Ashley

Personal Finance Writer and Content Creator

I am a personal finance writer and content creator. In addition to contributing to Wealth Meta, I write for solo entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies. When I'm not calculating my net worth or reading the latest personal finance book, you can find me shark diving in South Africa.

Blog Posts by Ashley:

Experian Boost Could Improve Your Credit

Is there any way to quickly improve your credit score? Experian, a credit reporting bureau, offers its free service, Experian Boost, as a possible answer.

Personal Finance

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How to Budget for a High-Ticket Item

Dreaming about a luxury purchase is one thing. Going through with the purchase is another. If you’ve found yourself seriously tempted by an item or experience, there may be a reason for it.

Personal Finance, Budgeting

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How to Dispute an Error on Your Credit Report

If you notice a blemish on your credit report that doesn’t belong to you, you might be wondering how to dispute the error on your credit report. Fortunately, there are several institutions in place designed …

Financial Literacy, Risk Reduction

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To Snowball or Avalanche Your Debt?

Paying off debt can seem like a momentous task. If you have several loans or credit lines, it can be tough to know where to start and which loans to prioritize. There are several philosophies …

Personal Finance

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7 Hidden Benefits of a Good Credit Score

If you have a credit card or other debt, and make regular on-time payments, you probably have a good credit score. Having a good or excellent credit score is important for several reasons.

Personal Finance

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8 Financial Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to do something you love while helping others. Although you do not get paid for volunteering, that does not mean that you can’t benefit from it.

Personal Finance

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Advanced Financial Terms

Here are a few advanced financial terms that you should know along your way to mastering your money.

Financial Literacy

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How to Capitalize on a 0% APR Credit Card

There is a simple “trick” to saving over $600. It only takes about an hour of work. All you need is a decent credit score and some high interest debt you want to eliminate. On …

Personal Finance

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  • September 19, 2020
  • by Ashley

What to Do When You’re Upside Down on Your Mortgage

If you’re underwater on your mortgage you owe more than the home is worth. You probably have more choices than you realize. Read on for our breakdown. Some strategies require no work, others are fairly …

Personal Finance, Homes and Real Estate

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How to Plan a Great Honeymoon on a Budget

Vacations can be very expensive, so planning your honeymoon can feel like a large additional expense. Read on to discover 16 tips on how to have a great getaway on a budget.

Personal Finance, Budgeting

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Is Your Home an Investment

Before you decide to purchase a home, you should take the time to understand if your home is an investment. Your home is probably the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make, but not necessarily the …

Net Worth, Homes and Real Estate

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10 Budget Tricks to Boost Your Monthly Savings

Here are a few budgeting hacks you can use to boost your emergency savings in no time.

Budgeting

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16 Basic Financial Terms for Managing Money

Getting good at managing your finances and budget requires knowing a few key concepts. We set up the following list of introductory money related concepts to help you get started on your financial journey.

Financial Literacy

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Average Net Worth by Age - Are You on Track?

Outlined below is the average net worth broken down by age bracket. Where does your net worth fall when compared to your peers?

Net Worth

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5 Money Moves You Should Make in Your 30s

After spending your 20s getting acclimated to adulthood, you may be ready to take the next steps toward financial security. Read on to discover the five money moves that you should make in your 30s.

Personal Finance

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What Getting A Puppy Really Costs

Pets are great but how do they impact your budget? There are both up front costs and ongoing costs involved with owning a pet. Here is how my new "best friend" factors into my budget.

Family and Finances, Budgeting

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7 Money Questions To Ask Your Aging Parents

Starting a conversation with your parents about their finances can be daunting. However, most adult children get involved with their parents’ financial situation at some point. It’s helpful to understand their situation and goals so …

Family and Finances

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Why I’m Not in a Hurry to Pay off My Student Loans

Being aggressive towards debt has a time and place. With high interest debt, yes, annihilate it. With low interest debt, such as student loans, read on to discover the trade offs.

Personal Finance

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Being a Plumber vs. Being a Software Developer - Net Worth Simulations

Here’s what you can learn about plumbers vs software developers / software engineers (and other career paths) by running some comparisons on the Wealth Meta Income and Spending Simulator.

Personal Finance

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6 Ways to Exponentially Grow Your Net Worth

Building your net worth is the key to financial success. There are several simple methods anyone can use to improve their net worth. By boosting your income and assets while reducing your liabilities, you can …

Personal Finance, Net Worth

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When Does Downsizing Your Home Make Sense?

If you are looking to free up money in your budget and get out of debt, you may want to consider downsizing your home. Downsizing can be a great way to reduce or eliminate your …

Homes and Real Estate

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Are You Making These 8 Costly 401k Mistakes?

In order to enjoy a comfortable retirement, it’s vital you save as much as possible. If you want to maximize your retirement reserves, here are the most common 401(k) mistakes to avoid.

Net Worth, Risk Reduction

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7 Ways to Live a Prosperous Life in Retirement for Free

Focusing on money alone is not enough to enjoy a life of prosperity in your golden years. Here are some other things you can do that are 100% free.

Personal Finance

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How to Organize and Secure Your Financial Documents

Organizing your finances is a great way to help you save time and money as well as offer peace of mind. Here are five steps to get you started, including ways to keep your financial …

Personal Finance

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Being a Doctor vs. Being a Software Developer - Net Worth Simulations

Here’s what you can learn about doctors, software developers / software engineers (and other career paths) by running some comparisons on the Wealth Meta Income and Spending Simulator.

Personal Finance

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  • September 30, 2019
  • by Ashley

7 Things You Can Do Today to Boost Your Financial Well-Being

Getting a handle on your finances may seem like a monumental task. However, when you’re able to make daily progress, you build your financial confidence in no time. If you want to better manage your …

Personal Finance

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A Reverse Bucket List for Financial Freedom

When it comes to financial goals, avoiding certain things can be just as important as taking action on others. Here are some things NOT to do when it comes to financial freedom.

Personal Finance

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Why Home Ownership Is No Longer the American Dream

One of the components of the American Dream has always been owning a home. Yet, over the years, the American Dream has transformed and home ownership rates are well below their 2004 high.

Homes and Real Estate

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5 Ways Your Social Circle May Be Costing You a Secure Financial Future

It may be hard to notice at first, but your friends may be costing you a secure financial future. In order to avoid the potential negative influence of our friends, here are 5 trends you …

Personal Finance

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Negotiation Tactics That Can Boost Your Financial Security

Do you lack negotiation skills and assertiveness? If so then car dealerships, employers and loan sharks want to work with you! You are leaving money on the table and lining their pockets by not sharpening …

Financial Literacy

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Six Financial Moves You Need to Make Once You Tie the Knot

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes talking about your finances? That’s right. Now that you’re married, finances will play a major role in your daily lives. Here are 6 financial moves you need …

Family and Finances

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Here's the Real Retirement Killer: Inflation

Consumers spend their lifetime working toward that magic number that will allow them to retire. Unfortunately, many pre-retirees leave out an important detail that could cost them a large portion of their retirement savings.

Personal Finance, Risk Reduction

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10 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Budget

Budgeting can be a bit of a challenge. It’s on ongoing effort to manage your money on a monthly basis. If you find you are struggling with yours, here are a few ways to instantly …

Budgeting

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How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits in Less Than 140 Characters

The answer in 140 characters: Work 35+ years, earn the maximum, wait as long as possible to retire, minimize income in retirement, avoid state taxes, stay alive.

Personal Finance

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