Money is a big deal. And it can sometimes be a deal breaker in a relationship. Here’s what you need to know when it’s time to talk money with your S.O. Read More...

Money represents one of the essential conversations you need to have with a potential life partner.

However, not everyone is comfortable talking about money. Your S.O. might not be, either.

No matter how much s/he might try to avoid the subject, though, it’s important to get on top of the situation. You need to talk money with someone who’s going to be such a huge part of your life.

Why you need to talk money

Money is a huge part of life. We don’t like to think about it in those terms, but the reality is that it’s a necessity. You and your partner need to be on the same page when it comes to money.

Your money situation impacts all areas of your life. Money is a cause of stress and, the American Psychological Association notes, can also affect your relationships.

You need to make financial decisions with your partner, and that means you need to talk money. It might seem just fine that one of you takes care of most of the money issues without conversations, but it’s really not.

I know.

In my marriage, my ex didn’t want anything to do with the budget or finances — even when I asked him to participate.

This was stressful, we didn’t really have the same priorities, and it didn’t help that he didn’t know our situation and I felt like I was always trying to make things work.

If you want to be successful with your finances and in your partnership, you need to talk money, at least a couple times a month. Even if you keep your finances separate, touching base is a good idea. You need to be aware of problems that can cause you problems down the road.

Why doesn’t your partner want to talk money?

Your first step is to figure out why your partner isn’t interested in talking about money with you.

This can be a touchy situation because money is so related to our emotions and our view of ourselves. It’s important to approach it with tact and realize that your partner might be reluctant due to:

  • Embarrassment: Something in your partner’s money situation might cause some embarrassment. They might not want to disclose past mistakes and/or current debt.
  • Trust issues: Depending on where you’re at in your relationship, your partner might not be ready to talk about money with you. You don’t need to exchange bank account information or anything like that. But you should start, generally, with what matters to each of you.
  • Your attitude: One of the things I learned about myself during a relationship is that sometimes I come across as a perfectionist with high standards. Also, I used to be really judgy. I had to learn to be more accepting before my partners could disclose things to me.

Figure out why your S.O. is reluctant and try to go from there.

How to start talking about money with your S.O.

No matter the situation, it can be difficult to figure out how to start the conversation. After all, you might not agree about money, and resolving those differences can be daunting.

In some cases, you can glean information about your partner’s money habits by paying attention to the way they use money.

You can use such things as a touchpoint. If they spend a lot on something, you can probe a little. “Hey, do you like X? I notice that you have a lot.”

At some point, though, you might need to just suck it up and ask. Let your partner know that you think things are moving along enough that you are ready to talk money.

Plan a time where you can sit down and talk about finances. It should be a time when you have both had a little time to relax, and when you aren’t hungry. These talks go so much better when you aren’t distracted and when you don’t start off grumpy.

If you are already together, and your partner doesn’t like to talk money, try and frame at something that is good for you both. Start out by saying how important it is that you are a team, and that you want his/her input.

When you can approach it in a way that shows your partner that you value his/her opinion, s/he is more likely to respond positively.

Try to make it a regular occurrence, where you set up a time each week or each month to review something. Base the frequency of a budget review on what your partner is willing to do at first. As you make it a habit, your partner is likely to take a greater interest.

What happens when nothing works?

In some cases, there is just no convincing a partner to talk money with you. If this is the case, you just need to do your best. Look for ways to be real about money and even to protect yourself.

If you haven’t combined your finances, consider staying away from the big pot if your partner isn’t willing to talk money.

When you already have combined finances, but you are doing everything with the money management, try to draw your partner into conversations in non-confrontational ways, and consider making contingency plans that protect your finances.

In the end, your best bet is to start talking about money before you seriously commit to a partner. You’ll be better able to figure out how to move forward.

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Ready to take charge of your finances this year? Here’s how to slay your money goals and make the dollar bills. Read More...

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

If so, there is a good chance that you are setting at least one financial resolution. The third most popular resolution is some variant of “spend less and save more.”

Unfortunately, no matter how devoted you are to better managing your money in the coming year, there is a good chance your money resolution will be abandoned sooner than you planned.

Why is that? Why do we set money New Year’s resolutions that fail? In this episode, we look at New Year’s resolutions, finances, and how you can take your money goals to the next level in the coming year.

Concepts

  • Are you setting resolutions, or just making a laundry list of wishes?
  • Do you have unrealistic expectations for your New Year’s resolutions?
  • Problems with getting your goals to align with your values.
  • Tips for changing your goal-setting strategy.
  • Consider creating processes that can help you achieve more.
  • What money New Year’s resolutions can work for you.
  • How to stop making resolutions only once per year and work on improvement year-round.
  • Tips for figuring out a realistic timeframe for your money resolutions.

Use the “do nows” to start putting together a realistic action plan that can help you make the most of your New Year’s resolutions and money goals. Also, find out our plans for getting to the point where it’s possible to max out your retirement savings.

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Resources

New Year’s resolution statistics
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed bySteve Stewart
Music bybensound.com

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You don’t actually have to pay off your student loan early. In some cases, it might make sense to pay off your debt slowly. Read More...

When I first started my career as a freelance writer and financial expert, my main selling point was the fact that I had paid off my student loans early.

I did it in three years.

While I’m still proud of that accomplishment, I did it because that was the best decision for me. That doesn’t mean it’s the best decision for everyone.

There are plenty of factors that could have made my debt strategy pointless – or even downright harmful. I constantly meet and consult with people who would be better off paying their student loan debt down at a slower rate.

But how can you tell which camp you fall in? Here’s what you need to know about paying off your student loan:

When you shouldn’t pay off your student loan early.

There are times it just doesn’t make sense to pay off your student loan early. It seems like a lot of the advice is to get rid of the debt as fast as possible, but here are some reasons to think twice:

If you have other debt. Student loan debt typically comes with lower interest rates than other forms of debt. Plus, the interest is deductible on your taxes.

It’s better to pay off credit card debt or other high-interest loans before focusing on student loans. Once those high-interest loans are paid off, pay off any loans with comparable interest rates, since they’re unlikely to offer the same tax benefits as the student loans.

If you qualify for a forgiveness plan. Anyone who qualifies for a loan forgiveness plan through the federal government or other organization, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, should make the smallest payments possible on their loan — especially if they won’t owe taxes on the forgiven debt.

If you’re in this situation and pay more than you have to every month, you’re just throwing money away.

If you don’t have an emergency fund. Paying extra on your student loans only makes sense if you already have an emergency fund in place. An emergency fund allows you to pay cash for crises like car accidents or hospital stays, and without one you may have to use a credit card or high interest loan. Save at least $1,000 for an emergency before putting extra money on your student loans.

An emergency fund allows you to pay cash for crises like car accidents or hospital stays. Without emergency savings, you may have to use a credit card or high-interest loan. Save at least $1,000 for an emergency before putting extra money on your student loans.

If you have a low interest rate. Many people only make the minimum payments on their student loans if they have a low interest rate.

Instead of putting extra money toward their debt, they can earn a higher return by investing that money in the stock market. It might seem crazy to willingly carry debt, but the math could work out in your favor. For example, students who took out federal student loans after 2016 have a 3.76% interest rate, while many index funds have an average 10% rate of return.

It might seem crazy to willingly carry debt, but the math could work out in your favor. For example, students who took out federal student loans after 2016 have a 3.76% annual interest rate, while many index funds have an average 10% annualized rate of return.

Investing isn’t a sure thing, though, so make sure you think it through before taking the plunge.

If you aren’t saving for retirement. Saving for retirement should be the most important financial priority for anyone, including millennials and Gen Z.

Paying off your student loans early is a valiant goal, but it shouldn’t distract you from saving enough for your golden years. You should be saving between 10% and 15% of your income for retirement before you even consider putting extra cash towards your student loans.

When you should pay off your student loan early.

There are definitely times that you need to tackle those student loans right now, and pay them down as quickly as possible. Here are some of the times you can feel free to demolish your debt as quickly as you can:

If you don’t have other financial obligations. There are very few reasons not to pay off your student loans early if you’re already saving for retirement and are otherwise debt-free. Paying your student loans off early could save you thousands in interest – and make it easier to save for other goals like a vacation abroad or a new car. Being debt free will also increase your credit score and make it easier to apply for a mortgage, business loan or rewards credit card.

Paying your student loan off early could save you thousands in interest – and make it easier to save for other goals like a vacation abroad or a new car. Being debt free will also increase your credit score and make it easier to apply for a mortgage, business loan or rewards credit card.

Being debt free will also increase your credit score and make it easier to apply for a mortgage, business loan, or rewards credit card.

If you have a high interest rate. When I graduated and started paying my student loans, my interest rate was 6.8%. That rate is comparable to what I could’ve earned if I invested my money in the stock market. In that instance, paying off my student loans and saving on interest made more mathematical sense. I saved more than $5,000 in interest by paying off my loans early.

In that instance, paying off my student loans and saving on interest made more mathematical sense. I saved more than $5,000 in interest by paying off my loans early.

If you get anxious about your debt. A study published in the European Journal of Public Health found that adults with debt suffered from significantly more mental health issues than those without.

It’s not surprising, given the omnipresent weight that debt represents. Debt can cause constant pressure. You feel the nagging at the back of your brain. Paying off your student loans earlier can relieve anxiety, stress, and depression, plus increase your quality of life and stifle that subconscious negativity.

If you want to switch careers or start your own business. Not having to pay on your student loan every month frees up your budget for other things. It allows you to switch to a low-paying job you love or even become self-employed.

Becoming debt free faster means you can gamble on your salary without the risk of missing payments or defaulting on your loans.

Where do you stand? Are you aggressively paying your student loan early? Or are you taking it slow?

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Let’s be honest: when we talk about being a cheap holiday Grinch, it’s about the money. The good news is that you can spread holiday cheer without breaking the bank. Read More...

This episode originally aired on December 10, 2015.

Are you a cheap holiday Grinch?

As an adult, you need to realize that you have responsibilities to others. During the holidays, society expects you to give to others and tips a little extra. You don’t want to be the cheap holiday Grinch that others despise.

We take a look at giving, how to properly tip, and what it means to spread holiday cheer.

Our Do Nows help you identify who needs a tip, as well as strategies to help you enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank.

Concepts

  • The realities of holiday tipping in our society.
  • Who should you be tipping? And how much should you give?
  • What makes you a cheap holiday Grinch?
  • How to enjoy time with family and friends during the holidays without spending more than you can afford.
  • Tips for writing a holiday note or card to add extra holiday cheer.
  • How to maintain relationships throughout the year.

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Resources

Country LivingInexpensive and easy DIY gift ideas for the holidays.
Emily PostVisit the Emily Post Institute for tipping etiquette
Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed byHarlan Landes
Music bybensound.com

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Broke AF? Worried about your debt? You might think you can’t invest, but maybe you can. Here’s how to decide what step to take next on the road to financial freedom. Read More...

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One of the best ways to build wealth for retirement is to invest.

Putting money in a retirement account now is a good way to get a good start on building a nest egg that leads to financial independence later.

But what if you have debt?

Can you invest when you have debt and feel broke AF? Does it make sense to pay off your debt before you begin investing?

This week, we talk about the considerations that come when trying to decide whether or not to start investing when you still have debt.

Concepts

  • The importance of investing.
  • Ways debt can slow you down.
  • Are you really ready to invest?
  • Can you balance paying down debt with investing?
  • Have you taken care of other areas of your finances, like an emergency fund?
  • Tips for making investing more effective.
  • How to decide if it makes sense to invest instead of pay down debt early.
  • Different types of debt and which you should tackle first.
  • The importance of being able to sleep at night.

Don’t forget to listen to our “Do Nows” this week. We’ll take a look at how to create a debt payoff plan, open an investment account, and assess how much you need to start saving today to hit your retirement goals.

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To get Adulting delivered directly to your device, subscribe using Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, or your app of choice.

Join the Friends of Adulting! Please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. We would really appreciate the feedback!

Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed bySteve Stewart
Music bybensound.com

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Join other #adults who receive free weekly updates.


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Stop believing investing myths. The truth is that you can probably start investing today and build wealth for future. Read More...

You know you need to invest.

It’s time to get off your assets and put them to work.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths surrounding investing. It’s easy to be intimidated by investing when you think about the jargon and you’re concerned about what the stock market is doing.

Before you assume that investing just isn’t for you, get the full story. Here are five investing myths keeping you from leveling up with your money:

1. I need a lot of money to get started.

It’s a good thing this is bullshit. You can totally invest even when you’re broke AF.

First, you can open an investment account with many brokers with $0. Many brokers will let you invest between $50 and $100 a month if you sign up for an automatic investing account.

There are even startups, like Acorns, that allow you to invest your pocket change. Use dollar-cost averaging to start investing consistently. Eventually, you’ll want to boost the amount you invest each month. But the important thing is to start investing early.

2. I don’t have enough assets to get help investing.

Many of us feel more comfortable when we have someone to help us make investing choices. Sadly, there are money managers that do require you to have a lot of assets before they will even look at you.

But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.

Thinking that you need a human person dedicated to your investment management is one of the biggest investing myths. Get over it and embrace the technology available to us.

The rise of robo-advisors can be a great help to anyone with few assets and a desire for a little direction. You won’t get personalized help from robo-advisors, but you will get an idea of how to start, and someone else to guide you.

If you want a little more personalized direction, but don’t have the asset count for someone to straight manage things for you, consider a fee-only financial planner. At the very least, one of these folks will help you create a map for the future for a flat fee.

3. I need to understand how to pick stocks.

Honestly, you shouldn’t go anywhere near stock picking until you have a little experience with investing.

When you start investing, it makes more sense to start with index mutual funds and ETFs. These are groups of investments that have something in common. Personally, I prefer all-market index funds that follow everything publicly traded on U.S. exchanges. I also like S&P 500 funds because they offer access to a wide swath of the market.

Index funds and ETFs allow you take advantage of overall market performance rather than relying on your ability to get it right with a few individual stocks. Over time, the market generally goes up; it’s never gone negative in any 25-year period.

Start with funds. Learn a little. Get your feet wet. If you still want to pick stocks later, use not-for-retirement money to experiment.

4. I have to know how to “win.”

Do you have a competitive nature? If so, you might be tempted to think that you have to beat the market.

While it’s fun to think you can outperform the market, it’s foolhardy to focus on such a goal. Investing myths lead you to believe that it’s not worth it unless you’re “winning” against someone.

The truth is that you don’t need to be better than anyone. You just need to focus on your own goals. Stop worrying about how your friends invest. Don’t tie your self-worth to whether or not your portfolio does better than the market.

You don’t need a portfolio that’s bigger than someone else’s.

What you need is a plan to meet your personal financial goals.

Rather than obsessing over whether or not you are “winning,” look at whether or not you are going to hit your personal milestones. Perform a retirement assessment. How much do you need to retire? How much should you set aside (perhaps in index funds!) each month to reach that goal?

As long as you are on track to meet your goals, it doesn’t matter whether you beat the market — or your co-worker — at investing.

The worst thing you can do in any financial situation is compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to you and move forward.

5. I’m going to lose everything if the market crashes.

We all remember the market crash of 2008 and 2009.

It’s one of the reasons many of us are afraid to invest today. One of the most persistent investing myths is that you will lose everything during a market crash.

Do you know what I did when things looked ugly at the beginning of 2009?

I bought more shares of my favorite index funds.

For the most part, you only lock in your losses when you sell low. I stayed the course during the last couple of market events and even added to my portfolio. You get more bang for your buck when you buy during the dips.

While you’re young, you can afford to let it ride when you go through these crashes. As you get closer to retirement, you can consider moving some of your assets out of stocks and into bonds and/or cash. That way, your portfolio is somewhat protected close to the time you will actually need to start using that money.

But, for now, chances are that you can get through whatever the market throws at you.

There will always be down markets, bear markets, and crashes. Don’t react with panic and unload when you will guarantee losses.

Bottom line: investing is your best bet.

If you want to build long-term wealth, you need to get over the investing myths. Investing is your best bet for building financial independence in the future.

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Here’s what you need to do to set up your first kitchen for success. Read More...

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What are the essential items you need to set up your first kitchen? If you’re on your own for the first time, this live podcast episode is essential for making the most of your money and creating a space that comfortable for cooking and gives you the opportunity to be successful in the kitchen.

Regardless of your cooking philosophy, Erin Chase will guide you through making the best decisions for stocking your first kitchen.

Erin is the founder of $5 Dinners, $5 Meal Plan, Grocery Budget Makeover, and MyFreezEasy.

Listen to just the audio by using the player below.

Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed bySteven Flato
Music bybensound.com

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Stop hiding from your financial situation. Own that shit. Then work to make improvements. Read More...

Lately, I’m not sure what’s going on with my money. Ever since getting back from three months of travel, I just haven’t felt like I have the time to sit down and see what’s going on.

This isn’t a healthy state of financial affairs.

I need to get real about my finances again.

Are your finances in shambles?

The first step to getting real with your finances is figuring out if they are in shambles. While my financial situation isn’t dire, I’m not exactly on top of money like I usually am.

You need to be brutally honest about where you are with your finances. In my case, the fact that my bills are largely paid automatically means that I don’t have a huge issue with missing payments.

However, I haven’t been tracking my spending like I usually do. Instead, I’m just sort of moving money around when I think I need to spend more. It’s a different approach than usual, and there are days that I feel like maybe I’m blowing through my monthly income faster than I should be.

If you’re keeping is real with your finances, you need to acknowledge your shortcomings. Have you been missing bill payments? Are you uncomfortable with your debt level? Do you spend without thinking about your purchases?

Look at your money situation and honestly acknowledge where you are. You can’t improve moving forward if you don’t know where you’re starting.

Evaluate your money goals.

Now that the new year approaches, it’s common to talk about setting goals. It’s an annual theme. And that includes goals about money. Once you know where you stand, you probably want to set goals that help you fix your financial problems or help you improve the situation for the future.

As you get real with your finances, it’s important to evaluate whether or not your goals make sense — and are realistic.

If you have a bunch of debt, it might not be practical to expect to pay it off in a few months. Maybe you can’t immediately max out your retirement account. There’s nothing wrong with this. Instead, the important thing is to make progress. Take a look at where you stand, where you want to be, and a realistic timeframe.

I know that I need to reconcile all my accounts for the last three months. I also need to review my own financial priorities and make adjustments since my new job. It’s a huge undertaking. I either need to suck it up and take a whole day to make it happen or I need to carve out smaller chunks of time over the course of a week.

Either way, I need to get real about my finances and about getting back on track.

Are you honest with your partner?

Let’s not forget that you need to keep it real with your finances when it comes to your life partner. In recent years, there are have been stories about financial infidelity, and the serious problems it causes over time.

No, this doesn’t mean that you need to combine your finances. In fact, I probably won’t combine finances with someone else again. However, I still need to be honest about my finances if I get with a potential partner.

I have a friend who keeps her finances separate from her husband’s. They don’t get into each other’s business. But they do generally keep each other updated about potential issues. You need to be honest about anything that could affect your relationship or the joint portions of your finances.

This might mean fessing up about your debt or admitting to your crappy credit score. It’s not the end of the world. But if you decide you want to buy a home together or if your debt could potentially put strain on your household finances, you need to be real about that.

It’s not easy, but it needs to be done.

When to keep your finances to yourself.

Keeping it real with your finances doesn’t mean that you go around telling everyone your money business. If you’re cool with that, there’s no shame in that game. However, don’t feel like you need to be completely transparent all the time.

I’m not someone who shares income reports. I don’t give exact numbers related to my student loan debt; I just say that I have it and don’t plan on paying it off early.

Even when you’re in a relationship you don’t need to share everything about your finances. I already know that I’m not telling someone about everything in my money life. I stay on top of my bills. I can afford what I spend my money on. I don’t have major issues that will sabotage any joint financial effort.

And that’s all anyone needs to know.

My parents don’t need to know exactly what I make. My friends don’t need to know my exact credit score. It just isn’t necessary.

There’s no reason to brag about your money, but you also don’t need to be ashamed to talk about some of your deals or address important issues.

As long as you own your financial situation to yourself and move forward to do what’s right with your money, you should be fine.

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You need an emergency fund. For reals. Here’s how to get started and where to put it. Read More...

The best way to support Adulting.tv is to subscribe and leave us an honest review. Thank you!

If you had to come up with $500 for a car repair or a new appliance, could you get the money? What happens if you lose your job? It’s guaranteed that every adult will face some sort of emergency.

Most Americans can’t handle that, so they turn to credit cards and other debt to help when life throws them curveballs.

Don’t be one of them. Get ready for an unexpected setback by building an emergency fund designed to provide you with what you need in a pinch.

Concepts

  • What is an emergency fund, and why do you need one?
  • How much should be in your fund?
  • Where should you keep your emergency fund?
  • All-cash funds vs. keeping it elsewhere.
  • How to set up a tiered fund.
  • Tips for starting your emergency fund.
  • Characteristics of a good emergency fund.
  • Do credit cards have a place in an emergency?

Listen for our “do-nows” for specific actions you can take right now to begin building your emergency savings. We’ll also answer a listener question about how to free up money even when you’re sure you don’t have any available.

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Resources

CNBCAmericans without emergency savings
BankrateAmericans don’t have emergency savings
FPA - Financial Planning AssociationAll cash may not be the best choice
Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed bySteve Stewart
Music bybensound.com

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Don’t let your friends lead you astray financially. Take charge of your finances and avoid spending money like your fam. Read More...

We’re all just trying to figure it out after college.

Even though some friends seem calm and in control, they’re probably just hiding their uncertainty. It’s easy to get into a feedback loop with this mindset. Everyone compares themselves to idealized versions of their acquaintances.

This can be especially harmful when it comes to managing your money. If you spend enough time around people who overspend to gain status, that level of extravagance starts to feel normal. Before you know it, you’re shopping for jewelry and meeting up for expensive brunches every weekend on a barista’s salary.

If you feel like your spending is out of control around friends, it’s time to break the cycle.

Here’s why you need to treat money differently than your friends — and how to make it happen:

Your friends are bad with money.

If your friends are anything like the general public – and they probably are – they’re bad at managing money. Almost 75% of Americans are in debt, and the average savings rate is only 5% according to an article from Fiscal Times.

Unless you’re part of a select crowd that defies these odds, you can probably benefit from managing your money differently.

What does it actually mean to be good with managing your money? Here are some general guidelines:

  • You put 10% to 15% of your income toward retirement. To retire while you’re still active, you need to be regularly saving in an investment vehicle like an IRA or 401(k) (provided by your employer). If you started saving later in life, you may need to increase your percentage to catch up.
  • You actively pay down debt or are debt-free. When you have debt, you pay interest straight into someone else’s pocket. That interest is money you’re throwing away each time you make a payment. Debt robs your ability to save for long-term goals and enjoy the income you have now. Being debt free is a key part of long-term financial success.
  • You have an emergency fund with three months’ to a year’s worth of expenses. One way to avoid getting into debt is having an emergency fund to cover any surprise expenses that come up. An emergency fund can keep you solvent if you lose your job, need a hospital visit, or have to fly home for a funeral.

Peer pressure is real.

The American Institute of CPAs and the Ad Council ran a survey and found that more than 75% of millennials “use their friends’ financial habits to determine their own.”

This is great if your friends live in a basement apartment to save money. It’s not so good if they go out to eat every day.

I know I’m tempted by the people I hang out with. If we’re at a restaurant, I’ll get dessert if someone else does. Even though I’m conscious of my money, seeing someone else spend freely gives me the subconscious permission to do the same.

It’s the same when I go shopping with someone else. Will friends ever tell you not to buy something you love? Who wants to do that?

It’s tough to avoid the influence of your friends, so you need to remind yourself why you’ve decided to spend money a certain way. For example, when I graduated college I made the commitment to pay off my student loans in three years.

Having that clear goal in mind made it easier to say no. No to eating out, no to shopping, and no to the bars and clubs. It was still hard, and confusing, to the people around me, but it kept me mostly on track.

If you have a specific financial goal, use that as motivation to say no. Maybe you’re saving for a trip to Paris or a new car. When your friends ask if anyone wants to get an appetizer, just say, “Nah, I’m trying to go to Europe next spring.”

Set the standards.

It’s hard to avoid spending money if all your friends want to do is go out to brunch or buy concert tickets. Instead of saying no or feeling guilty for agreeing, be the person to come up with frugal ideas. Suggest a potluck or wine and cheese night instead of a pricey evening out.

This is a strategy I used when I was aggressively paying off my loans. I wanted to hang out with my friends, but I was cautious of going out to eat or going to the movies. Instead, I’d invite them over for Netflix or movie nights.

Sometimes my friend Jess and I would go to Costco together or run other errands. Sure, it wasn’t as entertaining as a boozy brunch, but it’s part of the reason I’m debt free today.

Plus, spending time together casually can be just as valuable a bonding experience as something that costs money.

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