We’ve curated some articles that circulated the web in 2021.
This installment covers tips to get the most enjoyment out of your vacation time, to help you get a good night’s rest, apps that help you manage your money (and spend no money), plus a few updates on articles we sent earlier this year. We’ve gathered the details and provided links to more info.
Be Intentional With Your Vacation Time
You deserve some rest and relaxation over your holiday break, no doubt about it. But this article from the Harvard Business Review discusses research that suggests that having a little direction during a break from work will make you more fulfilled than if you play couch potato for days on end. Don’t pile up an endless to-do list, but do make sure you move around, challenge yourself slightly, and maybe do a couple of home-improvement tasks like finally organizing your junk drawer. Feeling like you completely wasted your time off is just about as stressful as not having it in the first place.
And about that vacation–if you have it, take it. It’s good for your brain. That doesn’t mean you have to travel. It just means you’re taking time to let your brain reset from working so much. Not working can be especially hard if your contracting involves the gig economy or self-employment. But you are not a computer. You’ll function better if you have a bit of a breather every once in a while.
Money News
Even if you’re not ready to think about tax season yet, it’ll ease your mind to know that your finances are under control thanks to one of these accounting apps voted “best for independent contractors.” These apps range from free for those dealing with simple 1099s to all-the-bells-and-whistles for someone handling payroll.
Money has named The 6 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2021. You can also learn how to use those accounts to your advantage by reading their Freelancer’s Guide to Saving for Retirement, which helps you understand the difference between a high-yield savings and a Roth IRA, among others.
On a fun note, the “Buy Nothing” movement and related app can help you find what you’re looking for–for free. The app itself is free, as is everything listed on it. Need a power juicer? A paper shredder for your office? A power cord for an old laptop? Just post to tell your community what you’re looking for, and a neighbor may have one to give away. You can also post the things you’re looking to give as a gift. This is probably not the place to shop if you need something ASAP, but if you’re willing to wait, it can save you money! It’s also a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to bring you closer to your community.
In Case You Missed It
Here are a few articles we sent out earlier this year that are really worth a read. This Rolling Stone article that predicts the future of gig work “post-Covid”–and is still interesting and relevant six months after its first publication. See if any of these predictions made by nine business leaders are starting to come true.
Back in July, Vox reported about the rising cost of household goods. The pandemic caused a big interruption in the supply chain, and we’re still experiencing the aftershock of that. Unfortunately, five months later, prices have continued to rise. This article from Consumer Reports shares tips to save money even while prices are on the rise, from economizing gasoline to predicting when prices will fall again on household appliances.
We also sent you Money’s checklist for the Best Money Moves for September 2021. If you found that helpful, don’t end there! Here’s the Best Money Moves for December 2021. This update includes news about the Child Tax Credit, Medicare, and of course, the supply chain issue.
We hope you have a restful and relaxing holiday season!