Author: Sandy Yong

Have you ever thought about owning a piece of real estate to earn money? Most people think of owning residential property, which they could rent out to tenants or become a host on Airbnb. But what are some other ways to invest in real estate with a lower barrier to entry and less involvement? Many non-traditional property investments could be viable options for you. Let’s explore the different ways to get started with micro-real estate investing. Looking Beyond Traditional Real Estate Investing Traditional real estate investing is often associated with residential housing. I am a traditional real estate investor, owning…

There are many creative people who love focusing on their craft. These talented individuals are poets, musicians, artists, designers, writers, and those who work in the entertainment industry. In the United States, 673,656 businesses create or distribute arts, employing 3.48 million people. This translates to roughly 4% of all U.S. businesses and around 2% of all U.S. employees. While there’s no doubt that mastering your skills is important, it’s equally as important to learn the ropes of running a successful business. Because, at the end of the day, you still have bills to pay. In school, you may not have…

Living Cash-Only for a Month: Will It Change Your Spending? By Sandy Yong You’ve created a budget and have tried time and again to get a handle on your spending. But every month, it seems like you’re spending beyond your means. You may have thought about switching to a cash-only budgeting system for a month to see what it feels like, but are unsure of how to start. Living on an all-cash budget can help to control your spending and undo some poor money habits. If you’re interested in learning how the process works, follow along as we explain the…

You’ve spent years climbing up the corporate ladder and have earned multiple accolades from your job. But now that you’ve reached mid-life, you’re starting to wonder if you should pursue a new career path. Maybe you feel like you’ve reached a plateau or your current work isn’t as fulfilling anymore. It’s been in the back of your mind, but between raising a family, and going to different activities and events, it’s been challenging to figure out what to do next. The good news is that you’re not a young adult who just graduated from college. You’re an accomplished individual who…

American families are dealing with the increasing cost of living. Your monthly budget may feel tight. You may be wondering if other families feel the pinch too? Well, according to a CNBC and SurveyMonkey survey, 65% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. So, you’re definitely not alone. The average American household spends about $6,545 per month (totaling $78,535 annually), according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The categories that families spend the most on are housing, transportation, and food. Although inflation and rising prices are making it challenging to keep up with…

We’ve all been told that part of the traditional American dream is to own a home. But the reality is that home prices have trended upwards. Unfortunately, this has made it challenging for aspiring homebuyers to get their foot in the door and enter the real estate market. According to the Federal Reserve’s Report on Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024 to May 2025, 63% of adults owned their homes, while 28% rented. What’s interesting is that those with higher incomes are more likely to own a home, as those with lower incomes are more likely to rent. What’s…

Have you ever wondered how your money could grow if you simply invested $10 a day for an entire year? It’s a low-effort habit that’s accessible and affordable for many Americans, who may not be able to set aside large lump sums at once. Instead of letting your cash sit idle and earn little to no interest, you could put it to work. Parking it in a high-yield savings account that earns 2% interest annually would keep your money safe, but the growth would still be limited. So let’s run a simple experiment. What happens if you invest $10 a…

You’ve spent years climbing up the corporate ladder or starting your own side hustle. Perhaps you got promoted, received a raise, or built a profitable business. These are major accomplishments that you should be proud of. However, from a financial point of view, you don’t feel like you’re any better off than you were several years ago. The culprit? Lifestyle inflation, also known as lifestyle creep. There’s a false assumption people make. They believe that once they earn a higher salary, they will be ahead financially. Yet we see countless Americans earning six-figure incomes who are trying to make ends…

When you first opened your bank account, it was probably with the same bank your parents used. Banking becomes part of our lifestyle. From depositing our paychecks to paying bills, it’s something we access all the time. Part of achieving your financial goals is having a savings account. As you contribute money to your bank account, what you may not know is that your bank is making money off of your money. In fact, for the full year of 2025, the financial institutions reported a net income of $295.6 billion, according to the FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile. This was a…

Some financial gurus out there may want you to believe that credit cards are evil. Personally, I believe that they are powerful tools that can help you if you know how to use them wisely. If you don’t use them correctly, you could end up in a spiral of debt. Although if you learn the different ways to use them, they could give you a bunch of wonderful perks. Yes, you heard me correctly. The trick is to be disciplined with using your credit cards so that you can reap the benefits of having a boosted credit score (which comes…