Janna’s Story: Freedom to Travel

White woman with a pixie haircut wears a flowery top smiles in front of a bed of tulips

Meet Janna, a licensed social worker who lives in Texas and loves to travel. What do you do? I work for 2-1-1 Texas/UnitedWay HELPLINE, doing outreach and education about 2-1-1 services. I love my work. Every day is different, and there are different topics and coalitions that the community focuses on. I actually heard about…

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Andrew’s Story: The Pursuit of a Minimalist Lifestyle

Andrew and his wife and son sit on a couch together with their son

Meet Andrew, a recent newlywed living in Daly City, CA with his wife and their 13-year old son. What do you do? I work for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission in the Water Resources Department. I’ve been at this position for a little over three years, but I’ve been with the company for over…

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Buchi’s Story: Experiences Instead of Material Items

Headshot of an African-American man in a professional studio who wearing a yellow polo and smiling

Meet Buchi, a self-employed bookkeeper who lives and works in San Francisco. What do you do? I’m disabled and I’m self-employed with bookkeeping. I do that on the side. It’s been good for these last 9-12 years. What did your upbringing teach you about finances? (laughs) Well, to manage money responsibly. Here in the US,…

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Barbara’s Story: A Penny Found is a Penny Saved

Red-headed woman in a ponytail wearing her glasses while smiling and taking a selfie

Meet Barbara, a happy retired grandmother who lives in Eugene, Oregon. What do you do? Before I retired, I worked as a cashier and gas station attendant. I also volunteered a lot. I have five grandkids and they all live in Eugene. They’re 3, 5, 8, 9, and 11. There are two boys and three…

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How much should I put in my 401(k)?

Yellow toy van carrying luggages placed on the sand of a beach with the waves crashing in the background

If you’re fortunate enough to have an employer who offers a 401(k), you should seriously consider participating. A 401(k) allows you to lower your tax bill and potentially build wealth through the stock market. Here’s how to figure out how much you should contribute. The power of the employer match You should contribute at least…

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