Author: Harper

There’s something no one warns you about in your 40s: you might have to reinvent yourself again. Not in the cute “new hobby” way, but in the “my industry changed/I got laid off/I’m burned out/I need more money” kind of way. And when that moment comes, it doesn’t always feel empowering. It feels terrifying. I…

I was twenty-two, living in Queens, working long hours at a publishing internship in Midtown that barely paid enough to cover my MetroCard. My boyfriend at the time—let’s call him M—lived in Brooklyn. He was charming, unpredictable, and always full of stories about hitting it big. I used to think he had a hustler’s spirit….

I used to think cutting spending meant going full minimalist. Like, I had to suddenly live in a capsule wardrobe, make my own almond milk, and never set foot in Target again. But every time I tried an all-or-nothing approach, I ended up swinging back hard in the other direction—usually with a cart full of…

I’ve had more budgeting apps on my phone than dating apps. And just like the guys who say they’re “emotionally available,” every budget looked great on paper—until life got messy. I used to think I just wasn’t a “budget person.” I’d try one of those strict templates where you’re supposed to spend 30% on this,…

I remember sitting at my desk one night, staring at an empty spreadsheet titled “2024 Budget Goals.” I had poured a glass of wine to feel fancy, lit a candle because I read somewhere that ambiance helps with money anxiety, and tried to channel my inner Financially Together Woman. But after twenty minutes of typing…