Adulthood also means making choices, from small decisions like what to eat for dinner, to bigger ones like which work project to begin tackling first. And making a choice can be scary! What if you make the wrong one? Some consequences aren’t a big deal, like deciding to try a new restaurant and not liking it. All you have to do in that case is never go to that restaurant again. But the prospect of … [Read more...] about How a Decision Matrix Can Help You Make Big Choices With Confidence
How Simplifying Your Life Can Save You Mental Energy (and Money)
Any time you move to a new city or travel for awhile, it gives you a new perspective on your life. I just returned from doing a bit of both. A few months ago, I finished my lease on my apartment in Austin, sold off much of my stuff, and put the rest in storage. I spent a month each living in Santiago, Chile; Lima, Peru; Medellin, Colombia; and Mexico City as part of a Remote Year program, and now … [Read more...] about How Simplifying Your Life Can Save You Mental Energy (and Money)
Wealth Doesn’t Happen Overnight — Here’s How to Get Rich Slowly
You daydream about quitting your job if you won the lottery. The truth is, for most people, accumulating wealth takes time. Getting rich slowly isn’t what most people talk about, but it’s the real path to wealth. It’s not sexy or exciting — it’s pretty much like watching paint dry. Very few people develop an app they sell for millions of dollars, or make a fortune flipping houses. Most … [Read more...] about Wealth Doesn’t Happen Overnight — Here’s How to Get Rich Slowly
The Marie Kondo Approach to Decluttering Your Budget
I’ll admit that I don’t have the patience to create a detailed budget myself (I practice “reverse budgeting” — make automatic contributions into savings, retirement, and investing accounts, set aside money to pay all my bills, and spend freely out of what’s left). It’s a system that works for many people, but sometimes you crave a more detailed way to plan. Enter Gen Y Planning’s Associate … [Read more...] about The Marie Kondo Approach to Decluttering Your Budget
How to Help Your Family Financially Without Going Broke
As Gen Y gets older, we’re reaching financial stability in greater numbers, and that means that the family members who helped us out financially for so long may need our help now. Baby Boomers are getting older, and that can come with increased medical expenses, or even retiring in a less secure position than they thought they would. I work with many clients who provide monetary support to … [Read more...] about How to Help Your Family Financially Without Going Broke
How to Claim Your Parent as a Dependent on Your Taxes
Older millennials are quickly approaching the sandwich generation phase: taking on greater responsibility for older relatives while also caring for young children. As baby boomers begin to retire, some will need the support of their adult children. In some cases, it may make sense to consider claiming your parent as a dependent on your taxes. There are a lot of rules about this, and … [Read more...] about How to Claim Your Parent as a Dependent on Your Taxes