When I adopted my daughter, I had just 24 hours' notice before I stopped working — and earning
I had been saving up money for 1 1/2 years in an investment account when I got the news that I could adopt my daughter.
Rachel Kramer Bussel
I've been with my boyfriend for 12 years. We own a home, are planning to adopt a child, but don't want to marry.
We own a home together, are on each other's wills, and are planning to adopt a child. However, we don't want to get married.
My girlfriend from my 20s became my best friend in my 40s. I didn't realize it until she died.
The author shares how, without noticing, she and her ex had become best friends. She only realized this when her ex died earlier this year.
After becoming debt-free, I'm using credit cards to help me save money and reach my annual retirement savings goal in 2021
I clawed my way back from $80,000 worth of debt, and now I'll use credit card bonuses and rewards to give my savings and Roth IRA a boost.
I never thought I would do my taxes early, but after 5 years of missing my payments I'm the first to file
Taxes were so stressful that I just avoided thinking about them for years. Getting them done early has been hugely beneficial to my mental health.
I found out I was pregnant as I miscarried. Now I'm focused on adopting a child, which has helped me heal from my loss.
The author shares how starting the process to adopt a child with her partner has helped her heal from the loss she experienced.
I splurged on a $350 necklace when I still had thousands of dollars of debt, and it's an impulse buy I'll never regret
She bought an expensive necklace she didn't technically need, knowing that money could have gone to debt payments. It was still the right choice.
I thought my money anxiety would go away when I got out of debt, but it hasn't. So I'm taking 2 steps to calm my racing mind.
After paying off over $100,000 of debt, writer Rachel Kramer Bussel thought her financial anxiety would melt away. But it just took on new forms.
I get jealous when I hear about friends making quick cash in the stock market, but I still refuse to change my boring investing strategy
While friends may occasionally make big money owning stock for a day or two, writer Rachel Kramer Bussel's confident in her slow-and-steady strategy.
I ditched my retirement goal when a pregnancy loss showed me a more important savings priority
After losing a pregnancy, she shifted her focus from saving for retirement to saving to become a mom, whether that involves adoption or medical needs.
I gave myself permission to spend $100 a month on gifts, and it's bringing me more joy than I ever expected
By spending money on gifts every month, she's able to indulge her taste for shopping while doing something nice for the people she loves.
Even though I've been with my boyfriend for 9 years, I will never combine my finances with his for 2 main reasons
The couple talks through major financial decisions and supports each other's financial goals, but they've always maintained separate accounts.
Losing income to the pandemic showed me 2 smart ways to cut back my spending by $500 a month
She lost about $500 a month when her clients cut back her work, so she's had to reduce her spending accordingly.
I thought I was on track to be debt-free in 2020, but the coronavirus showed me how I've been wasting money for years
Losing part of her income to the coronavirus prompted her to review her spending and make deep cuts to keep the roof over her head.
After a friend my age died on my birthday, I bought life insurance — and even though my family said I shouldn't, I don't regret it
She doesn't own a home or have kids, so her family advised her to invest in the market rather than get life insurance. She bought a policy anyway.
If you're a control freak like me, it's hard to ignore the stock market right now — but it's the best decision I've made
"As someone who deals with anxiety and depression, I don't need any more reasons to add stress to my life."
I write about my sex life for a living. Showing my boyfriend the porn magazine I posed for still caused a rift between us.
When I showed my boyfriend my centerfold spread, I thought it would be a bonding moment. Instead, it wrought havoc.
I'm investing in the stock market while paying off $80,000 of debt, and it's finally convinced me I can be good with money
Aside from my retirement savings earning me thousands of dollars, there's an emotional high from knowing I'm not as inept with money as I thought.