Michelle Jackson

Courtesy Michelle Jackson
Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. We may receive a small commission from our partners, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
I used to love shopping at Target, and every item would excite me. I'd walk out with a huge bill every time — and I shopped for groceries the same way.
To cut back on my spending, I started buying essentials on sale and in ...

For many businesses, COVID-19 has been a devastating event that has highlighted how vulnerable client-facing businesses can be.
In many cases, business foot traffic was decimated overnight. Entrepreneurs who are fighting for survival are now looking for new and innovative ways to keep their businesses open.
As business owners navigate this chaotic time, many have chosen to embrace beneficial partnerships as a strategy to keep their doors open. In many cases, these synergies are proving to be a mu...

As we embark on moving toward a post-COVID economy, don't be surprised if you begin to question the validity of some of the most popular financial mantras.
The longer COVID remains a part of our daily lives, the more our spending habits will continue to change. Initially, we were unable to pop into our favorite stores, head out and enjoy happy hour with friends, or attend the debut of a new play. As we continue to navigate our way through this new, ever-evolving reality, we are often reminded ...

The post is titled "How COVID Made Me Appreciate the Outdoors More."

Personal finance influencers are often reluctant to discuss race and gender in financial conversations. In fact, often they will focus on habits and avoid conversations about access. This article shares why this is a mistake.

Spring 2020 will be remembered in corporate circles as a whirlwind of change, with exhausting and exciting pivots by big business. Difficult conversations connected to brand identity and race were being held in the boardrooms of many corporations as weeks of Black Lives Matter protests unfolded.
One of the most intriguing outcomes from those conversations is the embracing of Juneteenth, which commemorates a unique moment in American history that many citizens may not have heard about before.
...

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Living in close proximity to the Rocky Mountains gives Denverites access to some of the best hiking in the world. But, with the overwhelming growth in the state’s population, locals have become increasingly reluctant to share some of their favorite hiking trails.
Their fear is that those favorite spots will be overrun with hikers and so with that in mind, I’m sharing five of my favorite hikes and why these hikes...

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I grew up in Boulder, Colorado and as a result of that upbringing, I experienced exploring the outdoors at a pretty young age.
But, my mom wasn’t the one taking me hiking, horseback riding, and camping. She was too busy working and trying to get through university, instead, the local YMCA actively introduced me to the outdoors and my love affair with the outdoors began.
Hiking, climbing, and skiing are just a fe...

Story by Michelle Jackson. It’s crazy how many free and cheap things there are in Denver to enjoy and even though housing is expensive here, I’ve been able to live the same quality of life while spending a lot less on all of the activities that matter to me. One of the areas that I spent a lot of time focusing on was how to enjoy all of the amazing new restaurants in town, socialize, and have fun without going broke. Don’t think it’s possible? It totally is!
Here are three strategies that I u...

There is nothing more ubiquitous in American culture than a big July 4th party.
In fact, 86% of Americans plan to celebrate Independence Day this year. They also plan to spend a total of $6.7 billion on food items, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The most popular July 4th activity for 61% of those surveyed? Cookouts, barbecues and picnics. And, according to the NRF, the average cost per person for a July 4th BBQ is expecte...

It seems like ancient history, but there was a time when we were all just naturally minimalist. We darned our socks, had shoes resoled, and patched the torn pockets of our jeans. We repaired before we even thought of replacing. Fast forward to today and it’s pretty safe to say that we’re not mostly known for our thrift. In fact, we’re practically drowning in one-use cast-offs, discarded fast fashion, and more shipping boxes than we could reuse in a lifetime. Our oceans are becoming swirling m...

One of the most challenging aspects of adult life is making sure you are first on your priority list. While taking a timeout for self-care has numerous (and crazy) health and mental wellness benefits, finding the time is hard. And if you’re paying off debt, have a family, or just trying to focus on your financial goals, self-care may feel somewhat indulgent and potentially hazardous to your financial health, even if the costs are a small as a bottle of those charcoal face masks you saw on Ins...

A couple of months ago there was a big brouhaha over former Cosby Show actor, Geoffrey Owens, about the fact that he was working at a Trader Joe’s. He was basically work shamed and it really ticked me off.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had an extra job. Whether I was working at Starbucks or even an olive oil store. I will admit that there were moments when I’ve felt embarrassed about having an extra job, more importantly — the reasons why I had one.
Currently, I am on an entrepre...