Welcome back to Money Girl. This is a special show, episode 1,000. It's a huge milestone that would not be possible without you. So I can't thank you enough for sharing this journey with me, whether you've listened to one or one thousand episodes.

I'm Laura Adams, an award-winning author, spokesperson, content creator, and founder of the

money stack. That's my substack newsletter. You can learn more at laura d adams.com. Today, I am sticking

with a 1,000 theme and sharing seven smart ways to manage an extra

$1,000. And along the way, I'll feature a few comments and tips from listeners who have been

part of the money girl journey. All right, so let's talk about these seven ways to spend a thousand. I think whenever

you get extra money, you know, whether it's a tax refund, a bonus at work, or, you know, you've just

been diligently saving, having an extra $1,000 can be a powerful moment to make this surplus go even

further. So I'll review the best ways to make this cash work

hard for you, depending on your financial situation. And even if you don't have that much

extra money, these tips will still help you prioritize your finances. So tip number one,

build your emergency savings. When you have extra money,

my first recommendation is to review your savings. And I know you've heard me say this before if you've been listening to Money Girl. If you don't already have a healthy cash reserve,

building it should be your top priority.

So if your emergency fund doesn't exist yet, or it's just too small, moving $1,000 or any amount of extra money into an FDIC insured high yield savings account is the smartest way to use it. And last week's podcast,

episode 999, called What is the Best High Yield Savings Account, covers what you need to know about

choosing and using these terrific high-interest accounts. A cash cushion helps you manage financial hardship, avoid dead, and reduce stress.

Even a small fund is better than nothing, and it can be your most valuable safety net when

something unexpected happens. And you know, that happens to all of us. I know saving extra money

instead of spending it on something fun might seem like a

downer, but it's an important move for navigating unexpected changes in your financial life,

like having a large expense or even a loss of income. While you won't earn a huge amount of

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