A 7-part series
Master Your Money
Budgets, investing, credit scores, and taxes. The money stuff school skipped over.
Nobody teaches you this in school, and by the time you realize you need it, you're already behind. These guides break down money management into steps that actually make sense. No finance bro energy, just practical stuff.
What you'll learn
- ✓ How to build a budget that you'll actually stick to
- ✓ How to start investing without a finance degree
- ✓ How to write a check correctly every time
- ✓ How to understand and improve your credit score
- ✓ How to file your taxes without crying
- ✓ How to save money without feeling deprived
- ✓ How to negotiate your salary and get paid what you're worth
- ✓ How to calculate a tip quickly in any situation
How to Make a Budget
Set up a monthly budget in about 30 minutes. Total your income, list your bills, sort last month's spending, and set limits you can keep.
How to Invest in Stocks
Open a brokerage account, buy low-cost index funds, set up automatic monthly investing, and hold on when the market drops.
How to Write a Check
Fill out a personal check field by field, in the right order, sign it last, and leave no space anyone could use to change the amount.
How to Save Money
Save money with a 2-week spending log, a named target, an automatic transfer on payday, and cuts to spending you will not miss, starting with 1% of each paycheck.
How to Negotiate a Salary
Research the market rate, let the employer name the first number, counter the written offer with a reason, and get the agreed terms in writing.
How to Calculate Tip
Calculate a 15%, 18%, 20%, or 25% restaurant tip in your head from the pre-tax subtotal, check the bill for a gratuity already added, and split the tip in a group.
How to Void a Check
Void a check for direct deposit or automatic payments. Write VOID in black ink clear of the numbers at the bottom, leave it unsigned, keep a copy, shred any original you keep, and see what to send if you have no checkbook.