cyclicpherne

Taking care of my physical and emotional health, my finances, my relationships with people, and my relationship to the environment.

[bitchesgetriches]

A Guide to Sharing Finances with Someone Other Than a Romantic Partner • Bitches Get Riches

Our systems are not designed for sharing finances with someone other than a romantic partner. Here's how you do it anyway.

A Guide to Sharing Finances with Someone Other Than a Romantic Partner

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[cyclicpherne]

Resilience: September 2025

Where should we invest our money in these strange times? I don't think it's fearmongering to say there's no safe place to invest money in a fascist regime. Economists and historians have written proper articles about that. What is the solution to secure a future then, if not with moving goalposts to amass money as its value becomes more and more uncertain?

I strongly believe it lies in relationships, having a network of people who you care about and care about you. We need to invest time supporting others now for our future selves and future society. It's not as easy to count as money, but it's far more valuable.

Build out from family and friends to your local community, and then keep going. Individually, our circles of control are small, but together we can transform empathy into policies to protect each other and make sure those vulnerable are not forgotten.

[svinto]

I've been thinking about the quote ”every person between the age of 25 and 34 must have the inner hologram of their life that was built before they were 24 collapse because it was a child’s construction” ever since you posted it. It is so precise and discombobulating lol, I don't even know where to start

me too!!! shattered me completely. and also freed me - I can be whoever I want now. I’m not a failure if I don’t fulfill the dreams I had as a teenager, I can start over and dream again

[cyclicpherne]

2024 Investments

I moved my HSA to earlier this year. It is now invested in VTI (the ETF version of VTSAX), making up about 5% of my retirement accounts, not including tax. The rest of my accounts are in the total stock market with VTSAX, 2.6% in bonds with VBTLX, and somewhat inadvisably, a 6.4% chunk in my former employer's stock via an ESPP.

This is in a mix of tax-deferred, tax-exempt (Roth), and taxable brokerage accounts, probably non-optimally.

Former Investments: I roughly approximated the market with large and small-caps with my previous HSA account for about eight years, and decided to move due to the additional fees they placed. I also tried out a target retirement fund and an international stock index fund for a few years in my 401k before I switched jobs. In the target fund, the returns were a bit lower than VTSAX despite a date decades out. In the latter, it largely corresponded to VTSAX's performance and again the returns lower and fees slightly higher, so it did not provide a hedge or the diversification I sought.

[cyclicpherne]

2024 Mental Health Retrospective

I wasn't sure if I was struggling with burnout or depression around the time the Covid-19 pandemic swept into my region. Circumstances let me avoid examining this more closely, save perhaps when I was laid off. But it resurfaced after switching jobs and not quite finding a rhythm in remote work, anxiety building up to a point I needed to ask for professional help earlier this month.

Seeing numbers go up in my retirement accounts has led to a sort of dread. Part of this is because they seem divorced from ongoing world events and likely to correct. Another part of this is myself wondering what I am still working for or what value I add to society. I still connect some value of self to being a productive worker, which I have not been, and I lost sight of what I was retiring towards.

After talking with friends, I realised I've also fallen into consuming more than creating for several months. I need to do something creative to feel alive. This was very much what I wanted to retire to and have the financial independence for. I've also started venturing into making social connections I would not have before. I am realising creating and connecting are aspects of living that should not wait until retirement to do.

I am oscillating between thinking without acting and acting without thinking, and I'm sure I'll be in an existential mood again. At this point, I think having 'enough' of an answer to move forward is better than finding 'the' answer, which is sure to change as I do.

[spooniestrong]

A Weird Trick to Get Doctors to Listen to You — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell, PNN Columnist There’s a lot of advice out there on how to get a doctor to take you seriously. Most of it is wrong. Lu

This ABSOLUTELY works.

I have used this for many years. Definitely b do it.

[genderqueerpond]

This article was super long-winded so I screenshat the important part

[cyclicpherne]

2023 Financial Independence Plan

I had originally planned to move to part-time work three to five years from now. It was not a set deadline, but it gave me to something to push towards. I'm lucky that I have this money to draw from and be flexible financially.

What's become a lot less flexible is my body and the rest of my health. Being financially free is little consolation if I'm limited by other factors from pursuing things in retirement, so regaining physical strength and using exercise to improve my mental health are my focus this year.

Monthly Expense: x

My x has gone up a lot, not so much due to inflation but lifestyle creep the past several years. I am recognising some of my poor time management and spending habits that have developed. My goal is to establish exercise breaks to refocus and to spend time and money more purposefully.

Immediate Emergency Savings: 3x

I was laid off from my job, among others in the same industry. With the separation payment, I have replenished emergency savings and money for local taxes and expected expenses (such as car maintenance) this year. These are earmarked in separate high-yeld savings accounts. I also finished contributions to my Roth IRA for 2022.

Extended Emergency Savings: 9x

I can draw from past contributions of my Roth IRA as extended emergency savings, but I will move to keeping such elsewhere, because the desire for the money to grow isn't worth the stress when I need to withdraw it.

Depending on where the interest rate of high-yield savings accounts ends up compared to inflation, a possible self-experiment may be to leave x extended emergency savings in my bank accounts each year, to see if I can be responsible about not dipping into it for lifestyle creep. Since one test for going independent is to see if you can live off your earnings for a year, it could lead up to practicing this.

[cyclicpherne]

2023 Contribution Limits (US)

HSA

self only: $3,850

family: $7,750

catch-up (55 or older): additional $1,000

401k/403b, 457b: $22,500

catch-up (50 or older): additional $7,500

IRA: $6,500

catch-up (50 or older): additional $1,000

Resources

Revenue Procedure 2022-24 (pdf) at the IRS

401(k) limit increases to $22,500 for 2023, IRA limit rises to $6,500 at the IRS

[cyclicpherne]

Caution: Roth IRA as Emergency Fund

To encourage people to save money towards their retirement, various sites point out contributions from a Roth IRA can be withdrawn at any time. And if you withdraw less than your contribution that year, you have a chance to put the money back through an indirect rollover within 60 days.

I did this, and recently I had to draw on those funds. I orignally did this because I didn't want to lose out on making money, but that's not so much a concern during an emergency.

Since IRAs only allow one indirect rollover every 1-year period (365 days starting from when a distribution is made), the use of Roth IRA contributions as an emergency fund comes with a caveat; it is not something you can withdraw and re-contribute to if you have multiple emergencies within a short term.

To stay solvent, it's still best to have emergency money on hand, preferrably in a high-yield savings account.

[cyclicpherne]

Reflecting on Being Laid Off

Circumstances ended up with me being laid off at the end of 2022.

On the one hand, it was a wakeup call. If I want to stay in this remote industry I'm in, I need to change how I work. I am considering what I want to get out of work other than money, and I definitely miss being around people at the office and interacting as I once did.

It's been a reminder that not everyone operates towards the same goals, and I'm ultimately in charge of my own. Because I did not leave on entirely poor terms, there was separation pay, which helped me put in the last of my Roth IRA contribution for 2022 and made sorting out a budget less stressful going into the new year. I acknowledge that is a privilege, and most people do not separate from work with any sort of package.

In the United States, there's healthcare (COBRA or marketplace) and applying for unemployment to sort out, and various states do not pay the first claimed week of unemployment (although you must still apply and meet their terms). So there's work involved when you don't have a job, in addition to searching for a new one.

I have learned a bit from the process. Now I'm looking to putting more time into health and creative goals rather than financial ones this year.

[cyclicpherne]

Shankar Vedantam: You don't actually know what your future self wants

"You are constantly becoming a new person," says journalist Shankar Vendantam. In a talk full of beautiful storytelling, he explains the profound impact of something he calls the "illusion of continuity" -- the belief that our future selves will share the same views, perspectives and hopes as our current selves -- and shows how we can more proactively craft the people we are to become.

More of Shankar Vedantam at Hidden Brain

[cyclicpherne]

2022 My Financial Independence Plan

Halfway Checkpoint

I managed to finish making contributions to my Roth IRA for 2020 before filing taxes this year. Since I overspent and prioritized maintaining savings this year, I am again planning to finish making contributions to my Roth IRA for 2021 next year.

Monthly Expense: x

In bank account to pay the bills and groceries. Some of this will go into named savings accounts for specific bills I know come up every year, keeping me from spending it.

Immediate Emergency Savings

I used to calculate this in terms of my own income, in case I found myself between jobs. I still need to save up this amount. My health insurance deductible is covered by my HSA at this point. With my pets, I have an idea of what costs may come up, and have decided what amount I'm willing to pay. These are also in named savings accounts.

Extended Emergency Savings 9x

In Roth IRA.

[cyclicpherne]

Break It: FI Spreadsheet

I am pausing on updating my spreadsheet charting my progress to my FI number.

It was useful early on to assure that early financial independence is possible. Now it confirms I am on track with my saving, but doesn't give me a feeling of satisfaction. Checking and updating those numbers multiple times a year or even once year is not not going to change where those numbers end up. I'm invested in index funds instead of individual stocks, so there's really no need.

It is better for me to smooth out known bumps in expenses (car maintenance, residential taxes and fees) and maintain emergency savings. My annual budgeting spreadsheet is more important for giving me peace of mind. At this point, it's more valuable to save time by saving money without thinking about it.

While the numbers tracking retirement funds did help while searching for a job, letting me realise I can pursue what's interesting instead of what earns more money, it was after a long time ruminating over numbers. There are better ways to cultivate a sense of freedom instead of staring at a goalpost I inadvertently chained myself to.

The activities I want to retire to, there is time for that now too. I'm lucky that I can say my time and health are assets I can manage. The amount of money I have saved certainly contributes to that, but that money can do its work without me hovering.

[cyclicpherne]

Separate Savings Accounts

I'm so glad I prioritised restoring emergency funds first. And just in time for dental surgery for my pet.

Seeing the separate savings account with an assigned job for the money there has relieved a good deal of accumulated anxiety. This feeling of unpreparedness has been weighing on me for over a year. Only after getting out from under it have I realised how much it was affecting my health.

It probably should have occurred to me sooner. Since I moved, I've had deposits from my take-home pay split immediately to pay for mortgage, residential fees, and insurance. Making sure these were paid has rarely been a concern. The same strategy with emergency funds--naming exactly what the money was for and properly setting the money aside--lifted a similar mental burden.

[cyclicpherne]

2021 My Financial Independence Plan

Last year and the beginning of this one has been difficult. Everyone has suffered losses. Be it in family, friendship, opportunity, or hope. I'm focusing on recovering, being more aware of how stress has affected my body, and trying to be more present. I won't be maximising retirement savings as I prioritise being better to myself and others.

The past year has been a reminder that the budgeting I do shouldn't be so that I stress about an arbitrary year I set for retirement, but so that I can live with less worry and more appreciation for what is happening now.

Monthly Expense: x

In bank account to pay the bills and groceries. x includes pets to feed.

Immediate Emergency Savings 3x

This was depleted before the end of January 2021, so this is important for peace of mind. I'm switching pet insurance to lower the amount of immediate emergency savings required to be on hand. I still need it to cover monthly expenses in case I need to look for new work.

Extended Emergency Savings 9x

In Roth IRA. Since it's possible to make contributions until the tax filing deadline, there's a chance to maximise contributions for 2020, but this is a lower priority at the moment.

[tiny-personal-university-thing]

A {Realistic} Student is One That is Learning How to Become More Financially Independent

It isn’t always about studying, sometimes it’s about managing student life to the best of your ability. That includes struggling with financial independence, or “balling on a budget.”

Part Time Jobs - The Most Obvious Way to Keep the Cash Flowing

In choosing a good part-time job, I examined what jobs would be best for me as a full-time student. For most college students, working in restaurants or in retail is usually the best option, as they employ a lot of students (flexible to your class schedule/if you need to trade or get a shift covered there is another broke college student who is glad to take it). Personally, I chose working in a restaurant because servers (in America) are primarily paid in cash. We get virtually non-existent paychecks due to the fact that we make $2.13 an hour. This worked for me, as handing over a crisp $20 bill is so much harder than swiping a piece of plastic. Because of this, it became easier to save my money. I enjoyed the feeling of counting it out and seeing that I had saved a whole $800. 

Additionally, you can look into getting a job on campus. Working at the library, wherever food is sold, or at the front desk of many of the departments/resident halls on campus is a great idea. Working on campus can have a plethora of benefits including:

Time to study (because this is still a studyblr community)

Working in retail or in a restaurant you will not be able to bring your materials to go over when you have downtime, but working on campus can definitely provide you with study time

Potentially reduced tuition

Optimal flexibility

Potential experience in your field

Work where you live

This is applicable to both student apartments and resident halls

Zero commute (cut down on fuel)

Resident halls also have all sorts of work schedules, so if you’re a night owl/insomniac you can work at 1 AM because students get locked out of their rooms at all hours of the night!

Credit and Credit Cards

Learn to use your credit card sparingly, even if the credit card is technically under your parent’s name. Credit cards are double-edged swords. One day you will probably have your very own credit card. This is good because you can start to build good credit, but it can also be bad because credit card debt is real. Do your best to keep current on your student loan payments, as well as credit card payments, rent, etc. so that you don’t have outstanding amounts of debt. Outstanding balances on credit card payments, or being evicted make it harder for yourself down the line when you want to buy a house, or even rent another apartment as they damage your credit. 

Do diligence when applying for your very first credit card. What banking institutions work best for students or those post-graduation? Don’t just go with a bank because it’s the only one you know. Ask around and see which ones offer you the best rates. I know that many of us were taught that if you put your money in a bank it can gain interest by virtue of the way banks operate; however, putting your money into a bank is actually the worst way to make money. You will see your money compounding some sort of interest; unfortunately, the first time I noticed this I had approximately $100 in my savings account and it was less than a dollar. I actually think it was literally .1 cent.

Get Insured 

Purchasing renter’s insurance might seem like an annoyance -especially if you are required to do so because of where you live- but it’s sort of a necessary evil. You can find plans that are cheap ($10 a month) to cover yourself. Imagine if a pipe were to burst in your dorm or apartment, ruining your computer. If you file a claim with your insurance company, you would probably have a new computer within a couple of days. You might never need it, and you seriously hope you don’t. But I would much rather pay $10 a month instead of purchasing a new computer out-of-pocket, and then dealing with the hassle of trying to get my apartment management to cover it. 

The same goes for car insurance. If you are a young driver, or you are like me and you have had a few accidents/fender benders, you can still find cheap insurance. Ask around or simply google the best cheap insurance brands in your area. In the state I live in, driving without insurance is 100% illegal. On top of a wrecked car, you could also face a hefty ticket for not being able to provide proof of insurance. 

Medical Services

Look into your school’s own medical services that your tuition already covers or can be billed to your tuition. If your university is like mine, it has a student wellness center of some sort on campus. They have licensed counselors, nurse practitioners, etc. that can give you the help you need for “free.” For walk-ins, you might need to be prepared to get comfy and sit awhile, or for appointments you might have to wait a week - but is this really that different from what you’ll find at a doctor’s office/urgent care/emergency room?

Grad School 

You may really want to attend graduate school somewhere fancy, but a comparable grad program may be available at a cheaper price located at a different university. Do I want to go to Cornell Law? Yes. Can I afford Cornell Law? No. Does the school I am getting my undergrad at have a really good criminal law program through its law school for way cheaper? Hell yes. Shop around, my friends. My grandfather always said: “a pedigree can tell you what the horse should be able to do, but not what the horse will be able to do.” Don’t get so caught up in “pedigree” (prestige) when you can get the same, great education elsewhere and not accrue wild amounts of debt.  

Search for Scholarships

The search for free money to attend school doesn’t end when you are accepted. There are many scholarships that your university may advertise - or you can find scholarships simply by googling “McDonalds + scholarship” or “Toyota + Scholarship” or even “Miller Lite + Scholarship.” There’s even scholarships for tall people, small people, people who play golf - just look around. 

When writing essays for scholarships, save the essays you write. You can recycle them for other scholarships, and just tweak them to fit the prompt. 

Even if the scholarships don’t open up for many months - go ahead and create a spreadsheet with this information. 

Additionally, create a separate email address for scholarships - this will ensure emails regarding them do not get lost or clutter your inbox. 

Keep Track of FAFSA

Keep track of when FAFSA opens up for your school, or you can meet with your school’s financial aid office to see what needs to be done. Remember that FAFSA is first come, first serve.

Just like in class, you can learn to become financially independent

If you are already financially independent from your parents/guardians and you are starving/struggling, I recommend listening to Mad Fientist’s podcasts relating to becoming financially independent. The “fi” in “fientist” means financial independence - cute. He interviews “personal finance icons” about how they cut down on their cost of living. (Note: These are recent college grads who managed to pay off any debt they have, as well as begin saving for retirement.) All of them mention “living below their means.” So, instead of paying for entertainment, they find free/cheap ways to entertain themselves like spending time outdoors. Instead of paying for cable, they will typically “cut cable” and use Netflix. They also learned how to invest their money correctly. I thought I would be bored out of my skull listening to these podcasts; however, they managed to become inspo. In the end, they all basically say the same things - so maybe just listen to a couple of the podcasts if finance is not your cup of tea. 

Transportation 

You live in an apartment off campus. It’s probably cleaner, and quieter, and nicer - but it is still accompanied by the fact that you will have to get to campus some way. My sophomore year of college, I lived really close to campus and was able to walk - or ride the bus in cases of inclement weather. Now, I live a bit father out. I love taking the bus to school. I’ve saved a lot of money on gas, I don’t have to purchase a parking pass for campus, deal with notoriously unforgiving university parking services, and it gives me time to just be in my own head.  Thankfully, many of the apartments around my school are designed for college students, so we can ride the bus for free to school directly from our apartment. Look into transportation services provided by your university or the surrounding area. Also, think about carpooling or purchasing a bike - cheaper and better for the environment. 

Selling Plasma and Other Tales from The Broke Side

College students in America will also resort to selling plasma. I know this has a negative connotation; however, there are people out there that do need your plasma! You are potentially saving someone’s life and being paid to do it. Be weary - plasma donation locations typically pay you a set rate for your first visit, and then each additional visit you are paid by YOUR weight. The more you weigh, the more plasma they can take, so the more money you are paid. The way the place here works, you are given a card with the amount you received on it. My roommate usually takes this card and gets “cash back,” but I’ve also had people use them like credit cards at the restaurant I worked at. Not only is selling your plasma a good way to potentially save some lives while making a little cash, you can also use the time to catch up on Better Call Saul, or annotate that book for class. You’ll need to prepare to get comfy - they deal with scores of people daily, so there may be a line, and the process does take at least an hour. (Just a little insight to how it works: you sit hooked up to the machine, with a needle similar to one that would be used to draw blood/donate blood/get an IV. Your blood goes out and the plasma is separated in the machine. Once everything is separated, your plasma-less blood goes back in. It will feel cold because you are at a nice 98.7′ F, and the blood is now room temperature.)  Additionally, because they don’t directly deposit your payment into your account, you can keep it relatively secret. This is good for those of you like me, who have been told by various family members that the thought of you selling your plasma grosses them out. But hey - if you can stomach needles, or you donate your blood all the time and it’s a non-issue, go for it. At least you can remind your folks it’s for a good cause. 

You can also sell your old clothes, furniture, etc. on apps like Letgo or the Facebook Market! I recommend bringing a friend and/or meeting in a public place during the daytime to exchange money for item. 

Food

Learning how to coupon has been life-changing. By signing up for the rewards memberships at your grocery store/gas station/coffee shop/favorite pizza place, you can be rewarded with coupons or free items. I’ve found that my CVS and Walgreen’s card memberships typically save me the most money at the time of purchase; however, the coupons I get through my grocery store rewards program are also really awesome. Now, I know I mentioned a pizza at 3 AM not being an emergency, but pizza is a good (not healthy) way to feed yourself for a couple of days. I signed up for the Domino’s Piece of the Pie Rewards, and basically get a free pizza every time I get 60 points. (So like every 6 pizzas, I get one free). The same goes for other rewards programs like this. If you are buying food from somewhere frequently, a 6th pizza free or a 10th coffee free is worth it. Also consider that many rewards programs will give you free stuff on your birthday or during special promotional events. 

Overall, I highly recommend buying groceries versus eating out (ordering pizza, getting McDonalds, etc.) It’s much much cheaper in the long run, and obviously better for you when considering that the Freshman 15 is real.

Can We Go Thrift Shopping? 

If you are in need of some new clothes - make like Macklemore and go thrift shopping. Being thrifty just means finding bargains. Clothes/shoes at cheaper stores like Walmart or Goodwill are actually pretty nice, and you can get an entire outfit/couple of outfits for the same price as one shirt at a higher end store. Remember that in college, the majority of us are wearing the same three T-shirts and 2 pairs of pants on heavy rotation throughout the week. As the saying goes “your M/W/F life doesn’t know your T/TR life” so don’t worry about dressing to impress. 

Lastly, Literally Count Coins

This is something I’ve started doing since I pay for pretty much everything in cash. All that loose change is equivalent to petty cash. I usually collect my change, and then take it all to a CoinStar. These are in pretty much every grocery store ever. You put your change in to the machine, and it counts it. You are then usually given a couple options. Typically, I opt for the piece of paper that you can take to customer service to exchange for cash. The caveat here is that they do take a percentage of your money (they do have to make money some how). However, you can also get the money put on a card of sorts, and through this they usually take a lesser percentage of your money. This method is grossly overlooked and underappreciated, but there have been times when I have had at least $10 in change, sometimes upwards of $40. Don’t waste your money by overlooking your “jingle change.” Turn it into dollars by utilizing your friendly neighborhood CoinStar. There is absolutely no shame in this. 

Happy saving + studying, realistic students!

[cyclicpherne]

2020 My Financial Independence Plan

Halfway Checkpoint

I won't be maximising retirement savings this year, because the money needs to go into my immediate emergency savings to address some issues stressing me out. My local area also has taxes issued and paid mid-way through the year, so I need to be prepared for that.

Monthly Expense: x

In bank account to pay the bills and groceries. x is greater than it was before, because I have pets to feed now.

Immediate Emergency Savings 4x

Pets go the vet more regularly than humans go to the doctor right now, and current pet insurance doesn't cover much. This is a gap I'm still working on as I don't have savings after pet bills from last year. I also need it to cover monthly expenses in case I get furloughed or need to look for new work.

Extended Emergency Savings 9x

In Roth IRA. I'm relying on contributions from past years to cover an extended emergency. I'm currently doing monthly contributions, which keep me on track better than remembering to drop a lump sum later in the year.