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…
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 So, unsurprisingly, December was kind of expensive. It’s always extra…
For centuries livestock farming has been an important component of human civilization. Livestock farming, or animal husbandry, involves breeding and raising animals for food, fiber, labor and other purposes that make our daily lives possible. While livestock farming may seem simple, it actually involves skill, science and dedication from breeder to farmer and is important…
Image credit The chances are pretty high that you’ve seen business owners, even influencers (who technically are business owners too), live in lavish homes. Well, it can be safely assumed that they’re the homeowner, right? Well, it’s only natural you want to be a part of that too, right? You’ve done what you can to…
This year, I’m a bit behind on my usual holiday posts, and I realized that this one will land on Christmas Day. It made me wonder: What does Christmas mean to me in the context of personal finance, and do these two things even connect? My first thought was the hyper-consumerism of Christmas. It’s hard…
It’s officially the Christmas holidays, and if you’re home from college for the break, you’re probably wondering what to do with yourself before it’s time to head back. There’s a good chance you’ve already got some plans over Christmas, but have you thought about what you might do with the rest of your free time?…
Source The cost of pretty much everything has gone up over the past few years. Because of this, you may find that your money doesn’t seem to go as far as it used to. If you’re feeling the pinch and your financial situation is starting to stress you out, you might want to do something…
There’s a unique frustration that comes with financial mishaps—especially when they’re out of your control. They might seem minor on the surface, but their emotional weight can derail your entire day, leaving you feeling powerless and exhausted. This past week, I had two such experiences. Neither was catastrophic, but the sheer helplessness they caused lingered…
Image credit Getting a job these days feels like trying to win a game show. Actually, some folks even compare it to dating because it’s just something that feels next to impossible to even properly succeed. It’s wild to think, but yeah, there seems to be a lot of truth in it. Basically, employers swipe…
Earning money online has become extremely accessible. Whether you are looking to increase your current income or transition to a full-time online career, there are many different opportunities that you can explore. Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-click-pen-on-white-paper-8062358/ We’re going to have a look at some of the practical strategies that you can use to help…
Image credit There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to selling your property, sometimes theres so much confusion, you might feel like you need your hand held through this, such as hiring an attorney or even hiring one of those real estate agencies that do just about everything for you. It’s totally understandable, especially…
According to a recent study, almost 1/3 of adults are considering starting their own business in 2025. If you’re part of this statistic, then it’s important that you are as prepared as possible! Photo by Microsoft 365 on Unsplash With that in mind, here are some steps that you should take to set yourself (and…
