Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode:
Learn why estate planning is important even if you don’t own a lot of assets, along with when to ask for professional help.
Why is estate planning important? What happens to your assets when you die without an estate plan? Hosts Sean Pyles and Dalia Ramirez discuss the essential aspects of estate planning and the common misconceptions that often deter people from creating an estate plan. They begin with a discussion of the critical importance of having a will, with tips and tricks on keeping updated records, managing assets, and understanding the role of a will in preventing lengthy probate processes.
Then, RK Law PC Managing Attorney Regina Kiperman joins Dalia to discuss various tools and strategies available for effective estate planning. They discuss the importance of clearly identifying witnesses in a will, the scenarios where hiring an attorney is essential, and the necessity of advance directives, power of attorney and healthcare proxies. The conversation features actionable advice on managing your will and advance directives, highlights the emotional and financial relief that estate planning can offer surviving family members, and encourages proactive steps to ensure peace of mind for loved ones.
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Episode transcript
This transcript was generated from podcast audio by an AI tool.
Sean Pyles:
Nobody wants to think about the worst case scenario. To put it more bluntly, nobody wants to think about dying, but if you don’t think about it at all and don’t plan for it, your entire financial life could end up in someone else’s hands, from a distant family member to your state’s court making decisions about your money. Today, what to do to keep that from happening.
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast. I’m Sean Pyles.
Dalia Ramirez:
And I’m Dalia Ramirez.
Sean Pyles:
Dalia Ramirez:
Doesn’t get more exciting than this, Sean.
Sean Pyles:
Well, Dalia, welcome to the host chair here at Smart Money.
Dalia Ramirez:
Thanks. I’m really glad we’re tackling this topic.
Sean Pyles:
Yeah, it’s something we talk about every so often on the show, sometimes in response to listener questions, but in this episode we’re going to go through why it’s so important to have an estate plan, who needs one and what happens if you don’t have one.
Dalia Ramirez:
Yeah, that’s really the key here. I think a lot of people don’t realize what happens to their money and belongings, their estate, if they don’t have a plan. And there are a lot of misconceptions about estate planning, that it only matters if you’re rich, that you don’t need one if you don’t have kids, that it’s expensive and takes a lot of time to do this kind of planning, and that’s not all true.
Sean Pyles:
And when we take a look at the numbers we definitely see some concerning trends. Caring.com does an annual wills and estate planning survey, and in 2024 they found that only 32% of Americans even have a will, and that’s down 6% from 2023.
Dalia Ramirez:
Yeah, for the first time since 2020, the number of Americans with a will declined. And this is despite the fact that 64% say having a will is important. So we kind of know that this is something we should do, but then we don’t do it.
Sean Pyles:
And I think some of what we’ve already cited makes sense. People are worried about cost, they think it’s just for rich people, and I would imagine that in some cases folks just don’t want to think about their own death.
Dalia Ramirez:
But here’s the thing, the consequences of not doing any planning will fall on your surviving family members. If you don’t have a plan, your family can end up having to deal with a long, expensive probate and all kinds of other legal issues all while they’re mourning your death, which is hard enough on its own.
Sean Pyles:
Yeah. Dalia, this is not fun to talk about.
Dalia Ramirez:
No, it’s not. But we’re going to forge through anyway.
Sean Pyles:
Okay, so is there a specific reason that you wanted to come on and do an episode with us about this?
Dalia Ramirez:
I think in a weird way it’s comforting to make peace with things like death. It’s a part of life, it happens to everyone, and there are some surprisingly simple ways to make it easier on your loved ones when it does happen. A document or two, which you can make inexpensively or even for free, can really spare your family from having to make painful decisions during an already difficult time.
Sean Pyles:
Well, I’m glad to know that I’m not the only person with somewhat morbid proclivities at NerdWallet. While thinking about death can be scary and grim, there is something about planning for the inevitable that makes this part of our lives a little easier to grapple with. Well, we want to hear what you think too, listeners. Do you have an estate plan in place? If not, why not? If so, what prompted you to do it? Share your stories with us by leaving us a voicemail or texting the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373. That’s 901-730-NERD. Or email a voice memo to [email protected]. So Dalia, who are we hearing from today?
Dalia Ramirez:
Today we’re talking with Regina Kiperman. Regina is a managing attorney with the estate planning firm RK Law PC in New York.
Sean Pyles:
All right, we’ll hear from Dalia and Regina in just a moment. Stay with us.
Dalia Ramirez:
Regina Kiperman, nice to have you on Smart Money. Let’s start with what might seem like an obvious question, but we’re going to ask it anyway. Why is it important to have a will?
Regina Kiperman:
It’s important to have a will because a will acts as an instruction manual to set forth your wishes in the event that you pass away. All states have typically provisions for what happens to your assets if you pass away. For example, New Jersey says if you pass away married, everything goes to your spouse, and if there’s no spouse, then to your kids. New York, on the other hand, says if you pass away and you have a spouse and kids, $50,000 plus the first one half goes to your spouse and the rest goes to your kids. Some people want to deviate from the basic rules that are put forth by these different states and they might want to create a will so that they can have their proposed and desired way of distributing the estate assets. Sometimes you need to do it for tax planning, sometimes you want to do it because you want to give to a friend or a charity or a different person than you would have to give if you just followed the strict laws of the state.
Dalia Ramirez:
So what are some of the things that can happen if you don’t have an estate plan? Where could your estate end up?
Regina Kiperman:
If your next of kin are your parents and they are on government benefits, not having a will could lead to those parents inheriting the estate assets and being kicked off their benefits. Actually, I have a case in point. One of my clients, his dad, is his next of kin, and his dad is a Russian immigrant, and his dad is on all sorts of government benefits, but because the person who passed away didn’t have a will, now all the assets passed to dad and now dad is in danger of losing all of his benefits because he’s now going to inherit this amount of money. And had the person who passed away actually had a will, then the dad could have had the benefits and been able to use the money to supplement his care, which could have benefited him more.
I have another client whose aunt passed away, and at the time she passed away, she had nine siblings, and some of the siblings had died before her. And because it took so long to administer the estate, some have now died after her. And when someone dies after and they have children or even the ones that died before, they also had children, so now the court will require jurisdiction over all these different people, making the administration process a complete nightmare. And in that case, the person has a house, that house has tax liens and other problems associated with it. And so if there was a will, even though there’s all this different family over whom we have to get jurisdiction, it’s easier to get something called preliminary letters to at least temporarily administer the estate, and it’s easier to get that than temporary letters.
Dalia Ramirez:
What are the other tools that might be needed for these circumstances?
Regina Kiperman:
Okay, so a will is fine. You can have trusts inside of wills. Trusts by themselves, they’re just contracts. And a revocable trust is often perceived of as a will substitute. And for basic estate planning purposes, a will is perfectly fine, and even sometimes for tax planning a will is perfectly fine. The creation of the sub trust could be done under the will, which is just another trust that’s formed under the will with the spouse who had no will. Even if he had just said “everything to my spouse,” that is not the best tax planning, but that’s something, because that then defers all of the tax until the death of the second spouse and creates more flexibility and does not cause difficulty for the family, who now has to raise money to pay the estate tax.
Dalia Ramirez:
Is it fair to say that in most circumstances or even all that something is better than nothing? Or are there any types of people who really need something specific or nothing is better? How do you know which tools are necessary?
Regina Kiperman:
So typically when a family calls and they say, oh, we’re newlyweds, we want to make sure everything goes to each other. If that’s their only thinking, I’ll say, well, you don’t really need a will, because if you die, everything will go to the survivor anyway. So that’s an example where you don’t necessarily need one. Although if they think three steps ahead and they say, well, what happens if we both die and we want to give everything to, again, a charity or our cousin or our friend, then you would need a will. So anytime you want to override the default state law, you need a will. Anytime you’re just thinking, I just want it to go to my spouse, you don’t necessarily need a will. Anytime you have two children or one child and that’s your only child and you don’t have a spouse, you don’t need a will because everything’s going to go to that person anyway.
If you want to build in more foresight and more planning… So for example, I have only one child, but they’re not super trustworthy. I have only one child, but they have creditors. I have only one child, but I don’t trust their spouse. Then you want to do planning. But if it’s like, I have one child, they get everything and I don’t care what happens when I pass away, you don’t really need a will in that situation.
Dalia Ramirez:
Okay. That helps. I mean, people have a lot of different circumstances, so there would be different tools that fit. Could you, again for us, name the most common estate planning tools? We don’t have to go into far detail, but maybe the top five.
Regina Kiperman:
Okay, so estate planning, there’s only a finite number of permutations, right? There’s a will, which basically overrides state law of what happens upon your death. And then there’s a trust. And then a trust is a contract between “parties” and sometimes if it’s a revocable trust, it could be a contract between yourself and yourself because in a revocable trust typically you’re the one that creates the trust and you’re the manager of the trust, also known as the trustee. There’s various types of irrevocable trusts which are trusts that you set up with a different type of purpose. Like for a revocable trust, you usually set it up for privacy or because your heirs are unknown or because you want to treat people differently or because your assets are volatile, it’s a different type of planning. It’s like probate avoidance planning. That’s a revocable trust.
An irrevocable trust, which is another estate planning tool, is where you’re starting to think more about not just probate avoidance but specific purpose. So there’s a qualified personal residence trust where you’re gifting your property away, but being able to take advantage of the present value of it. There is a Medicaid trust where you are giving away your assets in order to qualify for Medicaid. There’s a credit shelter trust where you’re essentially trying to figure out what goes into the trust to reduce your taxable estate. So the irrevocable trusts get broken down into a number of different trusts that depend on what your purposes are and what your facts and circumstances are.
And then another estate planning tool is advanced directives, which is power of attorney, healthcare proxy, living will, HIPAA, appointment of agent to control remains, and that is, in my opinion, everybody needs those documents. Those are the most basic documents you can get and everybody needs them because everybody is going to go through a process where they become sick and where they need help and where they need someone to make decisions for them. And in the absence of these types of documents, which are very simple and easy to get, people find themselves in guardianship or more complex processes that then require a lot of time to have someone appointed to make the right decision for you on a medical or a financial level.
Dalia Ramirez:
So these medical estate planning tools are fairly straightforward, right?
Regina Kiperman:
They’re extremely straightforward. For the most part, you can get them online. Like a healthcare proxy, you can just download it online, every state has its own form. A HIPAA, download it online, every state, it has its own form and also federal has its own form. A power of attorney can be more complex, but the most basic version is typically available online. An appointment of agent to control remains, also available online. A living will, and most people think a living will is a will, it’s actually not. A living will is the document that says we authorize our agent to pull the plug and it’s not a will. And that living will is not really available online, it’s not just a statutory formula. But you could have somebody create for you or if you go to I think CaringKind or one of these kind of organizations, they usually have some version of a living will.
Dalia Ramirez:
So most people can pretty easily get the medical estate planning together. The financial stuff could be a little more complicated, right? Do you have to change the name on your accounts? Your bank accounts become accounts under the trust? Do you need new checks? What are the steps after you create something like a trust on the financial side?
Regina Kiperman:
Okay, so for a will, obviously you don’t have to retitle anything. For a trust, after you create the trust, you have to fund the trust. I have countless examples of people who created the trust, not me, not me, we fund all of our trusts. But they’ve come to me because they’ve created a trust and I say, “Okay, what’s in it?” And they blank stare at me, like “What do you mean what’s in it? I have a trust.” And I’m like, “That’s great. What’d you put inside?” And then there’s silence, just absolute silence.
For a trust to have any… I don’t want to use the word legitimacy, that’s not right. For a trust to have value and make any sense, you should fund it. Here’s how you fund the trust. The statute requires you to fund the trust by re-registering assets into the trust. If you have a deed, you need to do a new deed to transfer ownership of the property into the trust. If you have retirement accounts, you can either transfer ownership, just get the forms to either transfer ownership or transfer the beneficiary designation. For a retirement account, you don’t have to necessarily say, oh, the trust is the owner. In fact, because it’s a retirement account, you may not even be able to do that. But you can designate the trust potentially as a beneficiary. If you have stocks, you might want to re-register those stocks. If you have life insurance, you might, depending on the type of trust, either transfer ownership of the life insurance or change beneficiaries on the life insurance to be the trust. And there’s always forms that every financial institution has to help you re-register the asset into the trust.
And I always tell people, you should have the spreadsheet and then you should continue to update it as you get new assets because everything you put into the trust you should have a record of. I actually have stories where people have put almost everything into the trust and then they left out an account. Otherwise, if you have everything in the trust and you’ve left an asset out, when you pass away, now you have to probate your will, which might not have been your goal in the first place. If you were trying to avoid probate, you just failed.
Dalia Ramirez:
Right. And some of this sounds like it’s for people with a lot of money, a lot of assets, and I think a lot of people assume that you need to be really wealthy to need an estate plan. Is that true?
Regina Kiperman:
It’s more about tax planning if you have a lot of assets. Estate planning is just an orderly way to distribute what you do have. So some people just have maybe a house and maybe some cash in the bank and maybe some retirement accounts. You just want to make sure that when something happens to you, those assets are distributed in the way that you want them to be.
Here, I have a great example. A woman recently came to my office with her niece and she actually does not have a lot of assets. She has a co-op in New York City and one bank account. And really she was older and needed care and she was struggling with how to finance that care. And she has a son. When I asked about the son, she said, “I don’t have a relationship with my son.”
So in her case, she wanted to make sure that she gave everything that’s left to her niece, and also they wanted to make sure that there was a way to finance her cost of care. So we talked about setting up maybe a reverse mortgage, which by the way is also an estate planning technique. We talked about transferring the co-op into a Medicaid trust. And then we talked about just doing a will, leaving her whole asset to her niece, because that was the one person who took care of her during her lifetime and that’s the one person she wanted to make sure everything went to. So she doesn’t have a lot of assets, but she just wants to make sure it doesn’t go to her son, who she hadn’t seen in like 20 years.
Dalia Ramirez:
I have a sort of separate question now on a different note. What kind of life events should trigger people to think about their estate plan? Anything that could happen in someone’s life where you would say, now is the time?
Regina Kiperman:
People call us for the following. We just had a baby, and if they just had a baby, they want to make sure that there’s a guardian who could be charged with taking care of the baby in the event something happens to them. People call us because they want to potentially shift their assets because they are afraid of creditors. People call us because they want to pass their businesses down to their children and they’re ready to retire. People call for retirement planning. People call because they’ve bought property in multiple states and they want to avoid probate in multiple states. And then people call because a family member has fallen or the spouse has fallen and they’re in rehab and they need to figure out what to do to shift assets for government benefits.
Dalia Ramirez:
Gotcha. Once you get married, would you want to create estate planning documents together? A joint will, a trust together?
Regina Kiperman:
That one’s a little different because if you’re just married, you don’t necessarily need the type of basic estate planning because everything goes to that spouse anyway. But if you are married and have a lot of assets or if you’re married and have disparate assets and you want tax planning or you want to deviate, again, you don’t want everything to go to the spouse, then you would want estate planning. So it really depends on the facts and circumstances. But just being married by itself isn’t necessarily enough reason.
Dalia Ramirez:
I was wondering how people can make sure their wills, trusts, any estate planning document is valid. Because having a will is one thing, but having a will that actually passes through probate court successfully and quickly is another thing. And I know this might vary by state, but what can we tell people to make sure they know what they need to do to get their will certified?
Regina Kiperman:
In most places, to have a will, you need a person, two witnesses and a document, and the person can say, this is my will, this is what I wanted. Will you guys be my witnesses? Yes. Yes. Okay. Everyone sign. And for the most part, most wills are not contested. There are nuances and some specific requirements that people need to meet in order for their will to be admitted to probate. So the names of the witnesses should be really clearly spelled out. I have now a case where I cannot for the life of me figure out the name of the second witness and the law firm where the person had the will done is now closed. It’s literally a squiggle. The signature is a squiggle. It could be like John Doe and I don’t know what to write. And so I actually called the court and I’m trying to figure it out. But that’s a really very small thing that could turn into a big thing. Just legibly write very neatly the names of the witnesses.
Dalia Ramirez:
I’m wondering on that note when is it necessary to hire an attorney for estate planning? Who is in a position to DIY it and who really needs the professional help?
Regina Kiperman:
Again, this is personal. Because the law is some part art, part science. And so I think that if you have a house, a couple of bucks, a retirement account and you’ve got a wife and a couple of kids and there’s nothing, you’re not setting up any trust, it’s just a will that says to my spouse, and if not, to my children, you can DIY it. You don’t need a fancy lawyer. You don’t even need a lawyer at all. You can go on LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, Trust.com, whatever site you want. And if that’s your specific situation, you do not need a lawyer.
If your situation is more substantive and it’s not necessarily that you have more assets, it’s more substantive. So for example, your wife is sick, you don’t trust one of your children, you’re going to treat your children unequally. You need to create a sub-trust. You want to do Medicaid planning. You want to do tax planning. You want to do business succession planning. If you want something more substantive, you want to give to a charity because there’s different rules on charity, then you might want to speak with an attorney because they can help guide you on the nuances.
If you believe your will will be contested, you should go see an attorney. Not only that, you should do 10 versions of your will. Not 10 of the same, you might strategically want to execute multiple wills saying the same thing, because if you set aside one, you haven’t set aside the other. Those are probably some times where you DIY versus not.
Some more examples. You should staple your will. And once you’ve stapled your will, if you want probate to go simple, don’t unstaple the will. You should not keep your will in a safe deposit box because if you do, then someone’s got to go search the box, because the bank will seal the box. So don’t keep your will in the box, don’t unstaple your will. And even by the way, staple it. Don’t leave it unbound because then the court wants to know why is it unbound? Make your witnesses really clear. Have a self-proving affidavit. A lot of wills from these other like online DIY, the thing is they don’t always have a proper self-proving affidavit. And if they don’t have a proper self-proving affidavit, you have to hunt down the witnesses, which sometimes is a problem.
Dalia Ramirez:
I’m sure for some people cost is a factor here, they’re going the DIY route because it might be cheaper. Could you ballpark estimate how much an estate plan would cost people with an attorney?
Regina Kiperman:
People ask me all the time when right before they hire me, how much I’m going to charge them. And it’s hard to quantify. It really depends on your facts and circumstances. It could be anywhere from $2,500 to $25,000, depending on the complexity. If it’s a basic will with some trusts for the minors and some powers of attorney, all that stuff, it might be $2,500. If you’re getting into trusts, trust funding, deeds, transfers of assets, re-registration of assets or transferring your co-op into a trust, that becomes a pricier venture.
Dalia Ramirez:
So cost can be a factor depending on your circumstances. I also read a survey by Caring.com that found that only 32% of Americans have an estate plan. So what do you think are the other factors that keep people from doing estate planning?
Regina Kiperman:
The fact that people think, “Okay, well I don’t have a lot of money, therefore I don’t need it.” That people say, “Okay, I’ll do it, I’ll do it.” And then they don’t get around to doing it because it’s just not a priority. Some people are superstitious about doing it. They think that if they’re going to do it, that means they’re going to die. For some people, they can’t even talk about it, again because it’s superstition. And some people start the process and don’t finish it. And then there’s the people who don’t have anyone to leave it to and they say, “Well, whatever, the state will figure it out.”
Dalia Ramirez:
Are there any warnings that you would say to encourage someone who you think really could benefit from estate planning but is hesitant for any number of reasons?
Regina Kiperman:
So again, in my opinion, the most important thing that you absolutely 100% need to do is advance directives. Everyone hears me say this, power of attorney, healthcare proxy, the most, most, most important thing, because I am telling you, these documents are extremely cheap to do, and if you don’t do them and if something happens to you, there’s going to be 100 times more dollars spent on reacting to the consequences of not having a simple power of attorney.
As for a will, I personally think that it’s important to do it to set forth your wishes, but the will is just one piece. The thing that I think is the most important is to have a conversation about what do I want to happen if I’m sick or if I pass away. Where do I want my stuff to go? That conversation is the most important one to have. Even if you’re superstitious, you have to face it. You have to face that conversation. And if you don’t, unfortunately you’ll wind up with a mess, and it’ll be a bigger mess if it happens while you’re alive. Because if you’ve passed away, the mess is on your kids. But if you haven’t taken care of estate planning while you’re alive, then the mess is on you.
And I’ve got countless examples of that where the person’s alive, got sick, is incapacitated, can’t sign a power of attorney, and their kids are both grieving, dealing with the mental difficulties and anxiety of their sick parent and scrambling to try to figure out where everything is and properly structure a plan where their parents can be taken care of. I have those and I have countless examples of the same set of facts, but the parent has now passed away and the kids have property, but no way to pay the estate tax. That’s a big problem as well, and that leads to fighting. And the thing that most parents don’t want is they don’t want their kids to fight. Or, here’s a great one, a person passes away, they have three kids, they have a house, they didn’t do a plan. One kid lives in the house. What’s going to happen now? The parent should have been more proactive to think about, what will I really do with my house? Who do I really want it to go to so that my children don’t fight? Which by the way, as a parent, I hate when my children fight. I will do anything for them not to fight.
Dalia Ramirez:
And that should be motivation enough to call up a lawyer. Those are such great examples. Thank you and thank you for helping us out today with all of these questions. I really appreciate it.
Regina Kiperman:
No problem.
Sean Pyles:
Anyone who knows me knows that estate planning is my favorite morbid hobbyhorse. People really don’t want to think about or engage with this stuff, and I get it, it can be scary. But I think about it a little bit differently. I see estate planning as an act of love and generosity. Spending a few hours sorting out how you want to be cared for when you get sick or injured, and what you want done with your stuff after you die, can bring tremendous peace of mind and solace to your family in the middle of a very stressful time. So please give this gift to your loved ones.
Dalia Ramirez:
Absolutely, Sean. And I think it’s important to remember that no one can read your mind about what you want the end of your life to look like. Taking the time in advance to reflect on what matters to you and get it into writing makes it a lot more likely that your wishes will be respected and that your family might even have the pleasure of fulfilling them instead of the burden of guessing.
Sean Pyles:
Well, I hope our listeners have a better feel now for why it’s important to do this even if you don’t think you want to or you don’t want to think about your own demise. If you’re having trouble with that, just remember the aftermath is hardest on the people that you leave behind. So if nothing else, think about them.
Dalia Ramirez:
And I really hope listeners come away with the knowledge that this doesn’t have to be complicated or complex and it doesn’t have to cost much money. In fact, you can DIY it if you want to. But if you don’t want people who aren’t you to decide where all of your money and belongings end up, it’s really important to get this done. Do you have one, Sean?
Sean Pyles:
I do. My partner and I both have our estate plans and advance directive sorted. We did this a few years back after we got engaged because we knew it would be a number of years until we got married, but we wanted to ensure that we were taking care of each other now before we were legally bound together. What about you, Dalia?
Dalia Ramirez:
Well, it feels silly because I don’t have a spouse or kids or much in the way of property, but I spend a lot of time reviewing estate planning software, so I’ve helped my whole family draft wills and I did mine for good measure. Hopefully at some point I’ll have some more things to put on there.
Sean Pyles:
I like that. You are practicing what you preach. Well, Dalia, thanks for coming on Smart Money and doing this episode with us.
Dalia Ramirez:
Thank you, Sean.
Sean Pyles:
For now, 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 can also email us at [email protected]. Visit Nerdwallet.com for more info on this episode. And remember to follow, rate and review us wherever you’re getting this podcast.
Dalia Ramirez:
This episode was produced by Tess Vigeland. Sean helped with editing. Claire Tsosie helped with fact checking. Sara Brink mixed our audio. And a big thank you to NerdWallet’s editors for all their help.
Sean Pyles:
Here’s our brief disclaimer. We are not financial or investment advisors. This nerdy info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to your specific circumstances.
Dalia Ramirez:
And with that said, until next time, turn to the Nerds.
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Vocalizing why you are keeping or donating items helps clarify your intentions and reinforces your decision-making process, making it easier to stay focused and committed to your organization goals.
“As you sort through your clothing, vocalize why you are keeping the items or donating it, remarks The Clutter Curator. “We find it’s so helpful to hear the ‘why’ and it will either validate why you are keeping it or, you might hear yourself and laugh a bit and actually donate the item. Our clothing holds a lot of stories, use this time to relive them and let them go.”
4. Store things vertically
Storing things vertically maximizes your available space by utilizing the often-overlooked height of a room.
“Storing things vertically in drawers will give up to 30% more storage space as opposed to laying things down flat,” shares Kate of Home Love Method. “If your apartment is small, this will allow for maximum storage and you’ll be able to find your things easier.”
5. Tuck things away in cabinets, closets, and drawers
Tucking things away in cabinets, closets, and drawers helps create a clean and uncluttered living space.
“Apartments can feel small and when surfaces are full it can make them feel even smaller. If possible, try to tuck most things away in cabinets, closets, and drawers,” recommends Call Kate Tidy.
6. Try the “one in, one out rule”
The “one in, one out” rule is an effective strategy for maintaining organization by ensuring that for every new item brought into your home, an existing item is removed.
Jennifer A Dwight Ideal Organizing + Design says, “To keep your closet organized, use the ‘one in, one out’ rule. For instance, when considering purchasing a new pair of shoes, decide which pair you already own will be donated or discarded. By being diligent about this, your closet will stay clutter-free.”
7. Purchase dual-purpose furnishings
Purchasing dual-purpose furniture is a smart way to maximize space in your apartment by combining functionality and storage.
“Get multi-functional storage solutions. Any furniture that offers extra storage is a plus. Think beds that have built in drawers and ottomans that have extra storage,” states Pretty Neat.
“Dual-purpose furnishings are the unsung heroes of apartment organization,” raves Organized by Keli based in Denver, CO. Sofa beds, storage ottomans, and nesting tables deliver a one-two punch, ensuring you make the most of your limited real estate without sacrificing style or comfort.”
Introduce a storage ottoman that serves as both seating and a concealed space for blankets, magazines, or toys. This versatile furniture piece minimizes visible clutter and offers extra seating for guests,” adds Organize with Lia.
8. Turn hangers backward in the closet
Turning hangers in the closet backward is a simple yet effective method to identify which clothes you actually wear.
“Turn your hangers backward in your closet. After wearing an item, return the hanger to its normal direction. At the end of the season, you can quickly see what items you have not worn. Consider letting those items go,” recommends Ever So Organized.
9. Set up a charging station for devices
One of the more challenging things to organize in a home is all the electronic devices, such as phones, tablets, and smartwatches.
“Not only are they always on the move, but they also come with a lot of expensive accessories that can easily get lost. To avoid having these accessories as well as cords spread out all over your home, create a charging station in a centralized area, so that you always have a place to park those devices when not in use,” recommends The Swedish Organizer
10. Add a rolling cart
Adding a rolling cart to your apartment provides portable storage that can be easily moved around as needed.
Organized Calm says, “Incorporate a slimline rolling cart for versatile, mobile storage in your bathroom. Use it to hold toiletries, cleaning supplies, or extra towels, ensuring everything is easily accessible. When guests visit, simply roll the cart out of sight to keep the bathroom looking neat without sacrificing functionality.”
11. Take your best notes in the shower
Have you noticed how often you get a great idea or think of something to add to your ever-growing to-do list when you’re showering with no way to write it down?
Oh So Organized shares, “A simple and effective organizing solution is to affix (using suction cups) a waterproof notepad and pencil inside the shower.”
12. Store products in different spots
“A common organizing mistake with small bathrooms is to store all of one product in the same spot,” notes Nonnahs Driskill of Get Organized Already in Pasadena, CA. For example, if you have three tubes of toothpaste, store the extra two in what I call a “drugstore drawer,” which will probably be in a different area of the apartment. You can even put all but one extra roll of toilet paper in another spot.”
13. Use the back of doors
Using the back of doors for storage adds valuable space to your apartment that is often overlooked.
Kate Bosch Professional Organizing remarks, “When organizing a small space like an apartment, don’t forget to use the backs of doors. Hang a clear shoe pocket organizer on this often-overlooked space to hold small gadgets in the kitchen, toiletries, and washcloths in the bathroom, accessories near the front door, cleaning products in a storage closet, small toys in a child’s room, and shoes in your clothes closet.”
14. Use the most valuable spaces wisely
Using the most valuable spaces wisely in your apartment involves prioritizing storage in areas that are both accessible and versatile.
“With any size space, the key to maintaining order and organization is to not have too much stuff,” says Life with Less Mess. “If your apartment is feeling messy or chaotic, before you start organizing, start decluttering. When you have limited real estate, be sure to use the most valuable spaces wisely. The most-accessible cabinets should have the items you use most often. The same applies to drawers and shelves. Put items you use less often in harder to reach spots so they won’t be in the way during day-to-day.”
15. Create categories and add like with like
Creating categories and grouping like items together simplifies organization and enhances efficiency in your apartment.
“This step assists in seeing how much of one category there might be. Bonus, it might aid in removing a few pieces that are unwanted or discovery of ones that might have been forgotten about,” states Organized Simplicity.
“Keep similar items together for easy access. This means mixing bowls stacked in a cupboard, serving platters stored vertically or in a designated area, canned food arranged by type or frequency of use, spices on a spice rack or drawer organizer, or tupperware stacked with their lids in a nearby bin,” adds KAOS Group.
16. Always remember that “less is more”
Remembering that less is more when organizing your apartment encourages a minimalist approach that focuses on quality over quantity. The best part about living in an apartment and trying to stay organized is that many times you have to live simply due to limited storage space.
“The old mantra of ‘less is more’ is never more applicable than in an apartment where you need things to be multifunctional, like appliances that have dual purposes to minimize taking up too much space, or decorative baskets that serve as design pieces but ultimately help hide your things. This can be accomplished in every room of the house to help save space and stay organized,” shares Decluttered LLC.
17. Designate drop zones
Designating drop zones in your apartment establishes specific areas where items are consistently placed upon entering.
Charlottesville Organizing remarks, “Designate specific areas in your home as drop zones for frequently used items such as keys, mail, coats, or bags. This prevents clutter from spreading throughout the house to ensure that essential items are easily accessible when needed. Consider using specific tools like bowls for keys, hooks for coats, or bins for pet items to enhance functionality for these zones.”
18. Let go of the past and keep an extra hamper for donation items
Letting go of the past and keeping an extra hamper for donation items allows you to efficiently separate belongings you no longer use or need.
“Letting go of the past is key to getting organized,” says Tonia Cordi. “Often we hold onto past experiences of not having enough, or the fear of ‘what if’ which keeps us attached to physical belongings, beliefs and thoughts that create clutter in our lives. Before getting started in a room, ask yourself what am I holding onto from the past that is stopping me from letting go and living in the present.”
Once you’ve reflected on what you need to give up. Start by keeping an extra hamper for donation items.
“One system that I always like to set up for clients in their closets is having an extra hamper in their bedroom or closet that is designated just for donation items. Having the extra hamper labeled ‘donations’ already set up, makes it easy for us to make that quick decision of donating when we don’t like something. Rather than trying on a shirt, not liking it, then throwing it back in your closet or drawer, why not throw it in the donation basket right away? Then, when the basket is full, all you have to do is take the garbage bag out and drop it off at the donation center,” shares All About Organizing.
In the fast-paced beat of modern living, maintaining a well-organized apartment isn’t just about tidiness — it’s a gateway to a comfortable living space. Whether you’re a seasoned minimalist or just beginning your journey to declutter, mastering the art of apartment organization can transform your home into a productive environment. From maximizing storage solutions to embracing minimalist principles, these 18 expert tips will guide you through practical strategies to streamline your space, enhance functionality, and cultivate a harmonious environment that reflects your unique lifestyle and preferences. So whether you are renting an apartment in Philadelphia, PA, or a townhouse in Jersey City, NJ, get ready to dive into the essential strategies that experts swear by for achieving a perfectly organized apartment.
1. Start Simply
Starting simply is important because it prevents feeling overwhelmed and ensures that you can maintain momentum without getting discouraged. Starting small allows you to make steady, manageable progress one step at a time.
“No one likes the idea of taking on the entire home at once. It’s simply daunting and unmanageable. So, my first step advice is to start simply,” says A+ Clutter Clearing of Boca Raton, FL. “By doing so, you’ll find early success which helps you build momentum for another task.”
Some examples of a simple start include a bathroom drawer, linen closet, laundry room, or kitchen junk drawer.
2. Utilize “point of use” storage
“Point of use” storage refers to the practice of storing items as close as possible to the location where they are used. This method is convenient ensuring that everything you need for a specific task is within easy reach.
Professional-Organizer.com is a firm believer that the term “point of use” storage makes living in an apartment easier. They say, “store items where these are used, whether in a cabinet or cart, in your home.’ You can store office and school supplies in your designated home office space, linens in the bathroom adjacent to that room, and cleaning supplies under each sink. This way you always have access to what you need when you need it.”
3. Vocalize why you are keeping items or donating them
Vocalizing why you are keeping or donating items helps clarify your intentions and reinforces your decision-making process, making it easier to stay focused and committed to your organization goals.
“As you sort through your clothing, vocalize why you are keeping the items or donating it, remarks The Clutter Curator. “We find it’s so helpful to hear the ‘why’ and it will either validate why you are keeping it or, you might hear yourself and laugh a bit and actually donate the item. Our clothing holds a lot of stories, use this time to relive them and let them go.”
4. Store things vertically
Storing things vertically maximizes your available space by utilizing the often-overlooked height of a room.
“Storing things vertically in drawers will give up to 30% more storage space as opposed to laying things down flat,” shares Kate of Home Love Method. “If your apartment is small, this will allow for maximum storage and you’ll be able to find your things easier.”
5. Tuck things away in cabinets, closets, and drawers
Tucking things away in cabinets, closets, and drawers helps create a clean and uncluttered living space.
“Apartments can feel small and when surfaces are full it can make them feel even smaller. If possible, try to tuck most things away in cabinets, closets, and drawers,” recommends Call Kate Tidy.
6. Try the “one in, one out rule”
The “one in, one out” rule is an effective strategy for maintaining organization by ensuring that for every new item brought into your home, an existing item is removed.
Jennifer A Dwight Ideal Organizing + Design says, “To keep your closet organized, use the ‘one in, one out’ rule. For instance, when considering purchasing a new pair of shoes, decide which pair you already own will be donated or discarded. By being diligent about this, your closet will stay clutter-free.”
7. Purchase dual-purpose furnishings
Purchasing dual-purpose furniture is a smart way to maximize space in your apartment by combining functionality and storage.
“Get multi-functional storage solutions. Any furniture that offers extra storage is a plus. Think beds that have built in drawers and ottomans that have extra storage,” states Pretty Neat.
“Dual-purpose furnishings are the unsung heroes of apartment organization,” raves Organized by Keli based in Denver, CO. Sofa beds, storage ottomans, and nesting tables deliver a one-two punch, ensuring you make the most of your limited real estate without sacrificing style or comfort.”
Introduce a storage ottoman that serves as both seating and a concealed space for blankets, magazines, or toys. This versatile furniture piece minimizes visible clutter and offers extra seating for guests,” adds Organize with Lia.
8. Turn hangers backward in the closet
Turning hangers in the closet backward is a simple yet effective method to identify which clothes you actually wear.
“Turn your hangers backward in your closet. After wearing an item, return the hanger to its normal direction. At the end of the season, you can quickly see what items you have not worn. Consider letting those items go,” recommends Ever So Organized.
9. Set up a charging station for devices
One of the more challenging things to organize in a home is all the electronic devices, such as phones, tablets, and smartwatches.
“Not only are they always on the move, but they also come with a lot of expensive accessories that can easily get lost. To avoid having these accessories as well as cords spread out all over your home, create a charging station in a centralized area, so that you always have a place to park those devices when not in use,” recommends The Swedish Organizer
10. Add a rolling cart
Adding a rolling cart to your apartment provides portable storage that can be easily moved around as needed.
Organized Calm says, “Incorporate a slimline rolling cart for versatile, mobile storage in your bathroom. Use it to hold toiletries, cleaning supplies, or extra towels, ensuring everything is easily accessible. When guests visit, simply roll the cart out of sight to keep the bathroom looking neat without sacrificing functionality.”
11. Take your best notes in the shower
Have you noticed how often you get a great idea or think of something to add to your ever-growing to-do list when you’re showering with no way to write it down?
Oh So Organized shares, “A simple and effective organizing solution is to affix (using suction cups) a waterproof notepad and pencil inside the shower.”
12. Store products in different spots
“A common organizing mistake with small bathrooms is to store all of one product in the same spot,” notes Nonnahs Driskill of Get Organized Already in Pasadena, CA. For example, if you have three tubes of toothpaste, store the extra two in what I call a “drugstore drawer,” which will probably be in a different area of the apartment. You can even put all but one extra roll of toilet paper in another spot.”
13. Use the back of doors
Using the back of doors for storage adds valuable space to your apartment that is often overlooked.
Kate Bosch Professional Organizing remarks, “When organizing a small space like an apartment, don’t forget to use the backs of doors. Hang a clear shoe pocket organizer on this often-overlooked space to hold small gadgets in the kitchen, toiletries, and washcloths in the bathroom, accessories near the front door, cleaning products in a storage closet, small toys in a child’s room, and shoes in your clothes closet.”
14. Use the most valuable spaces wisely
Using the most valuable spaces wisely in your apartment involves prioritizing storage in areas that are both accessible and versatile.
“With any size space, the key to maintaining order and organization is to not have too much stuff,” says Life with Less Mess. “If your apartment is feeling messy or chaotic, before you start organizing, start decluttering. When you have limited real estate, be sure to use the most valuable spaces wisely. The most-accessible cabinets should have the items you use most often. The same applies to drawers and shelves. Put items you use less often in harder to reach spots so they won’t be in the way during day-to-day.”
15. Create categories and add like with like
Creating categories and grouping like items together simplifies organization and enhances efficiency in your apartment.
“This step assists in seeing how much of one category there might be. Bonus, it might aid in removing a few pieces that are unwanted or discovery of ones that might have been forgotten about,” states Organized Simplicity.
“Keep similar items together for easy access. This means mixing bowls stacked in a cupboard, serving platters stored vertically or in a designated area, canned food arranged by type or frequency of use, spices on a spice rack or drawer organizer, or tupperware stacked with their lids in a nearby bin,” adds KAOS Group.
16. Always remember that “less is more”
Remembering that less is more when organizing your apartment encourages a minimalist approach that focuses on quality over quantity. The best part about living in an apartment and trying to stay organized is that many times you have to live simply due to limited storage space.
“The old mantra of ‘less is more’ is never more applicable than in an apartment where you need things to be multifunctional, like appliances that have dual purposes to minimize taking up too much space, or decorative baskets that serve as design pieces but ultimately help hide your things. This can be accomplished in every room of the house to help save space and stay organized,” shares Decluttered LLC.
17. Designate drop zones
Designating drop zones in your apartment establishes specific areas where items are consistently placed upon entering.
Charlottesville Organizing remarks, “Designate specific areas in your home as drop zones for frequently used items such as keys, mail, coats, or bags. This prevents clutter from spreading throughout the house to ensure that essential items are easily accessible when needed. Consider using specific tools like bowls for keys, hooks for coats, or bins for pet items to enhance functionality for these zones.”
18. Let go of the past and keep an extra hamper for donation items
Letting go of the past and keeping an extra hamper for donation items allows you to efficiently separate belongings you no longer use or need.
“Letting go of the past is key to getting organized,” says Tonia Cordi. “Often we hold onto past experiences of not having enough, or the fear of ‘what if’ which keeps us attached to physical belongings, beliefs and thoughts that create clutter in our lives. Before getting started in a room, ask yourself what am I holding onto from the past that is stopping me from letting go and living in the present.”
Once you’ve reflected on what you need to give up. Start by keeping an extra hamper for donation items.
“One system that I always like to set up for clients in their closets is having an extra hamper in their bedroom or closet that is designated just for donation items. Having the extra hamper labeled ‘donations’ already set up, makes it easy for us to make that quick decision of donating when we don’t like something. Rather than trying on a shirt, not liking it, then throwing it back in your closet or drawer, why not throw it in the donation basket right away? Then, when the basket is full, all you have to do is take the garbage bag out and drop it off at the donation center,” shares All About Organizing.
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.
Constantly feeling tired and lazy? There might be more than meets the eye. One Reddit user shared with the Reddit community how she struggled with extreme laziness and how she didn’t want to do anything with her life—even the simplest things.
Here’s an excerpt of the OP’s problem:
“I (32f) am the laziest person I know. It’s a huge problem and I know I need to fix it. I just don’t know how. Aside from relying on motivation (which I don’t have) to get me off my a-, I have no idea what I’m meant to do.
“I’ve always been this way, for as long as I can remember. As a kid/teen my parents would refuse to come into my room because it was such a mess. They would eventually force me to clean it up. After it was all clean, my mum would say to me, ‘Doesn’t it feel good to have a tidy room and actually have accomplished something?’. But I would never feel ‘good’ for having done it, just exhausted from the effort.
I think that’s part of the issue; I have never got a ‘good feeling’ from finishing or accomplishing something. Not from small things, like cleaning or meeting gym goals or work targets, etc. Not even for big things, like scoring 97% in an exam or getting a new job. It just doesn’t happen for me. I don’t know if I’m the weird one or if my mum exaggerated this ‘good feeling’ that people get but I have no clue what it’s even supposed to feel like.
“And my laziness just keeps getting worse. I’ve lost out on money (that I can’t really afford to lose) by not returning clothes that don’t fit because going back to the shop is too much effort. Once I ordered something online that got rerouted to a collection point (less than a 10 minute walk from my house). It was non refundable. I never collected it. Picking it up was too much effort so I just accepted that I would lose the money. I have wasted money on takeout when I have food in the fridge because I can’t be bothered cooking. I’ve bought disposable plates because I have no clean ones left but I’m too lazy to do the dishes.”
Is it just the lack of motivation, discipline, and accountability, or is it more than that? Here’s what the Reddit community says!
1. Executive Dysfunction
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One person said, “Sounds like executive dysfunction, which is super common with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. You may wanna get checked out if you can.”
The second person replied, “Came to say this: OP, get evaluated ASAP. I identify with so much of what you said and recently found out I had ADHD. I’ve done a 180 since beginning treatment involving both behavioral aspects and meds. It’s taking time to build the habits, but it’s a totally different worldview now.”
Then somebody else agreed who also feel the same, “This. It’s usually not just laziness. I feel ‘lazy’ when I’m off ADHD meds.”
2. See if You Have ADHD or Ptsd
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Somebody commented with some helpful tips to help OP, “You might also want to look into ADHD or PTSD. Both can lead to this awful feeling of WANTING to do things but feeling unmotivated, even if you think they are things that will bring joy. Here are a couple tricks I use:
“Sometimes I try to do something in an odd way to get a bit of dopamine (I’m going to hop to the kitchen or stand up and pat my head three times, etc. to jolt myself out of those periods where I’m ‘stuck’.
“I also gamify things (loads of digital apps and websites like Chore Wars) or I write a list of tasks on a loot box (I play DD and you can get mini figure loot boxes, I find it has to be something I’m excited about but don’t know what’s in it, so loot boxes are perfect). If I do all the things on the list, I get the loot box.
“I’ve also been working on mindfulness, just focusing deeply on the action at the moment and not how overwhelming the whole action is. As a messy person, I’ve had to ask for help getting my space to ground zero, and now I work on it. When I leave a room, I challenge myself to clean the space I left in 20 seconds.
“Since you like books, try audiobooks while you do chores. Assign a book to each chore. Only way to get further in the book is to do the chore. Do the things that should bring you joy, even if they don’t until they do. I read that in an ADHD book, its frustrating when things we love don’t bring us joy. But the advice is to do it anyway, and eventually, that joy comes back.
“Get an occupational therapist. Mine was cheap and gave me lots of tricks to manage this stuff and also I had to call him and be accountable each week. If you can’t afford that, set up a weekly call with a family member where you discuss your goals and are held accountable.
“Finally, involve other people! Sign up for a class in the mornings so the guilt motivates you to go. Schedule a weekly morning walk with a friend. Let your family know you are overwhelmed and stuck and ask if they can come over to help you reset your space. Hope something here helped.”
3. The Secret Is Discipline and Consistency
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“Motivation only carries so far. You need discipline and consistency. I know this because I have the same problem. Set schedules for things; I study at 7 am, work out at 8, work, practice guitar, etc. Some days you really won’t want to but getting into the habit is important.
“There are two options: either you are content with your lifestyle and won’t change it, or you’re so unhappy that you are willing to do anything to change it. Figure that part out and the rest will come together,” shared somebody.
“This much executive dysfunction sounds extreme for a willpower problem; it might be a medical thing,” replied another.
“She won’t have discipline for things she absolutely doesn’t care about. I can be a bit lazy but I still make my bed or wash my sheets or floor because I love the way it looks and feels. She feels no joy from it and should probably look into why she gets no joy or satisfaction from having a clean room, etc.; that’s not really normal and possible depression,” added another with a different view.
4. Get Yourself Checked or Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
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Somebody commented, “Many people who have chronic depression, autism, or ADHD show signs of ‘laziness’—you mention you suffered depression previously and know what it feels like, then you went on to mention your mood. Do you realize that depression often has no mood-related symptoms? It doesn’t feel ‘sad’ oftentimes. It feels like exhaustion and laziness—exactly what you described. However, if you’re unwilling to even entertain the idea, then look into autism and ADHD instead.
“Another factor is need. People are capable of incredible things when necessitated, but if you’re comfortable and the people around you have allowed you not to do things that require significant effort, then you likely have no reason to push yourself. If you feel the issue isn’t related to an illness or disorder, then get out of your comfort zone and put yourself in an uneasy situation.”
5. Start Small Until It Becomes a Habit
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“I am in the same boat. Here is what I try to do: (1) I do 1 task I don’t like per day. Don’t try to do them all on the same day. (2) Basic hygiene is very important should be done everyday. (3) I try to give myself rewards on Monday and Friday. Monday would be like buying myself a really good coffee before work and on Friday I would be eating out instead of making a lunch.
“I can talk to you about depression, discipline, and all that. But all of those never stuck in my brain. The answer is to start small and keep track of what you do. I like to make a to do list and just looking at the end of the week and what I have accomplished motivates me to do more. I think we are not made to find happiness every day or in everything we do. So need to take it when we can,” shared somebody.
“I second this! Start slow. Pick one section of your house, the bathroom, the living room, and just clean that section only. Set a timer and see how much you can do in 5-10 minutes, then reward yourself with TV or a snack. The next day, another 5-10 minutes. Make a list, cross things off. It’s not easy, but please be kind to yourself. You may not be depressed, but the drudgery of life can definitely get to you,” agreed the second person.
6. It’s Not Your Identity
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One user said, “First, and most importantly, stop using it as an identity marker. This goes for anything you want to overcome. When you say, ‘I am lazy,’ your mind reinforces that identity. Instead, say, ‘I’m working my lazy behavior. See how the language separates you from it? Even better, say something like, ‘I’m working on getting more things done.’ That’s more positive and affirming, and it focuses your mind in that direction.”
7. Start With the Two-Minute Rule
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“Start with the 2-minute rule. As soon as you think of something you need to do that takes 2 minutes or less, you top what you are doing and get it done. Don’t wait for the TV commercials, don’t wait for the YouTube video you’re watching to end, just do it. This will start to strengthen your self-control,” stated somebody.
8. Set a Timer for 20 Minutes
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Somebody said, “I set a timer for 20 minutes every night. I then challenge myself to see how much I can clean. When you first start, it may feel like you’re not accomplishing much but eventually you’ll find yourself searching for things to clean.”
9. Put Yourself in a “Swim or Sink” Situation
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“Put yourself in a ‘sink or swim’ situation … I was never really ‘lazy’ per se but when my parents kicked me out at 26 for doing fraud with their credit cards I had to make it on my own. I slept in my old a- truck with an expired registration at night, took my showers in a gym, and survived mostly on microwaved food at convenience stores. I had to work my a- off to get to where I’m at now. I’m a homeowner, have paid off two vehicles since then and I still work two jobs and consistently save and invest portions of my income,” shared somebody.
10. Get Yourself Accountable
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Somebody said, “You behave the way you do because you’ve not yet encountered a consequence important enough for you to behave differently. It sounds like no one or nothing in your life is holding you accountable to behave differently, and you’re not choosing to hold yourself accountable, so I don’t think you’re going to change. If you were well and truly disgusted with your own behavior, you would change it.”
What do you think the OP should do? Have you struggled with the same? Let us know in the comments!
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Source: Reddit
10 Actors Perfectly Cast for Their Character Roles
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Have you ever watched a movie or show and been completely lost in it because of how well an actor or actress became their character? Check out this article for a whole list of actors who were perfectly cast!
11 Vampire Movies That Will Make You Thirst for More
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You know that feeling where you’re on a movie kick in a certain genre, but you seem to run out of good movies to watch? Well, if you’re down for a vampire movie or three, check out this article for the best ones out there!
10 Incredible Movies That People Rated 10 Out of 10
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It’s pretty hard to replicate the experience of watching your favorite movie for the first time, but we’ve put together a list of movies that people have rated at a perfect 10/10. Next time you need a good movie to watch, check this out!
10 Famous People Who Canceled Themselves With Their Own Stupidity
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We’ve all been there: you make a comment you haven’t thought through at all, and the whole room goes silent at what you’ve just said. But can you imagine doing that as a famous person—and getting canceled? Check out this list of celebrities who did just that!
13 Things You Shouldn’t Do When You’re in the US
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Are you planning a trip to the US? Culture varies a lot between countries, even countries that share borders. So if you’re headed to the good old U. S. of A, here are a few pointers to make your travels go more smoothly!
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Many people experience regret when they receive gifts they don’t like.
It is important to avoid this by giving and receiving the right type of gift for someone. Some items that make for great gifts are subscriptions to magazines, concert or theater tickets, video games, movies, and books.
Other ideas include checking off bucket list adventures!
Experience gifts are the best gifts.
Many times after gifts are opened, you might be feeling a little disappointed in what you bought for others. You spent time and money, but now they are just left with a mountain of gifts that won’t be put to use. Don’t worry—we’ve got your back and plenty of ideas!
How can you avoid gift regret? Well, there are many different options to explore to find the perfect present.
In this post, we will cover unique experience gift ideas for her, families, kids, and everyone in between.
What are Experience Gift Ideas?
Experience gifts are a type of gift that gives the recipient an experience as opposed to tangible goods.
For example, you could buy someone tickets for their favorite band or sports team and they will get to go to an event and have a great time.
This type of gift will not expire, so if the person does not want it or use it right away they can still enjoy it later on!
Honestly, these are gift ideas that would love to do yourself!
Give the gift of experience by giving a membership to an activity, a day pass for activities like yoga or rock climbing. You can also give someone a voucher to take a class like cooking or painting.
There are so many options! We will go further in detail below.
Why Buying Experiences is Better than Physical Gifts?
If you still have gift cards on the table, it might be time to think about what your loved one really wants. “What is important for people are experiences that create memories,” says Harvard business professor Michael Norton.
A study by the Journal of Consumer Research found that for experiences, people felt more satisfied and happy with what they had received than material gifts like clothes or jewelry.
One way to make a gift even more special is to take the recipient with you when you go shopping.
Some people might feel bad when they get a gift they don’t like, but it is ok. For your next gift to someone you love, try getting them something different – like an experience gift!
Many people looking for a no gift Christmas look for experiences instead.
Ultimate List of Life Experience Gift Ideas
A lot of people experience gift regret when they receive a gift that is not their style or something that has no use. This can be frustrating because the person who gave you the present did their best to find what they thought you would enjoy.
That is why we have the best experience gift ideas all in one place!
There are many experience gift ideas on this list of the best experience gift ideas.
-A trip to your favorite theme park.
-An evening of bowling and dinner with friends.
-A night at a sleepover party for girls only.
– The list goes on and on with so many fabulous ideas!
Many of these on the list are outdoor experience gift ideas!
The best gift ideas are the ones that they will love and cherish for years. With these many great experience gift ideas, you will be sure to find the perfect gift for any occasion.
Who says a birthday is just another day? It’s a special time, and it deserves something extra-special as a present.
These types of gifts are perfect for the frugal green person who cares about saving money and being eco-friendly.
Experience Gifts for Everyone
If you are looking for a gift that will be remembered, look no further.
We have rounded up the best gifts to give someone who is hard to buy for or just wants something different than a gift card.
This may seem like it’s too good of a present, but if you know the person well, it’s a gift that will not go to waste.
Weekend Getaway: If you are looking to gift someone with a gift that is guaranteed to not go unused, give them an unforgettable experience. Find the perfect hotel today.
Language Courses: Learning a new language is always a great idea! This is something that can be done in your own time and space. Start your journey to bi-lingual.
Bowling: Has it been a while since you went bowling? Time to lace up those bowling shoes for a night out at the lanes. Can you roll a strike?
Dinner Out (or Dinner In): Everyone loves a break from cooking. Find the local trendy restaurant or pick of their favorites. Either or, it is the company that makes the difference!
Night Out with Friends: This is always a great gift idea! There are so many different things you can do for a night out.
Monthly Subscriptions: Monthly subscriptions are a fun gift that can either be an ongoing thing like Netflix or HBO, or something for the month that includes their hobbies.
Fitness Classes: At home or on the go! There are plenty of options for a healthier lifestyle. You can find new, exciting fitness workouts anywhere!
Groupon Deal of the Day: Let the popular app find all of the ideas that are hot in their area. Plus save a buck or two for the saver in you! Find Groupon Deals.
White Water Rafting Expedition: If you are looking for an adventure, white water rafting is the perfect gift. With the best company and scenery, it will be a day that they’ll never forget!
Ziplining Tour: SOme of my best memories are from a ziplining tour. Make sure to zipline in a breath-taking place to soak in the scenery around you. For a bigger adrenaline rush, zipline through a cliff.
Hotel Gift Card: Don’t have the perfect gift idea? Give them a night out on you! Buy them a hotel gift card to spend when they are ready.
Book Club: Books make great gifts because there’s never anything like it in someone else’s collection, and you can find one that’s appropriate for their reading level. Double bonus: when you meet for drinks to re-hash the books.
Baked Goods: Give a friend or family member something to bake, like cookies or bread. It’ll make them feel happy and proud of themselves, and you’ll get to enjoy the results. Even better… pass along the recipe and ingredients for them to recreate themselves.
Gift Cards: For the person who has everything, give them an experience they can buy with their gift card. Give someone $30 to spend at a local art store and they’ll be grateful for the experience.
Cash: Cash is king. Let the people who love buy their own presents. This is especially a great gift for a frugal person.
A Donation: Don’t want to spend any money? Consider donating in someone’s name; they’ll appreciate it more than anything else.
It’s the time of year to celebrate with family, friends, and loved ones.
Hopefully one of these life experience gift ideas is appealing to yoU!
Experience Gift Ideas for Kids
Kids and families will appreciate a wide array of gifts!
It is hard to shop for gifts for kids who have everything, so hopefully, this list gave you some ideas.
This gift list includes out-of-the-box ideas to help minimize the clutter most families deal with as well as much-loved gifts.
Art Class: Art supplies and a session with an instructor, designed to create your own masterpieces. Plus the best part is you do not have to clean up the mess!
Archery: This sport is always on the list of “coolest things to do.” Learn archery, improve your technique and have a chance to participate in competitions.
Sports Lessons: Get some new skills and have a ton of fun while improving their athletic ability.
Backpacks & Sports Bags: Kids need to keep their stuff organized! This could be a camelpak for their next hike or just a travel bag for their next trip. Find ideas!
Subscription Boxes: Looking for something to come in the mail? Get a monthly box of goodies that you will be excited to open. Find the perfect subscription box.
Music Lessons: Become the next pop star with lessons in piano, guitar, or violin.
Tool Kit: This includes everything you need to fix things around your house and will teach skills that last a lifetime. This is great for the teenager or young adult.
Sleepover Party – Time for giggles and fun! Find sleepover party supplies here!
Art Supplies: Every craft station needs to be refilled for hours more of fun!
Ice Cream: You scream, we scream, we all scream for ice cream! Always a sweet treat and there are so many places that make your experience a delicious time!
Any of these kids experience gift ideas are winners for them! Check out this post for the best kids gifts under $10. Made by kids for kids.
Experience Gift Ideas for Family
A family’s experience with a gift is more important than the amount of money spent on it. If you’re looking for some new ideas, try any of these ideas.
Plus you buy one gift for the whole family!
Try any of these experience gift ideas for families!
Family Dinner Night Out: For many families, it is too costly to take the whole family out to dinner. Find a restaurant that is known for creating an experience the family will never forget.
Family Game Night: Stock the game closet! These are great gifts when the kids grow up because their interest changes and ability level improves. Drop ship a gift basket for family game night.
Family Green Space Improvement Projects: Such as a backyard garden or a small vegetable plot or even flower pots. Provide the seed money and let the family flourish together.
Paintball Package: For those who love to participate in outdoor activities, a paintball package is a lot of fun and a big adrenaline rush.
Helicopter Tour: This is a great gift for kids who love to learn about the world! This is an experience they will never forget.
Trip to Local Theme Park: What better way to have fun than to visit your favorite theme park with friends or family?
Family Movie Night: Purchase a gift subscription to the popular streaming services. Disney+ is perfect for kids. Put together a snack bucket with popcorn and everyone’s favorite beverages.
Sporting Event: Buy a t-shirt or jersey of their favorite team and surprise the little sports fan with an evening at the live game!
Camping Trip: Glamping is allowed, too! It is about disconnecting from the devices and having in-person interactions. Plus the wild will always surprise you!
Age Specific Weekend Getaway: When your child (or grandchild) is a certain age, take them on a trip. During this one-on-one time, you can have plenty of experiences and memories to share. Popular ages to do this would be nine years old, twelve years old, and fifteen years old.
Experience Gift Ideas for Couples
This section provides ideas for gifts that are best suited for couples.
Cooking Class: Couples who enjoy cooking together will enjoy a cooking class. Even if they need to learn to cook, this will be an extremely useful gift!
Online Course: Pick a topic; any topic! There are thousands of online classes to explore together to learn a new skill, find a new hobby, or enhance your skills. This is a course I did with my husband.
Adventure Ticket: Think like a tourist! This gift idea can be local to your area. What is the one thing this couple hasn’t experienced in their area?
Hot Air Ballooning: Don’t worry if you are afraid of heights, being in a hot air balloon is like floating across the water. It is a romantic and unforgettable experience to share.
Rent a Boat: Yeah, a boat. If you have the time and money to rent a boat for what will be an extended period of time, this is going to make one heck of a memorable gift.
Tickets to a Comedy Show: Laughing is the best medicine, and what better way to get a laugh than at a comedy show.
Adventure Ticket: Think like a kid- get them a ticket to go do something adventurous.
Couples Therapy: You could be treading a very fine line here. However, learning how to be a better spouse is always a great idea. Just make sure you have solid referrals.
Date Night: Who doesn’t enjoy a date night? Cover the cost of a babysitter and give them money for the restaurant.
A Day at the Movies and Lunch: Sounds picture-perfect, right?
Encourage their Passion: If you know what the couple’s passions are, give them money to go and pursue it. For example, if they’re musicians or artists then buy a guitar for them or a sketchbook.
Golf Lessons: These are an experienced-based gift that will allow them to enjoy a hobby together.
Music Lessons: Music is a universal love and they can learn how to play the guitar, harmonica or drums. Time spent together is harmony.
Plan for the future: Get them a certificate to receive daycare in case they need it at some point in their lives. Or get them a gift card from Costco to help with all the baby items they will need.
Experience Gift Ideas for Her:
Some experience-based gifts you can give a woman on her birthday or Christmas. Ladies love to be pampered (hint, hint)!
Spa Treatments: These include manicures, pedicures, and facials. They are a relatively inexpensive gift that she is sure to love!
Massages: A massage will make her feel like a new woman and she will love the way it feels.
A Day at the Spa: This is the most luxurious of them all. Instead of just one or two spa treatments. Add in foot soaks and of course, the more intense ones like a mud treatment or body wrap can really clean you up. The lady of your life gets pampered for a half-day or full day.
Time for Herself: Quiet zen time away from the needs in her life. This could be an hour of quiet or a full day.
Luxury Hotel Stay: Sometimes, you need a luxurious night of sleep without children waking you up.
Tickets to an Event: This could be for the theater, concert, or art grand opening. If you know your lady well, you will know what her passion is and can find the perfect ticket to match.
Night Out on the Town: This date includes dinner and a show.
Surprise Dinner from Her Favorite Restaurant: Sometimes, it is the little things in life that make the best gifts.
Yoga or Pilates Classes: Some people find that these classes relieve their stress. Plus improve your flexibility at the same time.
These are some of my favorite gift ideas.
Experience Gift Ideas for Him:
I think most guys prefer experiences over being lavished with gifts.
Also, let’s be honest… Men are 95% more likely to go out and buy exactly what they need and not wait for a holiday to come around.
Give him an experience day and he will be talking about it for years to come.
These are gift ideas for men who have everything!
Skydiving: Can you imagine? The adrenaline rush of jumping out of a plane and free-falling at 120 miles per hour. It’s an experience that he won’t soon forget.
Rock Climbing: He’ll get to experience the adrenaline rush of climbing up a cliff, navigating over obstacles, and getting to the top.
Horseback Riding: It’s not just for girls! Horseback riding is a great outdoor activity that he can do with his friends.
Throwing 1st Pitch at Baseball Game: It doesn’t matter their age. This is a dream for all ages!! The trickier part is how to make this experience gift idea happen.
Snowboarding: He’ll get to experience the adrenaline rush of snowboarding and enjoy learning a new skill set. Just hope he make it down the mountain in one piece.
A Day at the Spa: A man may not think this is a gift, but if he needs to be reminded of how good it feels to take care of himself then I say go for it.
Renting a Sports Car: This is a rite of passage for every man to drive a sports car.
Day at the Race Track: Specifically to be able to drive the cars; not just watch the professionals drive. Many of the race tracks offer amateurs a chance to feel the exhilaration of 100 mph.
Charter Fishing Trip: The best way to spend a weekend. Ask any guy and the story will be bigger than the fish they caught!
More than anything that is considered living on the edge is the perfect experience for him!
Best Experiences Gift Guide
This guide will help you come up with gift ideas for loved ones.
It won’t help with cleaning baseboards, but it will help you find gift ideas that they will appreciate. It is always good to say I appreciate you!
When it comes to buying a gift for someone who is a bit harder to buy for, consider giving them an experience that they would not otherwise be able to do.
Art & Entertainment-themed:
If you are looking for an experience gift, look no further than the arts.
Tickets to a Play: If you are looking to give a gift that will last for an extended period of time, consider gifting someone with the experience of attending one event at their favorite venue.
Tickets to a Concert: These will not go to waste and can be used anytime within their validity period. Time to jam away to the tunes.
Museum Membership: Consider gifting someone with a membership to an art gallery or museum. Also, many museums have reciprocal benefits and can be used in other cities when traveling.
Food & Drink Themed:
A great gift idea for any occasion is to give food or drinks. Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, anniversary, or just because you want to show someone how much they mean to you, food themed gifts are a great way to show you care.
Cooking Classes: This is a great idea for the foodie or non-foodie! Everything tastes better and is more fun when you do not have to clean up afterward.
Wine Tour: This gift is perfect for the wine enthusiast. Wine tasting, learning about viticulture, and enjoying tastings of different wines are all part of this gift.
Brewery/distillery tours: For the craft beer or liquor enthusiast, this is a great gift. Learn how different beers and liquors are made while enjoying tastings of them.
Culinary school: This is for the foodie and non-foodie alike. Whether you love to cook or never touch the stove, culinary school is a great gift for anyone who wants to learn more about their craft.
Things to Do Themed:
Experiences are perfect for friends and family. They make the recipient feel like they got to do something fun or interesting (even if it’s just sitting in a room with snacks).
It’s also a great way to make someone feel like they’re worth more than the value of whatever you spent on them.
Time to get moving with these things to do gift idea list!
Zoo Membership: A membership to your local zoo is a great way to enjoy (and learn about) the animals that live in our world.
Movie Tickets: Movie tickets are always a good idea, and it’s a great way to enjoy something together.
Pool Membership: Pool memberships are a great way to enjoy the summer. It’s also good for people who don’t like hot weather since they can cool off in the water.
Waterpark Passes: Water parks are a great way to have fun in the sun.
Membership at a Museum: Memberships to museums are an opportunity for people who love art, history, or science.
National Park Pass: Passes to national parks are a great way to enjoy nature.
Botanical Gardens: Botanical gardens are a great way to enjoy the beauty of nature indoors and outdoors.
Professional Photography Shoot: Professional photography shoots are a great way to have professional pictures. Get dressed up and smile!
Art Class: Art classes are a fun way to learn about art and express your creativity. Even better, when you do them as a group!
Related Posts:
Learn Something New Themed:
If you are looking for a gift idea that will not go to waste, consider learning something new.
There is an abundance of courses and workshops available in all sorts of subjects!
Find a new hobby or hone your skills.
Crafting Classes: Have you been to your local craft store? There are hundreds of types of crafts to choose from. Some ideas include: knitting, sewing, painting, beadwork, jewelry making, woodworking, etc. Find crafting ideas here.
Language Classes: It is best to learn a new language through immersion. But, the recipient may be hesitant and want to know a few words in the new language before setting out on that experience. Start your journey to bi-lingual.
Subscription Boxes: THere are hundreds of subscription box ideas. Just pick one to match their personality. Plus a new box comes on a recurring basis.
Tennis Lessons: This gift idea was well received in our house. We bought new tennis rackets and a backpack along with a package of lessons. Plus it is a lifelong skill to be able to play.
Photography Workshops: Happy; excited; nervous! Time to learn photography from a new lens. You will proud of your new skills.
Instrument Lessons: Time to get in tune with your inner self. Every had a dream to play a musical instrument? I have; it is the drums. What would your gift recipient want?
Horseback Riding: Buckle up and get ready to ride. This could be a one-time adventure or a package for riding lessons.
Dance Lessons: You will not regret it. Well, you might later. This is a must for any engaged couple. That couple’s dance is waiting for your dance skills!
Equipment Needed for Passions:
Regardless of your hobby or passion, it comes with some type of cost. It is difficult if you do not have the equipment needed to enjoy time doing something you enjoy.
This is one of the greatest gifts you can give!
The equipment will fund the experiences that this person craves to have. Or replace worn out items.
More than likely, you won’t know what exactly to get. So, ask for a wish list or their favorite place to buy equipment. Cash or gift cards are extremely beneficial.
Camping Gear: Once you own the equipment, this is a cheap activity to participate in. However, there are upfront costs of collecting all of the gear.
Sewing Machine: If you know someone who sews or is interested in sewing, this gift will go a long way. Sewing machines range from $200-500 and it’s usually worth the purchase if they enjoy sewing. My mother-in-law purchased mine!
Climbing Gear: If they are an avid climber, this is a great gift. Like camping gear, it has upfront costs of investing in the equipment to get started.
Photography Equipment: Photography equipment is expensive upfront, but it can be used for years to come. This is a great idea for someone who enjoys taking pictures.
Telescope: Telescopes are expensive, but it’s a lifetime investment. This is perfect for a starry-eye person who enjoys looking at the stars.
Fly Fishing Equipment: Fly fishing equipment is expensive but lasts a long time. This can be used by an avid fly fisher for years to come.
Road Cycling or Mountain Biking: Road cycling or Mountain biking equipment is expensive but lasts a lifetime. This can be used by avid cyclists for years to come.
Sports Gear: This could be for golf, tennis, soccer, or any sport! What is the equipment needed, so they can enjoy time playing.
Scuba / Snorkeling Gear: Scuba or snorkeling gear is expensive, but it’s worth the investment. This could be used by an avid scuba diver for years to come.
It can be hard to find a good gift for someone that has everything. When you find yourself in this position, there are many things to think about when purchasing a present. One thing you’ll want to do is consider the hobbies of the person you are buying for.
At Home or Virtual Experience Gift Ideas:
A virtual experience can be an eye-opening experience. It is like you are there, but not really there. Instead of going to a museum or getting info about whales from a book; you can get the same information from a virtual experience.
Online Cooking Classes: Cooking is a great way to get out of the kitchen. You can learn techniques or just try new recipes. Find classes today.
Online Wine Tasting: Yes, all of the wine is delivered to your door. Lead by a wine sommelier on the varieties and what to expect during each skip.
Workout Experiences: Start your fitness journey in the comfort of your own home. There are many options available for workouts that can be done from just about anywhere with the equipment you already have at home!
Airbnb Online Experiences: If you miss traveling, then you are able to travel to some of your favorite locations. While it may not be the same, you can start planning your trip for another time!
Online Classes: This is an idea for anyone who has a passion they want to explore. There are thousands of courses on almost any topic you can think of. With this, there is no need to go to school to find your passion, you can do it right from home.
Board Games: Brush off the games or pick out a new board game. No one will get tired of playing their favorite.
Themed Experiences: If you are looking for a unique experience for someone, then think about planning it around their favorite thing.
How do I Give an Experience as a Gift?
Gifting an experience is a great way to give someone an unforgettable gift.
With experiences, you can choose the location, the type of experience, and what your budget can afford.
You can also choose whether you want the experience to be for someone specific or publicly available. The fun part is you can get creative on how to wrap it like money gift ideas!
How to Wrap up the Experience as a Gift:
Buy something that represents part of the gift.
Create a gift certificate.
Handwrite a lovely letter explaining the gift experience.
Wrap up a huge box with a tiny note.
There are plenty of ways to wrap up a gift experience. Just follow your personality to choose the best way to gift wrap it!
Which Experience Gift Ideas Will You Use?
Many people who are not satisfied with their gifts during the holidays end up feeling regretful. This holiday season, there are plenty of options to choose from that will be used for years to come
The idea of giving someone a gift can be overwhelming.
We are bombarded with deals and deals, but in the end, it is just another thing that will eventually clutter up our homes.
There is a better way.
Gifts that encourage experiences over material things do not go to waste and can create memories for a lifetime. They also require less thought, which these days are a good thing.
You can find plenty of life gift experiences for:
Father’s Day
Mother’s Day
Mother-Daughter
Grandparents
Parents
Girlfriend / Boyfriend
Wedding
Husband / Wife
Birthday
Graduation
Christmas
It’s time to think outside the box and give someone an experience they won’t soon forget!
If I do buy something, I focus on purchasing consumable gifts that will be used up.
Seriously, think about what do I want for Christmas or any other occasion…
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.
The events behemoth Live Nation Entertainment is about to rack up some fees of its own — legal fees, that is.
On Thursday, the Department of Justice announced it was suing Live Nation Entertainment on antitrust grounds. The suit arrives after long-standing allegations of monopolistic practices and multiple federal investigations. The DOJ’s action was largely expected following a report of the impending suit by the Wall Street Journal on April 15.
Live Nation Entertainment encompasses international event promotion and management, as well as ticket sales through its better-known division, Ticketmaster.
The antitrust suit, which was joined by 30 states, was filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York. During a press conference following the announcement, Attorney General Merrick Garland detailed some of the DOJ’s allegations against Live Nation Entertainment including:
Locking out competition through long-term and exclusive contracts with major venues encompassing more than 70% of event ticket sales.
Imposing a “seemingly endless” bevy of fees, such as ticketing fees, service fees, convenience fees, platinum fees, handling fees and more.
Pressuring artists into using its services to promote events at venues it has long-term contracts with.
Working “strategically and illegally to eliminate the threat of potential rivals” in the event ticketing industry, in some cases even when the deal didn’t financially make sense for Live Nation’s business.
“Some monopolies are just so entrenched and some problems so difficult to address that they require decisive and effective solutions,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter at the press conference. “We request a remedy that has been used in antitrust law going back over 100 years, which is structural relief.”
Prior to the lawsuit, in Live Nation Entertainment’s first quarterly earnings call of the year on May 3, President and CFO Joe Berchtold said, “Based on the issues we know about, we don’t believe a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster would be a legally permissible remedy.”
The investigation started with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
The Justice Department’s suit is the result of an investigation launched in November 2022 following an incident in which Ticketmaster mishandled sales of tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. A multitiered presale event for the tour prematurely oversold tickets, which meant hopeful fans couldn’t purchase them in the public sale. Then resellers who did manage to get presale tickets posted those for sale at exorbitant prices.
In the aftermath, fans of the pop star, also known as Swifties, filed a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of fraud, misrepresentation and anti-competitive practices.
The incident also prompted Congress to begin investigating the event ticketing company. In February 2023, legislators recommended that the DOJ’s Antitrust Division probe Live Nation Entertainment, as well.
Then in November 2023, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) issued a subpoena for documentation that it said Live Nation had yet to produce during the subcommittee’s investigation. The subcommittee also wrote a letter to the Justice Department that said the Eras Tour problems “suggest that the Department’s past enforcement efforts have failed to protect competition.” It went on to say that if Live Nation had indeed abused its power in the event ticketing market, then it may be prudent for the DOJ to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
Live Nation Entertainment controls most of the event ticketing market
In 2010, the Justice Department approved the merger of the event promoter Live Nation and ticketing company Ticketmaster to become Live Nation Entertainment. At the time that the companies consolidated, each was already the dominant player in the events industry: Ticketmaster for ticketing and Live Nation for owning, operating and promoting venues.
Peter Cohan, a professor of practice in the management division at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, says the merger has been costly for consumers. Face-value tickets have increased sharply, but increasingly pricey fees have been tacked on, as well. They’re commonly called junk fees, and the Biden administration has made a mission of targeting them in the events ticketing space, as well as travel and credit cards.
In a 2009 analysis that Cohan wrote prior to the Live Nation merger entitled “Chokehold on Live Entertainment,” he looked at fees. Cohan says, “I came across a typical kind of concert ticket — Denver, Colorado, a Green Day concert in 2009 — where the fee was 45% of the face value of the ticket. And now fees are as high as 70% or 75%.”
In more than a decade since its merger, Live Nation Entertainment has only strengthened its hold on the market. During last year’s congressional investigation, the PSI submitted a letter to the Justice Department citing statistics that demonstrate Live Nation’s reach: 60% of the event ticketing market is controlled by the company. That includes 80 of the top 100 largest arenas in the U.S.
Live Nation Entertainment’s ownership of and deals with venues make it difficult for artists to use any other ticketing platform for its tours, says Cohan. “If an artist wants to use a different ticketing provider, then Live Nation will basically threaten to say, ‘Well, you can’t use this venue,’” he says.
This hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Justice Department: In 2019, the DOJ determined that Live Nation had violated the consent decree it agreed upon during the merger. The consent decree specified that Live Nation Entertainment cannot retaliate against concert venues for using other ticketing services. According to a Dec. 19, 2019, press release, the DOJ found “Live Nation repeatedly and over the course of several years” violated this agreement.
The consent decree between the companies was supposed to expire after 2019, but the DOJ extended the terms of the merger deal to 2025. In the extension, the Justice Department clarified that Live Nation Entertainment must not pressure venues to use Ticketmaster under the threat of forfeiting Live Nation shows.
Live Nation Entertainment says it’s not to blame for high prices
In response to scrutiny over high ticket prices, Live Nation Entertainment sought to explain more fully the rationale behind the costs. Dan Wall, Live Nation Entertainment’s executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, wrote in a March 4, 2024, open letter entitled “The Truth About Ticket Prices” that high prices “have very little to do with Live Nation or Ticketmaster.” Instead, steep demand for high-profile concerts, like the Eras Tour, naturally leads to more expensive tickets. He went on to add that artists’ increasing dependence on touring income — mainly due to the prevalence of music streaming, which doesn’t pay out for most artists — is also a contributing factor.
Still, Wall wrote that artists tend to underprice tickets “mostly out of regard for their fans,” but the resale market shows artists what their tickets could cost, which, in turn, leads artists to charge more because “when they don’t charge those prices scalpers will find ways to acquire tickets and resell them at full market value.”
He wrote, “The common thread to all these factors is that they have nothing to do with who the promoter is or who sells tickets to the show.” It is the performer’s business team that works with promoters to come up with a strategy that provides revenue while “doing right by their fans.”
Cohan says the secondary market has further exacerbated already high prices for tickets — by several thousand percent markups. “If you go to buy a ticket and Ticketmaster says you can’t get it, that’s because 90% of tickets are reserved for secondary market players who immediately bid up the price,” says Cohan. “Then you have to buy it on the secondary market and pay much more for it.”
On the secondary market, Cohan says, Ticketmaster then collects more fees on transactions. However, Ticketmaster has, in the past, publicly denied that it enables a mass-scalping system.
Live Nation reported a record $22.7 billion in revenue in 2023.
This isn’t the DOJ’s first rodeo with Ticketmaster
Anticompetitive accusations have been thrown at Ticketmaster for decades. In the early 1990s, the grunge band Pearl Jam feuded with Ticketmaster over its service charges. A June 30, 1994, article in the Los Angeles Times said the band accused Ticketmaster of refusing to sell tickets to the band’s tour at the price point they wanted to ask of fans: $18 or less, with under $2 in service fees (at the time, Ticketmaster charged $4 to $8 per ticket in service fees). Later, Pearl Jam tried to work outside the Ticketmaster system on its own low-priced tour, but the company allegedly influenced promoters and venues to boycott the tour altogether.
The clashes between Ticketmaster and Pearl Jam prompted a situation similar to the current inquiry following the Eras Tour mess: The Department of Justice launched an investigation into anti-competitive practices while Congress called for hearings. Ultimately, Ticketmaster won out.
What’s next
Cohan is skeptical that a breakup of the merger will happen. He speculates that it’s more likely that Live Nation will stall litigation for as long as possible and likely conduct changes to remediate some of the complaints rather than wade through an entire breakup of the companies.
But if the DOJ does break up the merger, Cohan says, it’s possible prices might improve somewhat since there would be less of a financial incentive for Live Nation to only use Ticketmaster. But he asserts that unwinding the merger is unlikely to make much of an impact.
“The situation was pretty bad before they were merged and probably would be pretty bad afterwards unless there was a fundamental change to the way tickets are sold,” says Cohan, who suggests direct artist-to-consumer sales would likely be the next best option. He reasons that artists need a way to sell tickets, but with existing e-commerce technology, big ticketing systems aren’t really necessary.
“I’m sure many artists — even the smaller ones — could probably pull their money together and build a system that they could sell tickets on directly to consumers without having all these intermediaries taking a piece out of it where they’re not really adding any value,” he says. “It would probably still be expensive to go to a concert, but with the non value-added cost taken out, it would be lower.”
Younger homebuyers are turning to ultra-long loans, prompting fears over the risk to their finances and the wider economy
For a long time the traditional length of a UK mortgage has been 25 years, but runaway house prices and, more recently, dramatically higher borrowing costs are prompting more and more people to “go long” on their home loans.
On Monday, the former pensions minister Steve Webb revealed that younger homebuyers were increasingly being forced to gamble with their retirement prospects by taking on ultra-long mortgages lasting beyond the end of their working life.
The ex-Liberal Democrat MP published data obtained via a freedom of information request indicating that in the past three years, more than 1m mortgages that stretch beyond the current state pension age have been taken out.
Webb tabled the request in response to a recent report from the Bank of England’s financial policy committee (FPC) that revealed that almost half of all new mortgages issued in the final three months of 2023 were for terms of 30 years or more.
Separate figures from the lenders’ trade body, UK Finance, show that by the end of 2023, almost one in five first-time buyers were arranging their mortgage over 35 years, compared with fewer than one in 10 a year before. And while in 2005 the typical mortgage term for a UK first-time buyer was 25 years, that had crept up to 30 years by mid-2022.
Ray Boulger of the broker John Charcol says the traditional quarter-century term was chosen because until about the year 2000 most mortgages were linked to an endowment policy, for which 25 years was considered the optimum period.
Now that more than 90% of house purchase mortgages are taken out on a repayment basis, “there is no logical reason for the default period of a repayment mortgage to be 25 years or, indeed, any specific term,” Boulger says.
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Affordability pressures
The key driver for longer terms is affordability: stretching out repayments over a longer term reduces how much you have to hand over each month.
In the UK, high house prices, escalating student debts and a rise in the age at which couples have children have contributed to the need for a longer repayment term.
“But what I think has helped to accelerate that [demand] more recently is the fact that interest rates are that much higher now,” says David Hollingworth of the broker L&C Mortgages. “You were getting people going beyond the traditional 25 years, but they would be perhaps sitting at about 30. We are starting to see the proportion going to the full 40 beginning to edge up – so, maxing it out effectively.”
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Someone who takes out a £200,000 repayment mortgage at a rate of 4.5% could expect to pay £1,111 a month on a 25-year term. Tweak that to 30 and it falls to £1,013 a month. At 35 years it is £946, and at 40 it is £899 – £212 a month less than if they signed up for 25 years.
For would-be borrowers who cannot raise the mortgage they want on a shorter term, increasing the length of their loan may be their only option.
45-year loans
In March, UK Finance gave a graphic example of how affordability pressures have ratcheted up as interest rates and house prices have risen.
It looked at a typical first-time buyer in 2022, when the average mortgage term for someone stepping on to the property ladder was 30 years. By the middle of 2023, for that buyer to achieve the same affordability – as measured by their monthly payments compared with income – they would have needed to borrow over a 50-year term. By last December, rising mortgage rates had pushed this to 72 years.
“A 50-year term, let alone 72 years, sits outside even the most generous of lender underwriting criteria,” UK Finance was quick to add.
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Banks and building societies have, though, made it easier for people to tie themselves into ultra-long mortgages. The financial data provider Moneyfacts said that at the end of April this year, 79% of residential mortgages on sale had a maximum term of up to 40 years – up from 68% in August 2023, and 57% a year earlier.
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One specialist player, Vida Homeloans, recently made the move to 45 years, and others could follow. Perenna, a new lender that launched its products late last year, originally offered deals lasting up to 30 years, but now offers a maximum of 40. Arjan Verbeek, its chief executive, says it has seen “very strong demand”, adding: “We will go to 50 if there is … need.”
It is not just first-time buyers opting to go long – large numbers of people facing much higher monthly payments once their existing deal expires have also extended the length of their mortgage term or are considering doing so.
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Sting in the tail
Going for a longer term could lower monthly costs, but there is a financial sting in the tail: the longer you draw out the repayments, the more interest you will pay over the life of the mortgage.
For the £200,000 mortgage mentioned above, while over 25 years the borrower would pay £133,000 in interest, over a 40-year term, their total interest bill soars to £231,000.
And policymakers clearly have concerns about the growing popularity of marathon mortgages and the potential risks they pose for financial stability. People are potentially saddling themselves with a big debt that some will probably still be paying off long after they have started collecting their pension, or would have hoped to retire.
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The FPC warns that this trend “could affect future borrower and lender resilience”, adding that longer terms means “a higher risk of debt being pushed into old age” and reduced financial flexibility. That, in turn, could make borrowers “more sensitive to negative shocks”.
On top of this, traditionally, you might have reached your early/mid/late 50s and either have paid off your mortgage or certainly broken the back of it – thereby giving you a few valuable years during which you could shove as much money as possible into your pension to boost your future retirement income. For many, that window of opportunity has now closed, or is likely to close.
A short-term fix?
There has already been an increase in the number of people in their 60s and 70s using equity release schemes to pay off their mortgages. On the other hand, some of those signing up for longer-term mortgages will find their financial situation improves over time, allowing them to bring the term back down or make overpayments to reduce what they owe.
Boulger says the fact that a 35- or 40-year mortgage might end up being more expensive does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with a longer term if it is the best means to the desired end of owning your own home. “It will usually be better than renting for your whole life, including in retirement, and in any case very few people will keep the same mortgage for the whole term, and so in reality only a tiny proportion of 35- to 40-year mortgages will actually last that long,” he says.
In July 2022, it was reported that longer-term mortgages were being considered by the then prime minister Boris Johnson as a way to tackle the housing crisis. Ironically, the mess made of the economy by his successor Liz Truss – whose September 2022 mini-budget lit the touchpaper for much higher mortgage rates – could actually help make half-century home loans a lot more likely.
One of the best things about spring cleaning is all the room it frees up for redecorating! Out with the old, in the new, as they say. We made a list of the 11 best home decor items at Target that will not only add a little extra flair and character to a space, but also won’t cost you hundreds of dollars. Check out our list below.
The 125 Best New Beauty Launches Of 2023
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1. Brass Wall Clock
While smart phones provide the time with a simple glance, we mustn’t forget the charm of an analog clock. This 14-inch Pleated Brass Round Analog Wall Clock with a gorgeous Antique Finish from Heart & Hand is the perfect addition to a wall that just needs a little something extra. Plus, it’s on sale for $27.99! Hang it in a bedroom, living room kitchen, even a bathroom to add some character and dimension to the room.
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2. Woven Storage Baskets
Some of the best home decor items are functional too. Like these Banana Leaf Storage Baskets from the brand Olivia & May. Settle these into a cozy corner in the living room and fill them with extra blankets, tuck them under an entry-way table and fill them with shoes, or use them in the bedroom as hampers. With tons of different ways to use these baskets, they’ll not only upgrade your decor, but the functionality of your home, too. You can get a three pack of these stunning baskets for $100—grab them while they’re still in stock!
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3. Fun Candles
Everyone loves a candle—part of elevating a space is certainly elevating the smell of the space. While it’s easy to pick a candle based off the scent, it’s also easy to spend a little extra time picking out a candle that’s visually appealing too. Like this funky blue candle from Opalhouse, which is only $10, or this ceramic sage green candle from Threshold, if that’s more your vibe. Make your house smell good, and look good!
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4. Plant Propagation Set
For anyone with a green thumb, this plant propagation set is the perfect item to add a little greenery to a space. Even if you struggle to keep house plants alive, don’t be scared of this wall-hanging set, because you don’t need to water these! Simply fill up the vials with water and place clippings of your favorite plants and watch them grow. You can get these propagation set from Magnolia for only $23.99! With gorgeous gold accents, it adds so much to a space!
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5. Funky Throw Pillow
Sometimes all a room needs is a pop of color, and one way to do that is with funky throw pillows like this one! This Textured Tufted Square Throw Pillow by Opalhouse, designed with Jungalow, comes in two colors—rust and blue. Each has tons of fun textures and colors, and simply by tossing them on your couch or chair, the room gets an added layer of character. On sale for $25 right now, this is a great addition to any home.
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6. Ceramic Lamp
Lamps provide crucial lighting for a space, but it’s just as crucial to make sure the design of the lamp adds to the space, too. This 23-inch Farmhouse Ceramic Urn Pot Table Lamp is 40% off right now, and comes in six different colors, distressed black, distressed grey, earth brown, terracotta, light blue, and beige. The textured look of the base adds just as much depth to a room as it does light. Bring yours home today—or even get a matching set!
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7. Statement Wallpaper
If you’re feeling bold, go for an accent wall or bathroom with fun and colorful wall paper! Beige and neutral is out, and fun, vibrant, colors are in! Like this peel-and-stick Tropical Green wall paper from Opalhouse. Splash it on one wall in a bedroom or living area for a fun accent wall, or dedicate a whole bathroom or laundry room too it to really add some color to your life. Go big or go home, right? You can get a set of this wall paper for only $34, a much cheaper alternative to having it professionally done!
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8. Woven Placemats
Instead of leaving your kitchen table clear of anything, set out some decorative placemats to make the whole room look more homey. Plus, it’ll encourage you—and hopefully your family—to let less clutter gather there, making it easy to keep clean. These boho-chic woven placemats come in a set of 2 for only $10, and add so much character to a space. You can even take it one step further and set up a whole table-scape!
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9. Floral-Printed Rug
Another way to add some depth and color to a room is with a colorful or printed rug. This Floral Block Printed Blue Rug from Threshold comes in three different sizes, 2′ x 3′, 5′ x 7′, and 7′ x 10′ depending on how big your space is. If you’re more of a neutral furniture and decor kind of person, but are still looking for a pop of color, this rug could be the answer! The smallest size is only $25—budget friendly and stunning!
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10. Unique Vases
Flower vases don’t have to be clear! Try out a unique vase to hold your next bouquet of flowers, adding in a little extra pizazz to a space. Like this gold ribbed one from Threshold, which is only $25, or this modern and funky blue one, which is only $30. It could be your pop of color or a tie in to a color you’ve already picked for the room. Either way, it’s a great deal, and it’s an easy way to add a little character to any space.
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11. Coffee Table Books
Home decor can be personalized, too! While these can sometimes be a little pricey if you think about them as a book, if you think of it more as a piece of art or decor, paying a little extra for a coffee table book about a topic that interests you is really worth the money. Like this stunning black-and-white Tom Ford book, which is currently 44% off. Whether it’s the best beaches in America, foods from all over the world, or even a personalized, homemade coffee table book documenting your favorite memories, these are the perfect addition to your coffee- or end-table.
Target
12. Full Length Mirror
The final item on our list is another functional decor moment: the Wooden Mirror with Ladder from Threshold. With this item, you’re fulfilling the need for a mirror—which can really open up a space, btw—and making it easier to store your throw blankets, rather than leaving them a crumpled mess on the couch. This mirror and ladder combo is on sale for $60, so grab yours while it’s still in stock!
Moving into an apartment with roommates is never a simple task. For starters, space is almost always hard to come by. Then comes the difficult task of keeping that limited space organized. It’s easy for an apartment to devolve into a cluttered mess if you aren’t intentional about keeping it in order.
To prevent this, here are some tips for how to keep your apartment organized while living with roommates. Whether you‘re renting a house in Houston or moving into an apartment in Seattle, these tips from ApartmentGuide and experts will help you and your roommates coexist and stay organized.
1. Utilize versatile furniture
“Don’t underestimate the power of furniture that does double duty,” says Melanie Summers, owner of I Speak Organized. “A coffee table that doubles as a storage ottoman is a game-changer for keeping board games or cozy throws out of sight but close at hand.
Or how about a bookshelf that transforms into a desk? It’s perfect for those days when you need to switch from relaxation mode to work mode in a snap. These clever pieces of furniture are not only practical for saving space but they also add a fun and creative touch to your apartment, making staying organized feel like a breeze.”
2. Organize shared expenses
Manage shared expenses such as rent, utilities, and groceries efficiently to avoid conflicts and financial strain. Consider using apps or platforms designed for splitting bills to track expenses and ensure that everyone pays their fair share on time.
3. Create a shared calendar
Keep track of everyone’s schedules by creating a shared calendar. Whether it’s a physical wall calendar or a digital one accessible to all roommates, noting important dates, events, and responsibilities ensures that everyone stays informed and can plan accordingly.
4. Divide chores fairly
Establish a system for dividing household chores that feels equitable to everyone. Whether you rotate tasks weekly, assign specific duties based on individual preferences or abilities, or use a chore chart, clear expectations help prevent resentment and ensure that responsibilities are evenly divided.
5. Designate personal spaces
While shared living spaces foster camaraderie, it’s essential to respect each other’s need for privacy and personal space. Designate specific areas or shelves for each roommate to store their personal belongings, minimizing clutter and confusion.
“I am a huge believer in cubby systems,” says Beth Blacker, founder of It’s Just Stuff, a Boulder, CO-based home organizer. “They are great for anyone whether living with others or not. But in houseshare situations, I think they are definitely the key to keeping certain things contained and hidden but still readily available for each housemate. Many of the bins that fit into the cubbies have slots to insert a label to identify the owner and what is actually in the bin.”
6. Implement a cleaning schedule
Maintain a clean and tidy living environment by implementing a regular cleaning schedule. Determine how often common areas such as the kitchen, living room, and bathroom should be cleaned, and establish guidelines for keeping them tidy. Rotating cleaning duties among roommates ensures that no one person does all the work.
7. Set boundaries and respect each other’s space
Set clear boundaries regarding noise levels, guests, and personal items. Respect each other’s need for quiet time, privacy, and personal possessions to create a harmonious living environment where everyone feels comfortable and valued.
8. Establish clear communication channels
Communication is the cornerstone of any successful roommate arrangement. Set up regular meetings or establish a group chat where everyone can discuss important issues, such as chores, bills, and house rules. Open and honest communication helps prevent misunderstandings and creates a sense of accountability among roommates.
“To stay organized with a roommate, schedule a regular time to communicate about household issues,” advises Dara Zycherman, owner of Less Equals More. “Address problems before they begin and clarify roles and responsibilities, like who cleans what and who takes out the trash.”
9. Utilize vertical space
Maximize your apartment’s storage potential by utilizing vertical space. Install shelves, hooks, or hanging organizers on walls to store items like coats, bags, and kitchen utensils. This not only frees up floor space but also keeps commonly used items easily accessible.
10. Utilize storage solutions
Maximize space and cut down on clutter with smart storage solutions. Invest in storage bins, shelves, and organizers to keep shared spaces neat and organized. Encourage roommates to label their belongings and maintain a clutter-free environment for peace of mind.
11. Create a cleaning schedule
Develop a rotating cleaning schedule that assigns specific tasks to each roommate on a weekly or monthly basis. This ensures that cleaning duties are evenly distributed and helps prevent conflicts over who’s responsible for what. Be flexible and willing to adjust the schedule as needed.
Living with roommates can be a rewarding experience when approached with patience, respect, and organization. By implementing these 11 tips, you can create a harmonious living environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and organized. Effective communication, clear expectations, and mutual respect are the keys to successful cohabitation with roommates.