Do 1 Thing Before You Sing

It’s Thursday, which means it’s time to Do 1 Thing

The Cost of the Adoption Process: The Pre-approval Stage

Agency fees, training costs, background checks, and more.

Throwback Thursday: Buy All Your Furniture at Target, For Tomorrow We Die

We own cheap furniture because we sense, consciously or unconsciously, that our situations are temporary.

How a Corporate Drone Working Towards Financial Independence Does Money

Anna (not her real name) is a 32-year old corporate drone from Texas.

Question Wednesday

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time to think about the financial questions we were asking ten years ago.

The Cost of the Luxury Items Mentioned in Cardi B’s “I Like It”

Cardi B has said on camera that she doesn’t like to sing about objects she doesn’t actually own.

Not Buying It: An Update on My Clothing Purchases in 2018

My goals for 2018 were: to buy no clothing for the first three months of the year; to buy fewer clothes and spend less money than in previous years; and to make more ethical purchases.

News Roundup, Divided By Topic

On food, wages, and healthcare.

Billfold Recommends: Multiple Electric Kettles

There’s one for nearly every budget.

Top Five Song Choices for Office Karaoke

There comes a time in one’s professional life where a standard happy hour will not be “spicy” enough. A coworker will suggest office karaoke. This will generally occur at a conference.

Til Colonoscopy Do Us Part

When my husband asked me to marry him, on his knees in the Rubin Museum, I said “Yes, on one condition. Get a colonoscopy. Like, before our wedding.”

Billfold Book Club: Let’s Discuss Empire of the Fund

The most pressing question I had after finishing William A. Birdthistle’s Empire of the Fund was “okay, so what do we DO?” 

Monday Check-In

It’s Monday, which means it’s time to check in with our weekend spending.

How to Help People Affected by the Government Shutdown

The best way to help seems to be by making donations to food banks and other charitable organizations.

What I Learned as an Artist Model

I’d never expected to embrace any kind of nudity, still less be paid for it.

I Went to a Commuter College and Lived at Home

It was the best financial decision I’ve ever made.

An Open Thread on Inventing Things That Already Exist

Today I literally thought to myself “I wish there were an easy way that we could all share a little bit of our income to help government workers get paid.”

Friday Estimate

It’s Friday, which means it’s time to estimate our weekend spending.

Today’s News Roundup Isn’t Entirely Political

I’ve got an Ask a Manager column in there, to balance out all of the government shutdown stories.

I Got a Job. Then the Government Shut Down.

I’m supposed to start working for the IRS in February — and I need this job.

In Which I Get a New Travel Credit Card

No, it isn’t one of the Chase Sapphires.

Do 1 Thing and Get Your Voice Back From the Sea Witch

It’s Thursday, which means it’s time to Do 1 Thing.

How a Social Researcher in London Does Money

George is a 30-year-old social researcher in London.

Throwback Thursday: Money I Spent and Lost During the Government Shutdown

Spent the entire day on the couch, watching television in my pajamas, and obsessively checking the Washington Post for shutdown updates.

Ask Nicole: Should I Pay Off Debt Before Building My Emergency Fund?

Do I aggressively pay off the student loan first, before worrying about my emergency fund? Is there a good way to balance the two goals?