Category Archives: Saving

Housesitting – How We Stay For Free While Traveling

Note: Affiliate Links are used in this blog post

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:

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!

Get Hyped for Hypermiling

Get Hyped for Hypermiling
Get stoked to learn about how to save on gas!

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?

Driving is way more fun when you’re being fuel efficient! Photo from stock.adobe.com

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:

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!

Paying Off Debt? Cut Down Expenses in These 4 Areas Starting NOW

Paying Off Debt? Cut Down Expenses in These 4 Areas Starting NOW
Let’s crush that debt, ASAP!

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:

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!

3 Cheap and Frugal Self Care Hacks

Love me some self care!

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.

Tips on How To Achieve a >50% Savings Rate

Tips on How To Achieve a >50% Savings Rate
I got money in the *piggy* bank!

We finally went over our finances from 2021, and we are so happy with the outcome! Our savings rate was over 50% – way past our goal of a 30% savings rate for the year! This means that on average, every month, we were able to save more than half of what we earned.

We calculate our “savings rate” as follows: Monthly Net Income – Spending, divided by Monthly Net Income, multiplied by 100 to get a percentage. So this number doesn’t even take into consideration the pre-tax dollars that my husband contributed to his 401(k), which he maxed out for 2021. And I also didn’t take into consideration cash that I earned from reselling items in person off of Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp. So this savings rate number is slightly below what we actually saved in 2021!

A 50% savings rate is pretty extreme, and it isn’t that easy. We worked our butts off in 2021, earning much more through new jobs, pay raises, and side hustles. Keeping a strict eye on the budget and sticking to it every month was crucial. We had to really think about our core values, and make sure the money we were spending was in alignment with those values.

But, like any habit, we got the momentum going, and we found that saving that much every month started to come more naturally to us. For 2022, we don’t have as lofty of a goal as a 50% savings rate, but with the more frugal and fulfilling lifestyle choices we made in 2021, we have no doubt that this will carry over into the new year.

Here are some tips for increasing your savings rate:

1. Increase Your Income

This is the most obvious, but certainly not the easiest, way to increase your savings rate. Maybe you ask for a raise. Or you quit your job and find a new job with higher pay. Or maybe you take on a side hustle that earns you extra money on the side. Making more money automatically gives you more to save versus making less money.

In 2021, I quit my full time job at an outpatient PT clinic and took on multiple part time PT jobs. All these part time jobs together still equaled to about 40 hours a week, but I made over $10,000 more than the previous year while still working the same amount of hours, with less stressful work environments! I also took on a couple side hustles: private pay clients, reselling stuff, my Etsy store selling digital downloads, and starting this blog. My husband, as a clinic director for a PT clinic, earned a significant pay raise for 2021, as his clinic did extremely well in 2020 despite the pandemic. This extra income allowed for us to put more towards our savings rate

2. Make a Budget To Account For Your Savings Rate

To know how you spend your money and where it’s going, you need to track your expenses. To start making a budget, I look at the last 2-3 months of spending and see what areas I spent in the essentials (rent/mortgage, electricity/utilities/water, groceries, internet, health/car insurance, etc) and the not-so-essentials (restaurants/fast food, clothes, streaming sites, etc.).

Once you do this, you may be surprised at some areas to see how much you’re spending and not spending. But by tracking your expenses, you’ll start to get a better idea of where your money is going.

I started making a budget on a good ol’ Excel sheet. But I have found that using Mint has been really good for my family! You can also track expenses on Personal Capital as well. There are so many ways to track your expenses. Find what works for you!

3. Focus on Values Based Spending and Decrease Non-Essential Spending

This takes a little digging into your newfound budget and seeing what areas you can cut down in, in order to make sure your money is going towards things you truly value.

For me, I could care less about cable television. So instead of paying a monthly fee for cable, I bought a $15 TV antenna off of Amazon and that gets us NBC, ABC, Fox, and CBS. Which we rarely use anyway, but it’s nice when football season comes around or we want to tune in to American Ninja Warrior.

Before we joined the FIRE community, we realized we were spending a lot of money on restaurants. We actually really enjoy cooking together, and we realized that we get more joy out of doing instead of going out to eat all the time. So we decreased our spending in our restaurants category, but our groceries we increased a little bit to accommodate our dining in adventures. We still eat out every now and then, but mostly it’s when we are meeting up with friends or celebrating a special occasion. And we are happy with our choice.

But remember, personal finance is personal. You will need to reflect on what brings you joy, and decide how to budget for what you value.

4. Find Free and Cheap Activities in Your Area

I’m lucky enough to live in Southern California where I can be outdoors almost every day of the year! I love riding my roller skates around the neighborhood, going for a long run on the beach, finding a new hiking trail, and packing a picnic and going for a long drive into a new area.

When the weather isn’t too great, I like to try a new recipe, play board games, have a movie night, and set up video chats with family and friends to stay connected.

Although we enjoy going to breweries, we now tend to buy more take-home beers from local breweries to enjoy at home. We save some money, the beer still tastes great, and I can enjoy it from the comfort of my couch in my sweatpants.

You don’t need to spend money to have fun! Our consumerist society has just made us think we need to spend money to have fun. Get creative! Or you can check out this post by Michelle at Making Sense of Cents: Fun, Frugal, and Free Activities

5. Set Short Term and Long Term Goals

Having a tangible goal set up will help you stay on track. But as a PT, I like to create short term goals to help me achieve my long term goal.

Let’s say your long term goal is to have a 30% savings rate for the year 2022. Here are some options for short term goals:

“For January 2022, I will cut my restaurant spending by $50 as compared to last month”

“In the first quarter of 2022, I will increase my income by $100 via *insert side hustle here*”

“For the first half of 2022, I will have an average of a 25% savings rate”

Having short term goals set up helps you to not only stay on track, but can help keep your momentum going. You may find that you’ll be more excited about meeting your short term goals than you think!

Here are more blog posts to read about savings:

If you need help increasing your savings rate, or if you want 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!

Values Based Spending – Determining Your Core Values

How can you make sure that your spending allows with your values?

You are ready to start being a more savvy spender – congrats! No more throwing money left and right. No more surprising bills to pay, as you’re ready to know where your money is going. Understanding where your money comes and goes will allow to you have more control over your finances, simply because you’re keeping track of it now.

The first step is to determine your core values.

…wait, what? What does that have to do with anything?

My friend, your core values determine EVERYTHING. From what gets you out of bed in the morning, to what you spend your money on, to how you choose to live your life, all stems from your core values.

Determining your core values can help you figure out not only what you are spending your precious time and money on, but WHY you are making these choices. And if you find that your choices do not align with your values, you can set up your budget to more accurately reflect your values down the road, so you can be happier with your financial choices.

To figure out your core values, I would recommended doing this core values exercise from TapRoot to determine what your core values are.

Once you have your list of core values, take a look at a month’s worth of spending – pull up your credit card statements, receipts, and any bills you pay. Look at your net worth – your savings, any investments you may have, your debt, and what you currently have in your checking account.

Now compare this with your core values. How does it make you feel?

Are you happy with your spending choices, as you feel it aligns well with your values?

Do you feel guilty about some of your spending habits, as it seems to go against what you find that you value?

Does this make you feel shocked, and maybe a little disturbed, about certain things that you spend your money on?

As James W. Frick once said: “Don’t tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.”

So now that you have your core values, you can start aligning your spending and your lifestyle choices with your values. To give you a jumpstart, I’ll give you my core values and my spending habits as an example:

  1. Using time wisely for making a difference.

Instead of sitting around watching hours of TV and movies, I use that time to dedicate to others. I volunteer weekly with my church and with a local charity. I write on this blog, in hopes to educate other allied health professionals (like myself) how to get a hold of their finances and live financially free.

When I realized how many TV subscriptions we paid for monthly, and since we don’t watch a lot of TV or movies, we opted out of almost all of those subscriptions. We also don’t have cable. And since we don’t value these things, the money that would go towards this can go towards something else we value.

2. Building community.

Not gonna lie, a bulk of our spending goes towards local breweries. But we’re okay with this. We budget for this because we love craft beer! But we also love getting together with friends and having great conversations with them. Every time we go to a local brewery, we meet up with friends and end up having an amazing time with them, sharing an ice cold beer. Money well spent, in our opinion.

When we needed to tighten up our budget a little more, we opted to purchasing beers to-go and liquor from Costco, so that we could invite our friends over to hang out with us and enjoy local beer and hand-made cocktails from the comfort of our home. It almost always ends up as an exchange, as our friends typically bring over some sort of alcohol as well. Buying alcohol from the store is cheaper than at a brewery or a bar, but you can still enjoy it just as much (if not more) from your home.

We also love to do FREE activities. We’ll invite friends to go on hikes, beach days, or game nights with us. We have participated in a couple of local Meetup groups for outdoor and sports activities.

The advent of COVID-19 also opened up a great way to build an online community through Facebook groups and other various ways. Many influencers have their own communities that they have built, such as Frugal Friends Club BFF, and Paula Pant’s Afford Anything Community.

3. Manifest happiness.

When I looked over our spending habits and where our money was, I actively sought out what made me feel not happy and worked on those areas. For example, we used to eat out a lot. But I noticed that we ate out at a lot of chain restaurants and fast food on repeat. That didn’t make me happy. After reflecting with my husband, we found that when we cook together or try a new local restaurant, that brought us more joy. We found our spending to increase in our groceries, but decrease in our fast food and restaurants. And when we looked back on our choices for eating out, we were happy that we got to explore new places and support local businesses.

I used to be a member of a rock climbing gym. I loved going to the gym, challenging myself on harder routes, and meeting up with my friends to climb with them. But once we all moved to different cities, and I signed up to join another gym, I realized I more enjoyed the time spent with my friends, versus actual rock climbing itself. Soon I was running more, weight lifting at my communal gym, and doing yoga and pilates videos at home with my dog sleeping beside my mat, and I found that those activities brought me more joy. So I said goodbye to the monthly gym membership.

4. Demonstrate loyalty.

I take loyalty seriously, especially in my relationships. I try my best to be loyal to my family and my friends in every way possible: I don’t cancel plans that we’ve made, I connect with them as often as I can, and I support them in any way I can when they need me.

When a family member is ill, I change my budget around so I can use that money to fly home and spend time with them. When a good friend of mine is getting married, I make sure to allocate time and my budget to make sure that I can be in attendance of their special day. When a group of friends decide to take a weekend ski trip, before I commit, I make sure that I budget wisely for this getaway.

Sometimes this means that I need to decrease spending in other areas. But this is okay with me, because being loyal to my family and friends matters to me as a core value of mine.

5. Give appreciation.

I am a wife, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a cousin, and a friend. I appreciate all the relationships I have made with my family and my friends. When it comes to gift giving, I make sure to allocate money in my budget to show them my appreciation. Whether it’s buying them a coffee on our coffee date, or a gift card to a local restaurant near their home, it is important for me to budget for these gifts, even if this means that I may have to decrease spending in other areas.

I am also a Christian. My church helped me through a lot of my mental health issues, especially during COVID-19. A part of my monthly budget allocates funds to my tithing to my church. Not only does tithing show my appreciation for God, but it also shows my appreciation for my church and all they have done for me.

If you would like to align your values with your spending, and 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!

12 Tips to Save this Holiday Season

Holidays are here, which means spending time with the family, eating good food, enjoying the cooler weather, and spending a ton of money on gifts.

…wait, what? The holidays are not about spending money! If you’re on a tight budget, or you prefer to live more frugally and minimalist (like myself), the holidays don’t have to be a time of financial stress.

So instead of the 12 days of Christmas, I’ll share with you my 12 tips to help you decrease your spending and save more money this holiday season.

1.Plan your gift giving way ahead of time.

Don’t feel like you are late to the game because you haven’t done this yet. You still have time! Planning ahead versus just walking up and down the aisles will help to decrease the likeliness of you to impulse buy. Write down a list of all the people you plan on buying a gift for, the gift you plan on purchasing for them, and how much you approximate that the gift will cost. This leads me to my next tip…

2. Budget your money for the gifts that you decide to buy.

After you make your list of gifts and an approximate total of how much all the gifts will cost, look at your budget and see what areas you can pull from to fund these gifts. Maybe this holiday season you spend less at Starbucks and cook at home a little more, and use that coffee shop and restaurant money to go towards your holiday budget.

3. Pay for your gifts with cash only.

By paying with cash only, this will allow you to tangibly see how much money you’re spending on holiday gifts. This will also prevent you from spending money that you don’t have. This is extremely helpful for people that don’t pay their credit card bill in full every month and for people who carry consumer debt. But this is also helpful for people who tend to impulse buy and not keep track of their money.

4. If you are a responsible credit card user, pay for your gifts with credit cards that offer your rewards points or cash back.

This doesn’t necessarily save you money at the forefront, but by using your credit card, you can earn rewards points or cash back for your purchase. I only recommend this to people who are able to pay off their credit card bill in full every month, and for people who have no consumer debt. Consider signing up for a new credit card ASAP to get a chance at a spending bonus! I would recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Capital One Venture, which both have great bonuses right now.

5. Buy your gifts crazy in advanced, or wait for a major sale such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Some people do all their holiday shopping months before, which is a great tactic if you can plan that far ahead. If not, take advantage of holiday sales such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On these days, businesses tend to really slash down the prices for big ticket items, which can save you a lot of money.

6. Price compare and see if you can find the same item for cheaper at another store.

I love doing this! For example, if I’m in Best Buy and I see some headphones that I want, I’ll bust out my phone and check Amazon/Target/Walmart to see if it’s cheaper. If it is, I’ll find an associate and show them the cheaper price and barter to have it sold to me from their company at that lower price. Otherwise, I’ll leave the store and purchase my item with another company. It’s a win-win situation: you get the item for cheaper no matter what, and the company that accepts your offer has made money off of you.

7. If you are traveling, buy your transportation tickets for off travel days.

I recommend buying your ticket at least a couple months in advanced for your holiday travel. Unfortunately, after Halloween, that’s when domestic travel flights tend to spike. Look to fly on less popular days, such as Christmas Eve. Also consider flying at times that most people don’t like to travel, such as taking a red eye. With Christmas Day being on a Saturday this year, expect flights on Sunday December 26 to be more expensive.1In general, flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday seem to be cheaper than Fridays or Sundays.2

8. Opt for gifting your time or a DIY item instead of buying a gift.

No, you don’t have to go and make chore coupon books like you used to do for your parents when you were a kid. But a heartfelt letter with a plan to go on a hike or cook a meal together can go a long way. If you are crafty, make something from the heart that will show your love for them, without breaking the bank.

9. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to gift exchanges.

This one can be difficult, especially if this is a tradition in your family during the larger family gatherings. In Episode 184 from Jen and Jill at Frugal Friends Prodcast, they talk about how saying “No, Thank You” can go a long way. I think we forget how much our wording of things can really help us in awkward situations. Remembering your manners and politely declining something that you don’t value may gain you more respect than you think.

10. Disclose to your family and friends that you do not plan on giving material gifts this year.

This may be a little intimidating, but by being open about why you have decided not to give material gifts will help them to be more understanding. When I told my family why I decided to do this, as I wanted to promote the value of material minimalism in gift giving, and spending more time with them is what I valued over material gifts, they were very understanding. In fact, they appreciated that I chose to not give material gifts, and now they ask me how to be more minimalist!

11. Instead of buying multiple gifts for each person in your family or friend group, offer to do a Secret Santa or White Elephant style of gift giving.

This might be tougher if your family traditionally gives a gift to each member. But hey, you miss all the shots you don’t take. See what they have to say, and you may be surprised at how many of your other family members will be thrilled that you would like to do this instead.

12. Make sure that you are not going against your values for this time of year.

Remember what you value, and don’t let the holiday season make you feel like you have to go against your values. Yes, it may take some creativity and planning ahead to make sure you can stay aligned with your values this holiday season. But knowing that you stayed true to yourself, will guarantee you a happy and joyous holiday season.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! And if you are having trouble with your personal finances during this time, click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult with me, and let’s work together to figure out a plan to help you on your personal finance journey!

  1. https://www.travelandleisure.com/flight-deals/cheapest-time-to-buy-holiday-flights-according-to-hopper
  2. https://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/tips-from-air-travel-insiders/

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!

Cheap, Non-Conventional Cell Phone Plans

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.

Here are a couple options and their lowest offers. Each of these also have other options with larger data plans, for higher costs.

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!

How I Curbed My Spending Habits As A New Grad PT

How I Curbed My Spending Habits As A New Grad PT
Learn how I was able to save more money by spending less as a new grad PT!

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. 

  • 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!