Unpopular Opinion: Why Automating Your Savings is Overrated

Unpopular Opinion: Why Automating Your Savings is Overrated

It's touted by personal finance experts as the holy grail of money hacking: automation. It sounds so awesome, like a Tim Ferriss-style optimization hack that solves so many of those persistent overspending problems. And I have to say that this must be true for a ton of people, because it's such a commonplace money practice. [...]

ICYMI: I’m on YouTube! Here’s Why, What’s Changing, and What’s Staying the Same

ICYMI: I’m on YouTube! Here’s Why, What’s Changing, and What’s Staying the Same

Hey everybody! Interrupting our regularly-scheduled money talk posts to talk about my latest project: I finally started a YouTube channel called Teachers Talk Money. You can find it here. I say "finally" because this is something I've wanted to do practically since I started blogging. Writing is much more comfortable for me, because it's so [...]

COVID-19 & My Money

COVID-19 & My Money

This moment in our history has felt so surreal. To me, it has re-emphasized, on a very emotional and visceral level, the importance of understanding and having control of my money. This month, March 2020, marks one year since I (kind of) became debt-free. This is also the month, this year, where I finally completed [...]

It’s Tax Szn: Why Having a Refund isn’t Awesome & How I’m Spending Mine

It’s Tax Szn: Why Having a Refund isn’t Awesome & How I’m Spending Mine

It's that magical time of year again. And yet again, I did not take the advice of personal finance experts who say to adjust your tax withholdings in order to not get a refund. Don't misunderstand me, they are right. You should adjust your withholdings, because it's better to have your own money month-to-month instead [...]

My March Budget

My March Budget

It's almost one year since I've become debt-free (kind of), and I have to say, I'm loving all the ways my budget has changed in just one year. I love that I get to put so much towards savings, that I have more room to spend on food and things, and that I'm investing consistently.  [...]

Setting Audacious Goals

Setting Audacious Goals

2020 is almost here-- and I haven't been so excited for a new year in a really long time. I don't know what it is, but I've always found that setting resolutions and goals for the year ahead felt arbitrary and not particularly motivating for me. But, at the same time, my life has always [...]

My December Budget

My December Budget

As I get older, I realize each year how much I genuinely love December. I just get so excited for my goals in the next year, and I love the snow and holidays while you can still romanticize them, before SAD kicks in and it's just... cold and dark? Definitely not looking forward to all [...]