Whenever people travel, one of the biggest expenses is lodging. Whether you stay at a 5 star resort, or a locally owned motel, the expense can add up with every night. In 2021, the average price of a hotel was $194 a night!¹

So when we tell people about our nomadic lifestyle, we get a lot of questions and unsolicited comments about our lodging:

So are you living the van/RV life?

Or do you just stay hotels/motels every night?

Or are you staying with friends and family the entire time?

Wow, it must be expensive to find a new place to stay in every new city you visit.

No, we are not doing a camper van or RV while we travel. We had considered it, but for someone as active and as sweaty as me, I personally like showering every day. We also weren’t really jazzed about the idea of buying an RV. According to Camper Report², it costs on average $45 a night for an RV campsite. Much cheaper than a hotel at least!

No, we are not staying in hotels/motels every single night. We will stay in hotels/motels on occasion, just a place to sleep before we’re back on the road the next day. But we enjoy cooking too much to live in hotels/motels full time, and not all places take pets (unfortunately).

We plan on spending some time with family and friends, as our main goal of traveling this year is to reconnect with people we haven’t seen since the pandemic began. But we also don’t want to be a burden to them. We understand how lucky we are that most of them are willing to open up their homes to us, and for that we are grateful. Plus, it allows us to spend more quality time with them! But we are not relying on our loved ones the entire time.

So how are we bopping around the country then? How can we decrease our living expenses even further while we travel, without compromising safety and comfort?

Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects pet owners and sitters around the world. For an annual fee, you can join as a pet owner or a sitter, and have access to the community. You can book as many house sits as you like, wherever is available. Since all of the sitters are background checked and verified, you can trust that you will find someone legit to watch your fur baby. There is no exchange of money or goods between the two parties. Although you aren’t getting paid to watch their pet, you are staying in their home for free. It’s a win-win situation!

Becoming a Pet Sitter

When we signed up to become a pet sitter with Trusted Housesitters, the process was really simple:

Purchase Your Sitter Plan

There are 3 types of plans – basic, standard, and premium. The more you pay, the more benefits come with your plan, such as free communication with veterinarians, sit cancellation insurance, and even global airport lounge passes. We personally chose the standard plan, because we knew we would be housesitting multiple times and we wanted to make sure we had access to veterinarians in case of emergency. We didn’t need premium this year, as we don’t plan to house sit overseas, but in the future we would highly consider upgrading.

Build Your Profile

Once you purchase your plan, you start to build your profile. Make yourself stand out, and show yourself off! Use pictures of yourself with pets, and fill in the About Me sections with as much info as you can to show your personality. Most importantly, get background checked and get as many verifications as possible. Sitter verifications will boost your profile, showing that you are super legit.

You will have to do a background check through Trusted Housesitters. You will also have to provide a government issued form of identification, like your passport or your driver’s license. Then, you can ask for external references to fill out a form voguing for your amazing pet sitter services. We had pet sit for a friend in the past, and they were able to write us a glowing review. But if you haven’t pet sit before, ask a close family member or friend or coworker who can share with Trusted Housesitters how responsible you are and why you’d be a great pet sitter.

Apply For Unlimited Sits

Now you’re ready to start looking for housesits! You can search by date, by region, what type of pets, local attractions, and more. For us as remote workers, we make sure that our housesits have high speed wifi, which is a filter you can use while you search.

The person looking for a pet sitter may have multiple applications, so bear in mind that this is not a guarantee until it has been confirmed. Sometimes it takes a while for them to get back to you, as they are sifting through multiple applications.

You can also save favorite spots, and sign up for emails so that when new postings come live, you can be in the know. And hopefully, be chosen before anyone else applies!

Do The Thing

Now you have been confirmed by the pet’s owner. You have possibly arranged a time to meet them to pick up the keys, or they have given you instructions on how to access their home. Now, it’s time to take care of their fur baby!

Most sits that we have encountered have left us very detailed information on their pet. We also make sure that we know exactly what we are responsible for prior to arriving at the home. Typically the day or two before we arrive, we will read over the welcome guide (that they provide either on Trusted Housesitters, or may send us separately if they already have something created).

Once we arrive to the home, we immediately take a photo of their pet and let them know that we have arrived. During our sit, we take at least 2 photos a days – one in the morning, and one in the evening – to let them know that their fur baby is in good hands.

When we are leaving, we make sure we leave their home in even better condition than we arrived. Unlike a hotel, we are in someone’s home, so we want to make sure they arrive home and not have to worry about who was staying in their home prior. We wash the sheets and the towels, run the dishwasher, and make sure we don’t leave anything behind. Some pet owners have very specific rules for checking out, so make sure that you abide to those requests. If we are not meeting the owners before we leave, we also take one last picture and let them know that we have left their home.

Finding a Pet Sitter

Purchase Your Owner Plan

Similar to the Sitter Plan, there are the 3 memberships – basic, standard, and premium. As an Owner, you now have added protections such as home and contents protection, along with sit cancellation insurance as well.

Create Your Listing

Now it’s time to show off your pet and your home to attract sitters! Create your listing with multiple pictures of your home and pet, so that you can catch the eye of potential pet sitters that are looking to travel to your area. Write a detailed description of your home, amenities, location and neighborhood, to encourage pet sitters to travel to your city. Talk about how awesome your pet is, and make sure to provide details on how to care for them. You can provide more details once you select a sitter, but as a pet sitter, we like to know what exactly we are applying for, so that we can be the best fit for the pet.

Now that your listing is set up, add the dates that you will be away and need a sitter. Once you set up your listing, you add the dates that you know you’ll be out of town. Your listing will not become available until you have at least one set of dates.

Choose A Pet Sitter

You listing is live! You will start to receive applications from pet sitters. Now you can pick and choose who you think would be the best fit for you and your pet. Most owners prefer to have a phone call or video chat prior to confirming the sit. But you will see that all the sitters on Trusted Housesitters are verified. Some may have already completed petsitting jobs and will have reviews that you can look over as well.

Create A Welcome Guide

You picked your trusted housesitter, and you’re getting ready to travel with the peace of mind that your fur baby will be in good hands. In order to make sure your trusted housesitter is ready, you will prepare a welcome guide.

Trusted Housesitters provides a great template for the welcome guide. This is where you can leave check in and check out instructions, medical needs, walking habits, and more. You can also create your own in whatever format you like, and send it to your house sitter as well, if that is easiest for you. Either way, providing a comprehensive guide will help your petsitter be fully knowledgable of their responsibilities.

Enjoy Your Travels

You provided the welcome guide to your trusted housesitter, and now you’re ready to enjoy your travels! At this stage, you have probably exchanged real contact information, such as your phone number and email, in case of emergencies. But you can also contact them through Trusted Housesitters as well. But now, you can sit back, relax, and know that your fur baby is in good hands.

What If I Want To Do Both?

You can purchase a combined plan where you can be a pet sitter, and also look for a pet sitter for your fur baby while your’e traveling! Once we decide we’re ready to settle down and have a permanent residence, we will highly consider the combined plan.

So if you’re looking to travel, love pets, and want to save some money on lodging, I would highly recommend Trusted Housesitters!

If you’re looking for more ways to save money, check out some of my other blog posts:

• Tips on How To Achieve a >50% Savings Rate
• Values Based Spending – Determining Your Core Values
• 12 Tips to Save this Holiday Season
• What is a High Yield Savings Account (HYSA)?

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Resources:

1. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/hotel-price-changes-pandemic
2. https://camperreport.com/average-rv-campground-rates-much-expert-per-night/

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

• Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects pet owners and sitters around the world. For an annual fee, you can join as a pet owner or a sitter, and have access to the community. Click here to sign up today!
• StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
• Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

In case you haven’t noticed, gas prices have SOARED this last month. Even at Costco, it’s over $5 a gallon! Unfortunately, we can’t escape these gas hikes. As a part-time home health PT, I physically can’t work without my car. So what do we do during these crazy times? Hypermiling, of course!

When I drive, sometimes I will watch how many MPG I’m getting during my drive to make sure I’m being fuel efficient. It’s a fun game I like to play that also saves me money. This reminded me of a great article I read a while back from Mr. Money Mustache about the power of hypermiling.

What is Hypermiling?

Hypermiling is the way you decrease fuel usage for your car while you drive. There are some tactics you can use, other than riding your bicycle or switching to an EV, to maximize your fuel efficiency. Mr. Money Mustache‘s no-nonsense style of writing what a great intro to hypermiling, but here is my summary of his article in a “do and don’t” list version for you:

DO Keep Your MPH Under 65

Anything over 65 MPH and you’re just wasting gas, which leads to you wasting money. Somewhere between 25 and 65 MPH is where your car will drive most fuel efficiently. If you’re doing a super long road trip, it’s not really worth the money you would save to stay below 65 mph if it adds extra time on the road.

When we drive to Mammoth from Southern California, once I hit 395, I crank it up to 75 mph. Because I just want to get to the mountain! But if I’m just driving across town, and I have given myself plenty of time to get to my destination, you’ll find me on the right hand side cruising no higher than 65 mph. Sorry, LA drivers, but this Hawaii girl still drives like she’s back on the island, and saving gas and money while I’m at it.

DON’T Use Your Brake Too Often

Please don’t take this as my way of encouraging speeding. Because that is the opposite of what I’m trying to say. What I’m encouraging is the coasting. According to Mr. Money Mustache:

“When you’re accelerating away from a light, you’re getting about 9MPG and burning fuel at $15 per hour. When you’re coasting, you are getting 60-100 MPG. If you are accelerating half the time, and manage to coast the other half, you’ll still average under 18MPG in this situation. So you need to coast more than half the time.”

This is something I try to do when I know I have a bunch of lights coming my way. If it’s been green for a while, I’ll coast to the best of my ability before putting my brake on. Coasting is a great way to practice hypermiling. This is because the chances of the light turning red is pretty high at this point. By pre-planning when I’ll need to stop, I will purposely coast to a stop. By not pushing on the accelerator, you’re not using gas. Which means you’re saving money!

DO Drive With a Warm Engine

This is important if you live somewhere that can get really cold during the winter months. Running your car on a cold engine, as in right when you turn it on first thing in the morning, is not fuel efficient.

So first thing in the morning, don’t start driving until the temperature gauge gets to the optimal level. Then, if you’re out and about running errands, consolidate them as much as possible to keep the engine warm. Don’t just run one errand, go home for a few hours, and then go do another errand, if you can help it. If you get it all done in one fell swoop, then you can be much more gas AND time efficient while doing this hypermiling hack.

DON’T Run Your Engine When Idle

I’ve met some home health allied health professionals that will park and sit in their car and do their notes and prepare for their session… while the car is still running! This is a HUGE waste of gas, because you’re not even moving.

Mr. Money Mustache points out in his after that “…you are wasting $0.60 to $1.80 in fuel per hour of idling, and you save fuel by shutting off the engine for any event longer than ten seconds.“¹ And this article was written in 2011, so imagine how much you’re actually wasting right now in March 2022!

So if you have to wait longer than 10 seconds, just shut your engine off. This is true especially if you’re waiting for your spouse who ran into the store, or waiting to pick up your kid from soccer practice. If you eat fast food, don’t sit in a drive through lane! Just park the car and go inside to grab your food. And if you are at a traffic light that you know will take forever to turn green, you should probably turn off your engine for that as well.

DO Empty Out Your Car

Are you hauling random stuff around town in your car that could easily be kept in your home, but are too lazy to bring it into the house? The heavier your car, the harder it has to work to get your to your destination. This means you should clean out your car of anything you don’t need on a day to day basis if you wan’t to be the most fuel efficient. Also, if your only using your car for local trips, feel free to take out that heavy spare tire. With cell phones and AAA, why are we still lugging around this extra weight?

Aerodynamics play a roll too, albeit a small one. If you have roof racks, only drive with them if you’re actually using them. According to Mr. Money Mustache, “…a typical rack wastes over $100 per year of fuel.”¹ This was a shock for me to read, as I always drive with my roof racks but only use it a handful of times a year.

DON’T Buy A Big Ass Car… Without Doing Your Research

I know I’m gonna get some heat for this, but hear me out. Some people, like my brother who is a carpenter, needs a pickup for work. So you may not be able to avoid this. But do your research! The Ram 1500 Big Horn V8, a pickup, gets 17 mpg overall… but another pick, like the Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium, gets 24 mpg overall!² That is a HUGE difference compared to the reformer, and they both at serve the same purpose of providing you with a pickup truck.

Also, if possible, don’t use a car at all. My husband and I are also fortunate enough to live only 4 miles from his work, so he can ride his bike to the clinic. We planned this strategically so that we can save on gas, and it has really helped us since we moved. Try to run as many errands as you can without using a car. Walking, biking, even riding public transportation can be helpful!

In conclusion, gas prices right now suck. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better anytime soon. The little things you can do every day can help to save you money in the long run. And saving money is always fun 😉

If you’d like to find other ways to save money, check out these other blog posts:

• Paying Off Debt? Cut Down Expenses in These 4 Areas Starting NOW
• 3 Cheap and Frugal Self Care Hacks
• Tips on How To Achieve a >50% Savings Rate

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you!This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

References:

1. Hypermiling: Expert driving to save 25% on gas by Mr. Money Mustache
2. Cars, SUVs, and Trucks With the Best Fuel Economy by Consumer Reports

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

• StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
• Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

You have made the decision to start aggressively paying off debt – that’s great news! If you continue to only pay the minimum balance every month, you’ll end up paying WAY more in the long run due to interest. Making the decision to aggressively pay off your debt is the first and most important step to taking control of your finances!

Now that you have made that decision, it is time to start with things you can control and that you start implementing into your life TODAY. While larger expenses, such as mortgage/rent and car payments, will ultimately get you to paying off debt faster, it may be tougher to change at this very moment in time. And while increasing income is also a great way to make that extra money you can put towards your debt payoff, you may not have the time to take on a side hustle at this time.

But don’t worry, there are areas in your expenses that you can start chipping away at ASAP to help you reach your goal of paying off debt! Here are 5 areas that you can look at and decrease your spending:

1. Fancy Dine-In Restaurants

When I started working as a PT, and I found myself making a full time living for the first time in my life, I spent that money lavishly on eating out. When I look back at my budgets from my first year as a PT, I was eating out 4 nights a week, buying lunch 2-3 times a week, and going to brunch 1-2 times a week. And holy cow, that added up.

Once I decreased my spending at restaurants, not only did I find myself with a couple hundred dollars every month that I could put towards debt, but I found myself really enjoying cooking. I enjoy getting creative with meals with what I have in my pantry or what is fresh at my local supermarket. My husband and I like to create new recipes together as a date night, instead of spending a ton of money at a restaurant, and we love that we can be in the comfort of our home and still enjoy our time together. I have even gotten to the point where when I eat out (which is rare), I find that I can actually create the dish the same, if not better, at home!

If you can’t quit eating out full turkey (pun somewhat intended), you can try to order things during happy hour, where the prices will be lower. Google other restaurants in your area and compare prices to see what is more affordable. Or instead of eating out for all three meals of the day, make it a goal to only order out for one meal a day.

2. Clothes

If you are trying to crush debt, you don’t need the latest most trendy Lululemon attire. The clothes you have are doing its job, and learn to love the clothes that you already own!

I used to constantly buy new clothes when it was trendy, as I used to feel so compelled to fit in with my peers and how they were dressed. But then I found myself using these articles of clothing only a handful of times, before the trend faded and I ended up either reselling it or donate it.

After some hard work at self-reflecting on what I value, I realized that I don’t care about how I dress and needing to fit in based on my attire. I like my clothes to be comfortable, casual, and last me a long time. I have now grown to love my minimalist closet, am comfortable in every outfit that I own, and find that my style is timeless because it reflects MY style, not what’s the latest fashion trend.

But if you really need a new jacket or a new pair of work pants, as your current one is truly breaking down, try out your local thrift store or resell apps like Mercari, Poshmark, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace. You can find quality used clothes that will fit better in your tight budget as you payoff your debt.

3. Books

I love reading, don’t get me wrong! But unless I really enjoy re-reading a book, I never buy it. I check out books at my local library, where I have access to thousands of books. FOR. FREE.

Living in Los Angeles, I’m lucky enough to have access to multiple libraries! I have a LA County Library and a LA Public Library card, which gives me so many options. I can check out hardcovers, paperbacks, eBooks for my Kindle, and Audiobooks as well too. Check out your local library, browse their catalog, and sign up for your free library card today!

However, if you’re dying to get your hands on a book that you want to keep on your bookshelf, try visiting local used bookstores and thrift stores. In some neighborhoods, they have Little Free Libraries, which is the world’s largest book sharing movement. The concept of “Leave a Book, Take a Book,” helps to allow you to read books for free, and to not waste our planet’s valuable resources as many books end up getting thrown away if not donated.

4. Get-Away Vacations

My husband and I love to travel. But, we have learned over the years to do things more frugally. When our finances were tight, we opted out of expensive destination travel, and looked into more local and frugal activities that were just as fun!

So while you are paying off debt, as you start to plan your next get-away, make it a staycation! Go explore a new hiking trail or beach within driving distance. See if you can get a day pass to a local resort’s pool. Book a local campsite and pack the tent and spend the night underneath the stars.

Traveling does not always require expensive plane tickets and fancy hotels. You can still find adventure right in your own home and in your own backyard!

What If I Can’t Decrease My Spending In All These Areas Right Now?

Now, I know that some of this still may seem like a challenge. Don’t feel like you need to make this huge lifestyle change all of a sudden! Taking baby steps is a great way to work your way towards decreasing your spending. And with the goal of paying off debt, you may find yourself more motivated than you think!

Here are other articles I have written that are related to decreasing spending to help you with paying off debt:

• Tips On How To Achieve A >50% Savings Rate
• Values Based Spending – Determining Your Core Values
• 12 Tips to Save this Holiday Season
• Cheap, Non-Conventional Cell Phone Plans
• 3 Methods to Pay off Your Debt
• How I Curbed My Spending Habits As A New Grad PT

So if you want to get started on paying off debt TODAY, let’s work together to help crush that debt! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Thanks for reading my latest blog post! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

• StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
• Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

We spend our work days as allied health professionals taking care of others. But it’s so important to care for yourself as well! Remember, you need to care for yourself in order to effectively care for others.

But don’t feel like you have to spend hundreds of dollars at expensive spas and with pricey products. There are ways to still care for yourself without throwing down a ton of money!

• Go to Groupon for Self-Care Deals

When I was in grad school in New York City, I hated trying to find a salon to get my hair cut, or to find a waxing studio, because every place was so. Damn. Expensive.

New York, I love you, but I also hate how expensive you are.

So I started buying hair cuts and waxes from Groupon. I was able to find Groupons where I could get a haircut, shampoo, and style for as low as $10, and Brazilian waxes for as low as $29! I was saving over 50% of what it normally was priced at, and I was still getting quality haircuts and waxes.

Make sure you use it BEFORE the expiration date! Usually they expire 3 months after you purchase it. Also, read the instructions before you purchase. Some salons have specific days and times that you can go to use the Groupon, or some have restrictions.

• Check Out Local Career Colleges

If you’re looking for a full spa and pamper experience, this probably is not be for you. But if you’re not super attached to your hair, or you don’t mind noise in the background of your massage, checking out a local career college or cosmetology school is a great way to save money for self-care.

A local career college near me advertises a basic mani/pedi for $30, eyebrow wax for $10, and a hair trim for $10! And many of these services are supervised, which means the teacher will correct any mistakes that the student may make.

However, if you freak out when your hair is cut 1/2 inch too short, then this may not be for you. Also, they have very odd hours, as they’re typically when the students are in class. Google a local career college near you to find out more.

• Do-It-Yourself!

Look around your bathroom, and yes, your kitchen, for ways to get creative with DIY self care! For a homemade facial, grind oatmeal in a blender, add baking soda to the oatmeal with enough water to make a paste¹, and BOOM, you got yourself a facial. You can also soak washcloths in hot water and let them lay on over your face, put your face over boiled water for a facial steam, and cut a couple circles from a cucumber and let it rest on your eyes.

For my nails, I use a Growth Nail Treatment & Strengthener to start, followed by the nail polish of choice (I usually have 2-3 Essie colors on hand), top it with a glitter coat, then finish with a Top Nail Coat. I basically started my own little nail salon at home!

During the pandemic, I trimmed my own hair! I went onto YouTube to find out how to do this, and I was surprised at how easy it was. I also had a coworker trim my hair at work when I messed up one time and needed it fixed…lucky I wear my hair up at work, so it didn’t really matter anyway haha!

There are ways to save money with self-care. Sometimes you just have to get creative. Comment below and share how you take care of yourself, and your ways to save money with self-care!

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

• StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
• Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Resources:

1. https://www.byrdie.com/oatmeal-facial-masks-2442870#:~:text=Grind%20two%20tablespoons%20of%20oatmeal,Leave%20on%20for%2010%20minutes.

When people think of cell phone plans, people assume that they have to use one of the big name companies – AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. But did you know that the cheaper options, such as Mint Mobile, can give you the same (if not better) quality for cheaper?

I switched over to Mint Mobile over a year ago, and it’s been great! Mint Mobile actually does not have its own network – it uses T-Mobile’s network for its coverage and data speeds. I pay $30/month for my 10 GB plan, and my husband pays $15/month for his 4 GB plan. I got to keep my phone number, and keep my phone. And this price is significantly cheaper than what we were paying with Verizon, which was around $120 a month for the both of us!

Other companies that do the same include: Ting Mobile, that uses the T-Mobile Network; Consumer Cellular, that uses AT&T and the T-Mobile Network; and Tello, that also uses T-Mobile Network.

Not sure which one to choose? I would recommend going to each website, see if they have coverage in your area, then price compare. Also, see how much data you use every month. Many people opt for unlimited data because it “sounds like a good deal,” but if you’re primarily using your phone on WiFi, you might be able to save more money by purchasing a lower data plan.

“But Veronica, is the service still good?”

Yes, it still works well! Remember that these cell phone plans use the network from the Big Wireless companies. I would still recommend that you go onto the cell phone plan’s website, put in your zip code, and see how the coverage is in your area.

“Will they pay me out of my current cell phone contract?”

That’s going to be based on each company. With a quick Google search, I found that Mint Mobile will not pay you out of your current cell phone contract. But do you r research when you look into what company will work best for you.

Happy saving!

(P.S. I’m not affiliated with any of these cell phone companies, and I am not getting paid to promote them)

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! I am a self proclaimed amateur investor, and personal finance enthusiast.

Thanks for reading my latest blog post! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

• StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!

When I started working in 2016, seeing these “massive” paychecks in my bank account was new to me as a new grad PT. But it confirmed that I finally made it as a new grad PT. I had lived incredibly frugally and found any way I could to make money up until this point. I was a Resident Advisor in college to pay for my housing and food, on top of holding multiple part time jobs on top of a full time student class schedule. In PT school, I would babysit as often as I could to have money to pay for groceries, and I would find seminars around the library that had free food that I could mooch from.

So when I finally had a salaried full time job as a new grad PT… I went HARD.

I went out multiple nights a week and eating and drinking to my heart’s content. I bought all new clothes, a new car, the expensive produce at the grocery store, pricy gym memberships, the newest iPhone… and did not bat an eye at the prices for all of this. I just threw whatever money I had left into my savings account, which was not much. And as a new grad PT, I did not care about what I saving. All I cared about was spending this newfound money!

So How Do I Curb My Spending Habits?

Once my husband introduced me to financial independence, I was hooked. But I knew I needed to start with decreasing my spending.

So if you’re looking for some advice to help curb your spending habits, especially as a new grad PT who is trying to pay off your student loan debt ASAP, here’s what I did and what worked for me:

1) Stick To A Budget

I seriously can’t stress this enough. Especially early on as a new grad PT if you are working on paying off your debt aggressively! According to a survey by Mint, 65% of Americans said they don’t know how much they spent last month.¹ That is INSANE to me. How you can expect to save money when you don’t even know what you’re spending?

Using budget apps, like Mint, have helped me tremendously. Look back at the last 3 months of spending and see how much you’ve spent, what you spent on, and see what areas you can cut down on and stick to those numbers. Sometimes after reviewing, you’ll find that you have so many unnecessary spending! 

2) Use Cash Instead of Credit Cards

The tangibleness of cash allows you to physically feel how much money you have and how much you give away when you spend. This will allow you to keep better track of how much you’re giving out. Credit cards may seem like an easy way to make a big purchase, but if you’re not paying your bill in full every month, that crazy interest rate will end up making your purchase more than you thought.

And although I’m a big fan of credit cards (hello, travel hacking!), I only do this because I PAY MY BILL IN FULL EVERY MONTH. If you can’t do this consistently, then stick to cash. If you can do this, read my article about 2 Starter Rewards Credit Cards to get you started on your travel hacking journey.

3) Separate The “Wants” Versus “Needs”

Sit and really reflect on your life priorities. What TRULY is a “want” versus a “need.” As human beings, we all need food, water, and shelter. Make sure you have money for those things, and then move down to the next tier of priorities.

But remember that everyones “wants” and “needs” could be different from yours, based on what you prioritize in life. Did you really NEED that expensive coffee from Starbucks? Ok, maybe, if you only go once in a blue moon, and you only got a few hours of sleep the night before and missed your alarm for work. But did you also really NEED that pair of sunglasses and that gourmet cupcake you picked up after work? Mostly likely not. Stop giving into the consumer culture of our times, and figure out what’s best for you.

4) Make It A Fun Challenge

To get myself to curb my spending, my husband challenged me to spend as little as possible for one month. Just one month! By him presenting it to me as a short term goal, it helped me to stay focused. And when I found out that during that first month, we were able to achieve over a 50% savings rate (!), I found myself wanting to keep shooting for the moon! Many times we find that a long term goal initially can be scary. By breaking it up into short term goals, it helps us to stay encouraged and keeps us in line with our long term goal.

Now take these tips however you want, because remember that personal finance is truly personal. I want to share what worked for me, because maybe it’ll work for you too! Especially as a new grad PT, you are now spending all day taking care of others. Take this time to take care of yourself, because you deserve it.

But if you need more guidance, I would love to help you curb your spending habits. Click here to schedule your FREE 20 minute consult with me today!

1. https://mint.intuit.com/blog/budgeting/spending-knowledge-survey/

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

• StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
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