So in my financial state of the union, I reflected on a bunch of a random money thoughts in my head these days. Midlife is feeling pretty strange money-wise. Midlife after deciding to return to school even more-so, but I suppose I have always trusted what people say about regretting what they don’t do more…
When I moved to the UK for my PhD, I imagined the usual academic challenges: the late nights with library books, the conference paper nerves, the precarious funding hustle. What I didn’t anticipate was meeting a weird, nerdy guy who makes life a lot better with him than without him – and how much that…
**This post contains affiliate links for Etsy.** Let’s be honest: finding the perfect Father’s Day gift is hard. Like, “Why does he say he doesn’t need anything every year?” hard. Moms? I always thought that was way easier. Flowers, jewelry, a heartfelt card, maybe a spa day and you’re golden. My mom was a piece…
Profile I am forty years old, an occasional digital event producer and freelance stage manager. I work as a TA and an adjunct. I also work a variety of side hustles and am a full-time student working on a PhD in Drama. Spending & Saving This month started pretty calmly. Two weeks were spring break…
I was struggling a bit to come up with a post for today, and it got me thinking: what have I actually been thinking about lately? And the answer, in true “me” fashion, is… money. So this is your semi-chaotic, mildly personal, financial state-of-the-union-on-money post. Lately, I’ve had a decent run of income, which is…
Last week, I shared the first half of a curated list of scholarships and grants available to Americans pursuing a PhD in the UK. If you missed it, check it out here. This week, we’re diving into the second half of the list, which includes some important caveats: Some of these awards are only available…
Starting a PhD is daunting. Starting a PhD as an international student in the UK with no funding? Even more so. Today, I’m going to share my experience of self-funding my drama PhD journey as an American living in the UK. Spoiler alert: my first piece of advice is probably to not self-fund. But, as…
It all began with a sketchy-looking Instagram post that caught my eye: “Check to see if you are owed any unclaimed money.” It seemed 100% like a scam, but good personal finance blogger that I am, I decided to investigate. I went to MissingMoney.com and entered my first and last name, fully expecting to find…
Profile I am forty years old, an occasional digital event producer and freelance stage manager. I work as a TA and an adjunct. I also work a variety of side hustles and am a full-time student working on a PhD in Drama. Spending & Saving Another month of life, just flown by. In exciting news,…
Here’s the thing—my boyfriend and I have been looking for more affordable vacations lately, and cruises? They’re definitely on our radar. I mean, we went to an all-inclusive resort for the first time two years ago for a family wedding, and ever since, he’s been talking about it non-stop. To be fair, it was really…
Let’s talk about your savings account. You know, that thing sitting in your bank app, occasionally throwing a couple of pennies your way as a “thank you” for letting the bank use your money. If you’re still rocking a traditional savings account with a big-name bank, you might want to sit down for this—because you’re…
The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) is a valuable tax benefit for U.S. taxpayers who pursue higher education, providing financial relief for tuition and other qualified expenses. While this credit can be highly beneficial, American students studying overseas may encounter unique challenges when claiming it. This post explores the Lifetime Learning Credit, its eligibility criteria, and…
Profile I am forty years old, an occasional digital event producer and freelance stage manager. I work as a TA and an adjunct. I also work a variety of side hustles and am a full-time student working on a PhD in Drama. Spending & Saving Well… February happened. Things have settled into a bit of…
Tax time is here again, and I thought it would be a good idea to share how I tackle my taxes each year. Now, I know taxes are one of those things that no one really enjoys, but having a solid system in place makes it a whole lot less stressful. For me, this year,…
Welcome to my year three recap of being a PhD student. It now feels like I have always been a PhD student. Was there ever a time when I was not? Was all of that life before a fever dream? Is THIS life a fever dream? I do not know. I reviewed the last two…
Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love, but let’s face it, it can be a pricey night if you try to Valentine it up like the movies and commercials tell you to! Whether you’re saving up for something special, living on a budget, or simply want to keep it simple, there are plenty of…
Profile I am forty years old, an occasional digital event producer and freelance stage manager. I work as a TA and an adjunct. I also work a variety of side hustles and am a full-time student working on a PhD in Drama. Spending & Saving This month has been eleven years long. It began at…
If you’re looking to choose an educational environment, you need to know what you’re looking for. You can’t just choose a random place and hope it’s a good fit, because nine times out of ten it isn’t. Instead, you’re going to need to look at all of the information about the various places, consider what…
When you consider moving to a new home, do you ever do the proper research on the community? When moving it’s not just about the house but the streets you’ll walk, the parks where your kids might play, or even the neighbors. There are many factors to consider when moving and susing out the community…
If you’ve ever wished for a tool that captures the essence of your meetings, lectures, or discussions, Jamworks might be your next must-have app. Designed as an AI-powered note-taking and summarization tool, Jamworks listens, records, transcribes, and highlights the key points of conversations, offering a seamless way to retain and organize information. How I Discovered…
As a stage manager, you’re the unsung hero of the production world—the glue that holds everything together behind the scenes. But when it comes to showcasing your skills, your LinkedIn profile can become the ultimate stage for your professional brand. Here’s how to create a LinkedIn profile that will not only get you noticed but…
Money has inspired countless songs, each with its own unique spin on the power, pitfalls, and possibilities that come with it. Whether they’re catchy anthems or thought-provoking tales, these songs reveal a lot about how we view wealth. Let’s dive into five unforgettable tracks and the money lessons they teach us! 1. “Rich Girl” by…
Pexels. CCO Licensed. Need a new lawnmower? There are thousands of different models to choose from. To help you cut down your options, here are a few important factors to consider. Petrol or electric? First, it’s important to consider which fuel source is best suited to you and your garden. Petrol mowers are the most…
2025 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting year! If all goes according to plan, I’ll finally wrap up grad school by the end of it. As an international student, though, this whole period feels like a weird in-between—kind of like a liminal space where I’m juggling academic deadlines and thinking about what comes…
STEM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) aren’t typically subjects for young children – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful, engaging, and fun to introduce them to the very basics concepts underpinning them at an early age. In fact, fostering an early interest in STEM subjects can be the start of a deep interest…