#personal-finance

#personal-finance

We live in a world of consumerism whether we like it or not. It's hard to do anything or go anywhere (or even doom scroll) without being served up the latest gadget, subscription, or solution - most of which end up being a reason you have to devote so much time to decluttering the damn house. How can you know when your latest splurge is actually worth it or just a waste?

Abbie Beggs is a business owner and content creator. In 2020, during the first Covid-19 lockdown, when she was 20 and facing into her final year at university, she decided to launch Bound Apparel to fill a gap she identified in the market. There were plenty of leggings suitable for time spent at the gym, but what about the other hours of the day?

Remember that moment when you check your bank account and wonder where all your money went? Last month, I had one of those wake-up calls. After getting laid off and freelancing for four months, I thought I'd gotten pretty good at budgeting. But there I was, staring at my statement, realizing I'd somehow spent $847 on things I couldn't even remember buying. That's when it hit me: The problem was all those "normal" expenses that everyone just accepts as part of life.

You can't completely discredit Musk's take, though. Yes, forgoing retirement on the belief that AI and tech will just figure it out in a few decades is a massive gamble. But the past few years have reminded us that tech can quickly flip the script on conventional wisdom. Five years ago, a career as a computer programmer felt secure. Now ... not so much.

Then life happens, and suddenly it's June and you can't recall what your resolutions even were. But it doesn't have to be that way. Sometimes the problem isn't a lack of motivation but rather a lack of tools, the kind that can make those goals feel more manageable and easier to achieve. After all, the right gear can help turn good intentions into habits that actually last.

Happy Birthday: Give yourself a chance to calibrate what satisfies your needs before you venture forward. Having the facts and formulating the outcome first is necessary this year if you want to be successful. Being happy with yourself and how you look, feel and present yourself to others qualifies you to give your all and assume a position of control. Put your emotions to rest and your valuable assets to work for you. Your numbers are 8, 19, 22, 27, 36, 42, 45.

Many Americans have visions of $2,000 stimulus checks dancing in the heads thanks to the president's promises. The Trump administration seems resolute in delivering a welcome boost to middle-class taxpayers, a cool $2,000 per person, funded by the influx of tariff revenues from trade partners. But the Treasury has yet to sign on the dotted line, and there's no 100 percent guarantee that the stimulus package will see the light of day.

Influencers are incentivized to make you feel behind so you keep buying. The problem is not influencers as people, it is the culture of constant consumption that social media amplifies. When spending becomes a performance, it distorts reality. she tells EL PAIS. You see the purchase, not the credit card bill. You see the lifestyle, not the insecurity behind it. Influencer spending can create pressure, comparison, and shame, all of which keep people from focusing on long term financial health.

Cuban's origins are fairly humble. He was raised in a middle-class family in Pittsburgh and once had a job selling garbage bags door-to-door around his neighborhood (yes, you read that correctly). He bootstrapped his way up, starting with bartending and software sales before founding MicroSolutions, which he sold for $6 million in 1990, and later co-founding Broadcast.com, acquired by Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock during the dot-com boom.

Christmas is just around the corner and while we all try to buy things early to help spread the cost, it still adds up to the same amount in the end as Lucy Nevins knows too well. She estimates that she won't get much change from €2,000 over the festive season as she buys gifts for family and friends, and stocks up the cupboards with treats to cater for visitors and her own family.

Most of us like to believe we're too sophisticated to confuse money with purpose. Yet a surprising number of people, especially younger generations, slip into that trap without ever consciously choosing it. The idea that "my purpose is to make money" has become so pervasive that it rarely gets questioned. It's simple, it's measurable, and on the surface, it makes sense.

Retirement already appears financially realistic once the second trust opens up in the next few years. Both trusts have the potential to grow over time, further increasing the amount available for withdrawal. A 5 percent annual draw from the 10 million dollar trust alone provides 500,000 dollars per year. The Redditor also noted that the current trust provides about 200,000 dollars in tax-free distributions, which brings the total to roughly 700,000 dollars per year.

A payout worth several million dollars can tempt anyone, but experts say it is important to compare guaranteed income with potential investment results before deciding. Financial planners often point out that lump sums offer flexibility, control, and the ability to leave remaining funds to heirs. However, they also come with risk. Managing a large investment requires discipline, steady returns, and a clear understanding of how long the money needs to last.

If your 2026 plans involve getting or updating your car, here are the best ways to pay for it

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is a time when we can give thanks for all of the blessings in our lives, but there is no pressure around gifts, maybe just a little anxiety about putting the whole meal together and of course, managing family drama. This Thanksgiving, I was feeling especially grateful for you, the folks who read this column, who along with podcast/radio listeners, and television viewers send me questions and feedback.