Fortuna Money

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween, y'all! Things might be spooky outside, but your finances don't have to be. I’m handing out fun-size money tricks and treats that can save you money and keep you a little bit safer, so throw on your costume and grab your pumpkin bucket or pillowcase... if you dare!

saving money and keeping your financial life a little safer

10/26/2024

I just realized: I forgot to share my fundraiser update. Thank you so much to everyone who donated to my matching campaign for Helene relief -- you gave over $900 and I matched every dime! I'm sharing receipts here, because fake fundraiser fraud is just one of the types of fraud/disinformation/scamming that we're seeing these days. I share some quick tips on protecting yourself from scammers, and a full transcript of a recent Facebook scam attempt targeting one of my readers (they were too smart to fall for it and sent it to me instead). Stay skeptical, babes!

stay sexy and don't get defrauded

10/02/2024

Our financial friend Tim Pope just released a very special episode of his excellent Pilot Money Podcast. It’s worth a listen — even if your relationship to airplanes is exclusively that of a passenger. (Mine too!)

Tim scored an interview with the executive director of Operation Airdrop, one of the nonprofits supporting Helene relief efforts in western NC. It’s a great interview, giving you real-time insight to how one organization is responding to this crisis — along with ways you can help, whether or not you’re a pilot. Links to listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts in the comments - I promise, it's worth your 18 minutes.

Through October 6, I'm giving away up to $2500 in matching donations to Operation Airdrop and Team Rubicon. If you’ve donated to either of these organizations this week (or this episode inspires you to!) please send me a screenshot of your receipt, or shoot [email protected] an email telling me the amount you donated and who you gave it to. I'd love to add you to my match!

10/02/2024

Our financial friend Timothy Pope just released a very special episode of his excellent Pilot Money Podcast. It’s worth a listen — even if your relationship to airplanes is exclusively that of a passenger. (Mine too.)

Tim scored an interview with the executive director of Operation Airdrop, one of the nonprofits supporting Helene relief efforts in western NC. It’s a great interview, giving you real-time insight to how one organization is responding to this crisis — along with ways you can help right now, whether or not you’re a pilot. Links to listen on Apple Podcasts in the comments. I promise, it's worth your 18 minutes.

And just a reminder: through October 6, I'm giving away up to $2500 in matching donations to Operation Airdrop Inc and Team Rubicon. If you’ve donated to either of these organizations this week (or this episode inspires you to!) please send me a screenshot of your receipt, or shoot [email protected] an email telling me the amount you donated and who you gave it to. I'd love to add you to my match!

Episode · Pilot Money Podcast · In this special episode of the Pilot Money Podcast, Timothy P. Pope, CFP®, focuses on the remarkable efforts of pilots providing disaster relief following Hurricane Helene. As the storm wreaked havoc from Florida to Virginia, causing unprecedented damage and displa...

09/30/2024

A Fortuna Money first: I'm matching your donations to two awesome nonprofits that are helping with Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Please give this a read and PLEASE make me give more money away!

(I've also got general thoughts on building your generosity practice, including an advanced-level move for high-rollers!)

on putting your resources where your heart is

07/15/2024

Two things for you in this newsletter:

1. 1 in 7 Americans have thier own dang money sitting in a state "unclaimed property" coffer. You might be one of them, so I teach you how to look for it. It's quick, easy, and might actually get you some $ - my proofreader found $81!
2. Prime Day is upon us, which means it's time for me to remind myself (and you, if you need to hear it): sales are just ads, made-up sale holidays have unintended consequences, and if a deal seems too good to be true, it might contain arsenic and rat f***s.

For more on both of these, click through! And if you enjoy these newsletter drops and don't want to rely on me remembering to post them to Facebook... I'd be so honored if you subscribed

On unclaimed property and the perils of Prime time

06/30/2024

The LGBTQ+ community faces unique financial obstacles, but (at least among my clients and friends) they also show up for their values in pretty amazing ways. If you'd like to show up too, I've got suggestions here (and a joyful playlist from LGBTQ+ artists, icons, and allies). Happy last-day-of-Pride!

not just rainbow capitalism!

06/11/2024

Recently I was honored to be a guest on the Pilot Money Podcast, and the episode dropped this week! We had a really fun chat that covers everything from communicating with your spouse about money, three things you can do to cultivate a healthier and less-stressed money mindset, and why I call some of the cases I saw as a fraud investigator "crimes of desperation." This episode isn't just for pilots (although if you ARE a pilot or have one in your life, you should definitely follow this podcast!).

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1AyWIqmJKoqaay6kPH2RG0?si=c87d2b96f71e4600

Listen to this episode from Pilot Money Podcast on Spotify. Join Timothy P. Pope, CFP®, as he explores the intersection of behavioral finance and personal decision-making with Jennifer Bower, a seasoned financial coach with roots in the aviation community. With her unique blend of intelligence back...

05/24/2024

I've got tips on money mindfulness (as well as times when it's actually good to be mindLESS with your money)... and a super-sweet giveaway with Great Abiding Yoga, LLC in my latest newsletter. More details inside, and I'll also put the giveaway link directly in the comments in case you want to win an indulgent session of private yoga or personal coaching from the amazing Tara Eschenroeder :)

One of my favorite things that many clients tell me early on in the process — before we’ve actually made much mathematical progress at all, after just one or two sessions — is that they feel like they’re being “more mindful” with their spending. You don't actually have to hire a coach to create more mindfulness in your money life, though I'm happy to help -- a few simple, free changes bring you a LONG way towards a calmer money life.

... and a special giveaway that just might help

05/12/2024

Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas of the world today!

In the grand tradition of mothers (and, often, conscientious parents of all genders), I am often riddled with self-doubt about whether or not I am a good parent. Near-simultaneously, my children manage to be all of these:

- amazing precious perfect gifts that I can never live up to
- expensive, time-consuming, infuriating hobbies that I can never quit
- the only bastion of hope I have for this broken world
- cracked funhouse mirrors that reflect every insecurity and fear that I have ever had, but distorted and multiplied tenfold
- warm hilarious delights whose quips and hugs and kisses explode my heart (and occasionally my tear ducts) every single day

In other words, they are my kids. And like most parents, I feel like I can never do enough for them. But then I look at all my friends and I think THEY are doing an amazing job. And then they tell me that they think THEY are doing a terrible job, but that they think *I* am doing an amazing job. I'm starting to think that none of us can accurately perceive how we are doing, and that the greatest gift we can offer each other is a loving reflection and celebration of how well we are doing an incredibly difficult job. (Thanks to all the fellow mamas and other amazing humans who have messaged me along those lines today, ILYSM and you are crushing it

This post was supposed to come out in time for Mother’s Day… but in an ironic twist, my two-year-old caught COVID at daycare and gave it to me, and it knocked me flat for a week. In the grand tradi…

04/09/2024

In my latest, I dig into the age-old question of whether or not it's actually good to try for (or rely on) getting a big tax refund, and how our own slightly ridiculous tax journey has informed my thinking on this. I want to know what you think - drop your vote in the poll!

If you enjoy reading my thoughts on creating a calmer money life, it would mean the world if you decided to click that "subscribe" button in the post. Every subscriber (free or paid) supports my work 🩷

Self-employment tax, and the age-old question of whether big refunds are a bad idea.

03/16/2024

Have you filed your taxes yet? I'm proud to say that Where's My Refund says our return has been "received," although I'd really rather see "approved" or "sent." ;)
There's less than a month left til Tax Day (April 15 for everyone but MA and ME). If you're still a work-in-progress, my latest newsletter might help. I've got a free customizable version of my own checklist for tax documents, tax prep do's and don'ts, possible ways to file for free (military friends, MilTax is free-99!), and guidance on going with a professional. It's been years since I've self-filed (we love our CPA!), so if you have a favorite way to DIY file, shout it out in the comments!

tax prep dos and don'ts, plus: do you DIY or go pro?