For me, there has been an undercurrent of anxiety and grief that is hard to describe…but essentially, it hasn’t left room in my brain for much more than the essentials and, in my downtime, relatively mindless entertainment.
Read MoreThere’s plenty to complain about these days, and honestly, it’s getting kinda draining (name that musical!) so I decided to highlight one of the good things that has come out of COVID for me. Starting a new job remotely during the pandemic has actually benefitted me in so many ways versus going into a new office setting.
Read MoreIf you make enough money, removing the “added sugar” from your budget is a great way to free up money – guilt-free! – for things you just *want* to buy.
Read MoreThe onslaught of #2020Vision honestly overwhelmed me to the point that I didn’t even think about what I wanted from 2020 because I was too busy hiding from everyone’s new X-Ray vision.
Read MoreThis summer I replaced most of my workout clothes - I haven’t bought anything new in 6 years, which is crazy. Most of it was great quality, but a couple of the colorful leggings were quite see-through, which is NOT a lewk I’m going for. So a few hundred dollars will be going back in my account! I’ll call that a win.
Read MoreYall, June was a monster. So much happened. I didn’t even post anything other than my May 2019 goals update last month because so much insanity was going on. And clearly July isn’t any less insane, because I’ve neglected the blog altogether. Sorry about that! But I’m back to give you the lowdown on how things are going in my money and my life.
Read MoreI made a big dent in my consumer debt this month, but I did transfer some savings to do it because (A) I had a large payment due and I would have had to incur interest if I didn’t pay it…I also changed my W4 allowances because apparently I have had 0 withholdings since I got this job 2017. That’s crazy! Each paycheck is now ~$100 more, which means I’ve freed up ~$200/mo for reducing that consumer debt.
Read MoreDuring our lunch, Beverly told me she couldn’t give me a job, but she was happy to talk me through the job search process and share with me how she made her decision on which firm to choose from among her several offers. "No firm/job/boss is perfect. There are going to be bad things about any job you choose. The most important thing to do before and during the interview process is…”
Read MoreMy consumer debt is finally *truly* on the decline, and as some of you may have seen in my Instagram stories last week, I’m almost to the point where I am finished with the “paying off each statement balance in a very particular order” merry-go-round. My reading list is still just as long as it was last month, because I’m falling down on the job.
Read MoreWhile I haven’t accomplished everything I hoped to accomplish with the blog in the past year, I have certainly accomplished more than I thought I would in certain ways….and getting this thing off the ground imperfectly is a heck of a lot better than not getting it off the ground at all, amirite?
Read MoreMarch and the beginning of April was hectic with my final of 3 bridesmaid adventures for 2019 consuming most of my free time. First, there was a shower, then a Bachelorette party in mid-March and finally the wedding the first weekend of April! It was all so much fun, but VERY expensive.
Read MoreOver the years I’ve started doing a few things to get my clothing ready to store and to help keep it in shape for years to come. I’m also a picky shopper, so the stress of having to replace big-ticket items is something I try to avoid at all costs. Seriously, who are these people who allegedly shop as a hobby? Spending money to make sure your clothes, shoes and accessories stay clean, in good repair, and looking nice is one of the best investments you can make, especially if you buy higher quality items to avoid fast fashion (or if you’re on a clothing ban like Angela over at Tread Lightly, Retire Early)
Read MoreFebruary always sucks, but at least this year it was productive! Except for the reading books thing. My bedside stack is at least 6 books high right now. IT WILL HAPPEN. But not in February…
Read MoreThis list is intended to be for temporary financial situations - like a government shutdown, for example, or the time between graduation and a job start date. This list is not specifically intended to be used as a general money management strategy, but frankly, if it helps you get current on your bills, have at it. I’m not going to judge you improving your situation if improving your situation right now would mean a 16% interest rate on a credit card vs a 300% APR on a payday loan.
Read MoreI know using credit cards will cost you money. And this may not be the solution for everyone, but it worked for me, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you’re facing some kind of paycheck interruption and you don’t want to (or can’t) rely on your emergency fund for any meaningful length of time. Do what you have to do to stay afloat.
Read More2018 was the year I committed to my mental and physical health, pretty much no matter the cost. It was the year of 2x/week personal training, weekly therapy, binging ER, and letting my brain rest when I wasn’t working on my blog or doing things with my people. The foundation is sustainable enough that I can build on it BIG TIME in 2019 without spending nearly as much money.
Read MoreHappy 2019, everyone! I’m looking forward to 2019, although I can’t believe it’s already here! 2018 seemed like it just started (and also like it was 85 years long…anyone else?) Can’t wait for new challenges and to build on everything I accomplished in 2018. The blog is nine months old, and I had lofty goals for the fourth quarter of the year, so let’s get to it to see how I did!
Read MoreA lot of people talk about, and even celebrate, burrowing on their debt free journeys. They turn down social invitations. They revel in their nights in, alone. Don’t get so caught up in a debt-free, wealth-building, or self-improvement adventure that you neglect to build that community.
Read MorePhoebe really is the odd duck in the group. It’s like she dropped out of someone’s mental image of a stereotypical, leftover hippie from the Woodstock era and the rest of the group is a bunch of overgrown frat stars living The Life in NYC. But she certainly has a few moments that can teach us about finance, and that’s what we’re here to discuss, amirite??
Read MoreOne of the things I love about Chandler is his strong story arc. He learns to be in an adult relationship after he and Monica have their first fight and develops emotionally over the course of the show. He also ditches his corporate career near the end of the series to pursue something different, riskier, and more creative. And, of course, Chandler is a model of personal finance success.
Read MoreThere’s plenty to complain about these days, and honestly, it’s getting kinda draining (name that musical!) so I decided to highlight one of the good things that has come out of COVID for me. Starting a new job remotely during the pandemic has actually benefitted me in so many ways versus going into a new office setting.
If you make enough money, removing the “added sugar” from your budget is a great way to free up money – guilt-free! – for things you just *want* to buy.
Personal finance for young professionals who want to indulge their champagne tastes on a beer budget, optimize their everyday spending, and learn to invest for a financially independent future.
I'll be your guide to all things money optimization, because I like to spend as little as possible on all the nice things, and invest as well as possible so I can have the freedom I want later in life.
#TalkMoney to me at:
hello@champagneandcapitalgains.com
Follow me on Twitter (I'm entertaining - I promise!)
Follow me on Instagram
Copyright © 2019 Champagne & Capital Gains
For me, there has been an undercurrent of anxiety and grief that is hard to describe…but essentially, it hasn’t left room in my brain for much more than the essentials and, in my downtime, relatively mindless entertainment.