SoFi Blog

It happens to the best of us. You’ve got a totally watertight budget, covering every basic from housing to groceries to gas. You’ve even built in space for quality-of-life extras like a gym membership and a subscription to Spotify.

And for a few months the whole thing goes pretty well. You carefully watch where each and every hard-earned penny scurries off to, basking in your newfound feeling of fiscal control and responsibility.

So you decide to build in another, slightly loftier objective: a savings goal for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or to finally replace that junker you’ve been driving since you were literally in college.

And then, life happens. Maybe that beater you’re still relying on to get to work suddenly requires a repair, or you discover that moths spent the long summer months snacking on last year’s winter coat while it was in storage. Maybe a bicycle stunt lands you in Urgent Care, delicately cradling a broken wrist.

Or maybe you just lose track of those far-fledged ambitions when you see something shiny and new in a storefront window—or by frittering away your cash on tiny daily indulgences, whether they’re iced Americanos or ice cream cones.

No matter what it is that gets in your way, it’s all too easy to lose sight of financial goals, especially when the payoff is fairly far in the future.

It’s natural to be tempted to satisfy your current self at your future self’s expense. But there are ways around this common financial trap and they might be simpler than you think.

Summertime gets a lot of the travel glory. But when it comes to stellar travel times, fall is a bit of a hidden gem.

From high-spirited harvest festivals to flamboyant foliage, there’s all manner of reasons to take a trip this autumn—and if you’re looking for some inspiration, you’re in luck.

Summers are short and can feel like they’ve ended before they’ve hardly begun. If you’re sorry to see the summer go, one way to keep your chin up can be buying next year’s summer stuff on sale this year. Yep, it might feel a bit illogical to buy cool summer stuff when the weather turns cool, but the retailers are looking to unload. That’s when you swoop in and triumph. Buy now, keep your money later. Once the weather heats up again, you’ll be good to go.

Think of it this way: Retailers want to get it out the door, and you want to save your hard-earned money. It could be a win-win situation for everyone. Retailers typically like to stay one step ahead in both fashion and season, so if you can work it like the models on the runway, you might be able to buy next summer’s wardrobe in September when the end-of-season deals beckon.

This year, SoFi gave one lucky member the opportunity to win $50,000 with our 50x50x50 Money referral sweepstakes.

Members who referred friends to SoFi Checking and Savings® received $50 for themselves, $50 for their friend, and the chance at a $50,000 grand prize.

What would you do with an extra $50,000? While many might fantasize about using a $50,000 windfall to buy a fancy car or make a downpayment on a home, prize winner Denny is using his money for a much-needed financial reset to pay off debt and take care of his family.

On September 5th, people around the globe will be celebrating the International Day of Charity. The United
Nations established the annual event in 2012 to encourage nonprofits and individuals around the world to volunteer and contribute to philanthropic causes.

The date was chosen to honor the death of Mother Teresa, the nun and Nobel Peace Prize winner known for her work with the poor and ill in India and other countries. She died in 1997 at the age of 87.

You don’t necessarily have to dedicate your entire life to good works, as Mother Teresa did, to make a difference. The International Day of Charity 2019 can be the perfect time to give back in whatever way works for you.

Research shows that volunteering is good for you, improving mental and physical health, self-esteem, and happiness. Studies even suggest that it can alleviate depression and help you live longer.