If you’ve thought about boosting your income, you might consider starting one of these easy side hustles.

As the economy gets tougher, side hustles become ever more lucrative. They can be a great way to gain an upper hand when bills are tight and debt is an increasingly painful burden.

Side hustles can be a great way to boost your income and allow you to build a new skillset, meet new people, or explore different work opportunities.

Supplemental income via a side hustle can also accelerate your path toward financial freedom, providing a flexible and rewarding means to earn extra money while you pursue your passion(s).

I personally used a collection of side hustles to boost my income, pay off debt, fuel my journey to financial freedom, explore a new career field, pivot into the said career field, and expand my skill set. I’m an avid fan of side hustles (and passion projects), as they can provide numerous benefits.

Let’s face it, the economy and surrounding marketplace are tough (let’s not even talk about housing, yikes). Anything that can help you gain an edge is probably appealing.

In this article, I’m going to tell you about 10 easy side hustles you can start today to help you gain an upper hand in today’s economy.

Read More

St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration, good cheer, and, of course, savings tips to snag the elusive pot of gold! 

While you might not find a literal pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, you can build your own pot of gold by implementing smart savings tips.

Solid savings strategies are critical when it comes to FIRE (financial independence, retire early), or just about any financial goal.

You’ll need to incorporate some other handy strategies along the way, but when you focus on your budget and savings, you’ll be off to a solid start.

In this article, I’ll provide a breakdown of some key savings tips to FIRE your pot of gold all the way to financial freedom.

Read More

#159: Is a 401k Worth It Without an Employer Match? How to Prepare for FIREd Retirement

The “Is a 401k worth it” question often arises, especially when employers don’t offer matching contributions.

You have options, so why choose a 401k over anything else? You might also have other priorities beyond investing.

Sometimes investing feels like an endless Tetris pit. Money is going somewhere, but is it landing where it needs to?

After all, you want to ensure your hard-earned money works for you. The world of investing isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy. There’s lots of great data, but sometimes it’s too much.

I don’t pretend to have the secret to supercharge your investing game, but I know the value of understanding your options.

In this article, we’ll explore the “Is a 401k worth it” question, especially as it relates to employer matches. We’ll also discuss the various strategies you can use to prepare for early retirement via the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) method.

Read More

Spring break activities can make for memorable moments, offering a chance to unwind and recharge. You might prefer to travel and adventure with your family, though home activities can be just as worthwhile.

With rapidly rising inflation in the last few years, travel costs have been increasingly painful. So perhaps you plan on enjoying your spring break from home.

My family rarely (if ever) travels over spring break, opting instead to travel during less busy times of the year. It’s cheaper to travel in the off-season, plus we’ve never been a huge fan of crowds.

We usually plan on enjoying spring break activities close to home. Though to be truthful, it can be just as challenging to plan home activities, especially when you’re a career parent.

How do you keep the kids busy while enjoying some fun together?

The good news? An unforgettable spring break doesn’t have to break the bank, nor does it have to be challenging to plan.

In this article, I’ll share a series of fun, creative, and budget-friendly spring break activities you can enjoy with the entire family at home.

Read More

If you’re looking for time management tips to support your journey to financial freedom, you’ve come to the right place!

Time management can make all the difference when it comes to achieving your most ambitious goals, especially when you have many competing priorities.

As a busy mom of two, I balanced a full-time career alongside my family duties, hobbies, and multiple side hustles, focusing my time and energy where needed most.

Despite many competing priorities, I built a successful career while managing a chronic illness, made a massive career pivot, self-published my first novel in 2017, paid off $85K of student debt in 18 months, turned one of my side gigs into a full-time career, and began a journey to a FIRE lifestyle.

And yes, I still have a life. I go on family trips and have hobbies that include yoga, running, reading, writing, and video games.

It’s safe to say I’ve learned a thing or two about time management, but this article isn’t about what I’ve achieved – it’s about how YOU can achieve what matters most to you, especially regarding financial freedom.

Your time can be your most valuable asset, but as a high-achiever, it can be hard to balance everything.

Mastering the following time management tips will allow you to maximize your productivity, increase your earning potential, and ultimately, achieve your financial goals faster.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about time management to support your FIRE (financial independence, retire early) or financial freedom journey.

Read More

Despite the ongoing market volatility, setting clear investing goals is ever important. But how do you set goals when you have no idea when the market will swing?

After all, just one major change can make all the difference. The market can shift based on the results of that election year, because of a mass contagion or because an entire industry bottomed out, among many other factors.

It’s no easy task to set weather-resistant investing goals, but if you dream of achieving FIRE (financial independence, retire early) / financial freedom, or otherwise, investing will probably remain a priority for you.

In which case, it helps to set investing goals. These should be your “barometric pressure sensors” to determine how your investments are performing.

You’ll want to know whether your investments are on track or if you need to make a change, but without clearly defined goals, it’s hard to tell.

How do you ensure that your investing goals are set for success, regardless of which way the market turns? 

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know so that you can set solid investing goals, regardless of what happens in the market.

Read More

Before you know it, holiday activities can fill your calendar for an entire month (or more), but have you considered incorporating some holiday activities to support your financial future?

The holiday season is a magical time filled with joy, cheer, and…opportunities! 

While it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, this festive period can also be a great time to boost your financial well-being. 

You might want to jumpstart your New Year’s resolution planning, reassess your end-of-year budget, or evaluate where you stand with your financial goals for the year.

Or perhaps you prefer to incorporate your financial planning into your celebrations. You can host a potluck, or complete DIY gifts for your friends and family members.

Wherever your holiday plans take you this year, you and your wallet can benefit when you take the time to incorporate your holiday festivities with your finances.

In this article, I’ll give you 10 holiday activities to jumpstart your financial freedom journey.

Read More

The holiday season is a time of joy, cheer, and the busy holiday hustle.

Covering unexpected expenses this holiday season might be challenging, but the holiday hustle doesn’t have to drain your wallet. 

You can enjoy the festivities without compromising your financial goals with a little planning and creativity. 

Ideally, the holiday season is a time for you to enjoy more time with loved ones, the magic of the season, and look forward to a bright new year to come.

It might be a stressful time of year, but there are ways you can strategize and plan to make it a wonderful time of year for yourself and your loved ones.

This article is designed to help you holiday hustle your way to financial success. So if you’re ready, here are 10 tips to support your financial future this holiday season.

Read More

Financial independence is more than just a financial goal; it’s a catalyst for a happier and more fulfilling life. 

By achieving financial independence (or financial freedom), you gain the freedom and flexibility to pursue your passions, reduce stress, and create a life that truly aligns with your values. 

You can spend more time with loved ones, retire early, travel the world, take a sabbatical, start a passion project, or simply spend more time relaxing.

The FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early) provides tools and strategies to help you achieve financial freedom, but more about that later.

Studies show that happiness skyrockets after retirement. Why not seek a happier lifestyle – on your terms – sooner?

In this article, I’ll introduce the FIRE movement and outline ten ways financial independence can lead to a happier lifestyle.

Read More

If you’re looking for simple ways to save money each month, it might make sense to consider opportunities to review and refinance car loans.

After housing expenses, your car loans are often the 2nd largest expense you may pay every month. You might even be surprised how much money you can save simply by refinancing.

I’ve refinanced my car loans to get a better APR, and refinancing my student loans was one strategy I used to pay off $85k of student debt in 18 months.

Refinancing car loans can be a strategic move to save money on interest payments and potentially lower your monthly payments. However, it’s essential to weigh the potential benefits against the time and effort involved.

In this article, we’ll weigh whether or not it’s worthwhile to refinance car loans, and we’ll dive into the pros and cons.

Read More