SoFi Blog

When you work hard, you want to play hard. We get it. You deserve to enjoy the finer things in life, and you can have them—you just have to be smart and strategic with your spending. Sticking to a budget while saving toward financial goals doesn’t mean you can’t splurge a little. In this, our second story in a series on spending hacks, we continue to help you figure it all out. With some savvy tweaks and an eye for planning ahead, you can have what you want.

It’s time once again to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, which means a lot of people have luck on the brain. Well, luck and green beer.

But if you’re one of the 37 million Americans making a student loan payment this month, you know it’s going to take more than a few four-leaf clovers to get out of debt any time soon. Wondering how to pay off student loans fast without having to win the lottery? Make your own student loan luck with one of these student loan repayment options.

Ready to make your debt sweat in the New Year?

Whether it’s a credit card carrying around extra poundage after the holidays, a student loan that sweats when it walks up the stairs, or a mortgage that requires multiple airplane seats, we’ve got a plan that will whip your debt into shape by making it so skinny, it literally disappears.

Read on for our 5-step debt shape-up guide, and make 2016 the year you shed some serious debt.

Has anyone else noticed an uptick in conversation about personal finance this month? As someone who’s worked in the financial industry for many years, I’m always pleasantly surprised when the rest of the world becomes more interested in the topics I deal with every day – things like investing, saving, and debt management.

Paying for a wedding these days is no joke. With the average cost weighing in at more than $31,000 (a five-year high) it’s little wonder that a growing number of couples are looking for ways to save on the big day. But at the same time, you (ideally) only get to do this once, so you want to do it right.

If you’re in this camp, check out these five easy swaps that keep your budget under control – without compromising your vision for the special day.