Posts by Emily Guy Birken:
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How to Navigate a Bank or Credit Union
Posted on: 06 Sep 2022
Banks and credit unions can seem a little unfriendly to anyone who isn’t familiar with how they work. There are no helpful signs telling you where to stand, what forms you need, how much anything costs, or even which tellers have the good lollipops. Compare that to a check-cashing store or payday lender, where you’re […]
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What’s the Best Savings Vehicle for My Emergency Fund?
Posted on: 10 Aug 2022
Anyone who has ever had to hide the “good” snacks from a voracious roommate knows that a proper stash must maintain the perfect balance of three factors: Separation: Storing your chocolate-covered almonds somewhere other than the shared pantry not only decreases the likelihood that your roommate will hog them all, but also helps ensure you […]
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How to manage volatile income
Posted on: 05 Aug 2022
Anyone who has ever been a freelancer, worked on commission, or relied on tips knows the boom-and-bust cycle of having an irregular income. How are you supposed to budget when you don’t know which months feature steak dinners and which ones require ramen noodles? Thankfully, there are some simple (but not necessarily easy) steps you […]
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How to change your financial habits
Posted on: 30 Jun 2022
We all have bad financial habits we’d like to change. Maybe you’re stressed about the amount of money you’re spending without thinking. Or maybe you’ve stopped looking at any of the bills coming in. Or maybe you’re dreading having to ask your sister-in-law for another loan. No matter the financial habit that is causing you […]
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How to break your bad money habits
Posted on: 30 Mar 2022
We often think of ourselves as natural born “spenders” or “savers,” as if the way we handle money is like our eye color, Zodiac sign or preference of dogs over cats. But according to Dr. Daniel Crosby, Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion Advisor Solutions, this framing is a way we limit our own freedom of […]
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How debt messes with your brain
Posted on: 16 Mar 2022
Being in debt is the worst. That’s not just opinion. The Society of Occupational Medicine’s Life Events Inventory, which ranks the level of stress caused by 100 life events, found that “getting into debt beyond means of repayment” received a score of 82/100 for men and 86/100 for women — meaning significant debt is more […]
