Afford Anything

Tag: psa thursday

By Paula Pant

PSA Thursday – Actions Speak Louder Than Words

This has been an exceptionally painful week. 

We have muted the podcast thusfar this week, in support of the #amplifymelanatedvoices movement, the #amplifyblackvoices movement, and in support of the #theshowmustbepaused movement. 

We have assembled a list of resources that highlight a variety of books, websites, podcasts, nonprofit organizations and GoFundMe campaigns that I would like to direct your attention to in lieu of our normal programming. These resources can be found below.

This podcast, as I say in every episode introduction, is dedicated to two questions: first, what are your priorities? Second, how do you align your limited resources — including your time, money, energy and attention — to the things that matter most? 

If dismantling systemic racism and social and economic injustice is a priority to you, as it is to me, then the challenge that we as a community face is answering that tough question. We’ve identified the priority. How do we align our money and time to support that priority?

I have intentionally designed Afford Anything to be a nonpartisan platform. All major party affiliations are welcome here. All religions are welcome here. All people who have love in their heart are welcome here. 

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By Paula Pant

PSA Thursday – Your Guide to Giving: How to Donate, Volunteer and Practice Spontaneous Kindness

Let’s start with the good news: the majority of U.S. households, 6 in 10, donate money to nonprofits and charities, and 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. volunteer their time and talent.

The only way our society is going to get through the struggles and the stresses that we face is if we are good to each other. Compassion and common humanity are crucial.

In this PSA episode we discuss strategies around giving, including how to donate money and volunteer time effectively, as well as how to embrace the opportunity to practice informal, random, spontaneous acts of kindness.

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By Paula Pant

PSA Thursday: How Can I End 2020 in a Stronger Position Than I Started It?

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic.

Today, our discussion focuses on work. 

How can you find business and investment opportunities in today’s tough pandemic bear market? 

What should you do to emerge from 2020 stronger than you started?

We tackle this question in today’s PSA Thursday episode. Here are 7 specific, immediate actions that can set you up to succeed in this recession.

#1: Keep your plans intact.

Don’t rewrite your life plans based on fear or anxiety. 

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By Erin @ Team Afford Anything

PSA Thursday: How Is The Pandemic Affecting the Housing Market?

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic.

Before the pandemic, the U.S. housing market was strong. Home prices were at historic highs. Borrowers were more qualified than ever, with two-thirds of mortgage originations going to borrowers with excellent credit. As of January 2020, delinquencies (borrowers more than 30 days late on a payment) reached a 20-year low.

How has the pandemic affected the market? Are we due for another spate of foreclosures? What’s going to happen to housing supply? What about demand? Are buyers still buying? Are sellers still selling? And if you’re thinking about buying a home — either as an owner-occupant or as a rental property investor — what do you need to know about the new pandemic landscape?

We dig into depth in this short, researched-packed PSA Thursday episode.

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By Erin @ Team Afford Anything

PSA Thursday: How Bad Is the Stock Market Crash?

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a somewhat-weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic.

The majority of us have experienced a rapid change that’s affected every aspect of our lives, from work to our wallets to our health. We’re living in a world that was completely unimaginable two months ago. And we’re trying to handle increased responsibility in a time of high anxiety and high uncertainty.

These weekly PSA episodes are one of many ways in which we hope to help our community make sense of how to manage our limited resources – our money, our time, our energy – in the context of these rapidly changing circumstances. 

Today, our focus is on money – specifically, the stock market. 

Why did it crash in March? What effect did that have on us as a society? Why has it rebounded in the middle of a shutdown, and what does that mean? Are valuations too high relative to earnings? 

How can we handle our investments and retirement savings at a time when the movements of the market seem irrational and unpredictable?

We explore these questions in today’s episode.

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By Erin @ Team Afford Anything

PSA Thursday: 31 Tips to Stay Productive As You Work From Home

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic.

Today’s focus is work. Specifically, working from home, and how to stay focused and productive throughout your day.

Getting thrown into working from home when all you’ve known is the office life can be hard. Especially when there are added distractions involved that you don’t have to deal with at the office, like your kids, a pile of dishes, or your gloriously-stocked refrigerator.

How can you manage the expectations of both your colleagues and the people you live with? How can you find a routine when you feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions? How can you ensure your kids are taken care of and your boss/manager/client is happy?

Listen to the episode to discover the 31 tips we recommend for staying productive as you work from home.

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By Erin @ Team Afford Anything

PSA Thursday: How to Build an Emergency Fund During an Emergency

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic.

Today, we cover two topics:

1. Building an emergency fund during an emergency
2. How the bear market affects the way that you handle your investments

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By Paula Pant

PSA Thursday: Social Distancing is Social Solidarity

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‪My chief overriding mission is to use this platform to do everything in my power to help slow the spread of coronavirus. I’d also like to provide as much guidance as possible in this turbulent bear market and potential recession.

To do that, I’m introducing a new segment to the podcast: PSA Thursdays.

In this special weekly segment, I’ll talk about how we can:

— Flatten the curve
— Manage our finances in a turbulent market
— Work from home more productively
— Help friends and neighbors who are affected by economic stress

Here’s today’s episode, below. Enjoy from a safe distance six feet away.  🙂

P.S. Wash your hands! 🙂

PSA Thursday – 3/19/20: Social Distancing is Social Solidarity

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