SoFi Blog

Tips and news—
for your financial moves.

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5 New Baby Gifts (That Are More Useful Than Clothes)

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with giving expectant parents baby clothes (and those adorable little outfits can be so tempting to buy!). But, babies grow out of clothing quickly. Depending upon how fast they grow, you may purchase clothing that seasonally just doesn’t match with the baby’s size—and so, they never get worn.

Instead of buying the first cute outfit you see, think about a gift that might be more impactful than clothes. We’ve compiled five new baby gift ideas that are both thoughtful and practical—and go beyond the onesie.

These gifts range from those that can meet an immediate need to those that help parents to plan for their child’s future. Each of these ideas will work just as well as new baby girl gifts as they do for baby boys (and vice versa!).

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Make Your Small Bathroom Look Bigger in 8 Easy Steps

If you feel claustrophobic whenever you enter the loo, you might be racking your brain for ideas about how to make a small bathroom look bigger. Many apartments and homes have small bathrooms—but there are often ways to make better use of the space, or to decorate it so that it doesn’t feel as cramped.

Chances are, you spend a lot of time in your bathroom. It’s likely where you start and end your day, so you want it to be a place you can relax in and enjoy. With a few small changes, you could change your bathroom from a cramped space you avoid to a sanctuary where you can decompress.

Whether you want to get creative with paint or color schemes, add some mirrors, or completely gut the space and renovate it, there are lots of ways to make a small bathroom look bigger.

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A Look Into Elizabeth Warren’s Free College Plan

In our efforts to bring you the latest updates on things that might impact your financial life, we may occasionally enter the political fray, covering candidates, bills, laws and more. Please note: SoFi does not endorse or take official positions on any candidates and the bills they may be sponsoring or proposing. We may occasionally support legislation that we believe would be beneficial to our members, and will make sure to call it out when we do. Our reporting otherwise is for informational purposes only, and shouldn’t be construed as an endorsement.



Massachusetts senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren is taking charge of the heated national conversation regarding out-of-control college tuition costs. In April 2019, she released a $1.25 trillion proposal that addresses increasing college expenses and the widening student debt crisis.

“Higher education opened a million doors for me,” the senator wrote when she introduced the plan in a post on Medium . “It’s how the daughter of a janitor in a small town in Oklahoma got to become a teacher, a law school professor, a U.S. Senator, and eventually, a candidate for President of the United States. Today, it’s virtually impossible for a young person to find that kind of opportunity.”

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6 Side Jobs to Take Advantage of This Summer

Summer is on its way, and if you’re in college, you may find yourself with extra time to fill. Why not find a way to make extra money on the side? This could help you pay for school—and help you pay down debt when you’re finished with school. You could start looking for summer gigs now as some seasonal jobs may be starting to staff up.

You may already know about the traditional summer jobs, like lifeguard or camp counselor, but here are seven more ideas to help you make extra cash during the summer. And you don’t need to be a student for these—a side hustle could help anyone who needs a financial boost.

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Should You Take a Higher Paying Job With a Longer Commute?

You’ve been looking for a new gig for ages. Finally, you score a job offer. And it sounds amazing. You’re passionate about the work the company is doing, there are plenty of perks, and you really seemed to jibe with the folks you met during the interview process.

There’s just one downside: the commute. The hours you’ll potentially have to spend in the car driving to and from work have you wondering, “How far should I travel for work?”

The average commute time in the U.S. has been rising steadily over the past few years. The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey, shows that average commute times are now at 26.9 minutes, up from 26.6 minutes the year before. For the nearly 14 million Americans who spend an hour or more traveling to work, a 26-minute commute might be a welcome trade.

You may have already weighed your dream job versus the salary, too. If the job you’re considering also pays more, you might want to review the pros and cons. Weighing these factors could help you determine if the pay increase is worth the extra commute. If it’s time to leave your job and you are willing to put in more drive time for something better, there are a few things you could examine before signing your offer letter.

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