Financial Coach Seth Lentz

Adulting is hard, but managing your money doesn't have to be. It's time to get control of where your money is going and ditch the stress.

Have multiple streaming services? The savings could add up if you cancel all but one and rotate the active one each month.

If your HSA has this option, you may consider looking at putting some/most of the funds into investments so they have a chance to grow. Remember, any growth will never be taxed so it could be the perfect vehicle for long-term savings!

Why is an HSA so great? You aren't taxed on the money going into it, the growth isn't taxed, and as long as the funds are used for medical expenses you can withdraw the funds tax-free as well! If you can, maybe pay for medical expenses out of pocket and let the HSA grow.

Do you have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) that allows for an HSA? Many would argue that is the second priority for savings, right after contributing enough to a 401k for an employer's match. #savings

A study from Bankrate shows the percentage of people tipping for service at restaurants is on a downward trend since 2019. Effects from staying home more during covid? Tip fatigue? Be aware if you are in the service industry. Start finding ways to diversify your income.

Tip Fatigue (noun): Weariness or exhaustion from being requested to pay a monetary tip for every service/retail interaction. Where do you draw the line on choosing what businesses or services to tip? What stores have you been surprised that you are now being prompted for a tip?

Inflation at the grocery stinks, but there are ways to minimize its impact. Choosing eggs, chicken, pork, or turkey over beef will usually lead to a substantial savings.

Do you make impulse purchases at the grocery and it is adding up on your grocery budget? Most groceries have online ordering with free pickup (typically a reasonable minimum purchase). You can avoid the impulse purchases completely and not even have to go into the store.

Method # 16738 to save money: Have a no-spend day (or week). The only rule is try your best to truly spend no money during that time period.

Dave Ramsey recommends the "Debt Snowball" method because personal finance tends to be more about emotion than math. While paying the higher interest rate first should be optimal, the small wins from paying off small debts encourage us to keep going (and maybe even go faster)!

In contrast to the "Debt Snowball", some recommend the "Debt Avalanche" method, which orders the debts by interest rate (largest to smallest). Some prefer this option as it should result in less total interest paid.

The "Debt Snowball" method prescribes lining up your debts in order from smallest amount owed to largest. Pay minimums on everything but the smallest and knock it out as quickly as possible, then put any money that would have gone toward that debt toward the next one.

0% interest offers are so tempting. It feels like free money for a while. It's just a marketing technique to make you feel more at ease with making a big purchase. Don't fall into the debt trap!

Money can't buy happiness, but it can help with freedom, peace of mind, and opportunities. If you feel pressured by your finances, let me help.

Don't look back. You may have made some bad financial choices in the past, but that doesn't mean you are "bad with money". Choose to turn it around and get on track.

Last night, a lady told me about how she pays for things in cash and saves the returned coins. She said she paid for Christmas presents with just those coins. There are no right or wrong methods. Doing what works for you to save up instead of borrowing is the key!

Being frugal and making smart money choices does not mean being cheap. It's all about prioritizing what brings the most joy and happiness, like what Marie Kondo teaches.

There are almost no reasons to have any fees from your bank. Make sure you don't ever get hit with overdraft fees or any other penalties. They may be small, but they add up fast.

We just received notice the US #inflation rate slowed to 3% for June. Have you noticed any easing of price jumps in your regular purchases? Milk, eggs, bread, etc.?