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I reached out to investing educator Amanda Holden, who told me it's smart to start with a brokerage account. Instead of investing in individual stocks, she suggests ETFs and index funds. In order to explain some of the basics in a simple way, I reached out to investing educator Amanda Holden for her thoughts. She had four tips for getting started on your investing journey. Of course, you'll want to consult with a financial advisor for a full investing strategy; her tips are educational, but they aren't investing advice.

Persons: Amanda Holden, it's, Holden, Charles Schwab, Schwab, Get, You'll, aren't, we'll, doesn't Organizations: Fidelity, Vanguard, — Vanguard

AdvertisementAdvertisementI knew college was the right choice for me, but I wasn't sure at first how I would pay for it. I reached out directly to people who could help, which got me opportunities like a work study program. It cannot be overstated how difficult it is to apply to, pay for, attend, and graduate from college as a first-generation, low-income student, especially without ending up with huge student loans. I applied for merit-based scholarshipsSome universities allow you to apply for scholarships directly when you submit your college application. Private Student Loans If you need to fill any financing gaps for college after exhausting all of your options, see our guide for the best private student loans.

Persons: —, I've, I Organizations: Service, Pew Research Center, Boston University Locations: QuestBridge

☆ I moved to a tiny Alaskan village and worked as a teacher to 5 students. I was able to save $1,000 a month, see the Northern Lights, and walk on glaciers.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Taryn Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Taryn Williams moved to a tiny Alaskan village to work as a teacher, in 2020. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn 2020, I moved to a tiny village in Alaska to take a teaching job. Courtesy of Taryn WilliamsWorking with the families that invited me into different villages has been an incredible experience. When I traveled to the different villages with my students, I was able to learn the cultural customs of each group. I've also been able to travel with my students, which is a uniquely incredible and gratifying experience.

Persons: Taryn Williams, Williams, —, Bush, I've, Taryn Williams I've, hadn't, It's Organizations: Service, Bush, Anchorage — Locations: Alaska, Perryville, Philadelphia, Anchorage, Europe, Instacart, Fairbanks, Anchorage —

☆ I'm taking an 8-month break from my job to focus on my mental health and goals. Here's how I planned and saved for it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Taryn Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

After years of putting her mental health second to her career, she's prioritizing her well-being. Now that I'm financially able to take a break, I've decided to take a gap year in my 30s. Here's why I've made this decision and how I'm going to make it happen. I'm going to embrace ethical and slow travelI'm planning to visit Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador. I'm going to strive to regain the Spanish fluency I've lost over the past few years, meditate daily, and get outside every day.

Persons: Taryn Williams, would've, I'm, I've, Dunkin, it's, journaling Organizations: Service Locations: Alaska, South America, Wall, Silicon, Airbnbs, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Antarctica

I chose to be a teacher, but despite having chosen a low-paying career field and not working full-time consistently since graduating from college, I'm on track to retire early. This is a path that is open to more people than many realize, particularly if they start investing early and continue to invest consistently throughout their careers. With life generally becoming more expensive, many people who are at retirement age today were not aware of how much they would need to retire comfortably when they started their retirement planning. Seeing this firsthand has motivated me to do what I can to ensure that I'll have the opportunity to retire when I'm ready. Retiring at 55 with $2 million would allow me to withdraw over $5,000 a month until I'm 100.

Persons: I'm, Read, Roth, I've, doesn't, Get, … Organizations: Roth IRA Locations: Maldives

I've had an emergency fund since I was in college, and it's saved me multiple times. At the time, my emergency fund wasn't much more than $300 itself, but that was enough to get me through. I still wanted to do what I could to support the household, however, and my emergency fund allowed me to help with those costs. Having an emergency fund in place allowed me to have a financial foundation to make everything else work. Having the emergency fund allowed me to make tough life choices without the fear of financial repercussions.

Persons: I've, it's Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

I have three high-yield savings accounts that I use for my emergency fund and long-term goals. With many boasting interest rates over 5% — far greater than the average savings account interest rate — there's no question why they're on so many people's minds. This reignited interest has garnered discussion about where to find the best high-yield savings accounts rates. My first high-yield savings account was with AllyWhen I started my savings journey, I opened my Ally high-yield savings account after reading articles that compared different banks and seeing that name come up often. Using high-yield savings accounts with high interest rates helped, allowing me to get a small bonus deposit each month.

Persons: I've, Ally, it's, — Organizations: Service, Capital, Ally Locations: Wall, Silicon, Maldives

I got COVID-19 halfway through a two-month trip that I'd carefully budgeted in advance. I had to find a hotel where I could quarantine and had to get all my meals and supplies delivered. The hotel had standard hotel rooms, which meant that I had access to a microwave, refrigerator, and sink, but no kitchen. Getting COVID-19 was inconvenient and stressful, but it didn't have any impact on my overall financial health going forward. There are many options when you travel, such as having a travel emergency fund or paying for travel insurance.

Persons: vising, COVID Organizations: Service, FAA Locations: Wall, Silicon, Philadelphia, West Virginia, Washington

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). When I graduated from college, I thought I needed to pay off my student loans as fast as possible. I'm not worried about continuing to have student loan debt — I'm prepared for the future. If I had continued paying my student loan debt as aggressively as I did then, I would be debt-free now. Even though I still have student loan debt in my 30s, I feel much more secure than I anticipated.

Persons: I'm, — I'm, wasn't Organizations: Service, CNBC, Mint Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Google is in a weird place right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Google Bard VS OpenAI ChatGPT displayed on Mobile with Openai and Google logo on screen seen in this photo illustration. Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesGoogle is in a weird place right now. After Microsoft announced integration of ChatGPT with Bing, all eyes were on Google to do something. It's currently only open to "trusted testers," and my teammate writes that "trusted" is the key word, since Google doesn't trust you. Yet, in this crucial moment, Google seems to only be able to react with fear, Hasan writes.

In January 2021, my net worth was -$15,000. Despite this, my net worth increased from -$15,000 to $15,000 since January 2021. Together, these accounted for an increase of $12,000 in my net worth. In the end, these different sources accounted for an additional $5,000+ that I invested over the last six months — which has allowed me to surpass my original net worth goal for this time period. Three years ago, I made the first deposit into my Roth IRA and today that account makes up a substantial portion of my net worth.

☆ I moved to a tiny Alaskan village to be a teacher. I earn $15,000 more than in other states and only have 5 students.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Taryn Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

We don't have a principal in the village, so I'm responsible for many administrative duties, such as picking up people — and freight — from the planes that come in. A plane arrives at least once per day, except when the weather is bad. I order most of my groceries this way. Freight sitting next to a Navajo plane, with an eagle perched on top. Taryn Williams/Insider

AdvertisementAdvertisementI used to put money into one general savings account, but using sinking funds helps me save more. When I realized that having one savings account was part of the reason that I wasn't tucking much away, I made the switch to "sinking funds" and watched my savings take off. Sinking funds are individual savings accounts that serve different purposes, like a down payment for a home, a vacation, or car-maintenance expenses. Some sinking funds can be permanent and others will come and go as needed. This method has allowed me to save thousands of dollars more each year than I was when I had a general "savings" account.

Persons: Muck Organizations: Service, Ally Bank Locations: Wall, Silicon, Alaska, Alaska Bush

☆ I'm a teacher in a tiny Alaskan village. My class consists of 8 students and there are no restaurants or movie theaters — here's what my life is like.
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-13 | by ( Taryn Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Taryn Williams, 28, is a teacher and freelance writer based in the rural Alaskan Bush. Taryn Williams. Taryn WilliamsWhen I lived in Philadelphia, it took me nearly an hour to commute to my school via public transportation. Because I live so close to school, I'm able to go home for lunch every day, and it's something I've really grown to appreciate. Most recently, I facilitated an internship in which students learned how to make their own podcast from a Native Alaskan podcaster.

☆ I moved from Atlanta to a tiny Alaskan village of 270 people. It's wildly expensive, but I've never felt more at home.
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-10 | by ( Taryn Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Instead, I started looking at different possibilities in places I'd never considered before, like Hawaii, Alaska, and Kentucky. The closest I'd come to living in a rural community was a small German town that was a 12-minute train ride from the nearest major city. There aren't as many options for entertainment, but the connections I've made with others are unparalleled to anywhere I've lived before. Most food items are harder to come by, so I've become much more creative and versatile in the kitchen. In Atlanta, I was just another young professional living a life typical of 20-somethings in the big city.

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