How prepared are you to head for the office door? For some people — especially millennials — retirement may be pretty far off.
The average retirement age in the United States is 63, but maybe you don’t want to be average. Maybe you, like me, plan to give your two weeks well before that. Either way, retirement requires planning.
Read MoreWe’ve all been there. The clingy boyfriend. The emotionally draining one. The fling.
But have you ever been there with your money?
A relationship with money isn’t optional — it’s there, you’re there, and you have to figure out a way to live together. The secret is this: you get to determine your attitude towards your money. YOU get to set the terms of the relationship. So what kind of relationship do you have?
Read MoreRetirement may be on our radar, but did you know that 1 in 3 Americans have no retirement savings? Yikes! If you’re reading this, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction. So what’s the next step? Learn the difference between a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA and be better prepared to open the account that’s right for YOU. The sooner you start, the sooner you can kick back and have daiquiris delivered on a silver platter. #RetirementGoals
Read MoreWhen you’re in your twenties, it’s hard to commit to investing money that you may not see again for 45 years. Heck, I can’t decide on whether I want to spring for the organic apples — you want me to take a stab at investing the only money I’ve ever had?! There is way too much uncertainty at this stage of life, but that’s what makes a Roth IRA so attractive.
Individual retirement accounts — street name IRAs — are a relatively safe way to springboard into a comfortable retirement a little down the road. There are two main IRA options available: Roth IRAs and Traditional IRAs. Today, we tackle the Roth.
Read MoreMaybe it’s a last minute plane ticket. Maybe it’s an unexpected hospital bill. Maybe it’s that bridesmaid dress you will 100% never wear again. Whatever your reason, it’s hard to say no to an extra $300 in your pocket.
Read MoreMuch like a 1994 Mariah Carey, payday is full of the highest highs, with unexpected lows. I have no shame in admitting that the first time I officially got paid, I experienced a roller coaster of emotions. Ever eloquent, my initial reaction to my first pay stub was somewhere along the lines of: “YAY! MONEY! I’M SUCH A BALLER. Wait. Whaaa-azklasdljkf. Who the hell is FICA??!?!?!?!??! WHY ARE YOU TAKING MY MONEY?!”
So WHO is FICA? As it turns out, “FICA” stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It requires that you, along with the vast majority of workers, have mandatory deductions taken out of your paycheck ...
Friend, hello!
My name is SC. I’m a twenty-something living in the Lowcountry who, at any given moment, might be found with my nose in a book or dramatically re-enacting scenes from Mulan. And I started this blog out of stupidity.
Let me explain.
I felt stupid for not knowing what FICA was. Stupid for having to Google average 401(k) contributions. Stupid for feeling like I failed basic #adulting.
But the thing is, I’m not stupid. I’m a relatively bright, college-educated, well-read individual. So why is money so hard? Why is adulting so hard? Maybe it’s because this stuff just wasn’t in school. And I figure that if I’m feeling this way, I can’t be the only one.
I’m not a financial expert (not even CLOSE. Not even in the same zip code, just so we’re clear). But here’s what I do have: solid research skills, an insatiable curiosity, unlimited access to GIFs and parents who’ve shared a fair amount of common sense. This blog serves as a resource — a place to streamline research, improve financial literacy and foster conversations we don’t have enough.
Consider this Adulting 101.
I hope you’ll join me in my search for money-saving solutions and fight for financial independence. And for the inevitable Taylor Swift references.
