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Brooke Ivey Johnson - Lead Editor
Brooke Ivey Johnson - Lead Editor
Ever since I started working 40 hours a week, I've realized that my mother is a superhero. Because, as a single 25-year-old, I don’t want to do...One. Single. Thing after work.
Like everyone I know, I resent the monotony of my life from Monday to Friday. There is barely any time after 5 PM to complete a full day’s worth of chores, errands, and more. And yet, parents must. They have to care for themselves and their children — cooking meals, getting to practices on time, going to the gym, and much more.
Life can be exhausting- whether you have children or not- and you may not have the energy to complete every task on your ever-growing to-do list. On days when you’re just trying to make it to your bed in one piece, you probably aren’t feeling the most inventive.
This is why more and more people are finding innovative ways to use Artificial Intelligence to make their home lives easier. AI can be a helpful tool for cutting corners and saving yourself some mental anguish. If it improves your life, why not?
In fact, many parents have started using AI to relieve some of the mental strain: crafting bedtime stories, finding snack recipes, helping with meal planning, and making home life simpler in tons of unique other ways. Not every parent is Dr. Seuss. Rather than meandering through a bedtime story that's lacking a plot, there are now tons of sites dedicated specifically to bedtime stories for kids.
While some may say it’s cheating, I call it “protecting your mental health” and saving yourself some time. Here are a few fun ways that AI is influencing home life in 2024!
Ben Griffiths via Unsplash
When I read an article in The Guardian about how the writer was “shocked” that her husband was using AI to create bedtime stories for her kid…I was less surprised. I mean, if AI is taking over the jobs of writers in every other industry, why wouldn’t parents be using it for their own story-making benefit?
And while AI certainly isn’t a better writer than the human perspective, there are now specific platforms dedicated to bedtime stories alone. The Guardian writes,
“It’s essential to use ChatGPT as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, your own storytelling”, … overreliance on AI at bedtime might “encourage passivity”, both in the tellers and the listeners. Well, duh. Bedtime is arguably my most defenseless parenting moment of the day.”
I agree that ChatGPT's writing lacks a certain likeability. It’s a robot, so most of it comes off as pretty robotic. I can see the vision though, so I decided to check out some of the AI bedtime story sites myself.
Sites like bedtimestory.ai craft stories that incorporate family members as characters, where you can control what setting and theme you want the story to have, and more. It gives you more control over your child’s bedtime story and gives you the most realistic-sounding tale I’ve seen so far.Annie Spratt via Unsplash
Yes, you can even have Artificial Intelligence become your travel agent for no extra cost. I’ve heard of girls on TikTok using AI to find the cheapest flights, hotels, and rental cars for their selected dates and locations. People are even planning ultimate Disney World trips with AI. The future really is upon us.
Websites like Trip Planner AI will gather everything you need to plan your trip successfully: hotel and flight details, bookings, trip and travel guides, and more. Roam Around and Wonderplan are also popular AI-powered travel sites.
But the point is, you no longer have to waste so much time searching and pining over details when there is now the technology to help you get started. Even if you don’t follow AI’s travel suggestions word-for-word, it’s still a resourceful tool to give you some guidance.Artificial Intelligence is the way of the future, whether I want to admit it or not. Months ago, my friends raved about how ChatGPT saved their lives by writing crucial 10 page essays in 30 seconds or less. Tell Chat to do basically anything, and it will.
Which has made my job as a writer a bit more difficult — even though it shouldn’t. Thanks to AI, everyone has convinced themselves that a robot can write a better article than me, a human with real emotion and life experience.
Brands have started firing writers and foregoing crucial copywriters in lieu of the cheaper, quicker, less personal option. It’s why the Writer’s Strike took so long to absolve itself. The studio executives weren’t protecting the writers from the creeping use of AI in cinema.
But as they say, face your fears. That’s why my challenge is to use AI for a week in different aspects of my life. If the world is so obsessed with this technology, maybe I should get acquainted with it.
ChatGPT
While using AI for work feels like cheating on a test to me, workplaces are genuinely encouraging the use of AI as a tool. Shannon Purcell, Director of Content at GeistM, says,
"AI has transformed our workplace. It streamlines tasks, uncovers insights, and sparks innovation. Like a super-smart assistant, it helps us work smarter and break through barriers. Embracing AI has enabled our team to achieve more in less time, reshaping our workflow and fostering creativity."
I have been stubborn about writing my articles on my own. I can include personal stories to relate to my audience, use words that align with my personality, and take stronger stances than a computer can. But, I have to admit, even I get writer’s block here and there.
On those days, I may not have a witty headline that’ll catch the reader’s eye. Or I don’t like the way I’m wording my paragraphs. This is where I feel like AI can be used to my advantage (I hope).
Unsurprisingly, that dreaded writer’s block appeared after a four-day weekend spent celebrating my friend’s birthday. I felt so uninspired that I decided to open ChatGPT and give it a whirl.
The Task: Reword this headline: “Single This Valentine’s Day? Here’s Our Breakup Playlist.”
The ChatGPT Result:
Would you have taken my article seriously if it had a play on “riding solo?” I don’t think so. And any time I refreshed the options or said to try again, it somehow got even worse. I stuck with my original headline and moved on.
Honestly, these biscuits were great.
Jai Phillips
Re-read it, accept it, continue. Yes, I thought it may be a fun idea to let AI dictate my recipe choices…and honestly, I wasn’t too angry at the result.
I’m an avid baker and wanted to make homemade skillet biscuits with sausage gravy for dinner. Since I’d never made a biscuit from scratch, I wanted to closely follow a recipe so I didn’t make any mistakes. Which is why it felt borderline insane to turn to AI.
I’d already done my research, so I knew what to look for in terms of a solid biscuit recipe. Here was the AI biscuit recipe provided:
Ingredients:
And already we had an issue. Watch any Food Network baking show and you’ll learn that it is essential for the butter to be grated. Keeping your butter frozen and barely mixing it into the dough is what keeps your biscuits flaky and layered.
Other than that, I was genuinely impressed with the skillet recipe. A biscuit only contains a few simple ingredients, so I was more confident in AI’s ability.
Jacinta Christos
Most of us have been there: you wake up Friday morning, and your heavily applied self-tanner has bled onto your sheets. I am one of the clinically insane who opted for white linen bedding, so the evidence is immediate and apparent.
I’ve never been one to fully remove a stain, so I decided to ask my new bestie: ChatGPT.
The Task: How do I get self tanner stains out of white linen sheets?
The ChatGPT Result: Again, annoyingly impressed here. I learned that self tanner is a protein-based stain (who knew?) and those are treated with a vinegar and water solution first, stain remover second.
I also was informed by my pal Chat (we’re on a first name basis) that an enzyme-based detergent like OxiClean are best for protein stains…and that sheets can be hung in the sunlight to lighten stains for a few hours.
Unseen Studio
Since AI and I have gotten to know each other so well, have shared so much over these past few days, it’s time I pop the question. The question being: “Would you recommend using AI over human writers?”
After giving me the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, ChatGPT sums it up with:
“AI can be a valuable tool for certain tasks, particularly those requiring speed, consistency, and data-driven insights. However, human writers bring unique skills such as creativity, empathy, and critical thinking that are essential for producing high-quality, engaging content in many contexts. Ultimately, a balanced approach that leverages the strengths of both AI and human writers may yield the best results.”
AI just wants us all to work in harmony. Alexa, play “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” by War.
But the easy access to TikTok financial advice also promises to help young people actually understand their finances and avoid the many potential pitfalls of being young. After all, we don’t learn personal finance advice in school — even those who study finance as a career aren’t taught about personal finance.
A 2022 survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education revealed that only 14% of adults claimed to have access to financial education in high school. As a result, young people entering the workforce or trying to take the next steps in their lives and careers, find themselves not knowing how to make their salaries work for them. TikTok democratizes the best financial tips. No gatekeeping, just unfiltered advice. But not all of it is worth taking.
Betterment found that, in 2023, 65% of Gen Z and 55% of millennials get financial advice from social media. These generations have inherited an unpredictable and, frankly, disappointing economy where the benchmarks for success seem further away than ever. The retirement age is slowly getting pushed back, the weight of student loans feels like an inescapable burden, and the American dream of owning a house? Forget about it. Plus the looming threat of climate change and/or societal collapse makes young people wonder if there will even be a future to save for.
In the words of Timothee Chalamet: “It's tough to be alive now. I think societal collapse is in the air — it smells like it.”
Navigating the world of personal finance as a college student or early professional in this landscape seems daunting. It’s much more tempting to throw your hands up and focus on enjoying the moment rather than saving for a future that’s not promised. This might sound morbid, but Gen Z is having fun with it. Hence the rise of trends like “I can get my money back but I’ll never be young again,” or the ubiquity of “girl math” and little treats. While these impulses aren’t bad, when they’re paired with an avoidant relationship to your money, they can spiral into potentially ruinous circumstances. You don’t want to “little treat” yourself into mountains of credit card debt.
That’s why having a baseline understanding of personal finance is a crucial step toward financial independence. Don’t let the arrogant finance bro in your life tell you that you need to be day-trading stocks or investing in crypto. But also, don’t fall into the trap of avoiding looking at your bank account. Finance TikTok, aka FinTok, can offer valuable insights via personal finance videos if you approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism.
I like to think of FinTok as a launch point. Buzzwords like “HYSA” and “S&P 500” (we’ll get to those later) are quick tips that are most useful when paired with in-depth financial education. Whether you head online to read articles about the concepts TikTok feeds you — and find out which ones might just be MLMs — or you turn to audiobooks and podcasts (anything but Dave Ramsay, PLEASE), FinTok helps demystify your money in an accessible, unintimidating way.
TikTok finance advice also focuses on small steps you can make now to help set you up for your future. Instead of fear-mongering and telling you to cut out all pleasure until you have $100k in the bank, TikTok financial advice often revolves around tips that take less than an hour to complete but can ear you tens of thousands in the long run — seriously.
FinTok can also help you create financial goals. Instead of the generic “save more” New Year’s resolution, many creators are making trackers and teaching you how to use tools to get super clear on what your financial life could look like. And since Gen Z values freedom and autonomy more than any other generation, many of these creators are factoring that into their work. Instead of saving for traditional goalposts, they’re teaching you how to travel for free or how to afford designer items without going broke. With goals ranging from paying off student loans and building an emergency fund to dipping toes into the world of investments, FinTok has created a subculture where young people can find creators who have achieved the goals they want to and learn directly from them.
These influencers, often in their 20s or early 30s, share their financial journeys, tips, and pitfalls in a relatable context. Drawing from their lived experiences, popular creators are often self-made millionaires at 30 or savvy savers in their mid-20s. This phenomenon underscores a shift in the traditional paradigm of financial education. It also creates the problem of many creators spouting whatever nonsense that comes to their head — some of it even dubiously legal. So while you shouldn’t start necessarily start house-hacking like the unethical landlords of TikTok or writing off expenses you don’t qualify for on your taxes, TikTok is a great place to get beginner financial advice.
TikTok helps you acknowledge the gaps in your financial knowledge. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know. Geared for basics and quick tips, the best TikTok financial advice helps you build a solid financial foundation. Lots of accounts end up saying the same thing because the basics are the basics. They’re pretty universal, and when they work, they work. So before you do anything else, try these tips.
Here is some of the best TikTok financial advice to guide your journey:
TikTokers are rebranding the budget. Instead of telling you to skip out on everything that makes your life worth living, they are telling you that budgeting is just having a “spending plan” for your money. Think of it this way: most people know about how much money they have coming in, but most people don’t know where it goes. A budget comes in to help you plan how much money you want to allocate to your groceries and how much you want to spend on fun categories like eating out, getting coffee, and shopping. Without the shame of spending on fun and by breaking the stigma of budgeting, you can make a plan to live your life while still setting aside some savings.
TikTok loves a reset. I binge the productive Sunday reset content while rotting in my bed on weekends. But one habit I have implemented is the money reset where I sit down, review my finances, and make a plan for the next month. This one goes hand in hand with budgeting. I review my budget against my purchases, see where I stuck to my guidelines, and make adjustments if necessary. It keeps me accountable and lowkey it gets me excited about reaching my goals. Current savings goal: save up for a luxury wellness vacation this summer.
@breakyourbudget 2023 is the year of financial consistency & routines #personalfinance
I used to save all my money in one big savings account. It was connected to my checking account and I would dip into it more often than I like to admit. However, TikTok taught me about the concept of sinking funds or savings buckets. For example, many of us have different savings goals. We want to save for travel, but we also want to have some rainy-day cash in the bank. All of that money shouldn’t just be lumped together. Sinking funds help you visualize where your money is going. I set up direct deposit transfers to each of my sinking funds from every paycheck so I’m saving for my next holiday in a separate bucket as my pet insurance. They also help make big goals feel more achievable. For example, my goal for my travel sinking fund is $2000. I gave myself 20 weeks and each Friday, I automatically transfer $100 into the account. That way, I don’t spiral into credit card debt when it’s time to book my trip. Another pro tip: use an online bank separate from your checking account to store your sinking funds so it’s harder to dip into on a whim.
Your most important savings account is an Emergency Fund aka a rainy day fund. An emergency fund provides a financial safety net that everyone should have. TikTokers harp on this one for a reason. It’s the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and being financially secure. Most Americans couldn’t cover a $1000 emergency. And in this economy, people lose their jobs in an instant. The pandemic taught us that. Aim to save at least three to six months of living expenses — which includes things like your rent, your grocery budget, and necessary bills, especially if you have dependents — and keep it in a high-yield savings account.
A HYSA is your savings account, but better. Big banks have no incentive to offer you rewards for opening a savings account with them. Smaller banks, usually digital banks, want to convert customers and they do it by offering interest on your savings account. Most big banks give you about 0.01% interest. Meanwhile, you could be earning up to 5% interest just for moving your money to a new bank. And if you have a $10,000 emergency fund earning $500 interest for doing nothing, that adds up.
@deeperthanmoney No but like I NEED to know, do you have a HYSA???? if not comment “me” below and I will send you a link to a free training!!!
While investing might sound complex, robo-investing makes it easy. Many new platforms allow you to auto-invest in index funds and ETFs depending on your goals and risk tolerance. You can start with as little as $1. If this still sounds scary, TikTokers can help you understand the merits of investing early and wisely — just don’t take individual stock advice from random people on the internet.