Hello loves … happy new year, and welcome to the first-weekend list of 2021. If you are new to this part of the internet, this is the nontravel aspect of this site where we discuss all things none travel - from podcasts, k-dramas, books, recipes, and to kick off 2021 - Finances!
With travel paused most of last year, I shifted my focus to something - My Finances. I made a budget that I stuck to; I created and funded a sinking fund; I reached my emergency fund target - all while being impact by the pandemic (albeit not at the same depth as others might have).
COVID continues to ravage every aspect of our lives - physical, mental, emotional health. It is ravaging our financial wellbeing as well - the unluckiest of us are without jobs; the luckiest ones have had to make severe cuts - whether that is in the form of unpaid PTO, temporary or permanent pay cuts, layoffs, or a combination of all of it. We have been impacted in at least some way by finance. Although I have an accounting degree and work in the accounting - I have not put financial stability at the top of my priority list, not because I did not know how but because I prioritized other things. Last year, I decided it was time to start prioritizing financial stability, and maybe in a later “episode,” I can detail each step of my process. These are not about a specific amount because your financial stability number will vary from mine, so I never look at someone’s number and let that discourage me. Some of the things that have helped me are several YouTube channels, Instagram accounts, and websites that have provided the motivation and resources to help me along this journey. I have taken bits and pieces from each of these resources and created something that works for me.
Aja Dang; Following her financial journey and the budget process has been the motivation to keep striving for my goal.
Dave Ramsey; His program works for me; I know it does not work for everyone, but I have found his financial advice - particularly the 7 baby steps work for me so far, so I continue to stick with it.
Our Rich Journey. This couple reached FIRE (Financial independence; retire early) at age forty and retired to Portugal. Their journey is captured on their youtube page, where they provide some of the best financial resources I have come across.
Mrs. Dow Jones. Finance can be tedious, even when you study it. I love Hailey’s funny videos on getting your financial ‘ish together. She puts it in the simplest most entertaining way.
