Happy Wallet

11 Gen X and Gen Z Hacks to Stop Throwing Away Food and Money

March 17, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Wasting food isn’t just bad for your wallet—it’s draining your budget without you realizing it.

Food waste is one of the sneakiest ways people lose money, and it’s happening in kitchens everywhere. Leftovers get forgotten in the fridge, fresh produce goes bad before you get to it, and those well-intentioned grocery hauls turn into trash instead of meals. While older generations might have been raised to clean their plates, Gen X and Gen Z are finding smarter ways to cut down on food waste and save money in the process.

The key isn’t just buying less—it’s being strategic. Simple changes in storage, meal planning, and shopping habits can keep more food in your belly and less in the trash. With grocery prices climbing higher, wasting food is like throwing cash straight into the garbage. Whether you’re trying to stretch your budget or just want to be less wasteful, these smart hacks can help you stop wasting both food and money.

Thinking of Retiring Early? Avoid These 11 Overpriced US States

March 17, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

The cost of living in some states can drain your retirement savings fast.

Retiring early sounds like a dream, but if you choose the wrong place to settle down, your savings might not stretch as far as you’d hoped. Some states are notorious for their high costs, whether it’s expensive housing, outrageous taxes, or inflated everyday expenses. Even if you’ve carefully planned your retirement, the wrong location could force you back into the workforce sooner than expected.

Many retirees focus on warm weather and lifestyle perks without considering the financial side of things. But in some states, everything from groceries to healthcare comes with a premium price tag. Moving to one of these overpriced places could mean spending thousands more each year compared to a more budget-friendly alternative. Before packing your bags, make sure you’re not setting yourself up for financial strain. Here are the most overpriced states that could wreck your early retirement plans.

Sam Altman’s 10 Wealth-Building Secrets—How to Apply Them to Your Life

March 17, 2025 by James Clendenin

The strategies that made Sam Altman wealthy can work for you too.

Sam Altman isn’t just another Silicon Valley billionaire—he’s one of the sharpest minds in tech, investing, and business strategy. As the former president of Y Combinator and the current CEO of OpenAI, he’s built, backed, and guided some of the most successful startups in the world. His approach to wealth-building isn’t about luck or shortcuts—it’s about understanding long-term value, making strategic bets, and leveraging technology and innovation to stay ahead.

Altman’s wealth didn’t come from following traditional career paths or chasing get-rich-quick schemes. Instead, he built his fortune by thinking differently about risk, capital, and opportunity. While not everyone can launch the next billion-dollar startup, his principles can still be applied to everyday financial decisions.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an investor, or just someone looking to grow your net worth, these 10 wealth-building secrets from Sam Altman can help you think bigger, take smarter risks, and create long-term financial success.

Gen Z Thinks These 10 Millennial Money Habits Are Totally Outdated

March 17, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

What worked for millennials doesn’t always make sense to Gen Z.

Money habits change with each generation, and Gen Z is proving that they aren’t following in the financial footsteps of millennials. The world they’re inheriting looks different—higher living costs, a more digital economy, and a workforce that values flexibility over stability. That means some of the financial advice that worked for millennials feels outdated, impractical, or even downright irrelevant to Gen Z.

Instead of clinging to traditional money habits, Gen Z is reshaping how they earn, spend, and save. They’re prioritizing financial independence in new ways, avoiding some of the struggles millennials faced, and finding their own path to security. While millennials hustled to climb corporate ladders, buy homes, and save for retirement, Gen Z is questioning whether those moves even make sense anymore. Here are the money habits they think their millennial predecessors should have left behind.

Housing Bubble Trouble? 11 U.S. Cities That Are Due a Major Real Estate Bust

March 17, 2025 by James Clendenin

Housing markets can’t stay hot forever, and these cities are feeling the pressure.

Real estate markets go through cycles—booms, busts, and everything in between. While some cities have seen years of rapid growth, rising home prices don’t always mean long-term stability. In fact, when prices rise too fast compared to wages and demand slows down, a crash becomes more likely. Homebuyers who jumped in at the peak may soon find themselves underwater, while investors banking on endless appreciation could be in for a rude awakening.

Some U.S. cities are already showing signs of an impending downturn, with slowing sales, rising inventory, and affordability slipping out of reach. While no one can predict exactly when a crash will hit, these 11 cities have all the warning signs.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in one of these markets, pay close attention—things might get messy.

Debt as Modern Slavery: 11 Predatory Systems Targeting Young People Today

March 17, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

The system is designed to keep young people trapped in a cycle of debt.

If it feels like you’re working just to keep your head above water, that’s because the system is designed that way. It’s not a mistake that young people are buried in debt before they even have a chance to build real wealth. Every step of the way, banks, corporations, and lenders set up financial traps that make it nearly impossible to break free.

Student loans, credit card debt, rent hikes, and low wages all work together to keep people in a constant cycle of owing more than they earn. What’s worse is that these systems are sold as opportunities—higher education, financial flexibility, a chance to live the American Dream. In reality, they’re carefully crafted to keep you paying for life. If you’ve ever wondered why it feels like getting ahead is impossible, here’s a breakdown of the worst financial traps keeping young people chained to debt.

Rules for Living At Home With Parents To Save Money

March 17, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

A guide to fostering harmony and financial growth at home.

Living at home with your parents as an adult can be a smart way to save money, but it’s not without its challenges. The arrangement calls for mutual understanding, compromise, and clear boundaries to maintain a respectful, stress-free environment.

While it may feel like a return to childhood for some, embracing this setup with intentionality and respect can make it both financially beneficial and personally enriching.

Establishing clear rules and guidelines is the key to balancing independence with shared responsibilities, allowing everyone involved to thrive. Here’s a thoughtful guide to navigating life at home with your parents while you save money, without sacrificing your relationships or sense of self.

Smart Millennials Are Ditching These 10 Money Rules and Getting Richer for It

March 17, 2025 by James Clendenin

The old money rules don’t work anymore, and millennials know it.

Personal finance advice hasn’t changed much in decades, but the world has. Older generations built their wealth with steady jobs, pensions, and homes they bought for a fraction of today’s prices. Millennials, on the other hand, are dealing with skyrocketing costs, student loan debt, and an economy that doesn’t reward traditional financial habits the way it used to. So instead of blindly following outdated money rules, they’re rewriting them.

Breaking the “rules” might sound reckless, but for many millennials, it’s actually the smartest path to financial success. They’re rethinking homeownership, prioritizing flexibility over stability, and refusing to tie up their money in places that don’t serve them.

The financial moves that once seemed safe are now holding people back, while the so-called risks are turning out to be better bets. Here’s how smart millennials are ditching conventional wisdom—and coming out ahead.