News to Use: Resources to Help You Thrive on a Budget
It feels like the world is in a weird place right now—which is saying something, after living through more than two years of health, societal and political emergencies.
What’s strange about these times is that they feel like a moment of “in-between.” We have vaccines, but COVID still exists. Layoffs have hit certain sectors hard, and yet people are quitting jobs in droves as part of the Great Resignation. Inflation is high, but the jury is still out on whether an official “recession” will hit.
That last point has been pretty brutal for most of us. Even though politicians debate the severity of inflation, it’s clear that most Americans are feeling its impact on everyday items like groceries, gas, clothing, etc. Hoosiers haven’t escaped these economic pressures. In an effort to extend the Hoosier Hospitality that seems to only grow in times of trouble, we’ve put together a list of resources that we hope will help you not just to survive but to thrive—on any budget.
BUDGET HELP
The Penny Hoarder – ThePennyHoarder.com – FREE to sign up for email newsletters: One of the most comprehensive sites for people looking to save money. It houses a “Work from Home” job board that’s well vetted, breaks down all financial-related legislation (stimulus packages, student loan forgiveness programs, etc.) and sends emails that contain money-saving tips and products that are always relevant.
Mint – Mint.Intuit.com – FREE to use: An app that helps you manage your spending through syncing your bank accounts, gathering your monthly bills and expenses, tracking investments and retirement funds, and tracking your credit score without penalization. The visuals are helpful and powerful; it’s basically what Michael Scott wanted Oscar to build him before he tried to outrun his debt on The Office.
JOB & SIDE HUSTLE HELP
edX – edX.org – FREE website: Similar to General Assembly, this is a hub of courses from little-known places like Harvard, Berkeley and Columbia. You can audit many of these classes for free; for a small fee, you can also receive a certificate at the end.
The Mom Project – TheMomProject.com – FREE to sign up for job board: A job board and career development hub for moms and other caregivers, The Mom Project is free to sign-up and use! In addition to being a well-organized job board that delivers a personalized list of openings to your inbox, they also offer career workshops and scholarships for career-building workshops and courses.
GROCERY HELP
Wildwood Market – WildwoodMarket.com – Indy-based grocer: Just outside of downtown’s circle center in Fountain Square, Wildwood Market delivers local goods and prepared foods handled with care. They often have a dedicated area of vegetables that are perfectly fine to eat but are coming close to their expiration date or are simply not the belles of the ball, for discount prices or free.
Imperfect Foods – ImperfectFoods.com – food delivery website: Speaking of strange-looking but still delicious foods, Imperfect Foods is a site dedicated to reducing food waste and making shopping easier and more affordable. Prices vary based on the type of food you order. You can choose from a spectrum of “conventional” to “organic”, your delivery area and how much you order (shipping is free on orders of $60 or more), but I can tell you that my weekly delivery of a mix of foods for a household of two adults, one kid and a dog is about $45–55 for a wide variety of foods.
*Bonus resources! Head over to Ibotta.com and Rakuten.com to find coupons and get cash back for purchases made at over 3,500 stores. It’s as easy as downloading the app or adding the extension to your browser, shopping at your favorite stores and getting cash back via check or PayPal.
THRIFTING & UPCYCLING HELP
thredUp – thredUp.com – FREE online consignment and thrift store: A website that’s good for your wallet and the planet, thredUp is a site for all your clothing needs. With filters on filters that allow you to select your size, your preferred brand, trend, discount and more, you can find what you want at the price you want. They do have a premium section that’s a little pricier when you feel like splurging without the guilt.
Retro Metro – Instagram.com/indyremetro/ – Indy-based consignment store: Once described as “a thrift shopper’s dream” by WRTV, Retro Metro is located on the northeast of Indianapolis and invites around 45 makers to display and sell their art, furniture, clothing and everything in between. While the shop boasts unique and eccentric treasures, one thing many of the makers have in common is that their items are upcycled, which means they create high-quality products like purses, tables, hats and more out of previously discarded items.
TRAVEL HELP
Skyscanner – Skyscanner.com – FREE website: I’ve been using this site for years to find the best deals based on my sometimes very picky flying criteria. These days, it looks similar to the Google Flights system, but I still like some of the filtering options and the “Can’t decide where? Click here to search everywhere” option. I also like how they add on a hotel price in a clear, noninvasive way, and like Google Flights, you can set an alert that tracks certain flights and trips you have your eye on.
Hopper – Hopper.com – FREE app: A hotel-focused app that points you to amazing last-minute hotel deals. A former colleague of mine used to book flights, then wait until the day before or even the day of arrival to jump on Hopper and find affordable hotel deals at major hotels. He says that it hasn’t failed him yet!
SELF-CARE HELP
FitOn – FitOnApp.com – FREE app: There are a lot of great fitness apps out there, but I’ve yet to find an app that offers so many different kinds of workouts, from yoga to weight training to pre- and post-natal and everything in between. Plus, the trainers really do have their own styles and expertise, and you have access to all of the workouts and trainers for FREE! They have a premium, paid option for additional nutrition and customization options.
The Little Book of Hygge – Amazon.com – FREE on Kindle for Prime members: Based on the Danish idea of living a happy life, this quick read is filled with beautiful insights and tips on how the Danes build happy lives as they contend with long, very cold winters. These long winters mean they have to make the most of their homes through great food, mindful house design, gatherings with small groups of friends and lots of time by themselves. It’s a book that reminds you that you don’t have to spend a lot or have a lot to be happy.
Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI) – MHAI.net – FREE website: It’s no secret that the pandemic emphasized the importance of good mental health. Even though certain aspects of the pandemic have subsided, dealing with financial stressors and continued challenges from a rough couple of years means most of us could benefit from some sort of help and connection with others. MHAI is a website where Hoosiers can access resources, counseling and events that can help them make mental health a priority.
