This is where your path to financial freedom begins...

My daughter and I volunteered at a local food bank, and we discovered that we live in a food desert. The closest grocery store is 15 miles away, and that makes it difficult for families without transportation. The only other option in our area is a local Dollar General that was just built a year ago. Luckily it stocks a few vegetables and fruit, but it's not enough for our entire community to use a resource. This can cause children to have to wait until they go to school to find a healthy and nutritious meal. This made me want to ask experts, "What are some tips for finding nutritious food when you live in a food desert?" From visiting a local food bank to locating a farmer’s market, here are six answers to the question. As an Amazon Associate, this post may contain affiliate links. Tips for Finding Food in a Food Desert Locate the Nearest Farmers Market Visit a Local Food Bank Eat Staple Foods, Buy in Bulk, and Shop Online Buy Canned, Frozen, and Dried Start a Garden or Find a Community Garden Use Amazon Fresh to Deliver Your Healthy Eating Options Locate the Nearest Farmers Market One tip for finding nutritious food when living in a food desert is to look for local farms and farmers' markets in the area. They not only offer discounted prices, but some even accept food stamps. These places provide fresh, local produce that is a healthier option than store-bought food. Any fresh food is nutritious. The more processed the food is, the lesser its nutritional value. If there are no local farms in the area, many grocery stores now offer delivery services, which makes getting healthy food more accessible. Finally, it may also be worth looking into grocery delivery services specific to food deserts, such as Imperfect Foods, which offers discounted produce. - William Toro Quientero, Sports & Nutrition Editor, Welcyon Visit a Local Food Bank To find healthy food, search for local food banks in your area. Some food banks, like aquaponics farms or farms to food banks, serve those less fortunate to find food at low or no cost. These types of nonprofits farm the food they provide to the local community and look for volunteers to help with farming. If you volunteer at a food bank, most of them also provide you with additional food resources to compensate you. - Annette Harris, Founder, Harris Financial Coaching Eat Staple Foods, Buy in Bulk, and Shop Online One way to eat well while saving money is sticking to staple foods like beans, rice, nuts, and seeds. Bulk buying and online shopping can be great ways to access healthy foods while living in a food desert. Buying in bulk allows you to buy large quantities of food at a discounted rate, which can help stretch your budget further and reduce your visits to the store. You can find bulk items at a grocery store, wholesale club, or online websites like Vitacost and Amazon. Online shopping can provide access to healthy foods that may otherwise be unavailable in a food desert. Additionally, Amazon accepts SNAP EBT as a payment method for eligible items in certain states. Another option is to use online delivery services, such as Instacart, which can deliver groceries from local stores directly to your door. These options can help make healthy eating accessible in food deserts without breaking the bank. - Michaela Ramirez, MD, Founder, O My Gulay Buy Canned, Frozen, and Dried Not only will your stomach like it, but your wallet will appreciate it too. These foods are healthier and cheaper than most fresh products commonly unavailable in a food desert. Food items like this are frozen at peak ripeness when they’re the most nutritious. The same applies to dried and canned products. What’s also good, frozen produce is already cleaned and chopped, so using it can drastically speed up meal preparation. Additionally, frozen, dried, and canned foods have longer shelf lives. It means fewer trips to the grocery store. Sounds like a dream come true in this hectic life, doesn’t it? - Agata Szczepanek, Community Manager, LiveCareer Start a Garden or Find a Community Garden One tip that can help is to start a garden. Not only will this give you a source of fresh fruits and vegetables, but it will also help you get some exercise. If you don't have a lot of space, you can start with a few potted plants on your balcony or porch. Another option is to join a community garden. This can be a great way to meet new people and learn about different gardening techniques. And, of course, you can always shop at farmers' markets or online retailers that specialize in healthy food options. By taking the time to find nutritious food, you can improve your health and well-being. - Jim Campbell, CEO, Campbell Online Media Use Amazon Fresh to Deliver Your Healthy Eating Options These days, it would amaze you how easy it is to order healthy food from Amazon Fresh. Even if you feel you live in a geographical area with no nutritious food options, chances are you can place an order for groceries to be delivered right to your doorstep. Although it may be slightly more expensive to get food delivered, it is always better to eat healthier than settle for less. - Bridget Reed, Co-Founder & VP of Content, The Word Counter If you found these tips helpful or know of any other resources that can help families find nutritious foods, leave a comment below.

Managing your money wisely can come in all forms. It can include how you set aside money for investments, debt, savings, or paying for large purchases. It doesn't have to be complicated if you use some tried and true methods that don't require you to have a degree in finance. It could be as simple as reducing the urge to impulse shop out of boredom. From balancing "want" vs. "need" to investing early, here are 14 answers to the question, "What are your best tips for spending your salary wisely?" How to Spend Your Salary Wisely Recognize When Something Is a "Need" vs. a "Want" Use an App to Track Your Spending Befriend Financially Conscious People Prepare an Income-Tracking System Automate Your Finances Don't Make Impulse Buys Try the 50/30/20 Rule Audit Your Own Spending Look for Cheaper Alternatives Create a Budget and Keep Tightening It Prioritize Credit Card Usage Pay Your Bills Before Anything Else Get Insurance Start Investing in What You Can Now Recognize When Something Is a "Need" vs. a "Want" One of the best tips I can provide for spending your salary wisely is to recognize when something is a need versus a want. Needs are things you genuinely require for your life to function on a basic level—food, housing, transportation, etc. Wants are things that make life more comfortable and enjoyable—takeout meals, new technology, and entertainment subscriptions. By prioritizing needs over wants, you can ensure that your salary is going towards the most important things in life first. Michael Fischer, Founder, Elite HRT Use an App to Track Your Spending Using apps that keep track of your spending is a great way to find out where you spend your money and then devise a plan that helps you control unnecessary spending. In tracking your expenditures, you will know exactly where you are spending your salary. Once you know where your money goes, you will pinpoint the channels you deem needless or extravagant and plug them in. After you've reined in these expenses, you can divert this part of your salary into savings and investments, thus diversifying your paycheck wisely. Since these apps also give you several tips on managing your money, you can also use these inputs to plan your spending. Riley Beam, Managing Attorney, Douglas R. Beam, P.A. Befriend Financially Conscious People Make a friend or find a mentor who enjoys discussing and practicing financial wellness. The expression "you'veyou are who you hang out with" can ring true for finances—if your friends are spending a lot of money, you may also find yourself in expensive situations that might not fit your financial goals. Attempt to add people into your life who share your values and goals regarding money. Patricio Paucar, Co-Founder & Chief Customer Officer, Navi Prepare an Income-Tracking System Making an income and expense tracking system is the best approach to spending one's salary wisely. It isn't easy to save money when people spend money when they have cash on hand without proper budgeting. So, make an income tracking system and deposit a certain percentage of funds directly to a separate savings account with a high-interest rate on savings. The income tracking system helps to analyze credit and income and motivates one to save money. It minimizes impulsive purchases and makes one aware to avoid unnecessary lifestyles (more than affordable). Karen Cate Agustin, Business Analyst, Investors Club Automate Your Finances Automatically drafting your paycheck into different bank accounts can be an efficient way to streamline spending your salary. For example, you can set up your paycheck to automatically deposit a portion of your income into a savings account for a vacation or a home down payment. This way, you'll be able to save for a big purchase without having to think about it. Additionally, you can use this method to automatically draft money into accounts designated for specific bills, such as rent and utilities, so you never miss a payment. By automating your finances, you can ensure that you're always on top of your expenses. Kate Duske, Editor-in-Chief, Escape Room Data Don't Make Impulse Buys Implementing a waiting period when you want to buy a large-ticket item that isn't urgent is smart because it gives you time to assess if you can afford it. There are always priorities for spending, such as rent, utilities, and savings. Any big items that aren't urgent should come after these. Thinking before you buy, you can prioritize properly and see whether you can manage the cost. Brian Munce, Managing Director, Gestalt Brand Lab Try the 50/30/20 Rule The 50/30/20 rule has been around for quite some time, which is witness to the effectiveness of this salary spending pattern. The structure is simple to remember and even easier to execute once you realize how much it helps you save in the long run. Moreover, since it doesn't require you to give up on your wants, you can create the right balance in your life and your budget. So, if it is a wise financial pattern you're after, following the structure of 50% of your salary towards your needs, 30% towards your wants, and the remaining 20% (or more, if you can manage) towards your savings is how your expenditure should look. Neil Platt, Director, Emerald Home Improvements Audit Your Own Spending Many people have a vice that they spend too much on. It's not always negative; it can be as simple as dining out often. Auditing your own spending to see what you drain money on is a smart way to identify areas for improvement. If you're covering all your bills, putting away money for savings, and have enough left over for something you like to do, that's ideal. But if you want to spend wisely, then knowledge is power. Knowing what you spend too much on can help you ensure you're within your means. Rachel Roff, Founder & CEO, Urban Skin Rx Look for Cheaper Alternatives Looking for cheaper alternatives is an excellent way to save money and spend wisely. Develop the habit of shopping around and comparing prices at different stores or online. For sure, you'll find a better deal by doing some research. Moreover, give up buying the most advertised products, which are usually the most expensive. It's probably not because of their quality but their popularity and marketing. If you need to buy an item that you will only use once, consider renting or buying a used one. Buying used items, such as clothing or electronics, is a great way to allocate money more wisely. You may find gently used items at thrift stores, garage sales, or online marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Looking for cheaper alternatives and developing the habit of spending wisely rather than on the spur of the moment makes us conscious buyers. Nina Paczka, Community Manager, LiveCareer Create a Budget and Keep Tightening Everyone who draws a salary already knows what they need to do with it; the problem is sticking to this plan! The best way to begin is by first monitoring your spending habits and then drawing up a budget around them. It doesn't have to be strict; all you have to do is create one you know you can adhere to. After achieving this, tighten the budget even further and try sticking to this new one for a couple of paychecks. As time goes on, you will have a spending plan that optimizes your monthly salary and helps you plan your long-term financial journey more effectively. Brendan McGreevy, Head of Strategy, Affinda Prioritize Credit Card Usage Don't overuse your credit card even if you have a good salary. Debt can get quickly out of hand if you're charging a lot of purchases, even for relatively small things. Monitor your expenditure and the frequency of your credit use. If you're making a lot or a single large purchase, be careful not to charge more than you can comfortably pay off. Remember, credit cards are not extra bank accounts, so you shouldn't use them as if they are. Even if you're making good money on the job, be practical with your spending, and don't overdo things just because you've got room on your card. Max Ade, CEO, Pickleheads Pay Your Bills Before Anything Else Pay all your bills first. Before spending your paycheck, make sure you've covered everything due before your next one. This includes setting aside whatever portion you need for rent or a mortgage payment. Everything in your day-to-day life that you budget for, from your salary—things like food, entertainment, and savings—should be decided on after you pay your essential bills. If you always pay those first, you'll clearly know what is left. Carrie Shaltz Haslup, Founder & CEO, Tabeeze Get Insurance Having the right insurance will help protect your hard earned money in case of an emergency or unexpected event. The best way to make sure you're covered is to do your research, figure out what types of insurance are available, and shop around for the best rates. Also, look into ways to save on premiums. For example, many companies offer discounts if you bundle multiple policies together. In the end, having the right insurance can give you peace of mind knowing that your money is protected. Yusuf Shurbaji, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Prismfly Start Investing in What You Can Now I cannot emphasize enough the value of saving and investing your money early. Even if it's only a small amount each month, establishing a pattern of investing can help you build wealth with compounding interest. Additionally, taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement accounts is wise—you'll benefit from the tax advantages they offer. Last, diversify your investments—that means a mix of stocks, bonds, and cash in order to balance your portfolio. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to spending your salary wisely and securely building a financial future for yourself. Ryan Delk, CEO, Primer In what ways have you spent your salary wisely? Leave a comment to share what methods have worked for you.

Are you on the fence about turning your side hustle into a thriving business? Venturing off to pursue your dream can be daunting, especially if you don't know where to start or what pitfalls to avoid when venturing off as an entrepreneur. So, what's one thing we should consider when deciding whether to be an employee or an entrepreneur? The following 11 business leaders and entrepreneurs offer the following factors you should consider if you're interested in starting your own business. How To Decide if Entrepreneurship Is Right for You Personal Circumstances Tolerance for Instability Income Maintaining Discipline Tax Obligations Level of Responsibility Devotion to Your Craft Availability of Capital The Real Risk of Being An Employee Complete Autonomy Relationship With Risk Personal Circumstances Entrepreneurship often involves experimenting. It's hard to predict if your business idea will work out and if you will have enough resources to pursue your dreams. You should think carefully before changing from stable employment to entrepreneurship. Think of your life situation at the moment. If you just started a family, starting a new business might not be the best idea. Even if you have enough financial resources, you might lack the energy to meet the challenges of your private and professional life at the same time. So how do you open yourself to new opportunities while minimizing the risk of failure? Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Evaluate your situation and consider how much risk you can take. Many people decide to follow their passions and start developing a new career but do it next to their actual job. It might be challenging to do these two things simultaneously, but it will give you extra security if your plan doesn't work out. - Dorota Lysienia, Community Manager, LiveCareer Tolerance for Instability How comfortable are you with instability? Entrepreneurship can be highly rewarding, but it's not as safe a bet as traditional employment. On average, under 50% of businesses fail in the first five years. If you are a person who values stability in your career and dislikes risk, you may prefer to be an employee. If you feel comfortable with the risk-reward ratio and want to create your own business, entrepreneurship might be for you. It all comes down to your personal needs and interests. - Chris Vaughn, CEO, Emjay Income Consider whether you want to have control over your salary or whether you would rather your employer handle that. There are pros and cons to both. Having control over what you get paid means that you do not risk getting taken advantage of, yet if you run your own business, you do not always necessarily know how much you will be able to pay yourself. So, between all those factors, consider what is the most important to you in terms of how you get paid. - Miles Beckett, Co-Founder & CEO, Flossy Maintaining Discipline One of the things most people who aspire to be entrepreneurs are surprised with is the amount of self-discipline you need to have to keep going. As an employee (as annoying as it may be not to be an owner or work on something you truly believe in), you still have the reliability of a set schedule or amount of tasks you're working on. And a relatively stable form of income. Whereas, as an entrepreneur, you'll find that everything relies on your ability to maintain discipline. Don’t confuse motivation with discipline. Motivation comes and goes. Discipline is what keeps you going. You may not always want to do certain tasks or stick to a set-out plan. You have to do it anyway without the assurance of stable results. Being an entrepreneur can be a source of fulfillment, but if you think you can't learn self-discipline, it's best to choose the path of an employee. Remember, neither is a good nor bad choice—it's all a matter of the approach and the qualities you want to develop. - Nicole Ostrowska, Career Expert, Zety Tax Obligations When deciding to work as an employee or start your own business, it's important to consider the difference in tax obligations. As an employee, taxes are typically withheld from your paycheck and paid directly to the government. As a self-employed entrepreneur, you may be responsible for paying estimated taxes throughout the year and filing self-employment taxes on top of regular income taxes. It's important to factor in the added responsibility and potential cost of these taxes before deciding on your career path. - Michal Jonca, Community Manager & Travel Leader, US Visa Photo Level of Responsibility The skills required to be a successful entrepreneur and a successful employee are usually different. For the latter, you need a wide range of skills and less specialization in one area. For the latter, the more specialized you are, the better. But that's not the main thing to consider. The main area that you need to be absolutely sure of is the level of responsibility you want to take on. As an entrepreneur, you are the final decision maker, and, in the end, you're responsible for everything that goes on at the company. Even if you don't know the specific activities carried out by an individual in a particular department, it's still your responsibility to know how to address the following: the direction of the company, payroll, product quality, client and customer experience, and team building. Even if you're a level or two removed from the work, it's all still your responsibility. - Daniel Ndukwu, CMO/CoFounder, UsefulPDF Devotion to Your Craft Commitment is a heavy word both in the game of life and business. In a competitive industry, not everyone can succeed or excel in the field. Devotion to your craft plays a huge role in choosing between becoming the boss or the worker. Becoming an employee is not as easy as it seems. You are a mere follower abiding by orders mandated by a leader. Given that you are working for someone else, the pressure and burden of the company do not weigh on you. Hence, more time for yourself. Meanwhile, starting a business requires a lot of attention and time. Dedication and responsibility are vital if you want a successful enterprise. You must be 100% committed and decisive that this is the path you want to take. In general, it all relies upon your visions and goals if you are hesitant about what career to pursue. If you could see a future in any of the two, don't be afraid to follow it. The only thing stopping you from achieving anything in this life is your doubts and worries. - Laura Martinez, Consultant and Content Writer, PersonalityMax Availability of Capital Entrepreneurship requires proper planning and prioritizing with the resources available. As an aspiring entrepreneur, determine if you have the necessary capital to start and maintain the business since you will input more than you will get from the business at the early stage. Know if you have viable investors that you can approach or a plan B that you can resort to if the unexpected happens and you need to use more resources to boost the business. - Yongming Song, CEO, Live Poll for Slides The Real Risk of Being An Employee A job is only as safe as your position within the company. If the company falls on hard times or makes a bad decision that negatively affects its overall performance, it's likely that the employees will be the first to feel the consequences. You're basically at the company's mercy when you're an employee. If the company makes a bad decision, or if the company's performance suffers, you could be the first to feel the negative effects. When this happens, you may be forced to look for another job, or worse, you might be forced to file for unemployment. The risk of being an employee is that you have less control over your future, and you're entirely dependent on the company's decision-making. Moreover, you risk being fired if you don't perform well as an employee. However, if you're an entrepreneur, you risk losing all your money if your business venture fails. - Luciano Colos, Founder & CEO, PitchGrade Complete Autonomy What fundamentally separates the two roles is that as an entrepreneur, you have the freedom to spend your time doing what's important to you. It comes with shouldering greater responsibilities, but the pros outweigh the cons for many. Life is short, and the one thing we can never get back is time. As a result, time is one of your most valuable resources, and you should treat it as such. While, as an employee, you don't have the same luxury of choice, when you're working as an employee, you do so on the company's time, you're limited in terms of flexibility, but you also have a greater sense of security and support. - Guy Sharp, Relocation Advisor, Andorra Guides Relationship With Risk Examining your comfort with risk is critical when considering whether to be an employee or an entrepreneur. While both options include risk, entrepreneurs must be risk-takers to move their businesses forward. They'll make tough, informed decisions from the information they have. Sometimes those choices pay off significantly, while others cause failure and challenges. Entrepreneurship is a high-risk, high-reward path, while being an employee typically offers more stability. - Kelli Anderson, Career Coach, Resume Seed

Getting married and having a wedding is one of the most significant events in an individual's life. It's an event you want to have a lasting impression on your life and those who attend your special day. Financial trouble can begin at the beginning of the joyous life you plan to spend with your partner if financial limits are not established when planning your special day. To help you avoid debt while wedding planning, I asked married professionals and business leaders for their best insights. From aiming for a day other than Saturday to setting up a separate savings account, there are several ways you can plan and have a great wedding without running into debt. How to Have a Wedding Without Debt Aim for a Day Other Than Saturday Get Married in Your Backyard Stick to a Low-Key Wedding and Accept Help Wait Longer to Save Up Before You Do the Wedding Set a Budget and Stay With it Do Some of the Things You Need Yourself Track All Expenses on a Spreadsheet Limit the Number of Guests Set Up a Separate Savings Account Aim for a Day Other Than Saturday Sometimes you can get lower prices for your wedding costs if you have your wedding on an atypical day, such as a weekday. For example, try Friday as a compromise - It's not Saturday, and it's during the week, but at least it's at the end of the week. Then, see what venues are available and how much they would charge versus what they would charge on Saturdays. Nick Shackelford, Managing Partner, Structured Agency Get Married in Your Backyard This summer, I got married in my backyard. My wife and I spent evenings and weekends leading up to the event landscaping with free plants we got from Offerup. Since we held the event in May, flowers were everywhere, alive and well, blossoming on trees, shrubs, and other plants. My wife painted a mural on one wall in front of which we had the ceremony. We had friends from all over the world stay at our house, and they helped us decorate, cook, and prepare everything. Everything about the wedding is beautiful and unique to us. Having so much love and acts of service from so many people in our lives made it more than memorable; it was a sacred experience, feeling like a wedding that might have been held hundreds or even thousands of years ago, with only the people you love and simple symbols of why you are brought together. The wedding cost around $5,000, but we got far more value from our shared experience than money could buy. Matthew Ramirez, Founder, Paraphrase Tool Stick to a Low-Key Wedding and Accept Help Eschewing lavishness for a low-key wedding saves couples money and makes their guests happier by creating a more comfortable setting where they can spend more time with you. You can also save money by accepting gifts from friends and family who want to help make your special day more personal and affordable. For example, my sister-in-law made my hair wreaths of flowers, two of our friends provided music at the ceremony, and a coworker baked our wedding cake. As an insurance expert, I've learned another way couples can avoid going into debt when paying for the wedding is to look into wedding insurance. Coverage typically includes costs associated with a venue cancellation or a postponement by you due to an emergency or extreme weather, any damages incurred by the venue, any illnesses or injuries occurring at the venue, vendors who fail to show up, damage to the bride or bridegroom's attire, and lost or stolen gifts. Karen Condor, Insurance Copywriter, ExpertInsuranceReviews.com Wait Longer to Save Up Before You Do the Wedding You do not always have to have a wedding a year after you get engaged. Furthermore, you could still get married legally earlier on. If you wait longer until your marriage, you will have more time to save up for it. Although it may be difficult to wait, consider that if you work on saving a little bit every month, you will not be as steeped in debt when the wedding day finally comes. Drew Sherman, Director of Marketing & Communications, Carvaygo Set a Budget and Stay With it Couples can avoid going into debt when paying for their wedding by setting a budget and sticking to it. Couples should start by creating a list of all the expenses they anticipate incurring during the wedding planning process and setting a realistic budget for each item. Once they have a total budget, they can start exploring ways to save money on individual items. For example, they may get a discount on their wedding venue if they book it during the off-peak season, or they may find a cheaper caterer by doing some research. Sticking to their budget will help ensure that they don't end up in debt after their big day. Admir Salcinovic, Co-Founder, Pricelisto Do Some of the Things You Need Yourself Going DIY for décor and favors is one of the best ways a couple can avoid wedding debt. Instead of spending hundreds on décor, couples can get crafty at half the cost and make unique, memorable items in the process. Something handmade is just that much more special than something store-bought at the end of the day. Chris Coote, Founder & CEO, California Honey Vapes Track All Expenses on a Spreadsheet The best way to avoid debt is to carefully track everything to ensure all spending adds up. Weddings come with excitement, making couples get carried away in a spending spree. Do not assume gifts will offset debts, so spend strictly per the budget. A spreadsheet tracking enhances budget over wishful thinking. Ensure anything in credit can be capability and timely paid per your budget. Everything financial requires accountability, and tracking is the best for an event that can be overrun by spending excitement. yongming Song, CEO, Imgkits- Photo Editor Limit the Number of Guests Couples can avoid going into debt when paying for their wedding by taking a realistic look at their guest list and ensuring it's not too big. Having too many guests can easily turn your wedding into a financial nightmare, from renting out a venue, ordering food, and covering all the other expenses.I recommend creating an Excel spreadsheet with all your expected expenses and then adding how much it would cost per person to attend your wedding. Once you know this number, you can start cutting things off the guest list until you get close to a number you can afford. Amy Gilmore, Managing Editor, Learn Financial Strategy Set Up a Separate Savings Account When my wife and I married, we were determined to avoid debt. One of the ways we were able to stay on track was by setting up a separate savings account that was dedicated solely to our wedding expenses. We automatically deposited a certain amount of money into the account every month and made sure not to use it for anything else. This allowed us to keep close track of our spending and stay within our budget. As a result, we were able to pay for our entire wedding without going into debt. I highly recommend this approach if you're planning a wedding on a tight budget. Ludovic Chung-Sao, Lead Engineer & Founder, Zen Soundproof Do you find managing your finances challenging? Book a complimentary consultation to discover the benefits of financial counseling.

Left, right, left, right, left... That's right, one foot in front of the other. You may find that you're a little shaky at first. You might even stumble and fall. But you're going to pick yourself up and keep trying. You might stumble a couple of times, but eventually, you'll find your stride, and those baby steps will turn into leaps and bounds. Everything Takes Time You may have heard that everything takes time, or be patient. You'll eventually get there or achieve that goal. Well, it may sound cliche, but it's true. The example above was how babies learn to walk. First, they crawl, pull themselves up, and finally, attempt baby steps. These baby steps start by holding on to furniture, toys, the nearest person, or the beloved family pet. And then, they let go and fall. But they keep trying and falling until they take that first unassisted step. The crowd goes wild! Well, at least the parents do. You know what? It didn't happen overnight. It took continuous practice to build muscle memory in the baby's brain and strength in the legs. The parents were watching and waiting for that moment when they could cheer for their child. This goal was a sign of growth. Achieving Goals Takes Time & Effort Have you ever had a vacation that you wanted to go on to Disney, the mountains, or Jamaica? How did you get there? You may have had to follow these steps: Pick a location Pick a date Find affordable lodging Find a flight Put a budget together and save Drive to your location or airport Get on a six-hour plane ride or rent a car Arrive at your destination! This does not include all the in-between items, like working extra hard at work because you're taking time off or preparing to schedule care for your children or pets. Putting a Plan Together Planning for a vacation, retirement, college, or buying a new mattress requires planning. Planning requires you to create a plan with achievable and measurable goals that can be accomplished in bite-sized pieces. For example, if you want to save $10,000 for your child's college fund, that can seem impossible to some. However, if you plan it out, you can make it possible. Saving money can be possible if you put measurable timeframes around this important goal. The ultimate goal will be to save $10,000. However, you can create smaller goals that make them more achievable. The SMART Method The SMART method is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound goals. To achieve your $10,000 long-term goal, you can create smaller short-term goals. Your short-term goal could be: I will save $100 with each paycheck for my child's education from September to August. This goal should be in a place that's visible to you so that you can constantly be reminded of it. Then, as you achieve the goal, you should celebrate. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. It could be as simple as taking a bubble bath, a nature walk, or a family trip to the beach. Celebrating goal achievement can help keep you motivated to continue on your journey and future goal accomplishments. In the end, you'll be able to achieve the big goals, and it won't seem as intimidating because you used short-term goals in the interim. To get started, use a SMART goal tool to begin your journey. Advertiser Disclosure Left, Right, Left, Right Ultimately, the goal is to stay motivated as you accomplish your goals. You may stumble and fall, but picking yourself back up and dusting off your hands repeatedly will provide you with the results you are looking for. On the way, don't be afraid to reach out for a helping hand to keep you on track. Do you find managing your finances challenging? Book a complimentary consultation to discover the benefits of financial counseling.

Finding the right financial advisor can take some time and require research. You want to find a financial advisor who is going to have your best interest in mind and guide you in increasing your wealth and achieving your goals. To help you best prepare to meet with a financial advisor for the first time, I asked financial coaches, CEOs, and business leaders for their best advice on the questions you should ask your financial advisor. From asking how to ensure you never run out of money to inquiring about their personal and corporate values, there are several questions you should be prepared to ask a financial advisor. These questions will help you make the best judgment about their professional competence in managing your finances. 9 Questions You Should Ask Your Financial Advisor Ask How to Ensure You Never Run Out of Money Ask to Know How They Are Paid Find Out the Overall Returns Made for Clients the Previous Year Ask to Know How Aggressively You Should Invest Find Out What Your Five-Year Plan Should Entail Ask About Their Investment Philosophy Get Them to Explain How to Diversify Your Investments Ask to Know Where You May be Going Wrong With Your Investment Strategy Inquire About Their Personal and Corporate Values Ask How to Ensure You Never Run Out of Money When meeting with a financial advisor for the first time, there is only one important question: "How can I make sure I never run out of money?" After asking this important question, my financial advisor proceeded to make a cash flow analysis. This gave me a plan to follow so I'd never run out of money and the peace of mind I needed. - Janice Wald, Mostly Blogging Ask to Know How They Are Paid The first question to ask your financial advisor is how they get paid. If a financial advisor is fiduciary, they are legally obligated to act in your best interest. If, on the other hand, the financial advisor is non-fiduciary, this means they are not obligated to act in your best interest and can sell you financial products based on the largest commissions for him or herself. A fiduciary advisor usually pays a flat or hourly rate or a management fee (a percentage of your assets they manage). They will not earn a commission off of selling you certain products. - Kristine Thorndyke, Test Prep Nerds Find Out the Overall Returns Made for Clients the Previous Year "What were the overall returns you booked for your clientele in the last financial year?" This question may seem invasive at first glance, but the inquiry being made here is restricted to the performance of the individual as a financial advisor, which makes it a valid one. The answer to this question will reveal the returns the advisor has clocked for their clients in the last financial year. It also provides the advisor an opportunity to convince you of their recommended investment approach and why it is better than the rest. While there's no way to check on the numbers the advisor reveals, the answer to the question should be enough to give you insight into how successful the advisor has been. - Riley Beam, Douglas R. Beam, P.A. Ask to Know How Aggressively You Should Invest "How aggressively should I invest?" Your financial advisor can develop an investment plan based on a combination of what you have to invest and when you intend to retire. How much you can invest and how long you have to retire could determine how aggressively, both in how much and the kinds of investments they will advise you to make. Understanding how much you should be investing for retirement is critical. - Brett Estep, Insured Nomads Find Out What Your Five-Year Plan Should Entail Ask them what would be a good five-year financial plan. This is an excellent place to start if you're unsure where to begin your financial journey. For example, they may ask you about your goals, whether saving or investing, and can recommend accordingly. This question can set you up for success from the start. - Jodi Neuhauser, Ovaterra Ask About Their Investment Philosophy I would recommend asking them what their philosophy is on investing. This is because it's important that you work with someone with a similar investment strategy. You need to understand how they approach investing and whether they have biases that might affect how they advise clients. For example, if they like to invest in stocks or mutual funds, you can assume they might push you toward those types of investments. Similarly, if your goal is to make money now, you don't want to work with an advisor who believes in long-term investing. Therefore, it's important that you know their investment philosophy and how it aligns with your goals. - Tiffany Homan, Texas Divorce Laws Get Them to Explain How to Diversify Your Investments "How can I diversify my investments?" Financial advisers can look at what you have to invest and compare it to your retirement age to create the investment portfolio that best suits you. Depending on how much time you have before retirement age, they can suggest how aggressively you should invest and how to diversify between high-risk and low-risk investments. Understanding your investment options and how much you should diversify is key. - Zachary Hamed, Clay Ask to Know Where You May be Going Wrong With Your Investment Strategy "Can you tell me where I'm going wrong with my current investment strategy?" Ask your potential financial advisor to peek into your current investment strategy and give you quick feedback. After all, the main reason you're hiring an advisor is so you can correct or enhance your financial strategy. The comments you receive will tell you just how much the individual knows and how helpful they are in offering advice. The right advisor will take a thorough look, even ask for time to review your details, and only then get down to giving you preliminary feedback. When you find someone who makes the right diagnosis and willingly discusses essential details, you know you've found the right advisor. - David Northup, InShapeMD Inquire About Their Personal and Corporate Values The first time you visit your financial advisor, you should enquire, "What are your personal or corporate values?" While asking this question may feel odd at first, the most serious financial advisors I've met in the last two decades should be happy to respond. This fosters a sense of belonging, trust, and a genuine desire to collaborate daily. Values aren't the only thing to consider while looking for the proper financial advisor, although I feel they are essential in long-term partnerships. - Paul Walsh, Weselltek

If you're facing challenges at work, it may cause you to want to up and quit. This can cause significant financial and professional consequences when you make a sudden decision to leave your job. To help you and others go about your resignations in the best way, I asked HR managers and business leaders for tips on what you can do so you don't regret resigning from your job. From making a pros-and-cons list to addressing concerns with your manager before resigning, there are several pieces of advice that should guide how employees carry through their decisions to resign from their current employment so as not to regret it later. Steps to Take Prior to Quitting Your Job Make a Pros-and-Cons List Exhaust All Career Growth Options at Your Current Company Don't Make Resignation a Spur-of-the-moment Decision Write a Professional Resignation Letter Make a Wish List to Avoid Regrets Always Leave on Good Terms Address Concerns With Your Manager Before Resigning Make a Pros-and-Cons List We get used to the good things quickly. For example, we might appreciate that our employer pays us back for the internet or gives us a budget for training and development. Unfortunately, after a while, we tend to forget about the good stuff and focus on things that could have been better. As humans, we often see the grass greener on the other side rather than being grateful for what we already have. The same rule applies to job resignations. Employees often base their decisions on a few things that annoy them in their current work rather than looking at the whole picture. That's why it's a good idea to make a pros and cons list of your current job before making any decisions about switching jobs. By doing so, you will consider all positive and negative aspects of your current employment and decrease the risk of regretting your decision later. - Dorota Lysienia, LiveCareer Exhaust All Career Growth Options at Your Current Company While resigning from a dead-end job makes sense, leaving a position where you might've had chances for career advancement can cause regret. Before making a hasty decision to resign, consider availing yourself of any skills training your company offers as part of its Learning & Development program. Be proactive in setting up a meeting with your manager to discuss a raise or promotion. You can also try handling an important project that would look good on your resume when applying for future jobs. Once you've exhausted all such options, you can move on, knowing there wasn't much to gain from that job, preventing any regrets about leaving. I always recommend professionals take charge of their career progress instead of idly waiting for opportunities to come by. As long as you have around four months' finances in your bank and a strong resume, resigning from a dead-end job can be a safe and effective way of motivating yourself to move on to better things. - Anjela Mangrum, Mangrum Career Solutions See my feature in: 12 Considerations When Applying To The Same Company for a Different Position Don't Make a Resignation a Spur-of-the-moment Decision It is normal for humans to feel regret when making "big decisions" if such a decision can make them lose something, such as resigning from a job. Sure, employees can miss their ex-workmates, but regret often begins when employees' expectations after resigning are not met. So for an employee not to regret resigning, it is important that they clearly identify their goals (personal and career-wise) and determine if resigning is the best way to achieve such goals. If the employee still wants to quit to work for another company, they should have a good idea of the company he's hoping to work for, especially its work culture. By doing so, they can prevent the so-called "shift shock." Lastly, they should have a backup plan if things don't go as planned. With a backup plan, employees can focus on achieving their career goals instead of regretting any of their past decisions. - Jonathan Baillie Strong, Spotlight Podcasting Write a Professional Resignation Letter Give your notice in writing, and be professional about it. Taking the time to write a professional resignation letter and giving your employer appropriate notice will help smooth the transition and avoid any hard feelings. This way, you can maintain a good relationship with your former employer and start your new job on the right foot. Moreover, you never know when you might need a reference from your previous employer. - Asako Ito, Divine Lashes Make a Wish List to Avoid Regrets Whenever an employee is contemplating resigning from a job, it can help to make a wish list to avoid regrets. The wish list should be everything that would have to change to make an employee stay at their current company/position. Even if the wish list seems unrealistic, create it. Whether it is a raise, a change in supervisor, a new position, a different team, more paid time off, or incorporating work-from-home options, include whatever it would take for you to stay. Once the wish list is created, review it and see how realistic it is. It may not be realistic for the company to move headquarters from Phoenix to New York, but there may be opportunities in other areas for change. When the employee gets a new job offer, they will already have a list of their wants and a list to take to their current employer of changes that would have to happen for them to stay. Creating a wish list helps develop goals as well as helps recognize where employees are unsatisfied in their current work. - Bryor Mosley, Southern New Hampshire University Always Leave on Good Terms When you leave on good terms, you continue to build a positive relationship with your employer/colleagues. Then, if the new gig doesn't work out, or if you want to work for the company again in five years, you have an open door. I've hired good people back after two weeks and two years - always with joy. At the same time, how a company treats outgoing colleagues reflects how they treat current employees. Others notice how you leave, how you are treated, and how you treat the people you are passing work over to. Work with your supervisor to create an environment of trust and cooperation. You never know when you will need these people in your network or when you can do them a good turn. It's a small world and a long road. Stephanie Miller, Victory Song Marketing Consulting Address Concerns With Your Manager Before Resigning The only time I regretted resigning was when I gave my employer notice without addressing my concerns or reasons for leaving. I remember accepting the new job offer before telling my current employer I was quitting. When I gave my two-week notice, my manager was visibly upset and confused. When I mentioned my concerns about my pay and growth potential, he said that he wished I had told him sooner so that he could address both of those issues. As a manager, I have been on the receiving end of employees resigning, and in most cases, I wish I could have addressed their concerns before they quit. I advise employees to address their concerns with their manager before they resign. In most cases, your manager will appreciate your honesty and work with you to correct the issues. If not, you can then leave regret-free. - Andrew Eagar, Technology Advice

Budgeting for groceries could be as easy as looking at your past food purchases. However, it's not always that easy when you are in a single-income household, or your family's age varies significantly. Here are a couple of ways to develop your grocery budget and get your family involved in monthly meal planning. As an advertiser, this post may contain affiliate links. Developing Your Budget When developing your budget, you should consider your monthly income, expenses, savings, and the amount you can dedicate towards items such as groceries. There are a couple of budgeting rules of thumb such as the 50/30/20 rule or the 70/20/10 rule of thumb. The first rule is 50% of your income towards needs, 30% towards wants, and 20% towards savings. Groceries are needed, so this would fall in that first category when evaluating your monthly expenses. You should also consider the household members' size, age, and gender to estimate what everyone will eat weekly or monthly. Monthly Food Plans The U.S. Department of Agriculture publishes monthly food reports that can be used to help you budget for groceries. The food levels are listed as thrifty, low cost, moderate cost, and liberal. According to the food plan, if you're a family of four, have two teenagers and two parents, and you're budgeting tightly on the thrifty plan, you would spend about $800 a month/$200 per week. This presumes that all meals and snacks are made at home. For example, during the summer, food costs increase. If you budget $800 monthly year-round, any additional funds could be used for school lunches that are needed. Now, say you are budgeting tightly, and you're a family of two with no children on the low-cost plan, you would spend $517.50 per month, and if you are liberal, it will go back to that $800. As you can see, these budgets are general and would depend on how individuals purchase food. Are you buying canned vegetables or fresh vegetables, and how often? Budget Shortcuts & Health Investments It's essential to strike a healthy balance between making budget shortcuts and investing in your future health. If you can't manage your finances because you're constantly trying to eat the most nutritious foods, you can physically make yourself sick. Now, you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, but you don't always have to buy organic. Organic food purchases can be expensive, and when you're talking about a family of four, your monthly food bill can skyrocket from $800/month to over $1,000 a month or more. This can cause stress, mental anxiety, and even problems within your household. So, it's essential to consider the right balance between investing in healthy eating and selecting the right foods for your budget. I liken it to this: most individuals want that $3,000 Peloton treadmill, but you can find a Horizon for $600 and get the same amount of exercise. Striking a healthy balance by growing your food, cooking, and exercising at home can save you a ton of money. Meal Delivery Service - Dinnerly There are instances when you may be short on time and just don't have time to plan a meal. Meal delivery services are a quick and easy way to reduce your eating out budget and add a bit of variety to your meal planning. Most deal delivery services like Dinnerly are affordable when you eat at least two meals a day at home. For a family of three, you could spend $15 per meal as opposed to $15 per person with fresh food delivery. Involve Everyone Have a conversation with your significant other about your health priorities. Discuss what you would like the family's health to be and how mealtime should look. Having a conversation can help you get on the same page. You can bring the children to the table as well. Children can help make meal plans for the week, encouraging them to eat the healthy meals cooked when they are involved in the process. Children should also be involved in grocery shopping. Helping children understand the differences between branded and grocery store items can help them learn to budget and cut costs. Remaining consistent with your health priorities and managing a monthly food plan can help you keep your budget and health on track. Originally published at https://www.harriscashcoach.com on October 10, 2022.

Spending hundreds of dollars on dates with your significant other can add up quickly if you don't track how much you're spending. Of course, you may want to treat yourselves every now and then, but consistently spending money at a high rate can cause problems and delay achieving your future financial goals. To help couples have the best date night on a budget, I asked dating and relationship coaches for their best ideas. From cooking together to trying outdoor movies to having a picnic under the stars, there are several date night ideas that are excellent for couples on a budget. Budget-Friendly Date Night Ideas Cooking Together Keep It Simple With a Picnic Go to a Bookstore Try Outdoor Movies Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine to Dine in a Restaurant Have a Unique Rooftop Dinner for Two Visit an Art Gallery for a Date Play Indoor Board Games Picnic Under the Stars Cooking Together Some of my favorite date nights have been making exotic meals together. Going out for sushi, pizza, Indian, etc., often gets quite pricey when you include alcohol. My partner and I enjoy special date nights where we recreate some of our favorite foods, and often they are much cheaper to make at home (and a lot more fun). Nearly any grocery store now has its own international cuisine aisle and a host of interesting vegan and vegetarian options. These meals have included making homemade Chinese dumplings (you can usually find the "wrappers" for these dumplings in the refrigerator section of the grocery), Indian, homemade bean burgers, and homemade pizza. Choose ahead the movie you want to watch, and you have the makings of an excellent date night on the cheap! - Kristine Thorndyke, Test Prep Nerds Keep It Simple With a Picnic Create a picnic. Whether you choose a traditional outdoor setup or even create a picnic in your home, this can be a fun and affordable date idea. All you need to have a picnic date is a blanket and food or drinks. This leaves the budget entirely up to the couple, whether they want to splurge on a full spread with beverages or keep it light and easy. A picnic is a great, easy way to switch up the routine in any season. - Lisa Odenweller, Kroma Wellness Go to a Bookstore Go to a bookstore for a date night. Select a book for each other. While it's fun to pick something you may like, choosing one for someone else is quite meaningful. This gets you thinking about the other person, leads to conversations about what they like to read and what they're not a fan of, and really helps you understand their personality. It's a great way to get to know each other in a non-typical date setting. - Corey Ashton Walters, Here Try Outdoor Movies Outdoor movies are a great date night for couples on a budget. You can get a smartphone projector for $50 or less or DIY one for a couple of dollars with a shoebox and magnifying glass. Simply find a blank wall or hang up a sheet for your screen. Then, roll out blankets and pillows, grab some popcorn and dollar candy, and enjoy a show under the stars. This special setup makes for a more romantic evening and upgrades movie night from simply cuddling on the couch with Netflix. - Carly Hill, VirtualHolidayParty.com Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine to Dine in a Restaurant Consider bringing your own bottle of wine to date night when dining at a restaurant. When the restaurant allows it, they will charge a cork fee in exchange for you bringing in your own bottle to open. These prices range from $25 to $80, which is pennies compared to what you would pay for the same bottle at an upscale restaurant. What's even better is that you can put a cork in the unused portion and keep what is yours. A little extra bubbly for the bubble bath later? This tactic is a great way to spend more on great conversation instead of the tab. - Will Gill, DJ Will Gill Have a Unique Rooftop Dinner for Two Picture this scene—a dinner date on a rooftop, complete with all the works. Spice things up with dreamy lights, a white canopy, flowers, music, good food, and wine. You can even toss in some blankets and throw pillows for some cuddling. You may think that staging one can break a hole in your pocket. It may be far from the truth. All you need is a bit of creativity and resourcefulness. It can be a DIY thing, with items borrowed from your unit or place. Whip up some gourmet dishes in your kitchen, then bring them to the rooftop. Wine does not need to be pricey. You can buy flowers from the market and wrap them yourself. The same is true with fairy lights, which are affordable and easy to install. The preparation may take a bit of time. But all the effort will be worth it. And one thing is for sure; you are sure to bring some happiness to the person you love. What a way to spend some priceless moments together in the most unique way possible. - Laura Martinez, PersonalityMax Visit an Art Gallery for a Date Art, wine tasting, and romantic ambiance. Selecting an art gallery for a low to no-cost date night is the way to go. Even though this is a public place, you will have excellent conversation starters and enjoy each other's company. Break the ice by discussing your insight on the newest exhibition. What makes an art gallery a great place is the ability to dress to impress without overdoing the occasion. You will enjoy the company of your date and, if successful, will have many fond memories of a romantic night. - Benjamin Earley, HOLT Play Indoor Board Games Playing indoor board games as a night date can be a cheap yet intimate moment. Indoor games allow players to be their authentic selves because once competition sets in, the usual tension of a date eases. The couple will get to bond as they have fun in a relaxed state. Another plus is that such a game requires minimum resources in terms of money. The couple needs just enough to buy snacks and some drinks to enjoy as the games go on. - yongming Song, Imgkits- Photo Editor Picnic Under the Stars Have a picnic under the stars. Can anything be more romantic than that? All you need is a blanket, a picnic basket filled with delicious snacks, and a prosecco bottle to add some sparkle. A picnic date night doesn't require too much planning. Just grab a basket, turn off your phone, and enjoy a night under the stars with your favorite person. Remember that your wishes are twice as likely to come true when you both wish upon the stars together! You can also watch movies, play a couple's card game, or talk about life. There are plenty of picnic date ideas to choose from, depending on your tastes and interests. This date night option is affordable, romantic, relaxing, and original. It's just a perfect idea for anyone, I believe. Have fun! - Agata Szczepanek, Resume Now

Is your child planning to go to college? Planning to save for their education can be challenging if you don't know where to start. To help parents best prepare their children financially for college, I asked financial coaches and mature parents how you can help financially prepare your child for college. From having relatives contribute to a 529 plan to considering studying abroad at a cheaper cost, there are several practical ways that parents may get their wards well-prepared financially for their time in college. Financially Preparing Children for College Have Relatives Contribute to a 529 Plan Get Them to Save 75% of Their Earnings Teach Them How to Budget and Use Credit Cards Responsibly Give Them a Fixed Monthly Lump Sum Allowance Encourage The Kids to Get a Job Teach Them to Explore the Various Student Aid Options Consider Studies Abroad at a Cheaper Cost Have Relatives Contribute to a 529 Plan I have a young daughter, and we have a 529 plan started for her. When family and grandparents ask about getting gifts, we tell them they can also contribute tax-free to the 529 plan. This is a great way to increase the college fund even further. It's not the most exciting gift for a child, but when they are ready for college, they will be very thankful for the small gift contributions that family members gave and how much it grew over those years. - Evan McCarthy, SportingSmiles Get Them to Save 75% of Their Earnings Parents of teens should require them to set aside most of their earnings and put them in a savings account. Teens don't need to pocket more than 25% of their earnings as they don't have rent to pay or any other significant costs. That money should be set aside for when they are faced with steep costs. When the time comes to pay for textbooks and other costs associated with college, that saved-up money should cover them. - Chris Riley, USA Rx Teach Them How to Budget and Use Credit Cards Responsibly Learning to budget with a credit card is an important skill your child should learn before leaving home. New college students have to budget for books, meals, and other expenses for perhaps the first time, and many of these expenses are typically paid for by credit cards. If your child is new to being responsible for a credit card, this financial freedom can quickly put them into debt. Teach your child to budget and spend only what they can pay off on a credit card. By learning to use a credit card responsibly, your child will have the skills to be financially prepared. - Brett Estep, Insured Nomads Give Them a Fixed Monthly Lump Sum Allowance Deposit a lump sum into their accounts at the beginning of every month so they can practice budgeting. This will teach them how much they should spend each week to have enough money to last until the month's end. If they express no difficulty with this, you could always make it more challenging by depositing only once every two months or once per semester. Aside from encouraging consistent and healthy spending habits, this method promotes discipline, responsibility, and forward-thinking. - Eric Ang, One Search Pro Encourage The Kids to Get a Job Encouraging their kids to get a job and pay some share of their costs (transportation, entertainment, etc.) is an excellent way for parents to help prepare for college. Beyond expanding their financial literacy, employment will show teenagers how authority and management structures work. The lessons of autonomy and how to budget properly are essential benefits of having a job and its associated responsibilities. - Thomas Yuan, Sanebox Teach Them to Explore the Various Student Aid Options One way parents can help their children financially prepare for college is by ensuring they take advantage of all the student aid options available to them. College students can get financial aid from many sources, including federal and state governments and private organizations. Students should fill out the FAFSA form every year to see what types of aid they qualify for. - Chad Rubin, Profasee Consider Studying Abroad at a Cheaper Cost Studying abroad is rarely discussed or even considered. However, international degree programs are highly recognized and respected. For example, attending a university in Argentina will cost a student $5,000 a program compared to $26,000 in an American university. The costs are significantly cheaper than studying within the United States. In addition, a prestigious foreign degree program will have plenty of opportunities for scholarships, and financial aid programs, to help students from all over the world. Completing the program means less debt and stress of paying back thousands of dollars and gives young adults financial freedom upon graduation. - Benjamin Earley, HOLT

Have you ever come home from work and thought, I need to find a new job? Is the stress level of your job causing you to feel drained at the end of the day? If so, there are a few low-stress jobs that you can consider that also pay well. To help you identify the best low-stress jobs with good pay, I asked recruiters and business leaders for their best job recommendations. From Instructional Coach to Research Analyst to Astronomer, there are several good-paying jobs that are considered to be less stressful. Low-Stress Jobs with High Pay Instructional Coach Roller Coaster Painting Art Director Chemical Engineer Research Analyst Editing and Proofreading Statistician Orthodontist Astronomer Instructional Coach Instructional Coaching is a low-stress job that can pay well for former teachers. You can do this job independently as an entrepreneur or for a local school district. Most positions require experience in the classroom to instruct, train, support, and coach other teachers. As an Instructional Coach, you would be able to support other teachers and provide intervention methods for students without having to work in the classroom or directly interact with students. - Annette Harris, Founder, Harris Financial Coaching Roller Coaster Painting I recently read that painting roller coasters is a lucrative career. Employees can earn up to $75,000 plus extra when they have to travel for work. You're in amusement parks, get to enjoy the outdoors, and can listen to your own music all day long. Unless you fear heights, that sounds like a relatively low-stress environment to work in! - Logan Mallory, Marketing VP, Motivosity Art Director If you've got an eye for art, impeccable taste, and want a stress-free job, the career of an art director is what you should consider. You'll be able to work in every creative industry, like TV production, video game development, or even advertising. You'll be able to do what you love and occupy positions that won't take a toll on your mental health. All you will have to worry about will be making every project you're involved in eye-catching and aesthetic. - Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing & Outreach Manager, PhotoAiD Chemical Engineer This will depend somewhat on the person - different people have unique stress and anxiety triggers, and the only way to identify those is through good old-fashioned self-awareness. I generally think of a low-stress job as one that has relaxed or long-term deadlines, a relatively independent and autonomous work environment, and little to no responsibility to determine or meet client expectations. By those standards, I would put chemical engineers among the least-stressed professionals. They're more likely to work in behind-the-scenes laboratory settings on the R&D side of companies, which is important and valuable work but often has less expectation for a fast turnaround than other roles in these organizations. Regarding the pay, the median salary for chemical engineers is around $100,000 and can often be much higher. - Jon Hill, Chairman & CEO, The Energists Research Analyst Analytical jobs are generally low-stress jobs – and they're lucrative. Operations research analysts, for instance, rely on their math skills to take on complex issues. They crunch numbers, analyze trends, and present their findings to business leaders, who usually make all the decisions on strategies. Analysts are holed up in an office with little interaction and are generally left to their own devices. You would need to meet deadlines, but otherwise, the job comes with little stress. A lot of education is required, but once you make it as a research analyst, the job offers will keep coming. - Alan Ahdoot, Founder & Partner, Adamson Ahdoot Law Editing and Proofreading Proofreading and editing content are low-stress roles. Typically, as an editor, you are assigned several documents to look over per day. Most tasks have a flexible timeline, and the projects that require a quick turnaround can be prioritized over the others on your to-do list. Depending on the hours required of the role, you may be working full or part-time, but either way, the roles are paid well. You can get raises or higher initial salaries depending on your experience and if you specialize in a particular type of editing or if you are proofreading specialty documentation. - Torrey Hogan, Executive Assistant & Proofreader, Find My Profession Statistician The best role to take on if you are looking for a low level of stress but a high payout would be a Statistician. If you are a lover of numbers and facts but maybe not so much a lover of selling and communicating with customers and buyers, this job is perfect as you can crunch the numbers in the safety and peace of your home or office. - Tracey Beveridge, HR Director, Personnel Checks Orthodontist Orthodontists specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and correcting jaw and teeth irregularities. In practice, they fix not only misaligned teeth and bad bites but also—if not primarily—self-esteem. The average annual pay for an orthodontist in the United States is $304,842. That's a lot. At the same time, it is not a stressful job. After all, an orthodontist's primary goal is to give a patient a beautiful smile. Sounds positive, doesn't it? - Agata Szczepanek, Community Manager, Resume Now Astronomer Observing the stars and studying exoplanets with ground-based equipment is a clear job choice. An astronomer leaves all the intense studies and stress in university. Instead, math, science, and research are the focus. With this career yielding a salary of 110k to 150k, this profession can land you a high-paying position at NASA. Secondly, researching and documenting data makes this job stress-free and a breath of fresh air from all the intense studies to obtain a doctoral degree. Finally, having the opportunity to embrace the darkness and silence of the night sky is a rewarding and fulfilling career if you prefer a calm work environment. - Benjamin Earley, CEO, HOLT

I was on vacation in Mexico and noticed that I couldn't find my credit card. I asked my husband if he had seen it, and he said no. We tore our hotel room apart looking for the card, and neither of us could locate it anywhere. So, we decided to retrace our steps and realized that the last place we saw it was at a restaurant while we were on a tour. We were devastated but decided to take action immediately to eliminate any unauthorized charges on our credit card. Here's what we did. I Logged into the Credit Card App I didn't have a computer nearby, so I pulled up my credit card app to see if any charges had been made. There was one that stuck out, and it occurred the same day that I lost the card. It was to a jewelry store, and the charge was over $800. Well, we didn't go to a jewelry store while we were on the tour, so this immediately set off a red flag for me. I took action immediately and called the credit card company. Calling the Credit Card Company - Reporting Fraud It was in the afternoon, so I couldn't get in touch with anyone. I was asked to go through a few prompts and finally got to the section where I could report that my card was used fraudulently. My card was canceled immediately, and I was notified by the recording that I would receive a new card for my authorized users and I within three to five days. The only other authorized user on my account was my daughter, so I immediately told her that she couldn't use her card any longer. Related: 4 Ways to Protect Yourself from Credit of Debit Fraud Could My Authorized User Have Made the Charge? Yes. So, before calling the credit card company, I investigated the charge myself to see where the card had been used. It was summer, so my daughter was school shopping with her grandmother. I reviewed those charges, and yes, some were a little high, but they were all from clothing stores. However, she was in Florida then, and the charge occurred in Mexico. So, that ensured me that she didn't make the purchase. Calling the Credit Card Company - The Charges Were Reversed When we arrived back home, I called the credit card company to speak to a representative. The charge was still on my account, so I wanted to ensure that I called within the appropriate timeframe to get the charge reversed. I spoke to the representative and told him my story, and he immediately reversed the charge. He also looked into the account and saw that I had already reported it as lost or stolen and ordered the new cards. He told me that the charge would be investigated and that I would be notified of the final result once the investigation was complete. It was an unfortunate and stressful situation, but I'm glad it could be resolved and that I didn't have to pay the $800 charge. See my feature in: Are Americans Afraid of Their Credit Card Debt?