Women own less, save less, carry more debt, and are less financially literate than men. That changes now.
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What are the first steps for getting better with money?
FEATURED EXPERT:
Tonya Rapley
Certified financial education instructor, founder of My Fab Finance, and financial educator for EarnIn
Sixty percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck [according to a LendingClub survey published last year], so you’re not alone if you want to get better at managing your money. Learning how money works is a great place to start. Create goals for where you want to go, but focus on mastering where you are. If that is getting caught up on your bills and making more money, start there. If it is getting better at your budget and anticipating expenses, start there.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You can read an extended version here.
money win
An inside look at how women are building wealth.
“We paid off our credit card after seven long years. With the help of Skimm Money and other financial literacy resources, we learned how to budget, make larger payments towards higher interest debt, and are finally free of credit card debt! I can now focus on paying for things that bring value to my life, like some home improvements.”
— Aubrey L (IL). Financial literacy for the win.
Scored a raise, saved up for a big purchase, or reached another money goal? Tell us about it here. Quotes are edited and condensed for clarity.
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investment piece
The items celebs and influencers think are worth the big bucks.
They say you should wake up and smell the roses. But for Madeline Pendleton, growing greens is how she slows down and enjoys the simple things. Pendleton is the CEO and founder of Tunnel Vision, a clothing company specializing in vintage and ethically created and produced new fashion, and the author of the memoir “I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt.” Here, she tells us about an investment purchase that’s reduced her stress levels.
What’s a recent purchase you made that felt like an investment?
The Gardyn Home Kit.
How much did you spend on it?
$999 [currently on sale for $899].
Why do you consider it a worthy investment?
Gardening has been shown to reduce stress levels, but living a busy life makes it nearly impossible for me to garden in a traditional sense. The Gardyn was the perfect option for me. It's a hydroponic home gardening system that runs off an app on my phone. There's enough traditional gardening work to reduce stress — things like sprouting and pruning — but it's easy enough that I can check in on it once a week for 30 minutes or so then leave it be. It even has a vacation mode for when I travel, plus cameras so I can check in on how things are growing. Then, when I'm back at home, I have access to fresh lettuce, tomatoes, miniature cucumbers, herbs, and more without needing to constantly trek to the grocery store. It's a convenient and rewarding way to get fresh vegetables worked into my daily eating, and I'm glad I made the purchase, every day.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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