When I was a tender eight years old–and had already been saving my weekly allowances for three years–my mom took me to the bank to open my first savings account. The banker must have had to force back a laugh when I self-importantly opened my change purse and pulled out $63 in $1 bills! (My mom had helped me convert my quarters into bills earlier that week.)

Every since I was little, I was what some might call an extreme saver. It was incredibly difficult for me to justify spending money on anything for myself that isn’t objectively necessary (think food, shampoo, a winter coat, etc). This was fine when I was younger and my parents paid for most of my expenses anyways. But now that I’m older and financially independent from my parents, I’ve had to rethink my views on money and necessity, and more broadly investing in myself.… Read More »