Financial Fitness

When I was 13 years old, my mom handed me a credit card.

I just knew that it had magical magnetic powers that let me have whatever my little soul desired. I didn't know how I can have whatever my little soul desired, but no one cared to tell me and I didn't care to ask.

On one occasion, I took all of my friends to McDonald's, courtesy of a swipe and a signature. Or so I thought.

Until one day, when I was 17, my parents noted every nickle and dime I put on that card, made me get a job at Hollister, and my magical days were over. It was like finding out Santa didn't exist all over again.

Even though the reality was there, the realization never came. My spending was still out of control; instead of paying bills, I was buying a ukelele that's still rotting underneath my bed somewhere.

Although, I must add that I am proud to be debt-free, apparently this isn't hip amongst women my age. Whether due it's brand loyalty or careless nights out, studies show that women age 18-27 think that having debt is actually cool.

So a few months ago, I got an email from my sorority offering a financial boot camp. For free.

I never say no to anything free!

I guess what my parents say is right: they can tell me to do something a million times, but I'll listen to the same thing if someone else tells me once. What took my parents years to get across to me took LearnVest one week to drill in my mind.

From its readable market analyses to its money tune-up and budgeting tools, LearnVest is the financial rehab for women (like me) that can't say no to their card.

What makes it so successful isn't the fact that it's telling you not to spend, it's telling you that you can spend and not be up to your head in debt. Just today, I signed up to OpenSky and got a $15 credit as a LearnVest subscriber!

With perks like these and a peace of mind, how could you say no?

http://beerbatteredramen.blogspot.com/

Trichotillo-what?!

When dealing with stress, I find that I have coping mechanisms similar to the ones people use when dealing with death. Except I'm perpetually stuck in the "denial" stage.

So instead of dealing with things that stress me out, I kinda just close my eyes, tap my ruby shoes three times, and hope that I wake up in Kansas again. Which never works and essentially leads to other ridiculous habits, like cracking my jaw or incessantly playing with my hair.

I hadn't thought much about it, even when I noticed that my hair slightly starting thinning in one particular spot. I figured it was just the stress, so I put in a deep conditioner and soon enough it was back to normal.

Then today, I find this article on my newsfeed.

I don't believe it ever got to this extreme, but with midterm season here, it's definitely a must-read.

Stress management is probably as important as time management, especially for those (like me) that have no sense of the latter. 18 credits, an internship, work, living with my parents, a relationship, and friends to make time for is incredibly difficult.

...

I'll let you know how this story ends, hopefully there's a lesson to be learned here soon.

http://beerbatteredramen.blogspot.com/