Kate Underwood

New 401(k) Rules for 2021

A 401(k) is a fabulous tool for savvy retirement savers, and it’s a great idea to get a jump on your retirement contributions early in the new year. With the beginning of 2021 comes a fresh start on a lot of financial things, so be sure you know the 401(k) rules for 2021 in order to make your plans. A lot about your 401(k) doesn’t have to change at all in 2021, while a few other aspects will adjust somewhat. Know what the rules are regarding 401(k)s for 2021. That will help you plan ahead and f

Top 12 Best Paying Jobs in Finance

We all want a secure, high-paying job, and finance has traditionally been a field where people can earn a good living. But what are truly the best paying jobs in finance? If you’re anything like Michael Scott (from the U.S. version of The Office), you might be unaware of how many options exist for careers in finance. (When his friend tells him to impress girls by saying he “works in finance,” Michael’s version of that is to say he’s a bank teller.) Unfortunately, while a full-time bank teller

Which Companies Offer College Tuition Reimbursement?

With college expenses rising year after year, students need to be more careful about how they choose to proceed with college. Paying for college isn't just about the tuition cost per year. Students can choose to work for companies that pay for part of their college costs. Holding a part-time or full-time job while completing a college degree can benefit students in two ways—the money they earn and the potential reimbursement for tuition and related expenses. Here are some of the companies that

How to Make $100,000 a Year

For a lot of us, $100,000 represents a major milestone. It’s that mythical “six-figures” that many of us aspire to earn each year. But then of course there’s the big question of how to make $100,000 a year! Is it actually possible? It’s a great goal to shoot for—you can live very well in most of the U.S. on that salary, after all. There are plenty of routes that can get you to six figures. Let’s look at how to make $100,000 a year, whether through your career, passive investments, or a lucrati

Stepping Up to Have Retirement Conversations with Older Relatives

Many of us have older relatives that are already enjoying retirement or are just a few short years away. One of the most caring things you can do for your older parents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives is to make sure they’re all set for retirement. A recent Federal Reserve report showed that 13% of those 60 and older who weren’t yet retired had no retirement savings or pension to rely on. Only 45% of those said they thought their retirement was “on track” (so, unfortunately, over half did no

Top Tips For Working From Home Effectively

Remote work is a concept that’s here to stay. Even before the pandemic struck, more and more Americans were choosing to telecommute at least part of the time, but working from home presents some challenges to productivity. So it’s time for us to tackle the top tips for working from home effectively! Whether you’re working from home 100% of the time, or you only go into an office or workplace a few days a week, you want to be productive. Prove to your employer and yourself that you can be just a

Best Side Hustles in 2021 (The Year of Online Side Hustles!)

Whether you’re looking to bridge the gap between full-time jobs or you just need some extra money to help you reach your goals each month, side hustles are a great way to do it. Side hustles can help you to build your emergency fund, , save for a major expense, and make progress toward many other financial goals. Flexibility of remote work will only become more popular, so here’s a roundup of some of the best side hustles in 2021! This post was written by our talented staff writer, Kate Underwo

5 Best Ways to Use a Personal Loan

One of the best ways to use a personal loan is to consolidate high-interest credit card debt. Paying off credit card debt is an important step in reaching financial freedom. It’s always a good idea to get rid of any credit card debt as soon as possible, and a personal loan might be a helpful part of your journey to reach that goal. The interest rates on credit cards can be astronomical. These high rates, which sometimes creep past 20%, make it extremely difficult for consumers to escape the cy

How to Help Elderly Parents With Finances (and Tough Conversations)

Money is never an easy subject to discuss with others, especially not your own parents. If you want to help your elderly parents with finances, you’d better be prepared going in. Your parents have raised you and guided you throughout your life. Now, the dynamics may be shifting. They may not be able to handle their finances as they always have, and it becomes your job as their grown child to help them. I’m so thankful that my parents, who are in their seventies, are still healthy. But my broth

Why Do Credit Scores Drop (And How to Improve A Low Score)

Since your credit score is meant to measure how well you can manage credit, a missed or late payment on a loan causes your score to drop. Even if you only pay one loan a few days late, this will cause a decrease in your credit score. Your credit utilization is how much debt you currently have divided by your total credit limit. • Total debt of $8,000 divided by a credit limit of $16,000 = 50% credit utilization rate • Total debt of $8,000 divided by credit limit of $32,000 = 25% credit utilizat

Why Slow FI is Better For Me Than FIRE

In the past few years, the FIRE movement has gained momentum and recognition. If you’re not familiar with it, it stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. But within this community is the “Slow FI” movement, which takes a slightly different approach: focusing on enjoying the journey rather than simply the end goal of retirement. Why Slow FI is Better For Me Than FIRE This ridiculously awesome post was written by our staff writer, Kate Underwood. This post may contain affiliate links. A

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Why Is It Important to Pay Off Debt?

If you’re a longtime visitor of this blog, you know we’re not fans of debt. It keeps you enslaved to someone else and holds you back from a strong financial future! With that said, here’s a rundown of some of the top reasons why it’s important to pay off debt. Why Is It Important to Pay Off Debt? This post was written by our guest writer, Kate Underwood. If you want some extra help getting out of debt, be sure to check out our free debt snowball tool! 1) It Is Your Responsibility First of al

Fun Things to Do in Milwaukee With Your Family

Milwaukee is a fabulous city to explore with a family. I’ve only lived in the area for a year, but it’s been a blast taking advantage of all the city has to offer. If you’re heading that way, be sure to check out some of these great spots! If you have kids who like to learn, they are guaranteed to enjoy themselves at Discovery World. There’s so much to do, with science-related activities and simulations of every kind. Just a few of the exhibits to explore include: Automation Everywhere: This

6 Ways to Slay Your Student Debt This Year

From Susie Q: I’m not as familiar with student debt as I am with the other topics on which I write, so was pleased to accept this guest post from Kate Underwood. Kate is a freelance writer and staff writer for Club Thrifty, a website dedicated to helping people dream big, spend less, and travel more. With Kate’s permission and approval, I’ve interspersed some comments and numerical examples in italics to expand on a few of her points. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably awar

9 Affordable Family Travel Ideas to Enjoy This Summer

Ahh, summer vacation. As a kid, nothing could be sweeter than the sound of those two words. As an adult, not much has changed! We all work hard, and we deserve to play hard, too. But how do you make family travel affordable? With a big family, the price tag can creep up easily. But fun family travel doesn’t have to be out of reach. Kids and parents can enjoy recreation and bonding without spending the kids’ college fund. Summer’s just around the corner! Look no further; we’ve got 9 cheap

4 Ways To Build Real Wealth Without The Gimmicks

The Following Post Is a Guest Post from ClubThrifty Google “make more money” and you’ll come up with about 4.5 billion results! Seems like quite a few of us are trying to improve our financial situation, huh? When it comes to increasing income, we’ve all heard catchphrases like “in less than 30 days” and “in your spare time”. While many work-from-home options are totally legit, the majority won’t net you any significant increase in income. If your goal is just an extra $20 here and there for

Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund This Year

Hey, hey, hey! It’s tax season! Hooray! (Said no one ever.) If you’re set to receive money back, there are plenty of smart ways to use your tax refund to get ahead financially. First of all, we all know we’re not *supposed* to want a tax refund come April 15. Ya know, because of the whole “don’t give Uncle Sam an interest-free loan for a year” concept? So the first smart move is probably to be sure you’re withholding the proper amount at the start of the calendar year.

How to Follow Through on Your Goals in the New Year

How to Follow Through on Your Goals in the New Year Hey, everyone! How’s your New Year’s resolution coming along? We’re approaching that time in the new year when the vast majority of folks are already abandoning their lofty aspirations and resorting to their old ways. Wouldn’t you like to actually follow through on your goals this year? Read on! It’s no wonder so many of us like to make resolutions around January 1. After overindulging in sweets and alcohol over the holidays, people often mak

Guest Post: “Harnessing the Power of Comparison” from Changing Our Default

I’m featuring a guest post from Mrs. COD who blogs at Changing Our Default. She is a former teacher turned stay at home mom, freelance writer, blogger, and more. She and her husband blog about their path to Financial Freedom and the changes it requires in attitude, mindset, and the habits you build up over your life. Today, Mrs. COD is talking about the double edge sword of comparison and the journey to FIRE. Take it away Mrs. COD! Everyone knows we’re not supposed to compare ourselves with oth