Points for Change's Newsletter Debut

It’s finally May and I hope you also getting excited about summer. After the winter we had in New York City, I’m especially excited to hit the Rockaways for warm beach days and the Rippers veggie burger.

I’m attending my friend’s wedding in Nantucket later this month. This will be my first trip to the island, I can’t wait for all the fresh seafood.

Each month I’ll share

• a seasonal personal finance topic

• a non-fiction book I’m reading related to psychology or finance

• a Points for Change monthly recap

Want me to cover a specific topic? Send me an e-mail lauren@pointsforchange.com.

People often get stressed about paying for travel and I completely understand that, especially given rising fuel prices due to the war in Iran. I recommend preparing as early as possible so you don’t have to give up travel for staycations. This is even easier if you have points to spend instead of cash. When I prep for travel here’s what I think about:

Q: What is the total budget range for the trip?

A: Be realistic and think about every part of the trip:

• Getting there - from home to the airport, at the airport, your flight ticket, getting from the airport to your destination

• On your trip - food and beverage, AirBnB/hotel, activities, rideshares, etc.

• Coming home - from your destination to the airport, your flight ticket, getting from the airport home

While the expensive items like the flight ticket and AirBnB are usually the largest portion of your budget, stay mindful about the additional add-ons like the last minute water bottle purchase at the airport or Uber surge pricing on a rainy travel day. I always add a buffer because travel is full of unknowns and inconveniences.

I always pack a bag of essentials like Band-Aids, ibuprofen, tissues, menstrual products & DayQuil so I never have to make a surprise run to CVS last minute.

Q: What's the one thing you want to splurge on for sure? And on the flip side where can you cut corners?

A: I love to splurge on first class when possible or fly Delta for the best experience since I currently have Gold Medallion Status. Delta is often more expensive than other airlines, but it’s worth it to me for a better experience.

On the flip side, I’m happy to take public transit to the airport for ~$11 compared to a rideshare that’s often $40+. Start thinking about your values and align your traveling budget. It’s different for everyone and can be helpful to discuss with your travel partners!

Q: What do you actually want to do when you get there?

A: Do you also like to get fancy coffees (still dreaming of Desnudo) and try unique restaurants like me? Or are you trying to spend money on activities like concerts, sports games, museums and more? Understand what you want to spend each day and what you prioritize, maybe it’s a mix of all of the above.

This month I finally finished Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke. I like to read non-fiction books a chapter or two at a time to let the message sink in. A quote that stuck with me was “quitting on time will usually feel like quitting too early.”

Quitting jobs, revenue streams or shutting down ideas doesn’t always feel right and there is a lot of negativity towards quitting. If you are wondering if you want to quit something, read this book to gain more clarity on where you’re at!

Last month, I presented to 18 high school girls from low-income backgrounds through Girls Leadership’s after-school Empowerment Club at the Young Women’s Leadership School of Manhattan. I shared key personal finance terms and led them through a budgeting and savings activity.

I was impressed by the level of engagement and questions - we were even able to cover topics above and beyond like credit scores and how to build credit through credit cards. Many of my clients say they wish they had financial education in high school and by working with nonprofits like this Points for Change can help make that a reality.

I’m opening up my calendar for new 1:1 coaching clients! Whether you’re thinking about leaving your job to go all-in on your business, want to finally tackle that credit card debt, or just started a business and need help with the finance side—I’d love to chat.

Each 60-minute session is $250 ($225 for newsletter subscribers). Or book all three and get them for $750 ($675 for subscribers)

Interested in coaching? Want to chat more about personal finance? Send me an e-mail to lauren@pointsforchange.com or follow me on LinkedIn.