You're listening to Life Kit, from NPR.

Hey everybody, it's Mariel.

Okay, before we jump into the episode,

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It's a new year, so I'm about to say a word that may elicit some groans.

It's time to look at your budget. Now when I say budget, I mean a spending plan. How are you

using your money right now? And is that how you want to be using it?

Rita Solidad Fernandez-Paulino is CEO of Wealth Palatoros and a money and

self-care coach. To refresh your budget means that you're going to sit down, you're

going to look at how you are currently spending your money by reviewing

your bank statements, your credit card statements, and decide whether hey

maybe you need to be spending more on some self-care expenses or maybe you want to

start paying more than just the minimum debt payments or it's time that you want

to invest beyond your employer retirement count. Now if you're worried this is

going to be an exercise in austerity and restriction

...