Happy Tuesday, Money Folks! 😃

It’s easy to think of Tuesday as “a less sucky Monday,” but let’s stop wishing away our days in pursuit of the weekend. Especially knowing that weekends only make up about 28.5% of our lives!

Here are 4 fun facts about Tuesdays that can help you to see the epic potential this sleeper day has under its sleeve.

1. It gets its name from the Germanic god of war, “Tiu.” ⚡️

2. In Judaic Folklore, Tuesday is considered to be an exceptionally lucky day. 🍀

3. Tuesday is considered to be the most productive day of the workweek. 💻

4. There WILL be a Taco Tuesday special somewhere near your home tonight. 🌮

Stop living for the weekend. Enjoy today. 😤

OK, let’s get down to business ⬇️⬇️⬇️

TO DO

Ask us a question! 🙋

With so much information swirling around the web about tariffs and the stock market fluctuating like mad, it’s totally normal to feel like your head is spinning… 😵‍💫

That’s why we want to take as many questions as we can from our listeners and newsletter subscribers!

Have a burning question that’s been taking up space in your mind? Leave it under this pinned post in the How To Money Facebook Group or hit reply to this email and send your question over that way. Thanks!

LIFESTYLE

Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget

Lifestyle creep is real. As we make more money, we tend to increase our spending unconsciously by upgrading our lifestyle.

But what if I told you there were ways to intentionally get more out of your everyday life without increasing your spending? You can achieve lifestyle improvement while also increasing your savings!

Enjoying frugal luxuries is one of the best ways to elevate your everyday experience, so we searched the web for some of the cheapest splurges that create the greatest impact.

💐 Getting fresh flowers weekly– Having fresh flowers displayed in your kitchen is a simple way to elevate your dining experience, and you can snag them at Trader Joe’s for as low as $5. Light a few candles and you’ve got restaurant ambience at home.

😴 Take a fat nap– Nothing is more luxurious than crawling back into bed while sunlight trickles in through your curtains. Sleep mask on. No alarms allowed.

🍞 Make your own bread – Making your own bread requires time, which is a luxury in and of itself, but it can save you money in the long run. Check your local thrift store for a cheap bread maker and create the best grilled cheese of your life.

🧦High-quality socks – This may be a challenge for some frugal folks, but getting rid of any socks with holes in them and swapping for an affordable, high-quality pair that keep you warm and dry can seriously improve your quality of life. Trust. Bonus: many of those sock brands offer lifetime guarantees.

✈️ Extra Leg Room — If you’ve got airline miles to spare from credit card rewards, you can consider upgrading your flight to include extra leg room for as low as around $40 per person. You’ll feel more comfy and can board and exit the plane more quickly.

🎻Get really into classical music – Rich person rule no. 1, have fancy music playing in the background always. Everything you do feels more refined when you’re rocking to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

(P.S.- there are SO many cheap classical music concerts around that make for an amazing cheap date. Keep an eye out for performances at local churches/synagogues and college campuses!)

Indulging in some of the finer things is 🔑 to enjoying your life now while simultaneously saving and investing for the future!

TOGETHER WITH BETTERMENT*

Make your money hustle

TAX TIP: You have until April 15th to contribute to and max out an IRA for 2024. And you might even be able to deduct those contributions on your 2024 tax return. Get started

ECONOMY

How to Recession-Proof Your Finances 💰

It seems these days like the word “recession” is being thrown around like beads at Mardi Gras these dyas. In fact, Goldman Sachs increased its recession odds to 45%, raising them for the second time in a single week! But, will we experience a recession? Are we in one now? Those are good questions that come with tenuous answers.

Technically speaking, recessions begin when we see a decline in GDP for two consecutive quarters. Whether or not we enter a recession depends on many factors (our economy is nothing if not complex), including how our elected officials behave and the outcomes of their decisions.

No one can predict with 100% certainty when and if a recession will hit, (those who predict it often will eventually be right, similar to a broken clock). That being said, it is a real possibility that we could enter a recession in the not-so-distant future, and it’s never a bad idea to recession-proof your finances.

Whether or not we experience a meaningful economic downturn, these tips will help you strengthen your financial security and ease financial stress, no matter what comes your way. Prepare now so you can worry less! 😊

💸 Ramp up your savings - Having a solid emergency fund is even more important in uncertain economic times. Keeping 3-6 months of expenses stashed in liquid savings for a rainy day can help you if you experience a job loss, unexpected expenses, or other financial emergencies.

🗒️ Create a Bare Bones Budget - A bare bones budget is a budget that consists only of essentials. Should financial hardship strike, you can switch to your BBB to drastically reduce your spending. While it is not a sustainable budgeting solution long-term, it can help you to stretch that emergency fund in leaner times.

🧑‍💻 Make yourself invaluable at work - Now is the time to become an absolute superstar at work! Try to get more face time with your superiors, take on more responsibility, or learn new skills. Those efforts can lead to greater job security.

🦮 Start a side hustle - Consider using your skill and passion to earn some extra money outside of work by starting a side hustle. Diversifying your earnings can help to prevent a total loss of income should you lose your job.

❌ Don’t Panic Sell - It’s hard not to panic when you see the numbers in your investment portfolio start to plummet. But remember, the money isn’t actually gone unless you lock those losses in by selling. If you’re tempted to pull your money out of your investments when the market takes a dip, stop looking at it!

Remember that there is a silver lining here- In a volatile market like we’re seeing now, folks in the wealth-building stages of their lives have a serious opportunity to get more mileage out of dollar cost averaging. As our friend Nick says, ‘just keep buying!’ 💪

Read the full post here- 12 Ways to Prepare for a Recession

ICYMI

Some news updates…

Goodbye Zelle App 👋
The Zelle app, which allows people to easily send and receive money, is shutting down for good. However, its services will still be available for use through most bank apps.

Set for life? 🤔
In this post from Of Dollars and Data, Nick Maggiuli breaks down whether or not a $2M nest egg would be enough to make you “set for life.” If you receive a major financial windfall, Coast FIRE could be a great option for you.

Watch out for these SCAMS 🚨
The FTC estimates that Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. These are the most common scams to watch out for…

Salary Deflation ⬇️
A few years back, it seemed like switching jobs was the best way to snag a significant salary increase. Now, the difference in wage increases between those who keep their jobs and those who find new ones is decreasing, with some job seekers even experiencing wage deflation.

Barista FIRE ☕️
Want to reach financial independence and retire early on less? Barista FIRE could be the perfect solution. It allows you to work part-time in retirement, reducing the need for a massive nest egg, and in some cases providing you with healthcare, which is clutch!

COMMUNITY

Joel’s First Trail Race 🏃

On Saturday, Joel competed in his first-ever trail race.

His thoughts after an all-out sprint to this finish line?

“Beer tastes better after a grueling run.” 😎

Well, in the great words of Porky Pig, “that’s all folks!”

Wishing you an awesome week ahead.

Best friends out 🍻