggling dozens of weddings — and multiple vendors for each one — requires you to be on the ball, all the time.
When Colhouer started, she needed to pay for an LLC, styled photo shoots and a promotional video. Other potential upfront costs include business cards, social media ads and other marketing costs.
How to Get Experience as a Wedding Planner
Here are a few ways to brush up on your wedding planner skills:
Interning or working as an assistant is grueling work — but you’ll get to learn the ropes alongside a seasoned professional.
If you’ve worked in event planning or project management — or have prior experience running your own business — you might be well-suited to work as an independent contractor or pick up freelance gigs as a wedding planner.
You need to be a good communicator who can lead, listen, navigate challenges and delegate under pressure.
It’s also smart to join a professional wedding planner organization, like the Association of Bridal Consultants or the Association for Wedding Professionals International.
They charged ,000 to ,000 per wedding, so she decided to charge ,000 for her first one.
Should You Work for a Wedding Planning Company or Go Solo?
There’s no specific path to become a wedding planner and no formal education is required. Networking and hands-on experience are key.
Many of these resources are available online, so it’s easy to start growing your knowledge at home.
You can also try applying at hotels, resorts and country clubs since these places often double as wedding venues.
Ready to dive in and learn more about how to become a wedding planner?
Colhouer arranges plate settings for a styled shoot in Tampa, Fla. Heather Comparetto/The Penny Hoarder
How to Start A Wedding Planner Business
Indeed estimates the average hourly rate around .45 an hour.
Getting your name — and company name — out there is critical if you want to attract new clients and grow your wedding planning business.
If you can’t score a wedding planner job right away, search for other positions in the wedding industry. For example, work for a caterer, florist or decorator.
If you work as a wedding planner, no two days are the same. Flexibility is key.
Invest in a professional website.
You can hand out business cards at bridal trade shows and schmooze with the owners of local bridal boutiques.
Get good at social media.
It takes intensive planning, organization, scheduling and coordination to pull off a major live event with dozens — if not hundreds — of guests.
Decide what services to offer.
It sounds dreamy — but it’s really hard work.
Create a business plan.
Some wedding planners operate as sole proprietors, but if you plan on hiring employees, you’ll need a different business structure, such as a limited liability company. You’ll also want to register your company with the state once you decide on a business entity and name.
Educate yourself.
Your website is your storefront. It needs to wow potential customers while showcasing your rates, prior experience and contact information in a clear, accessible format. You can create your own wedding planner website for free using sites like Wix, or hire a professional to design it for you.
Prepare for upfront costs.
Whether it’s an internship at an agency or simply planning a wedding for free, acquiring in-person experience is key to success in this career.
Get legal stuff squared away.
After all, you can always start off at an agency to gain experience, and then start your own company down the road.
Get a business bank account and credit card.
Every couple has a budget, whether it’s ,000 or 0,000. You’ll need to know how to make a dollar stretch, find killer deals and responsibly manage money.
Strengthen Your Marketing Skills
Once she had a few weddings under her belt, she charged ,500.
Ready to strike out on your own?
Many wedding planners start their own company as a part-time side hustle before building it up to a full-time career.
Take online courses, attend wedding planning conferences and look into industry groups and networking events. You may even want to consider hiring a business coach.
Step-up your social media game. You should create a strong presence on social media sites like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even LinkedIn. Post often, engage with followers and utilize hashtags to expand your audience. Share photos from your events, testimonials from couples and trending wedding-related news.
Start blogging. Writing posts on your own website or submitting guest posts to other wedding websites is a great way to gain exposure and establish yourself as an expert wedding planner.
Leverage reviews and testimonials. Aside from price, reviews and photos are some of the biggest selling points for couples. Make sure brides you’ve worked with have an easy way to leave reviews about your services on Google and Facebook, and include the best reviews on your website and social media accounts.
Get media mentions. Getting featured in a local or national wedding publication is huge. Be proactive, reach out to media outlets and pitch them unique story ideas about your business. Highlight what makes you different and newsworthy.
Ask the publication to include a backlink to your website or social media profile. Backlinks from reputable sources can boost your website ranking on Google and increase your traffic.
Debbie Orwat, founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Planner’s Lounge, discusses wedding ideas with her clients. Photo courtesy of Debbie Orwat
What Skills Do Successful Wedding Planners Need?
These courses typically last two to three months. Upon completion, you’ll receive a certificate, letter of recommendation and a professional designation.
Brides want their weddings to be perfect, which means they are often demanding.
Organized With an Eye for Detail
Wedding planners oversee nearly every aspect of wedding day festivities to create an unforgettable celebration for their clients.
But in 2022, a few digital marketing skills can really help you pull in new customers.
Great Communicator
You won’t just need to communicate with vendors and brides before and during the event; you’ll also need to deal with guests in a chaotic environment.
You don’t need a special college degree or certification to become a wedding planner.
Patient and Empathetic
“Spending six to 12 months with a couple, then seeing it all come to fruition for a stunning celebration is unbelievably rewarding,” says Orwat.
Keeping your business finances separate from your personal finances is important — especially when tax time rolls around. You’ll need to get an employer identification number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service first. You can apply for one online in a matter of minutes.
Networking is essential if you want to become a wedding planner. Professional organizations are a great way to meet vendors that you can enlist for upcoming events while fostering relationships with other wedding planners in your area.
Strong Stamina
In this guide, we explain what a wedding planner does, their average salary and how to get started in this fast-paced industry.
Formal education isn’t required, but it’s essential to learn as much about the wedding planning industry as possible if you want to succeed.
Great Budgeting Skills
“Many of us choose this career because we thrive on the excitement, the challenge and the madness that happens on the wedding day,” says Orwat.
On the other hand, if you’re a fresh college grad or don’t have much experience with event planning, it makes more sense to join a wedding planning agency first.
If you decide to launch your own business, here are a few tips: Certifications aren’t required either — but they can help you look more appealing to potential clients and provide useful information.
If you’re a busy small business owner who’s wondering if it’s OK to use your personal checking account for your business, the answer is yes. Probably. At least for a little while.
But you may find there are complications and risks involved if you mix your personal and business funds in one account for very long. It can make record-keeping a challenge, for one thing, especially when it comes to doing taxes. And you may be able to better protect yourself legally if you keep your business and personal funds separate. Let’s take a look at:
• The features of business checking accounts and personal checking accounts
• The differences between these two types of bank accounts
• The risks of using your personal bank account for business
• The advantages of having a separate business bank account
Let’s start learning!
What Is a Business Checking Account?
A business checking account is a separate bank account intended to manage financial transactions related to your business, including making deposits and withdrawals, paying bills, and transferring money. Some expenses you might use your business account for include:
• Office equipment and supplies
• Rent and utilities
• Transportation costs (gas, parking, tolls, or public transportation expenses)
• Car payments and insurance (if you have a car you use for business)
• Consulting and marketing costs
• Paying employees (if you have any)
• Tax payments and insurance premiums
What Is a Personal Checking Account?
A personal checking account is designed for managing an individual or couple’s finances. It can be used for depositing and withdrawing money, paying bills, and transferring money to family members. (Wondering the difference between a personal checking account vs a savings account? The latter usually pays more interest, may have higher minimum deposits, often doesn’t provide checks or a debit card, and in some cases may have transaction limits.)
It may be tempting, especially as a new business owner or sole proprietor, to think, “Can I use my personal account for business?” and proceed to buy a laptop, office supplies, or new business cards with it. But commingling business and personal funds can get confusing. Having to sort things out can make bookkeeping a major headache and cause problems when it’s time to claim business-related tax deductions.
What’s the Difference Between Business and Personal Checking?
There may be some important differences in how a bank sets up its business and personal checking accounts, including:
Documentation
The documentation required to sign up for a business account may vary a bit from what you’d need for a personal account. For example, depending on how your business is structured, along with an Employer Identification Number (EIN), Social Security number, and photo identification, you may have to provide a business license, LLC agreement, articles of incorporation, or a Doing Business As (DBA) certificate.
Minimums
Coming up with enough money to open a business account may not be as daunting as you think. The amount it takes to get started varies by bank, but many require only a $25, $50, or $100 deposit to get started. However, banks generally require a higher minimum balance for a business account if you want to avoid maintenance and other fees.
Transaction Fees
You also may see a transaction fee added to your costs if you go over a maximum number of transactions for the month in a business account. The number of free transactions you’re allowed typically is based on your average monthly balance. If you expect your business to have multiple banking transactions each month, that’s a cost you’d want to consider.
Premium Benefits
Banks generally offer the same protections and benefits to business accounts as they provide for personal accounts, including round-the-clock fraud monitoring, account alerts, and liability protection for unauthorized transactions. But there may be additional business-specific perks available for business accounts — especially larger accounts. Check with your prospective business bank to find out more.
Debit Cards
With a personal account, you’ll likely receive a debit card for your personal use (and one for a joint account holder, if you have one). With certain business accounts, you also may be allowed to get debit cards for your employees so they can make purchases or ATM withdrawals on behalf of the business.
Credit Card Payments
If your business account is a “merchant account,” you may be able to take debit and credit card payments from clients or customers. This requires a different kind of business account, however, rather than a typical business checking account, so inquire at your bank.
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Open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account and start earning 1.25% APY on your cash!
Can I Use My Regular Checking Account for Business if I’m a Sole Proprietor?
If your small business is a sole proprietorship, you can legally operate using only your personal bank account. But you may want to check your account’s terms and conditions to be sure your bank allows you to use a personal account for business transactions. You may have to open a separate account if you’re asking customers to make payments to a company name that’s different from your own.
Can I Use My Personal Checking Account for Business if I Have an LLC or Corporation?
Yes, it may be tempting to use your personal checking account if you operate your business as a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. But take note: You are legally required to separate your personal and company finances. You could use a separate personal account to establish that split, or you may want to consider the benefits of using a business account instead. (If you’re applying as an LLC or corporation, some banks may require that you use a designated business account.) So in this case, you likely do want to have that separate business account to stay on the right side of the law.
Risks of Using a Personal Checking Account for Business
Using your personal checking account may seem like the easiest way to handle business transactions — especially if your business is small or you’re just starting out. But there are risks involved, including:
Tax-Related Liabilities
One of the factors the IRS uses to distinguish between a hobby and business activities is whether you carry on the activity in a businesslike manner and “maintain complete and accurate books and records.” It’s critical for business owners who claim business income and deductions on their income taxes to keep their company’s financial transactions separate from their personal transactions. It can be much harder to do that — and prove that you’re doing it — if you’re working out of one account. It can be close to impossible to reconstruct what you were paying for and when if you ever have to account for past business spending out of your personal account.
Business-Related Liabilities
You can form an LLC or corporation in an effort to protect your personal assets from business-related liabilities. But if you mix business and personal funds in one account and a court decides you aren’t actually treating your business as a separate entity, you still may be at risk.
Loss of Credibility
If you’re hoping to grow your business, not having a business-only bank account could hurt your potential. Some clients and investors may be reluctant to make payments to a personal bank account — especially if your business has a different name. It also may be challenging to apply for a small business loan if you haven’t established a professional relationship with your bank. And if you have to show paperwork to set up a client, investor, or lending arrangement, having business-only bank statements could be a lot less confusing (and, um, personal).
Benefits of Using a Business Checking Account for Business
Using a business checking account may not be a legal requirement in all situations, but it could have benefits for you and your business, including:
Simplified Record-Keeping
Unless you’re a meticulous record-keeper, it can be difficult to keep business and personal finances separate. Maintaining separate bank accounts could prevent costly errors, keep you out of trouble with the IRS, and make your life as the company bookkeeper a lot less complicated.
Tracking Performance
If you use small business bookkeeping software, you may be able to link it with your business bank account to quickly check your cash flow, monitor transactions, build your budget, and create financial projections. That won’t be possible if your business transactions are mixed with your personal transactions, however.
Building Legitimacy
Using a business account for your transactions could help clients, vendors, and others you deal with think of you as a legitimate businessperson instead of someone with a side hustle. (Have you ever heard the expression “dress for the job you want”? It holds true for banking, too. Having a separate business account could help you present yourself as a serious professional.)
Building a Brand
Growing your brand might take more than just your sparkling personality, business savvy, and an irresistible Instagram feed. You may need money, and that means convincing lenders that you’re a good risk. A well-managed separate business bank account can help you build a relationship with your bank and a reputation for creditworthiness.
The Takeaway
Using separate accounts for your personal and business finances could make sense — even if you’re a new business or a sole proprietor. It can make record-keeping easier for tax preparation and other business purposes and give your business added credibility with customers, vendors, and lenders. In some cases (LLCs, we’re talking to you!), it’s legally required, so don’t overlook this important step in building your business.
While we’re on the money topic, how are your personal accounts doing lately? If you’d like simpler and more reward-rich banking, take a look at SoFi Checking and Savings® . We’re currently offering a 1.25% APY to customers who sign up for an online bank account with direct deposit. That’s a whopping 41 times the average rate right now. More benefits: SoFi doesn’t charge overdraft, minimum balance, or monthly fees, and SoFi members have access to free tools that can help with budgeting and tracking their money as they work toward their goals.
Check out everything SoFi Checking and Savings has to offer.
FAQ
Can I use a separate personal checking account for my business?
If you use a second personal account to separate your funds, you may lose out on some business-specific tools and perks that are offered exclusively through business accounts. If you are not legally required to have a business account, you might opt for a separate personal account, you may receive other benefits — such as a higher interest rate or lower fees. Either way, you’d be accomplishing the primary goal of dividing your personal and business funds.
Can I transfer money from my personal account to my LLC?
Yes, you can transfer money from your own account to the LLC’s account. It‘s important, though, to keep clear documentation of the transaction.
Do I need a business bank account if I’m self-employed?
It isn’t a legal requirement, but you may want to separate business and personal funds to simplify your record-keeping and keep transactions separate for income-tax preparation and other accounting purposes.
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
As we’ve entered 2022 and the pandemic is still upon us, a lot of Minters are asking, “What do I need to know about what’s happening in the economy and stock market, and how does it all affect my finances?”
When investing, whether it is in real estate, the stock market, or crypto market, it is always important to remember your long-term game plan and investment philosophy. There are a lot of new investors on the scene and many have not yet experienced bear markets or extreme market volatility and don’t understand the principles of not reacting emotionally when they see their accounts down. If you are investing for the future, then focus on having the right allocation mix, understanding market volatility and risk, and don’t react emotionally when you see your accounts down. Remember, short-term fluctuation is not a long-term loss and you only lose money if you sell at a loss.
Spend time to learn, or remind yourself of, smart investing principles and never panic, sell, or get lost in your emotions when it comes to making financial decisions. The news will always (and I mean always) be a chicken little crying, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling,” but any successful investor will tell you to keep your investment philosophy front and center, and not react to market swings unless something major changes in your financial life and, therefore, changes your goals.
To help you review your finances and get an updated plan for 2022, here are 10 important things you can do right now with your money:
1. Don’t panic
Easier said than done, but during volatile times, it is important to remain calm and centered and not react from a place of fear. It is wise to express any emotions you may have about what is going on with a trusted family member, friend, or licensed therapist and use your network of professionals to help guide you during this time. Take advantage of this time to start meditating or doing other activities to keep you centered and calm.
2. Have a plan
You always need a solid budget and financial plan, and in times like these, you can then be more present and clear with what is happening. Most people who have a solid budget and financial plan that they’ve set up in Mint or have been working with a financial planner, will find that they don’t need to react much to the unforeseen circumstances and hopefully have been getting prepared for a market downturn.
3. Review your plan with your financial planner
You should review your plan often, but especially during times like this, you can review again to ensure you are doing everything properly with your money. If you don’t have a financial planner, now is the time to get one. Check out www.cfpboard.net for a planner who fits your needs.
4. Review your budget and cut out any unnecessary expenses
You can log into your Mint app and do a deep dive into all your monthly expenses to see if there is any thing you can cut out, like memberships or subscriptions you no longer use. With any freed up cash you create by eliminating or reducing expenses, you can decide what financial goal you want to save that for. Mint has a great feature to help you create financial goals and set up automatic savings toward them so you see the progress you’re looking for to reach those financial goals you have.
5. Consider refinancing debt into lower interest rates
The Federal interest rates are rising and that means now is a great time to lock in low rates before they continue to rise. Review the interest rates on credit cards, mortgages and other personal debts but make sure to talk to a professional as it does not always make sense to refinance debt. Do your research and make sure you understand your options carefully.
6. Don’t invest short-term money into long-term investments
This is a given but even more critical during this time. You should always have your short-term goals like Cash Cushion, Home Down Payment, and Travel in high yield savings accounts and not invested in the stock market. The reason is because you never want to take money from your investment accounts when they may be down (for example, the current scenario) to cover your short-term money needs.
7. Keep the long-term in mind with long-term investments
This is also a given but keep in mind that you should only invest your money in the stock market for the longer term, as you have time on your side to recover from this and whatever comes in the future.
8. Invest excess cash
Having an adequate cash cushion is key throughout your lifetime as it allows for a cushion during emergencies, times of reduced income or major unexpected expenses. That said, having too much in cash is not good, especially with inflation at about 6.8% right now. Review how much you need as a cash cushion and then invest the right in assets like real estate, the stock market, etc. that can help grow your money faster than inflation over time.
9. Look for opportunities
Are there ways you can make more money right now? Use this time to use your unique skill set and create an online course or create and sell other products or services that provide value to others. Because most are left with more time on their hands, choose to use it wisely.
10. Educate yourself on money management and investing principles
Continue reading blogs like this to educate yourself on smart money management strategies and investing principles. Mint has a lot of valuable money content that can help you at any stage of life. Now could be the perfect time to kick your financial literacy into high gear.
Hope this blog provided you some helpful insight to help you make the most of 2022!
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
Brittney Castro, CFP®, CRPC®, AAMS® is the founder and CEO of Financially Wise, Inc., Entrepreneur and Speaker. Connect with her on Instagram or Linkedin. More from Brittney Castro
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
As we’ve entered 2022 and the pandemic is still upon us, a lot of Minters are asking, “What do I need to know about what’s happening in the economy and stock market, and how does it all affect my finances?”
When investing, whether it is in real estate, the stock market, or crypto market, it is always important to remember your long-term game plan and investment philosophy. There are a lot of new investors on the scene and many have not yet experienced bear markets or extreme market volatility and don’t understand the principles of not reacting emotionally when they see their accounts down. If you are investing for the future, then focus on having the right allocation mix, understanding market volatility and risk, and don’t react emotionally when you see your accounts down. Remember, short-term fluctuation is not a long-term loss and you only lose money if you sell at a loss.
Spend time to learn, or remind yourself of, smart investing principles and never panic, sell, or get lost in your emotions when it comes to making financial decisions. The news will always (and I mean always) be a chicken little crying, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling,” but any successful investor will tell you to keep your investment philosophy front and center, and not react to market swings unless something major changes in your financial life and, therefore, changes your goals.
To help you review your finances and get an updated plan for 2022, here are 10 important things you can do right now with your money:
1. Don’t panic
Easier said than done, but during volatile times, it is important to remain calm and centered and not react from a place of fear. It is wise to express any emotions you may have about what is going on with a trusted family member, friend, or licensed therapist and use your network of professionals to help guide you during this time. Take advantage of this time to start meditating or doing other activities to keep you centered and calm.
2. Have a plan
You always need a solid budget and financial plan, and in times like these, you can then be more present and clear with what is happening. Most people who have a solid budget and financial plan that they’ve set up in Mint or have been working with a financial planner, will find that they don’t need to react much to the unforeseen circumstances and hopefully have been getting prepared for a market downturn.
3. Review your plan with your financial planner
You should review your plan often, but especially during times like this, you can review again to ensure you are doing everything properly with your money. If you don’t have a financial planner, now is the time to get one. Check out www.cfpboard.net for a planner who fits your needs.
4. Review your budget and cut out any unnecessary expenses
You can log into your Mint app and do a deep dive into all your monthly expenses to see if there is any thing you can cut out, like memberships or subscriptions you no longer use. With any freed up cash you create by eliminating or reducing expenses, you can decide what financial goal you want to save that for. Mint has a great feature to help you create financial goals and set up automatic savings toward them so you see the progress you’re looking for to reach those financial goals you have.
5. Consider refinancing debt into lower interest rates
The Federal interest rates are rising and that means now is a great time to lock in low rates before they continue to rise. Review the interest rates on credit cards, mortgages and other personal debts but make sure to talk to a professional as it does not always make sense to refinance debt. Do your research and make sure you understand your options carefully.
6. Don’t invest short-term money into long-term investments
This is a given but even more critical during this time. You should always have your short-term goals like Cash Cushion, Home Down Payment, and Travel in high yield savings accounts and not invested in the stock market. The reason is because you never want to take money from your investment accounts when they may be down (for example, the current scenario) to cover your short-term money needs.
7. Keep the long-term in mind with long-term investments
This is also a given but keep in mind that you should only invest your money in the stock market for the longer term, as you have time on your side to recover from this and whatever comes in the future.
8. Invest excess cash
Having an adequate cash cushion is key throughout your lifetime as it allows for a cushion during emergencies, times of reduced income or major unexpected expenses. That said, having too much in cash is not good, especially with inflation at about 6.8% right now. Review how much you need as a cash cushion and then invest the right in assets like real estate, the stock market, etc. that can help grow your money faster than inflation over time.
9. Look for opportunities
Are there ways you can make more money right now? Use this time to use your unique skill set and create an online course or create and sell other products or services that provide value to others. Because most are left with more time on their hands, choose to use it wisely.
10. Educate yourself on money management and investing principles
Continue reading blogs like this to educate yourself on smart money management strategies and investing principles. Mint has a lot of valuable money content that can help you at any stage of life. Now could be the perfect time to kick your financial literacy into high gear.
Hope this blog provided you some helpful insight to help you make the most of 2022!
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
Brittney Castro, CFP®, CRPC®, AAMS® is the founder and CEO of Financially Wise, Inc., Entrepreneur and Speaker. Connect with her on Instagram or Linkedin. More from Brittney Castro
No, not the Chief Technology Officer. We’re talking about taking your taco-eating obsession to the next level as Favor’s Chief Taco Officer.
Favor is a Texas-based delivery service that wants to pay “one energetic, hungry and social-savvy Texan $10,000 to track down the best tacos across the state this summer.” The chosen taco guru will travel across Texas and taste test all the tacos (delivered by Favor, naturally) while documenting the experience.
In addition to $10,000 in cash, the Chief Taco Officer will receive food, accommodations, transportation in each city, wellness activities – like massages and yoga classes – plus custom Favor swag and free Favor delivery for a year.
“The history and culture behind one of the most iconic foods in the Lone Star State vary from city to city, and we’re excited for our new Chief Taco Officer to discover some of the best and most authentic tacos out there,” Jag Bath, Favor CEO, said in a press release.
The ideal candidate knows their way around TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, isn’t shy on camera, and is an adventurous eater always willing to try something new. Candidates also need to be Texas residents over 21 years old.
To apply for Favor’s Chief Taco Officer position, you need to:
Create a 60 second or less video explaining why you should be the Chief Taco Officer and what makes you excited about the job.
Post the video to your TikTok or Instagram Reel. Your account needs to be public, plus you need to tag @Favor and use the #FavorDreamJob hashtag.
Fill out the application on Favor’s website and include the video link.
After that, just sit back and dream about your possible taco-filled future. Favor said it will reach out to applicants who are finalists for the position.
Chief Taco Officer duties begin in June 2022 and last through July 31, 2022.
Robert Bruce is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
To say he’s living the American dream is an understatement. Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-born bodybuilder, turned Hollywood movie star, turned California governor.
Not to mention, he married into the most famous American family of all time.
While these credentials are nothing to sniff at, the Governator’s estimated net worth of $450 million started with very humble beginnings.
And although he has an impressive resume, the Terminator star, 74, made his first million in something he’s not commonly known for — real estate investment.
Before saying hasta la vista baby, hear us out!
Continue reading the full scoop on Schwarzenegger’s impressive real estate portfolio that’s landed him a luxurious California compound, a couple vacation homes, and one heckuva healthy bank account.
How Arnie built his multi-million dollar empire
In 1968, at the age of 21, Schwarzenegger moved from Austria to the United States with $27,000 to his name.
Over the following years, he won five Mr. Universe titles and six Mr. Olympia crowns.
But being titled top tough guy wasn’t his main interest.
Calling the 1970’s the “magic decade,” Schwarzenegger says his real estate investments made him a millionaire.
“Buildings that I would buy for $500K within the year were $800K and I put only maybe $100K down, so you made 300% on your money,” he told CNBC of his early investments.
“I quickly developed and traded up my buildings and bought more apartment buildings and office buildings on Main Street down in Santa Monica and so on,” he added. “I became a millionaire from my real estate investments.”
First came the muscles, then came the marriage
Being the most famous bodybuilder in the world was a major accomplishment in and of itself. But Arnie was just getting started.
After dating a few different American women, he met the niece of the most famous man in America — the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.
In 1977, the pair met at a Kennedy tennis tournament. After dating nearly ten years, Arnold and Maria Shriver were wed in 1986 and went on to have four children together.
The Shriver-Schwarzeneggers lived in a 4,100-square-foot home in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The house Arnold Schwarzenegger shared with former wife Maria Shriver. Photo credit: Marc Angeles
For some down time, the family-of-six jetted off to their vacation homes in Sun Valley, Idaho, and Hyannis Port, Mass.
Then after 25 years of marriage (and a high-profile cheating scandal), the pair called it quits with Shriver moving out of their Pacific Palisades family home.
After the split, Maria moved into her own house nearby to keep the kids on a regular co-parenting schedule.
And Arnie sold the former family home to Maria’s cousins, Maxwell “Max” Kennedy and Vicki Strauss Kennedy.
According to PEOPLE, their former family home has recently hit the market again.
So where did Arnie go? Everything we know about Schwarzenegger’s house
After selling the family home, Arnie said to himself: “I’ll be back.”
In fact, the Predator star set up residence once again in Pacific Palisades, just down the road from their former family abode, Closer Weekly reports.
He is not only keenly involved in his kids’ lives (including the child he fathered from the previously mentioned cheating scandal), but he’s also a proud fur daddy.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in the backyard of his Pacific Palisades house, with Whiskey and Lulu. Photo credit: Instagram / Arnold Schwarzenegger
The actor has plenty of unique pets roaming around his sprawling Pacific Palisades property, including a miniature horse named Whiskey and a donkey named Lulu, both whom have been featured (repeatedly) on his Instagram account.
With stunning views of the canyons and the Pacific Ocean, Schwarzenegger’s house sits on more than 2.5 acres in one of LA’s most exclusive gated communities.
Boasting seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, the hillside compound offers a chef’s kitchen, various living rooms, areas for entertainment and a private gym.
Arnold Schwarzenegger at home, cradling the newest addition to his family, a Leonberger dog he named Schnitzel. Photo credit: Instagram / Arnold Schwarzenegger
While Whiskey and Lulu enjoy the sprawling yard to run free, the backyard also includes a large pool with a spa, a tennis court, a duck pond and several balconies with jaw-dropping views of the mountains and the ocean.
And while Arnie has lit up the big screen in numerous blockbuster films, Lulu and Whiskey are stealing the spotlight these days.
“Stay at home as much as possible. Listen to the experts, ignore the morons,” Schwarzenegger captioned the clip as he sat at his kitchen table with his furry friends.
“We will get through this together,” he went on to encourage his followers at the beginning of the pandemic. Though admittedly, enjoying acres of land and the company of cute farm animals would have made staying home much easier on most.
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There’s a podcast for everything, including how to handle your money.
According to Earth Web, over two million podcasts exist globally. Podcasts are audio shows on every topic you can imagine, ranging from apartment living to zoos. They have exploded with the advent of the World Wide Web. Podcasts about personal finance educate listeners about budgeting, investing, retirement planning and other money-related matters. Some reach general audiences. While others target a niche group, such as women or minorities.
The most popular personal finance podcasts
The internet is home to an ever-increasing number of podcasts. The incredible variety means it’s likely you can find one you’ll enjoy. But it could take some time to research.
There are several avenues for researching podcasts to find one that suits your tastes. They include:
Doubling down on debt
One of the most widely hailed podcasts focuses on personal finance. You can hear The Dave Ramsey Show weekdays from 2-5 p.m. EST. It attracts millions of listeners. You can listen on Sirius XM (Channel 111) or anytime on YouTube and podcast apps. Ramsey and his guests provide simple advice geared toward bettering the financial futures of his listeners. He has a serious disdain for debt. And he encourages listeners to reduce their debt as quickly as possible.
Ramsey’s website offers a bevy of financial-related information, such as budgeting tips, retirement planning and more. Free tools to help people overhaul their financial future are also available.
Money matters, with a side of quirkiness
Clark Howard is a nationally-syndicated radio talk show host and a consumer reporter on television. During his podcast, Howard shares practical and actionable suggestions listeners can use to enhance their financial futures.
Howard has been offering useful advice on a range of topics for over three decades. He discusses managing debt, monthly bills, retirement and other financial-related topics. He’s also a best-selling author who founded Clark.com, ClarkDeals.com and the Consumer Action Center.
You can download episodes of Howard’s podcast using Audacy or Podbean.
Personal finance podcasts aimed at women
With over three million downloads, The Clever Girl Knows is a trusted resource for women interested in business, finance and related topics.
According to its website, the podcast is meant to “inspire women to achieve financial success.”
With over 1,300 episodes available to listeners, So Money features lively discussions about money management and finance. It hosts guests like best-selling authors Gretchen Rubin and Tim Ferriss. The podcast’s host, Farnoosh Tarabi, is an award-winning financial strategist. She’s also the Editor-at-Large of CNET Money and best-selling author.
It’s easy to tell who comprises the target audience of Suze Orman’s podcast, Women and Money (And Everyone Smart Enough to Listen). Currently in its second season, the highly acclaimed podcast comes out on Sundays and Thursdays. You can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It can also be heard for free on Audible.
Orman’s fiscal philosophy is her belief that financial problems can’t be fixed with money. Therefore, she emboldens listeners to rely on their own problem-solving capabilities to resolve monetary challenges.
The Fairer Cents bills itself as a podcast about “rad women and real money stories instead of the same old financial [bs].” Named a ‘Best Podcast for Women’ in 2019, The Fairer Cents features two females of different generations. They unabashedly encourage women to take their financial future by its horns.
Podcasts aimed at millennials
How to Money is a personal finance podcast targeting people seeking to get their financial house in order for the first time. Hosted by two best friends, millennials themselves, How to Money focuses on a range of topics. These include paying off debt, the impact of credit scores and annoying tipping trends.
Episodes run between 30 to 60 minutes in length and publish several times throughout the week. Every Friday, the hosts review the week’s most newsworthy financial headlines. Check out Apple Podcasts for this show.
Another podcast aimed at listeners newer to money matters is Money Rehab, hosted by Nicole Lapin. The best-selling author of Rich Bitch, Lapin’s podcast offers no-nonsense advice on everyday concerns. These could include divorcing without losing everything and health tips that can save money.
The Money Guy encourages listeners to take their financial futures to the next level using the common-sense advice distilled by Brian Preston, The Money Guy. He and his co-host, Bo Hanson, are both CPAs and certified financial planners. Hanson is also certified in personal financial services.
Their website offers a bevy of free information to assist users in making sound financial decisions based on the common-sense advice distilled by Preston and Hanson.
Recent podcast topics have included ‘How to Get Rich Without Even Trying’ and ‘How to Become a Millionaire by Age.’ In that episode, the two money gurus advise listeners on how much they need to save by what age to ensure they attain millionaire status in their lives.
Podcasts aimed at minorities
Another niche audience for podcasters is the burgeoning market comprised of minorities. One of the most well-known of such shows is Minority Money, hosted by Emlen Miles-Mattingly.
According to Miles-Mattingly’s website, for every $100 a white family has, a black family has $5. Living what he refers to as a “substandard financial life” when he was young, Miles-Mattingly took positive steps to impact his financial future.
As founder and CEO of NextGen Wealth, Miles-Mattingly is a success determined to tap into his background and know-how. He uses this to help steer the public about their health, finances, wealth and fitness. He’s a fervent advocate of the notion of aligning one’s monetary outlays with one’s personal values.
Two women considered among the best Black financial bloggers today host Brown Ambition. Both are known as excellent money managers whose advice can help build wealth and steer listeners towards financial stability.
The podcast, found on Instagram, among other outlets, tackles issues like salary negotiation, student debt, relationships and investing beyond retirement planning.
Find the best personal finance podcast for you
The incredible popularity of podcasts is undeniable. With countless podcasts on nearly every topic under the sun, including financial planning and money management, they’re a great way to become educated about whatever matters to you most.
While he may be busy filming for season 2 and 3 of the popular reality show Bling Empire, Kane Lim is still taking care of business.
He just listed his new house for sale, a 1,516-square-foot midcentury modern in Mount Washington, a historic neighborhood in the San Rafael Hills of Northeast Los Angeles.
“This home overlooks Mt. Washington and sits in a unique position with great views. For me, a view is very important as it gives the owner a very zen feeling,” Lim said about his newly listed home.
One of the listing agents for the property is none other than Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause. The Oppenheim Group agent, who recently bought her own dream house, holds the listing alongside Yonathan Baltazar of The Agency.
You can see the two reality stars tour the house in this cute video Kane Lim posted to his Instagram account:
Lim, who’s a bona fide real estate developer who made his fortune through a series of well-placed investments, won fans over with his infectious personality, keen sense of style, and friendly nature.
On season 1 of Bling Empire, he didn’t shy away from showing off his glitzy habits and luxurious lifestyle.
But his newest investment property isn’t like the palatial abodes we see on his Netflix show. Described as a “tranquil Mount Washington oasis,” the house is all about comfort, timeless design, and an approachable elegance.
“It’s not the biggest house in the world, but it is a very livable house and a house to be enjoyed for many years to come,” Kane said for Fancy Pants Homes. “This trend of mid-century is not going to go anywhere as it has so much soul and history,” he added.
Photo credit: Justin Chung
Public records show that Kane Lim paid $932,000 for the property which has seen significant improvements during his ownership.
In fact, the listing mentions that the 3-bedroom home has been ‘fully reimagined’ and includes ‘brand new carpentry, appliances, fixtures and seamless built-ins.’
Inside Kane Lim’s stylish midcentury home, now on the market for $1,888,0000
Originally built in 1955, the Mount Washington home retains its original charm, but offers a fresh, contemporary take on the timeless midcentury style.
Photo credit: Justin Chung
Lim turned to lauded architectural firm OWIU (which stands for the only way is up) to update the property, building on its mid-century modern legacy. The company’s co-founders, Amanda Gunawan and Joel Wong, took on the project themselves, to extraordinary results.
“The home is very unique. I look for investments that can tell a story, not just for profit, and I’m really proud of Joel and his team for executing this home to perfection“, says Lim.
With bright, warm interiors, the 1,516-square-foot home looks almost curated, with each and every detail being carefully picked to highlight the property’s many merits.
Light oak wood is used throughout the home, with Japanese and Scandinavian design elements adding to its zen factor.
All in all, Kane Lim’s house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a chic living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, a dining area, and a meticulously appointed kitchen with a spacious island and breakfast bar.
The primary suite includes custom built-in wardrobes, a bed platform, amazing views, a beautiful bathroom with a double vanity and a deck that leads to a Japanese-style garden with bonsai and maple trees.
Outside, we also find a updated backyard that features fresh pathways and gardening beds, a gate that leads to the lower portion of the property, and a large open space that has a sculptural staircase and custom wood bench surrounding a fire pit. There’s also a two-car garage on the property.
“4115 Palmero exemplifies how you can update a Mid Century by making subtle yet significant changes throughout but still preserve the home’s history,” says Yonathan Baltazar, the property’s co-listing agent.
“LA is home to some of the most character rich properties and there’s a lot of architectural diversity specifically in North East LA,” he adds.
And he should. Raised in Los Angeles, Yonathan Baltazar has long been helping home buyers find the best place to settle in the community, offering his insight into North East L.A. and the area’s most historic neighborhoods.
Working with two reality stars on his newest listing, we just had to ask him if he watched the Netflix shows in which his client and co-listing agent star in.
“I’ve watched and love both! I met Kane before Bling Empire aired and I can tell you he is exactly the way you see him on Netflix, he’s great! I also really enjoyed Selling Sunset because it showcases Luxury Real Estate in LA and I’m an agent so I’m always looking at the designs of the homes.“
And while we wait for new seasons to come out, we’ll settle on this off-screen crossover between the two Netflix shows — and keep our fingers crossed that Lim’s newest investment property makes its way into the new Selling Sunset season.
But just in case it doesn’t, and you want to see more of Kane Lim’s lovely midcentury, you check out the listing here.
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