A major thing I regret from my childhood is not asking my parents more about my college fund. They were secretive people — never liked to discuss finances with their children. But when I got to college, it turns out they didn't have enough. Not only did I feel betrayed, but also insecure about my own future.
I'm not saying you should save every cent you earn from the moment your little bundle of joy pops out, but there is a method to stress less and still secure a financially stable position for your child, even if they don't want to go to college.
Where do I start?
Hey, if you're good and ready, you can start even before they're born! But only do this if you know for certain that a child will come along somewhere down the road and if you are already financially stable. Make sure that you have enough for your retirement, an emergency fund and any outstanding loans you need to pay. Consider slashing off the high-interest loans and student loans first since they are often the trickiest.
How do I start?
Sign up for a college savings account and start contributing as soon as you can. The 529 plan is a good call because they are federal tax free and low maintenance, but IRA's have a higher interest rate. Even if you only put in $100 a month, by the time they're 18, you'll have about $38,932 in the account based on a 6% return.
There are two options for the 529 plan — prepaid tuition and college savings. The prepaid tuition only allows the funds to be used for tuition and mandatory fees, are backed or guaranteed by state and have a beneficiary age limit to list some of its qualities. The college savings plan allows funds to be used for any kind of college expense, has no state guarantee and are open to all ages.
IRA's are mostly for retirement, but if you had or are planning to have kids later on, it might be better for you. However, if you withdraw from a traditional IRA before age 59.5, it'll result in a ten percent penalty. Another advantage is that you can roll funds from your 401k into the IRA.
Standard savings accounts are also another option but probably the least practical. When you're applying for financial aid, they literally ask you anything and everything. So, having too much money under your child as the beneficiary might be hurtful instead of helpful.
Get realistic
College is not only going to be $40,000 like mentioned above. However, if you qualify, SUNY and CUNY schools in New York City have recently become tuition-free for qualifying families. But even most state schools like UMass Amherst in Massachusetts has a tuition of $15,000 for in-state residents.
If your child wants to go to a private institution, tuition can be as high as $40,000 to $50,000 for schools like New York University and Trinity College. You should apply for as many scholarships as you can, even sending your child to preschools and programs that are known to give out scholarships to their alumni.
Also note that tuition and fees do NOT cover the cost of room and board, transportation and books. So where we're at right now — that $40,000 might cover one year of a public institution with scholarships and financial aid.
What else can I do?
So over time, you'll want to invest more and more for your child — if you can of course. Work on paying off debts and loans as you invest and have your child take summer jobs. If you do end up taking out loans, make sure you let your child know how they work and how much time they'll have to pay them off.
I was lucky enough to have a wealthy family member that loaned me the rest of my college tuition. The result was an interest free exchange that also didn't have a time limit.
Now that I've finally scared most of you off from having a kid, I want to tell you that it isn't all bad. College is a sound investment because most jobs require a degree nowadays. Securing a spot at a top university with a strong alumni network will give your child opportunities for more internships and job offers during and after their undergraduate experience. Thus, saving for college is not only an investment in your child, but also an investment for you to be taken care of in old age.
- College Savings Plan Network ›
- The Internet Guide to Funding College and Section 529 College ... ›
- The Five Best College Savings Plans ›
- College savings plans: Picking the right one | Vanguard ›
- What Is a 529 Plan? ›
- NY's 529 College Savings Program | NY 529 Direct Plan ›
- College Savings Iowa 529 Plan ›
- Simple Rule for Calculating Where You Stand on College Savings ... ›
- College Savings Iowa 529 Plan ›
- College Savings Bank ›
Every time payday rolls around, I’m on top of the world. Jeff Bezos-level rich - even though I’m anything but. And then somehow the very next day, rent is due.
The cycle continues. The next payday, bills for my apartment. I find myself without a surplus of savings since I just moved and newly-furnished my apartment completely.
Even more terrifying is the looming presence of the holiday season. Halloween’s officially over and before we know it, hello Thanksgiving…and then there’s Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s. It’s insane.
I’ve been feeling very British lately. Not in a Union-Jack-obsessed, “Keep Calm and Carry-On” way. I went through that phase in 2012 with everyone else… no thank you. And it’s not even a surge of patriotism catalyzed by the Queen dying — I’m firmly team Diana and team Meghan.
Now that fall is officially here, the holidays will sweep in and I’ll have to contend with the fact that I won’t be spending them with my family in the UK. I went home to London earlier this year, so there’s not much left in my travel budget for another trip across the pond. A few domestic jaunts might be in my future, but the closest I’ll get to England this winter is watching Love Island and Love, Actually.
So in that spirit, I’ve been filling my days with content from my favorite Brits. I’m listening to all the old British rock bands I grew up listening to, patiently awaiting the new Arctic Monkeys album, and rewatching anything with Michaela Coel in it. I even shipped myself an order of British Baked Beans, so you know it’s dire.
I’ve also been watching British YouTubers like Grace Beverley — my favorite. Generally, I only go on YouTube to watch Vogue Beauty Secrets and AD Open Door videos. But I’m so glad I stumbled on Grace. Her content is a mix of London lifestyle (what lured me in), relatable entrepreneurship, and mindful productivity. I’m not a hustle-and-grind-girlboss, but as a creative person in a 9-to-5, I need all the help I can get to stay plugged in. So, the video “how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmed” changed my approach to WFH.
Grace outlines her own productivity method: the to-do table. Instead of making a simple to-do list, she divides her tasks into a table that anyone can follow. As someone who’s survived with to-do lists for years, I recently implemented Grace’s method, and it’s revolutionized my workdays.
how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmedwww.youtube.com
I follow her routine to a tee. Here’s how it works:
Essentially, she divides her daily responsibilities into four categories: quick ticks, tasks, projects, and non-negotiables.
- Quick Ticks: Actions that take less than 5-minutes
- Tasks: To-do’s that take up to 30-minutes. Probably don’t take too much brain energy.
- Projects: Long-term list items. These help guide your priorities, even if you’re not crossing them off in one day.
- Non-negotiables: Pick 3 things each day that you must get done. This is how you’ll truly measure success.
With everything written down and sorted, next address your schedule. Meetings, deadlines, and time blocks — whatever works best for you. Write it down. Then make a pact with yourself to stick to them.
This way of categorization provides a roadmap for prioritizing your day — making you far more productive. Have you ever spent the entire day on small tasks and then suddenly realized you hadn’t moved the needle on any task? Or do you spend way too much time on tasks that aren’t a priority? No more. With your non-negotiables laid out, you know what to laser-focus on and what to dedicate energy towards.
Also, it pays to know your working style. I’m not a morning person. Yet, I have to be up and at ‘em super early. So, first thing in the morning, I march through my Quick Ticks to warm me up. I set a time limit, so I can knock out some easy wins which is totally inspiring. Then I move on to bigger things without lingering on emails or admin. For others, it might be more helpful to tackle the big things with all that early-in-the-day brain power earlier.
Grace has great tips on avoiding overwhelm and burnout. My favorite is taking more intentional breaks rather than scrolling through social media. I call this scrolling “productive” because I’m “coming up with pitches.” Oh, the lies we tell ourselves. It’s more productive in the long run to giving my brain a break with non-screen related stimuli.
Grace’s solution? Set a timer to read a real, an actual book. I’ve never thought of this. It’s a genius way to check off some books on my TBR and kickstart my creativity. After reading a good book, I’m completely inspired to write. So having books near my desk helps me step away from the computer during my lunch break for an actual reset. (And yes, the current books I’m reading are by British authors: Assembly by Natasha Brown, and Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalolu.)
In my pursuit of switching out my WFH set-up and getting my life together, I’ve engineered my workstation for success. With my new WFH essentials and Grace’s productivity technique, I’m revitalized for work — despite the fall blues and my melancholy about the pending holidays.
Here are the things getting me hyped for work and helping me crush my Grace Beverley-inspired to-do tables — no lists in sight:
Southwest Airlines Sale 2022
Pack your bags — Southwest Airlines is having a major sale! Fares are as low as $59 one-way if you book by October 3rd.
This end-of-summer super sale is a game-changer for your travel plans through the end of the year. Summertime travel gets all the glory. But why not take advantage of your long weekends, holidays, and PTO this fall. You’ll be surprised at how much travel you can fit in. Keep the fall/winter season exciting with domestic trips that give you all the excitement without breaking the bank. All thanks to Southwest.
Here’s the breakdown:
Where can you go?
You’ll find discounted tickets to and from most airports. Sale fares apply to cross country travel, and even Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean! Whether you’re visiting a new city or revisiting your last beach vacation, this sale has fares to make your travel dreams come true.
What do the fares cover?
Southwest Airlines has multiple fare tiers, each with various benefits. Wanna Get Away fares start at $59, while Wanna Get Away Plus fares start at $89. You can also find great deals on Anytime fares, which offer priority boarding and express lanes. Then there’s Business Select tickets for a luxe experience at an affordable price point.
Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member?
You may think these sale fares are too good to be true. Is there a catch? Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member to access them? You’re in luck — anyone can attain these fares for a limited time.
But, insider tip, you should consider signing up for Southwest Rapid Rewards. With a free sign up, you earn points and miles with each trip you take. And with this sale, each dollar you spend on these discounted tix can stretch super far until you eventually earn free travel. The only thing better than a sale is free stuff.
So pack your bags and brace yourself for those chaotic airport lines. Everyone’s hopping on this deal so get on it. Don’t miss out — grab your sale tickets by October 3rd!
I’ve been browsing the Southwest Airlines site, checking out flights and dreaming.