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August 7, 2023

It's time for a Summer Declutter!

...because every #hotgirlsummer (or lukewarm one, if you're anything like me) needs an easy cooldown.

August is officially upon us! And although Summer is still summerin', there is no denying that we're in the final month of our sunnier days. The good news is that, before we know it, #warmgirlautumn will be upon us and that's always fun. The less good news? Some of us will have to pay for the price of summer and the endless temptations and fun that come with it.

That's why we're offering up tips and advice for how to recoup from months of fun and the sun. Because the earlier, the better.

Fun fact: This week is National Book Lover's Day! Scroll down for Holly's (TFD's Creative Director and book club Prezzy) latest reading rec!

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Just joining us? Why, hello: Welcome to this week's edition of the TFD newsletter. Thank you all for coming to this special little corner of the TFD community :)

For those who are new to TFD, welcome! We are an independent, all-women media company dedicated to helping you talk about money and live better with what you have. You can find us on YouTube, our website, Instagram, and hosting many money-centric digital events.

I hope you all have a great day, and we'll see you in your inbox next week!

<3 Soraya, Sr. Managing Editor, TFD Branded Content

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by Soraya Joseph

First thing first - what is "digital clutter?" Like any physical mess, digital clutter is the disorganization of your data, files and digital devices. It can appear in many forms — a crowded inbox, unwanted and space-taking apps or dozens of unused files on your desktop screen. In a time where technology pretty much runs everything, digital clutter doesn't just slow down your phone or laptop, it can also hold you back as well!

Which is why digital decluttering is so important, both for our wallet and overall wellness! Digital decluttering is essentially the act of clearing out your computer, phone, tablet, etc., of all the apps and files you're no longer using, in order to make room for the ones that are useful.

Check out our digital declutter checklist, which includes 3 ways to minimize your digital clutter, and 3 “what-to-do-nows” to elevate your organization and finance habits from there!

1. Unsubscribe From Subscriptions You Don't Need or Use

Whether it's a streaming service you rarely use or stopped using after that “free trial period" or an ancient gym membership, it may be time to hit "cancel.”If you're trying to better control your shopping habit, unsubscribe from all of those promotional store updates. If you tried (and failed) to get into an e-newsletter or two, take yourself off that list as well. Even if you're part of a free mailing list, it doesn't mean you have to commit to a subscription. Not to mention, sometimes things that appear free, may cost you later (e.g. flash sale alerts!) So remove yourself from any subscription that doesn't add value to your lifestyle or puts your spending impulses at risk.

• 🔲 What to do now: after an unsubscription haul, it's time to consider how to better optimize the extra money you're saving, as well as how to avoid getting lost in the ‘hyper-subscription’ sauce in the future. One app I’ve used is Rocket Money to help me locate some of the extension-streaming apps I forgot about (like my impulse purchase of Shudder during last year’s spooky season 👻). It also helps you manage your subscription list all in one place as well as helps track and locate any future ones.

2. Zero-Down Your Inbox

This one is pretty straight to the point. Carving out a few hours to clean up your busiest inboxes (from work to personal emails) can make a load of difference when it comes to organization. Aside from the satisfaction of zeroing down your inbox and spam folders, adjusting your Google alerts, removing yourself from old mailing lists, and simply catching up on emails can take a load off your anxiety (and phone notifications)! Overall, clearing out your inbox by way of unsubscribing from junk mail, opening and/or deleting old emails, and so forth is so satisfying and important for organization!

• 🔲 What to do now: Now that your inbox is feeling refreshed, consider playing around with certain email tools (such as the "Unsend" feature on Gmail, which allows you to retract an email up to 30 seconds after hitting send) or even drafting certain default response emails for work, to readily have on hand. You can also play around with the scheduling tool, too. Also, sorting which recipients are considered priority mail vs. promotional or otherwise is great for future mail retrieval and sorting.

3. Do an App Audit

This one can sometimes be the toughest but it's the best when it's done and done right! Take inventory of your phone's apps and get rid of the ones you rarely or never use. Many phones have an "App Manager" feature that allows you to view your apps based on usage, size, etc. Delete the ones you rarely open. As for the ones you open too much (such as social media apps) consider adding timers to them, in order to control the time spent on each one. You'd be surprised how much wasted energy can go into doom-scrolling.

• 🔲 What to do now: Similarly, think of some apps you could use. Consider downloading two to three that can bring some added functionality and value to your bank account and life. This may include an app to store and sort your receipts, receive positive affirmations and so forth. I personally love the Finch app for mood elevation. Other readers have praised Mint as a good budget tracker. Plus it's beginner friendly!

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We hope the above tips and tools help you with your digital decluttering journey and help kick off (or better reinforce) your organization journey in all areas of your life.

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"I just read the book Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, which is definitely one of the books of the moment (a Reese's book club pick!). This was the second book of hers I've read and I loved both. It was a thriller about racism and the literary/publication world — it was so gripping, I couldn't put it down!" - Holly

If anyone forgot about Carly Rae Jepsen (yes, the Call Me Maybe girl), I want to let you know that she's still releasing music and it's elevated pop perfection. Western Wind is on constant repeat at my house, it's the dreamiest summertime soundscape 🌴" - Heather

"I have filed this reel under "comedic masterpiece." I'm not going to give too much away but for context, it pokes fun at the many misspellings of a particular word on message boards. I'll say less. Just watch it!" - Soraya

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Here's a quick snapshot of some NEW and EXCITING things happening around the TFD-verse:

✨ NEW EPISODE: The Reverse Budget - What It Is & Why You Need One: ATTN: CALLING ALL THOSE WHO HATE (OR CAN'T STICK TO) BUDGETING! This week we kick off week one of the 3-part series of 'The Financial Foundation.' Hosted by friend of TFD, attorney, and all-around financial mastermind Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez from Zero-Based Budget! Cindy, who grew up low-income and graduated college with over $200+ of student debt, talks about financial rehabilitation and the reverse budget - a foolproof tactic for those of us who are too lazy or busy to think too hard about how to create a budget.

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✨ ICYMI: We Need To Talk About Pretty Privilege - The Economics of Hotness: In this episode, Chelsea dives deeply into the shallow reality of "pretty privilege," and how it pays — and how it doesn't pay — to be considered 'conventially attractive' in our society. BONUS: The comment section is on fire. Join in on the conversation!

✨ AS ALWAYS: Follow us on TikTok!

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✨ If you haven't already, check out TFD ON PATREON!

...or you can join The Society via Youtube.

50% off all digital events. Our memberships pay for themselves over and over again!