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The 5 Biggest Haircut Trends Sweeping NYC This Fall

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Think of the quintessential New York City girl. Maybe she's waiting in line for a $1 slice of pizza at 2 a.m., long glossy black hair tucked into the collar of her faded denim jacket. Or, she's looking down at her phone on the opposite side of the subway platform, with flirty platinum blonde bangs and a warm smile that shatters any misconception that Manhattanites are unfriendly. Any loyal Angeleno will tell you, the world's best hair salons are off the 405, but a real, no-BS New Yorker will counter with: "Have you met my stylist?"

Ahead, we're breaking down the five chicest hair trends sweeping The Big Apple this fall. And more than just photo inspiration, you'll find out exactly what you should ask for and how to style it on your own hair texture. So, even if your go-to salon is far from the city that never sleeps — in both location and spirit — take this guide to your next appointment. You'll find yourself with a cut that gives you instant cool-girl vibes.

Choppy Bob

What to ask for: A blunt cut that falls between the cheekbone and just below the chin

"The timeless bob is extremely versatile on a young woman with naturally straight, wavy, or curly texture — no matter her face shape," says Alex Osorio Castro, an NYC-based stylist for UNITE. "When consulting your stylist, bring photos of the bob chops that inspire you."

The best part of this cut is that you can take a hands-off approach. "The real fashion element of this cut is the texture," Castro says. "As stylists, we can add natural volume and movement and provide you with a product regimen that works for you, so you can embrace your natural texture with minimal effort. Don't be afraid to allow your hair to naturally dry with this cut."

Courtesy of Alex Osario Castro

Castro tells us your stylist should take both your hair texture and your face shape into consideration when cutting your hair short and blunt. This bob — with the loosely textured waves and a baby bang — is truly one of a kind.

If your hair is curly, lean into the shape your hair falls into naturally, and don't flatten curls to fit into a certain shape. Take inspiration from this chin-length bob that takes on a gorgeous, angular look.

Micro Bang Pixie Cut

What to ask for: A textured pixie with short, fluttery bangs

"This slightly tapered pixie haircut keeps popping into my chair, and I've absolutely fallen in love with it," says stylist Deanna Brown of DevaChan Salon in SoHo. The slightly grown-out pixie with an imperfect mini bang works on a range of hair textures, from very fine to naturally curly — but the important part is to be loyal to the maintenance, keeping the sides short and groomed.

With hair this short, don't fight your natural texture. Put away your blowdryer, and do all your styling in the shower. Opt for co-wash or moisturizing shampoo like Hair Rituel's Revitalizing Smoothing Shampoo (a French favorite), which has macadamia and moringa oils to make everything glossy and easier to air-dry.

Even though it's a shorter cut, a pixie with a bang can be styled in multiple ways. You can add texture through the on top with styling wax to play up those flirty wisps that fall around your upper forehead. Or, you can slick all the hair down with mousse for a wet look.

For natural hair, this pixie trend translates into a sharp, tapered cut, like this style spotted at the Hair Rules Salon. Let the front coils fall down onto the forehead, or use a blowdryer to add volume and height.

Mid-Length Blunt Lob

What to ask for: A blunt cut that falls at or below your shoulders with invisible layers

Joseph Maine, a stylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in NYC tells us that the blunt lob is very popular right now, but that the stylist shouldn't cut it razor-sharp. "With this cut, I always cut into it to achieve some added texture and movement," Maine explains. "I like adding invisible layers — you can tell there are shorter bits throughout, but you can’t tell where they start or end."

The sharp yet soft lob feels like an oxymoron. But look closely and you can see both elements — the crisp ends with an effortless bend and layers creating movement throughout.

Maine tells us that he loves this blunt, longer cut because it's much easier to manage than a bitty bob or a pixie, especially if your hair is already long. "The blunt bob grows out really well," he explains. "It's easy to manage on all textures, and looks great in so many styles, just flip your hair against its natural part for added lift and that perfect photo finish."

Extra-Long Cut With Face-Framing Layers

What to ask for: Long, gradual layers, plus a soft, face-framing fringe that falls between the chin and cheekbone.

Long hair is currently trending in East Coast salons (and in L.A., too). NYC girls are adding a soft '70s flair to their length. "This cut delivers 'change' without second thoughts," says Lexi Salkin of Blackstones Salon on the Lower East Side, meaning she has no problem convincing her clientele to welcome the scissors for this style. "This length is often accompanied by subtle internal layering and looks great with a range of bangs and face-framing layers." Our opinion? The look combines the softness of Brigitte Bardot’s iconic long, blonde hair and the grit of Farrah Fawcett epic shag, without being obvious or severe.

At NYC's Warren Tricomi Salon, stylists are giving clients gradual layers around the face for dimension, with a long curtain fringe that can be tucked behind the ears or fall down around the cheekbone.

Long hair is the White Rose Collective bread and butter. There, master stylist Teddi Cranford infuses long hair with layers and a face halo fringe — the dimension is super subtle, but really opens up the whole face.

Shaggy Mullet Cut

What to ask for: A shaggy lob with straight-across bangs

This cut was huge in L.A. this summer and has infiltrated NYC in a big way. The difference here is that the length is a bit longer, with the cut falling more around the shoulder blades as opposed to the short bob range. The cut is perfect for those with curly hair, who want a style that has an element of playfulness (the bang), but doesn't compromise too much in length.

“Think about what length will work best with your natural texture," says Darby Joseph, stylist at Brooklyn's Whiteroom Salon. "Curlier hair will be great at any length. There should be a fair amount of weight removal so the ends look lived in. The bangs can be short or long, depending on your preference, just keep the texture and style uniform with the rest of the hair.”

Drew Mickel at Salon AKS in New York reimagined the mullet cut by adding fluttery bangs down to the lashes and playing up the texture.

The curlier your natural texture, the better, as evidenced by this messy, corkscrew curly lob. The styling variations will depend on your hair texture and preferred bang — you can play with the length and choppiness depending on your aesthetic.

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Why Women Are Betting On Beto O'Rourke

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Ahead of the October 9 deadline, a massive number of Texans are registered to vote — some 15.69 million, a record number according to the secretary of state. That’s a big deal in the state that is 49th in voter turnout and home to one of the most-watched Senate races in the country, with incumbent Republican Ted Cruz polling ahead of Democratic challenger and new party golden boy Beto O’Rourke by a smaller margin than the party is used to — or comfortable with. After years of apathy, it seems Texans are suddenly interested in participating in mass numbers. And a huge number of those newly incentivized voters are women.

President Donald Trump promised to hold a “major” rally in support of Cruz in October, tweeting that it would be in “the biggest stadium in Texas we can find.” But plans on his official schedule for such a rally haven’t manifested, and aren’t likely to. While Trump's approval is expectedly split along party lines, he only has a 42% approval with Texas women. And some of that contempt may be trickling down to Cruz: According to a Quinnipiac poll, women in Texas are favoring O'Rourke, at 52% to Cruz's 46%.

O’Rourke has kept his campaign more homespun than Cruz. In September, he sang at a rally with Austin native Willie Nelson — an event that would set a record for attendance at a political rally since the 2016 election with some 55,000 people showing up. The GOP started something they couldn’t finish when they tweeted a photo of O’Rourke’s band from the ‘90s in which a very young, very handsome Beto donned a dress. It didn’t take long for people to remind Cruz that he was once a creepy mime and that he probably shouldn’t make fun of O’Rourke for his rock band past.

Being easy on the eyes and a shared history with members of the Mars Volta isn’t all O’Rourke has going for him in the eyes of Texas liberals. There’s also his sense of inclusiveness. For a white man running in Texas, he spends a lot of time advocating for minorities, immigrants, the incarcerated, and women.

In Dallas, O’Rourke notched a last big appearance before the state’s voter registration deadline on October 9 at the Buffalo Tree Festival, headlined by Austin indie rockers Spoon.

Photo: Loren Elliott/Getty Images.

As much as the festival itself had a peaceful hippie vibe where families and leashed dogs are welcome, the inner thoughts of many of the 5,000 attendees were plastered all over their outfits. Among the sea of pro-Beto t-shirts, I spot a 30-something woman in a shirt that reads “Not Today Satan,” and a middle-aged blonde woman wearing a red “Nevertheless She Persisted” tee. The volunteer with a clipboard who registers me to vote is wearing a Planned Parenthood button that reads: “Don’t fuck with us, can’t fuck without us.” A woman manning the American Pakistani Public Affairs table wears an American flag as her hijab and a biker chick strolls by me in a hand-painted denim vest with an American flag and the word “Beto” under it.

I think you must find the common ground that exists, no matter how narrow or small that might be and enlarge it as you can.

“My vote was already with Beto, but I came to support,” says Lauren McCarthy, a 25-year-old resident of downtown Dallas with heavy black-rimmed glasses and curly hair. “I’m not a hardcore Democrat, more of a Libertarian. I would never go to a rally, that’s not me and not most younger people. This festival is an easier environment that’s comfortable with no pressure.”

The notion of a candidate not only speaking to women but caring about the lives of Black and brown women is noted in the community. “I’m here because I thought that as a Black woman it’s necessary to show up to these events. I decided to check it out because it’s a political rally, not for the music,” says Barbara Jalloul, 19. “I wanted to see who I want to vote for up close.”

Backstage, before his headline speech, O’Rourke tells Refinery29 that he knows he has to lead on women’s issues and make them a central, up-front part of his campaign. Healthcare has been an issue of hot debate in the state, with current Texas attorney general Ken Paxton executing lawsuits to repeal Obamacare and force abortion restriction not only across the state but in federal courts — all under the leadership of state governor Greg Abbott. A part of what is drawing so many women to O'Rourke — even those who are opposed to abortion like evangelical Christian women.

“I think you must find the common ground that exists, no matter how narrow or small that might be and enlarge it as you can,” O’Rourke says, insisting that most people agree that women should have the right to make their own choices about their bodies. “When you share that as we’ve shut down all these family planning clinics, we have become the leader in repeat teen pregnancy in this state [it’s clear that] fewer women making informed decisions about their bodies. When I share with people that by law not a dime of federal taxpayer money can be used to fund an abortion but it can be there to help a woman get access to a cervical cancer screening, that’s some common ground that I can find, perhaps even with Governor Abbott. I don’t know, but I’ll seek it.”

O’Rourke has famously visited all of the 254 counties in Texas during his campaign. The plan was to talk to everyone, even the people who don’t traditionally vote for Democratic candidates because if elected he will represent all of the people of Texas. It’s a major change from Republicans, who speak to their base voters and choose to gerrymander the rest of the state out of having a voice. If money talks and bullshit walks, it’s worth noting that O’Rourke’s campaign raised a record $38 million in donations in the last quarter, strictly from individual donors with a majority of that money coming from Texans, even though he himself has gone viral and attracted attention across the country. It’s three times what Cruz’s campaign earned.

“I love stuff like this, I always come to the Homegrown [music] festival, which is also in Main Street Park. This is by far the most crowded that I’ve seen it,” Tara Manzo, 35 told Refinery29. “I’m especially into supporting Beto and turning Texas blue.”

Women, from music fans to school teachers to housewives, are going to great lengths to support the O’Rourke campaign. On Facebook, I see that a friend who grew up in Texas but now lives in Los Angeles has volunteered to come back home and canvas for the campaign. A college girlfriend is running his phone banks in Austin. A student in a writing class where I was a teaching assistant is registering voters in North Texas and campaigning for Beto. There are at least a half dozen Beto yard signs on my block and neighbors offering to bring new ones by when those get stolen.

Women in Texas are involved, both by running in elections and making their voices heard, in a way I haven’t felt in this state in a long time. A record number of women were on the ballot this year, with some 50 plus women ran in Congress the Texas primaries in 2018, with hundreds more running for local office across the state.

O’Rourke says he doesn’t know the demographic breakdown off hand, but that he’s noticed a lot of Texas school teachers approaching him. “Most of [the teachers] have been women who have approached me at town halls. [Campaign spokesman] Chris Evans and I were eating at a restaurant yesterday in Dallas and two school teachers said they were waiting tables because they also teach school and couldn’t afford to do just one,” O’Rourke says. “That’s a cause for real concern and anxiety.”

Photo: Courtesy of Mike Brooks.

O’Rourke tells Refinery29 that the palpable anger of women, which has been amplified in the wake of the Kavanaugh hearings and Cruz’s vote in support of the newest Supreme Court Justice, is a huge driver in his campaign. He talks about an impactful conversation he had with Alisa L. Simmons, leader of the NAACP in nearby Arlington, TX on the state’s notoriously high maternal mortality rates, which are only higher for women of color. Those rates have been climbing with the closing of women’s health and reproductive clinics.

“We’re in the same state that, in 2011, began to systematically shut down family planning clinics and access to healthcare that saves women’s lives,” O’Rourke says. “But Arlington is also a city that doesn’t have a reliable mass transit system. So, if you think about women who are working not just one job but maybe two or three jobs and are getting rides from friends or colleagues to those jobs — even if they have health care, and we are the least insured state in the country, their ability to get transport to a clinic or hospital is marginal at best. Women who are able to get care, depending on their race or ethnicity, are not getting the same quality of care, with really tragic outcomes.”

The extraordinary leadership we need comes not just from officeholders and candidates but from people. That leadership is here in extraordinary numbers in Texas.

Just a month away from the election, all of the Democratic candidates trying to turn Texas blue are still trailing in the polls — every outlet has them all, including O’Rourke, down from their challengers. With the final fundraising date past, it’s looking very tight for the blue wave to we should have some sort of wave/water metaphor here. Giving these speeches and motivating the voter who typically doesn’t turn out, is exactly what all of these candidates want to do. O’Rourke, for one, is going to keep the momentum going with determined optimism, right up to the finish line.

“The extraordinary leadership we need comes not just from officeholders and candidates but from people. That leadership is here in extraordinary numbers in Texas,” O’Rourke says, with a reminder that the Women’s March in Austin in 2018 was even bigger than the first march in 2017. “The fact is that every single one of the 36 congressional districts in Texas is finally being contested for the first time in 26 years, and many of them by women — by women who are running for the first time — who are going to win those races.”

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9 Genius Latina Beauty Hacks That Everyone Should Know

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The world could learn a thing or two from the Latinx community, a culture that prides itself on feel-good music, delicious food, and badass leaders ( hello, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez).

One thing we hold especially high is our love for beauty. From a young age, our mothers and grandmothers teach us the tricks they learned from their mothers and grandmothers to help us maintain healthy hair, nails, and skin. It's no wonder we see so much Latinx talent shining in Hollywood while catering to some of the biggest stars in the biz, like Rokael Lizama, the makeup artist behind Beyoncé's instantly-iconic OTR II looks. (Let's not forget that we're also a spending power in beauty retailing, as reported by Nielsen.)

So, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we thought it'd only be right to spill our secrets — well, some of them. That's why we asked several Latinas to share their go-to beauty hacks, and rounded up some of our favorites. From fighting sweat to growing nails, these useful tricks won't only save you money, but might just inspire you to change up your beauty regimen, too. Ahead, the best beauty hacks nine Latinas learned from their familias.

Today, there are roughly 55 million Latinxs living in the U.S. — each one of us with unique cultural experiences. In our new series #SomosLatinx, R29's Latinx staffers explore the parallels and contrasts that make our community so rich. Stay tuned as we celebrate our diversity during Latinx Heritage Month from September 15-October 15.

"To help grow out my nails, my grandma taught me to use garlic and clear nail polish. You take a garlic clove, smash it, and put it into the clear polish (a strengthening one works best). I apply it as a base coat a few times a week and it works magic for making my nails longer and stronger." — Massiel Ramirez, Dominican-American

Courtesy of Massiel Ramirez.

"Growing up, my tia(aunt) would always insist that we use hair mayo — the ORS HAIRestore Hair Mayonnaise — during our summer beach vacations to keep our curls hydrated and frizz-free. At first, I was grossed out by the idea (personal opinion: mayo is the worst), but when it actually resulted in my curly hair feeling smooth and hydrated after a day spent swimming in the ocean, I was sold. I should probably do it again now post-summer, tbh." — Alessandra Donnelly, Cuban/Irish-American

@alessdonnelly

"I remember visiting the beauty salon and the beautician finishing up my hair and asking my mother if I wanted a tubi, which is wrapping your blow-dried hair into a net so that it lasts. I instantly thought no. I wasn't trying to look crazy walking out of the salon, but my mother insisted otherwise. It wasn't until I unpinned my hair from the tubi the following day that I realized how silky straight the technique kept my hair; it's unmatched. Now, my blowdry wouldn't be complete without it." — Krystal Vega, Puerto Rican and Black

@kwkrystalvega

"Latinx people are all about being efficient. If the hand soap bottle is running low, you know my mom was adding water to it to make it last longer. So, when shaving cream would run out, my mom would tell me to use the conditioner and call it a day. It was also, in her eyes, a great way to have less products around, which means less of a reguero (mess) — a Latina mother's dream. Honestly, I love this hack and still use it to this day, because it makes for an easier shave and leaves my skin incredibly smooth." — Thatiana Diaz, Dominican-American

@thatiana.diaz

"My abuela (grandmother) would layer hemorrhoidal cream on her face to tighten the skin. Then, I later found out that Kim Kardashian and her makeup artist swear by it. It's not a permanent fix, but if you have an event or something to get ready for that requires skin tightening, it works." — Cessie Cerrato, Cuban-American

@cessiec

"My grandma has always slathered on this cream religiously every morning and night. She's almost 80, and I can say she doesn't look a day past 60. My mom and aunts also still use Pond's because of my grandma. It's safe to say it's a family thing. Growing up my mom didn’t let me put absolutely anything else on my face except Pond's, and I've heard the same from other Latinas. To this day whenever I travel back home to Colombia, I bring back the value size of this cream." — Daniela Herrera, Colombian-American

@danielaherreranyc

"My family would tell me to use vivaporu (Vick's VapoRub) to help calm bug bites and eliminate the itchiness. I wouldn't say it made the bites disappear overnight, but it made a huge difference." — Gloria Guerra, Dominican-American

Courtesy of Gloria Guerra.

"My grandmother taught me to put clear nail polish on the inside of rings so they wouldn't stain my fingers green (it happens) — and it actually works! I just did it three weeks ago for a ring I bought at an estate sale. I always do it and have never had an issue with green fingers." — Sarah Aires, Portuguese and Puerto Rican

@sarahpatchkids

"I was taught by my grandma Valdina to use baby powder and lemon on my armpits to reduce sweat, and let me just say that it works. I actually started using it again recently, since I've been trying to walk away from toxic deodorants. Pro tip: never use lemon after shaving." — Diana De Paula, Brazilian-American

Courtesy of Diana De Paula.

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The 14 Most Essential Buys From This Year's Target Halloween Line

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Halloween is one of the very best holidays because you can celebrate it pretty much any way you want. If you generally avoid the horror genre, you can focus on the sweet elements of the occasion like pumpkins, cute black cats, and caramel apples. If, on the other hand, you live to be spooked, it's the perfect time for skeletons, ghosts, and creepy crawlers.

Target's 2018 Halloween home line features pieces that aren't at all kitschy and could actually fit in amongst your regular decor. For those who look forward to the holiday for its creep-factor, the retail chain has chic skulls and neon ghosts, and if the scary parts of the season aren't for you, there are also fall-focused pieces from sparkling pumpkins to rustic wreathes.

Take a look ahead to see some of our favorite pieces — and shop our Spooky Town collection for even more thrilling Halloween finds.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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The Diary Of A Senior Legislative Assistant On Capitol Hill

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Despite the U.S. House of Representatives becoming increasingly diverse, only 13.7% of senior staffers on the House are people of color – compared with 38% of the country as a whole. Organizations like Staff Up Congress are seeking to close the gap. In this series, we profile young women participating in this program.

Name: Imani Augustus

Age: 24

Originally from: Charlotte, NC

Works as: Senior Legislative Assistant for Rep. Tim Walz, MN-1, a Democrat

Bio: Augustus has worked for Rep. Walz since 2015, and lends an important perspective to her office on issues like the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements. She is a mentor to other women of color on the Hill and serves as the cofounder and outreach director of the Capitol Hill Community Service Association, which bridges the partisan gap through community service.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

8:45 – Arrive in the parking lot outside of RHOB (the Rayburn House Office Building).

9:30 – I stand in line at Dunkin Donuts – coffee is a must - while scrolling through unread emails and today’s POLITICO headlines.

9:48 – Eat breakfast and chat with office staff about our evenings. We’re all women around roughly the same age, so we’ve affectionately named ourselves the “women of the Walz office.”

10:15 – Respond to senior leadership team emails about outreach on a bill rollout I am leading. As a legislative assistant for Minnesota Representative Tim Walz, I help monitor legislation, conduct research, draft bills, and provide advice and recommendations on policies.

10:22 – Set up a coffee meeting for Friday with a legislative director for career advice. I’m ready for the next step in my career, which would be a legislative director role. I was recently accepted into Staff Up Congress ’ Legislative Academy, a professional development opportunity that helps junior Hill staff members of color become more senior legislative directors.

11:08 – I message a mentor of mine to ask for a sample cover letter as I begin my applications for legislative director positions. I’ve been working on tapping my networks, both through Staff Up and by reaching out to colleagues.

1:20 – Lunch at my desk while responding to emails from the National Governors’ Association. Rep. Walz is running for governor of Minnesota, so we’re especially busy right now and constantly communicating with the NGA.

3:40 – Prep briefing memos for Rep. Walz on the meetings he’ll take while he’s here in DC.

7:00 – After work today, I help out with a show at Sofar Sounds, a music company that puts on curated, intimate performances in cities around the world. We like to feature local artists who are cutting their teeth in the industry and on the verge of becoming the next big thing.

10:30 – Head out from the show and finally home for the night.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

8:00-10:15 – I’m on the Hill early for a volunteer training for the Petey Green Program, which supports academic achievement in prison classrooms to reduce recidivism rates and build stronger communities. I will be tutoring incarcerated youth at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home on Saturday. I can tell this will be a passion project for me, since I cover education and judiciary policy during my day job with Rep. Walz’ office.

10:45 – Arrive at work and immediately tune into the Kavanaugh hearing to watch Christine Ford testify.

11:20 – Prep for a meeting with the director of Minnesota’s National Education Association. We’re covering teacher education funding, community schools and tax reform.

11:30 – Meet with the NEA director. After we’ve wrapped, I walk her to her chat with Rep. Walz.

12:30 – Huddle with the congressman to discuss if he will participate in any votes before flying back to Minnesota. I bring him up to speed on a floor vote about protections for Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

1:30 – Lunch at desk. Tuning back into the Kavanaugh hearing.

2:15 – 4:00: Emails. I set up time to chat with another legislative director about a fellowship application, and plan my next visit to Minnesota with our chief of staff.

4:30 – Hop on a call with the National Governor’s Association to provide info on the Small Town Regional Vitality Investment Act, a bill that Rep. Walz introduced to provide funding for community development and infrastructure projects in small towns.

7:00 – At home binge-watching The Good Place on the couch. I end most days with either this or Madam Secretary, another of my new favorites.

Friday, September 28, 2018

3:00 – I’ve been excited for Friday because I’ll be in a Legislative Academy workshop for the afternoon. Only 14% of staffers on the Hill are people of color, which is pretty incredible considering people of color now make up almost 40% of the population. We need diverse staffers if we’re going to write legislation that reflects the real America.

3:30 - Head to our afternoon session. Today, we’re hearing from other legislative directors and chiefs of staff on the Hill.

3:45 - We start by covering a few big topics, including building bipartisan support for legislation and advancing your congressmember’s top legislative priorities.

4:10 – One of the key responsibilities of a legislative director is working with lobbyists. We talk about how to work with lobbyists – who often have their own agenda – while keeping our boss’s priorities top of mind.

4:45 – A legislative staffer’s work is often directed by which committees their congressmember is assigned to. Rep. Walz is currently assigned to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, so I work closely on those issues. At the Legislative Academy, we talk about how to support a member who has a new committee assignment or wants to introduce new legislation via their committee.

5:00 – As a legislative director, I’d be responsible for hiring more junior legislative staffers for the office. We cover key assets to look for in potential hires, including their written work and ability to think critically about complicated policy issues.

5:30 – Wrap up the day’s session. I leave feeling inspired by the group. It’s exciting to know there are so many amazingly qualified young staffers of color who are serious about growing their careers on the Hill.

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Brandon Truaxe Is Officially Out — But Deciem Is Open For Business

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Deciem founder Brandon Truaxe has been effectively stripped of all his roles and powers after an Ontario Superior Court judge granted an interim order Friday morning brought forth by Estée Lauder Cosmetics Inc. Deciem itself, in the meantime, is back online and in business.

The order for injunctive relief, which was granted by Justice Michael Penny shortly after 11:30 a.m. in Toronto, removes Truaxe from Deciem’s board of directors and ends his role as president and CEO. The order also appoints Nicola Kilner as the sole interim CEO of the business, and prohibits Truaxe or any other corporation or entity that he owns or controls from taking any action to appoint or remove to replace anyone on the board of directors. Truaxe did not appear in court and was not represented by counsel.

The actions follow Truaxe posting a video on Instagram on October 8 announcing the company was closing all of its operations immediately until further notice. “Please take me seriously,” he says, before accusing everyone at the company of being involved in criminal activity, including financial crimes. “You have no idea what a soldier I’ve been for more than 13 years.”

With the approved court order, Deciem’s board of directors now consists of Pasquale Cusano and Andrew Ross, Estée Lauder’s senior vice president of strategy and new business. Estée Lauder purchased a 28% minority stake in the low-cost, direct-to-consumer skin-care brand in July 2017. The company reported revenues of nearly $3.3 billion in the second quarter of 2018.

Mark Gelowitz, the lawyer who represented Estée Lauder and presented the company’s notice of application in court, requested interim relief under the Canada Business Corporations Act. He cited negative coverage in both mainstream and fashion media worldwide of the company as evidence of Truaxe’s personal behavior having both detrimental effects on Deciem and “imponderable damage” to Estée Lauder because of its ownership position. “The business is being destroyed as each moment passes,” he said inside the courtroom at Friday's hearing. (In a moment of levity, Gelowitz joked that he failed to gain any new Twitter followers after Truaxe shared his email address via Instagram.)

Gelowitz also said he knew Truaxe had received the application materials, because he posted screenshots of them on Instagram yesterday. Truaxe stated on the social media platform, "I have no further legal comments at this juncture but will advise you the instant I do," and also accused Deciem's Board of Directors of having "committed or been accomplice to financial crimes and otherwise."

“He has essentially lit the company on fire,” Gelowitz said, citing the shutdown notice sent by Truaxe on Monday, resulting in the closure of dozens of stores around the world and immediate loss of work for Deciem’s approximately 400 employees. “All hell broke loose.”

Gelowitz also stated Friday that Truaxe may have forged board member Cusano's signature in documents and sought to further undermine him, adding, "when Cusano sought to attend a board meeting to regularize and normalize the chaotic activity at Deciem, Brandon purported to use powers that would give him the right to stack the Deciem board, replacing Cusano with a Deciem employee loyal to Brandon."

This is not the first time that Truaxe has taken to the popular social media site to puzzling effect. Over the last several months, Truaxe has posted several videos of himself on Instagram that Gelowitz described as “rambling and incoherent."

As a result of Truaxe’s shutdown order on Monday, Gelowitz says suppliers and landowners are threatening legal proceedings against the company due to The Ordinary stores breaching their operating covenants. “Monday was a tipping point for a lot of us,” Gelowitz said, describing Truaxe as a “diabolical marketing genius” but someone who has “gone too far."

In one of the affidavits, former Deciem co-CEO Nicola Kilner, who was fired, rehired, and fired again without the unanimous agreement of the other two board members, showed she was recently approached by Ross and confirmed that she would be willing to step in as interim CEO.

The order also prevents Truaxe from employing or terminating the employment of any employees or officers of Deciem; communicating with its employees, suppliers, other business partners, or current and prospective landlords; issuing statements or circulating media on any of the company’s social media accounts and holding himself out as a director, officer, or employee.

Most importantly, it was aimed at guarding Truaxe from telling everyone not to show up to work again, given his propensity for what Gelowitz described as “highly unpredictable and erratic communication." Justice Penny remarked that "people do what [Truaxe] says even though he's crazy," to which Gelowitz said, "That's the problem."

There was expressed concern from Gelowitz on behalf of Estée Lauder of Truaxe’s prior career as a computer programmer, which is why the order explicitly prohibits him from destroying, deleting, disabling, over-writing, or otherwise modifying electronic computer systems or infrastructure (email, e-commerce, or other operations systems) or documents or records related to Deciem, including emails, posts on Deciem’s social media accounts or website, or other electronic records.

The judge also approved the request of an investigation into Truaxe’s claims of criminal activity and the financial condition of the company by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Deciem is required to pay the costs of this investigation, which will be reported to its board of directors. Truaxe will also pay the cost of Cusano and Deciem an amount to be set following further submissions, plus any applicable taxes.

After the granting of this order, Deciem should be able to get the password changed to its social media accounts, either through its own facilities or through Instagram itself, as these are considered corporate assets. For fans of The Ordinary’s products, one impact of the order was fairly swift: The company’s website, which displayed a black and then red screen since the closure announcement on Monday, was back online by Friday afternoon. Any changes to Instagram remain to be seen.

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What It's Really Like To Live With Metastatic Breast Cancer

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Branded - Novartis: Cancer Can Kiss This Episode 1

Breast cancer awareness is so much more than pink ribbons, painted bras, and feather boas. Whether you've personally fought cancer or know someone who has, it's important to recognize how vital it is to use one's voice to help educate others and work towards a cure. We partnered with Novartis on its Kiss This 4 MBC (metastatic breast cancer) initiative to shed some much-needed light on individuals like Susan Rahn, cofounder of The Underbelly cancer support organization, who are living with stage 4 MBC and sharing their unique stories with others.

Unlike less advanced stages, MBC is breast cancer that has spread to other areas in the body — and according to a 2014 study, it will affect nearly 30% of all breast cancer patients. Watch above as Rahn shares some insight into her life since diagnosis — plus the importance of showing people diagnosed with MBC that they're not alone.

Help raise much-needed visibility and research funds for people living with MBC by sharing why you #KissThis4MBC on social media. For each post publicly shared with the hashtag, Novartis will donate $15 to MBC research, up to $200,000.

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Here's What Really Goes Into Your Favorite Organic Cookies

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BRANDED: HSIM - Cotton x Emmy's Organic

When it comes to dessert, it's more often than not a choice between something with questionable ingredients that will satisfy your sweet tooth or something made with simple, natural ingredients that tastes like cardboard. Enter: Emmy’s Organics. Inspired by the company's mission to create clean (and delicious) desserts, we partnered with Cotton to take you behind the scenes of Emmy's solar- and wind-powered factory for an episode of How Stuff Is Made. Watch the video above for an exclusive look at how the company’s beloved Dark Cacao Coconut Cookies come about, including the surprising amount of thought (and flavor) that goes into these unique confections.

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7 Editor-Approved Lipsticks You Can Get At The Drugstore This Fall

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Adulting is indulging in things that make you happy but broke. Traveling, socializing, and shopping — whether it be for furniture, locally grown groceries, or an investment cross-body bag — can set you back some serious coin. But luckily, quality makeup doesn’t have to be on the list of things that bring you joy (and your bank accounts grief) thanks to the drugstore beauty aisle.

There’s a wave of new hair and makeup lining the shelves at mass retailers for fall, and among the products we’re hoarding is lipstick. Not only is fall the best time to pull out new, vampy shades, but some of our favorite brands have fresh formulas that deliver great quality — and won’t damage your debit card.

Ahead, we asked our Refinery29 editors to share the lipsticks they'll be hoarding this season, from fashion designer collabs to brown-girl friendly nudes. Good luck not buying them all on your next shopping trip — although — you won’t have to feel too guilty if you do.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

"French designer Isabel Marant is effortlessly chic by nature, so having her collab with a brand like L'Oréal is a Euro dream come true. (Seriously, all the lipstick names are inspired by Paris hot spots.) It doesn't hurt that the formula is a comfy matte that lasts through eating an entire baguette either." — Sam Sasso, Beauty Writer



L'Oréal Isabel Marant Smile Colour Riche Matte Lipstick, $12, available at Ulta Beauty

"Backstage at the Jonathan Simkhai show at New York Fashion Week, lead Maybelline makeup artist Grace Lee took one look at my smudged, fading bright lipstick and told me: 'You need this'. 'This' being Maybelline's SuperStay Matte Ink lipstick. She handed me the shade Heroine, a red-orange that I immediately loved saying, 'Wear this and tell me that you don't love it. I dare you.'

Lee was absolutely right, but a red-orange just didn't feel right going into fall. So I did some shopping of my own and stumbled upon the same formula in a shade called Founder, a deep magenta that I can't get enough of. After going on as a liquid and drying matte (but not sticky or stiff), this stuff never, ever comes off. I have eaten every food, drank every drink, and even napped in this stuff. It's so long lasting that it's got its very own product to help take it off your face, which I now desperately need, too." — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Beauty Writer



Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick Heroine, $9.49, available at Maybelline

"As soon as Labor Day hits, I throw my red to the back of my makeup drawer and pull out a wine-colored lipstick. I’ve been gravitating towards this new formula from Almay, because it’s so creamy and moisturizing. The color is a sheer wash that you can build up for more punch. And I love that the tube says, 'Love Yourself' (which also happens to be the shade name). It’s a powerful message to read in the morning before taking on the challenges of the day." — Jessica Cruel, Deputy Beauty Director



Almay Lip Vibes, $7.99, available at Ulta Beauty

“I like a chubby lip crayon, and I’m partial to the ones by Honest Beauty. One: Because I like the packaging. Two: Because Daniel Martin, who paints the face of Meghan Markle and Jessica Alba, recommends them. If I find myself browsing around the CVS on my block, which doesn’t carry makeup over $11, I'll grab this (also adorable) chubby stick by Burt’s Bees in the Pink Lagoon shade. It’s a slightly glossy, sheer wash of color that I can swipe on while I'm crammed in the middle of a subway car with no mirror. Plus, it’s a few dollars cheaper.” — Megan Decker, Beauty Assistant



Burt's Bees Burt's Bees Gloss Lip Crayon , $3.59, available at Target

"I was going to give up on finding a true nude for myself. I literally thought it didn’t exist for my dark skin tone, until I discovered Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in Choco-liscious – need I say more? It has a deep brown pigment with a glossy finish. It's moisturizing, so I don’t need to wear Chapstick or Vaseline underneath (like most lipsticks that dry you out). But its one I do have to apply a few times throughout the day, because it doesn’t last super long. I don't mind because the color is my true match, which is all I ever wanted, and you can’t beat the price either." — Nana Agyemang, Content Strategist



Revlon Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, Choco-liscious , $7.95, available at Walmart

"I love shine on my lips versus the matte look, but I don't always want to wear lipgloss. This is my perfect in-between, where I'm getting the pigment of a lipstick but the shine of a subtle gloss. I reapply this lipstick throughout the day as if it's a lip balm because it's so hydrating. I lost my Chapstick not too long ago and haven't bothered to replace just yet, because I've been turning to this for my every day looks." — Thatiana Diaz, Beauty Writer



Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick, $7.99, available at Ulta Beauty

"When it comes to lipstick, I usually stick to matte, mauve shades. But the change in season has me feeling more audacious than usual. I've been loving the metallic shade called Ignite from the NYX Machinist line. The bronze formula has a creamy texture and foil finish that doesn't look too shimmery. I only need one swipe to get opaque, rich coverage that doesn't make my lips feel dry AF. Also, the metallic bullet makes me feel fancy when I put it on —because it's rose gold, duh." — Aimee Simeon, Beauty Writer



NYX Machinist Lipstick, $8, available at Nyx Cosmetics

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The Grown-Up Hair Accessories We Want For Fall

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In 2015, two ancient gold artifacts — round in shape, in almost mint condition — were uncovered in Rossett, Wales. Estimated to be almost 3,000 years old, archaeologists believed the two rings were used as jewelry for ears or, more likely, the head, thereby proving that women have been putting things in their hair far longer than the scrunchie has been around.

Yes, hair accessories are more than just a vehicle for your '90s nostalgia. In fact, over the course of millennia, women — and men — have put rings, pins, and all sorts of fabric in their hair. Incan women once wound vinchas (a.k.a. headbands) through their braids. Monochromatic ribbons were largely popular for women of all ages in 17th-century France. Even Harry Potter 's Rowena Ravenclaw wore a sparkly diadem as decor.

While hair accessories never really went out of style, there's been a recent renaissance of sorts that has skyrocketed the beauty staple back onto runways and Instagram, making claw clips, hair bows, and silk ribbons our top necessity for fall. What's more, there's a whole crop of new options worth adding to your shopping cart ASAP. We rounded up our favorites, ahead.

Headbands
Velvet and fall go together like Nutella and a piece of toast. Incorporate the winter-friendly fabric into your routine by adding a braided headband like this to top off any LBD.



Jennifer Behr Lorelei Headband, $298, available at Jennifer Behr

Lately, everyone from British royals to Hailey Baldwin has been wearing embellished hair accessories. Try the trend for yourself with this Technicolor take on a headband.



BaubleBar Elysian Embellished Headband, $38, available at BaubleBar

A chic headwrap like this can make any haphazardly-tied bun look good.



Scunci Knotted Headwrap, $7.99, available at Target

Hair ribbons may seem elementary, but a fabric as soft and chic as this one can really elevate your look.



Extensionology Hepburn Hair Scarf, $150, available at Extensionology

Clips & Cuffs
Confirmed: Leopard print will be huge for fall. (While you're at it, why not match your manicure to your new hair clip?)

Sincerely Jules by Scünci Hair Clip, $7.99, available October 14 at Target.

These days, it's rare to catch Bella Hadid without a claw clip holding her bob together. If you're eager to copy her style, but aren't willing to spend $40 on a hair accessory, go for this blue tortoiseshell dupe from Scünci's new collaboration with superinfluencer Julie Sariñana (a.k.a. @sincerelyjules).

Sincerely Jules by Scünci Claw Clip, $7.99, available on October 14 at Target.

Butterfly clips are cool, but aren't teeny-tiny hair bows better? (Yes.)

Take a page right out of Kerry Washington's book and add these $5 hair cuffs to your braids.



Cantu Cantu Accent Charms Gold And Silver - 8ct, $4.99, available at Target

Delicate Pins
Hidden in a braid, these tiny pins look like floating sets of dainty pearls. You can count Amandla Stenberg and Tessa Thompson as fans of the look.



BaubleBar Aida Hair Pin Trio, $18, available at BaubleBar

Just in case you can't stop thinking about this season's planetary retrograde...



Jennifer Behr Halley Bobby Pins, $142, available at Jennifer Behr

Admit it: Snap-on clips can look childish if you're not Ariana Grande. It's time to mature your look with clips made of matching Swarovski crystals.

Scrunchies
Donni's Chiquita scrunchies continue to sell out for a reason. In the meantime, consider investing in the brand's two-toned velvet alternatives. This emerald-and-mustard option screams fall (in the best way).



Donni Velvet Chiquita, $38, available at Donni

If you're not willing to wait (or spend $40 on a hair scrunchie), opt for Baublebar's new silk elastics.



BaubleBar Tessa Scrunchie-Black, $8, available at BaubleBar

Inspired to rock mismatched buns? Get a pack of three scrunchies so you never run out of options.



Scunci Printed And Velvet Scrunchies, $6.99, available at Target

These are not your kindergarten hair accessories — in fact, Comfort Objects calls their scrunchies Hair Clouds. Anything made from embroidered silk deserves a charming name like that, right?



Comfort Objects Moshi Hair Cloud, $80, available at Comfort Objects

If you're not interested in scrunchie styles, these braided elastics are just as easy on your hair, but offer a bit more hold for your next SoulCycle class.



Scunci Knotted Spacedye Elastics, $6.99, available at Target

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Melania Trump Explained Her “I Don’t Care” Jacket & It Isn’t About Immigration

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Melania Trump sat down for her first-ever interview in office last night, giving us a rare glimpse into her life as first lady and offering some insight into her trip to the U.S. border over the summer.

Trump told ABC News’ Tom Llamas that she had an immediate reaction when seeing media coverage of families being separated at the U.S. border. Her answer wasn’t unexpected: she had previously released a statement saying that she hated seeing the children forcibly taken from their parents under her husband’s administration, although the move was widely criticized for being too passive and ultimately hollow. The zero-tolerance policy has since been scaled back by executive order, but thousands of children and parents are still recovering from its effects.

In yesterday’s sit-down, Trump says she told her husband that she thought the zero-tolerance policy was “unacceptable,” and says that he agreed with her. She also mentioned how she “reacted with [her] own voice” by traveling to the border on her own volition.

Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP/REX/Shutterstock.

It was on that June trip that her jacket — a $35 army-green piece from Zara with the words “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” scrawled on the back — caught the world’s attention. Many people spoke out against Trump for her apparently blasé attitude towards the people risking their lives and families at the southern border.

And yet the first lady remained characteristically silent. A spokesperson from her office dismissed the criticism at the time, telling the press, “It's a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today's important visit to Texas, I hope this isn't what the media is going to choose to focus on.”

But Trump put it a little bit differently during yesterday’s interview.

“I wore the jacket to go on the plane and off the plane,” she told ABC. “And it was for the people and for the left-wing media to show them that I don’t care. You will not stop me to do what I feel is right.”

“It was kind of a message,” she added. “I would prefer that they would focus on what I do and my initiatives than what I wear.”

Trump conveyed this same message recently during her tour of Africa, where she came under fire for wearing a pith helmet — a look commonly associated with the European forces that colonized much of the continent in the 19th century. Trump was traveling in Africa to promote her Be Best campaign against bullying, which she told ABC she could relate to on a personal level: “I could say that I’m the most bullied person in the world...One of them, if you really see what people are saying about me.”

Her sit-down with ABC echoed other lines from the rare press conference she held in Africa, especially when it came to the subject of her marriage.

Trump quickly debunked any notion that she has control over the president: “I wish! I give him my honest advice and honest opinions and then he does what he wants to do,” she said.

When asked about her husband’s alleged affairs and the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him, Trump said she knows the truth, and the claims are not her primary focus.

She also dismissed rumors about their strained relationship, saying, “We are fine...It’s what media speculate, and it’s gossip. It’s not always correct stuff.”

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Simone Biles Did A Game-Changing Vault That No Women Has Ever Accomplished

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We’re incredibly lucky to live in the same world as Simone Biles, who is making history by dominating the world of gymnastics. Witnessing her perform her routines will give you goosebumps every time, even if you can’t do a cartwheel. And superhuman Biles isn’t just winning gold medals and setting new records — she’s performing feats of athletics that have never been done by a woman in her sport. At a qualifying competition for the world championships, Biles completed a brand-new vault that has only been successfully performed by men. And yes, there is video. Are you ready to have your mind completely blown?

The vault is called the Cheng, which is named after a Cheng Fei, a Chinese gymnast. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults in gymnastics. Naturally, Biles put her own twist on the Cheng — literally, by adding in extra half-twist. This means that her vault contains a staggering two half-twists.

In terms of difficulty, the Cheng ranks only behind the Amanar vault, which was made famous by McKayla Maroney at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Biles just upped the ante on an already spectacular vault. And, as you can see in the video, she sticks her landing like it’s absolutely nothing, save the giant proud smile on her face. Smile, Simone, you’ve earned it.

Now that Biles has completed this new vault, she may even be honored by having it named after her when she competes in the world championships in Doha, Qatar, in November. It would be the second time Biles earns a namesake gymnastics move; she famously coined her own double layout half on the floor. Deadspin also speculates that Biles’ new vault essentially assures her another world championship gold medal for that exercise. She won her first gold medal on vault at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Of course, the internet could not deal, and Biles inspired a new hashtag. #SimoneThings is our new favorite meme — and it involves celebrating Biles’ accomplishment. As some Twitter users pointed out, it’s a wonderful example of Black excellence, as well as a new level in women’s gymnastics.

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A Week In Seattle, WA, On A $58,000 Salary

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Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

We're going on book tour for our new book, Money Diaries: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Your Finances... and Everyone Else's. Next stop: NYC on Tuesday, October 16! Grab your tickets here!

Calling all entrepreneurs: We want to hear from you! If you’re a freelancer or self-employed, we’d love to feature your Money Diary. Submit here.

Today: a research coordinator working in medical research who makes $58,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on pho.

Occupation: Research Coordinator
Industry: Medical Research
Age: 26
Location: Seattle, WA
Salary: $58,000
Paycheck Amount (Monthly): $3,800 from my job, plus an extra $300 from my parents

Monthly Expenses
Rent: $1,320 for a small studio apartment walking distance from work
Student Loan Payment: $1,741 for my private loans
Internet: $40
Utilities: ~$110
Orca Card: $15 (I'm very lucky that my work subsidizes transit heavily.)
Gym Membership: $50
Hulu: $13
Netflix: $10

Day One

8 a.m. — I wake up and rush out of bed to take my dog for a walk. I'm running a little late, which isn't ideal, as my annual performance evaluation is today! Pup is being finicky, but I still manage to get ready and out the door by 9. I'm lucky to have a highly flexible job that allows me to make my own hours. I walk most of the way to work and then hop onto the trolley, which drops me off right outside my office. My Orca card that I get through work is good for essentially all public transit in Seattle, the only exception being the ferries. I forgot to pack breakfast this morning and am starving, so I stop by the coffee stand and grab a large drip (in a reusable cup so I'm charged for a small) and a scone from the day-old goods basket. I only buy day-old goods from the coffee stand because they're way overpriced normally. $2.87

11:45 a.m. — My performance evaluation went great! My manager said I'm doing a good job and had zero things for me to improve on. I've been taking on a lot more responsibility lately, so I felt brave enough to ask for a promotion. He told me he had to talk to our finance person but that it seemed reasonable. I'm so excited! I've calculated it out, and once I make $70,000 a year (damn this pricey city), I will be living really comfortably and not paycheck-to-paycheck for once. I brought lunch today, so I go sit at my desk and eat my soup and salad while I text my boyfriend the good news. We just started dating and he's incredibly sweet. Life is so exciting right now!

4:45 p.m. — I'm currently trying to decide between ClassPass and my YMCA membership — they both cost the same and it's such a hard choice! I've been putting my Y membership on hold for a few months so I can check out ClassPass. Today I have a heated yoga (NOT hot yoga, I'm not a super human) class right after work. It's at my favorite yoga studio in the city, which is exciting! But it is also right across the street from the apartment my ex and I lived in for three years (and he still lives there). I feel sick to my stomach just being nearby, but I suck it up. I forgot my water bottle at work, ugh. Luckily there's a little market nearby so I stop and grab a bottled water. $3.07

7 p.m. — I run home after yoga and shower — my sister is coming over so we can celebrate her big move abroad! It's exciting but sad, and I'll miss her. I have frozen steaks and crab that my parents gave me — their old neighbor was a crabber (how Pacific Northwest of them) and they had a TON of crab when they moved. I figure it's the perfect occasion to cook it. Since I have dinner handled, my sister brings over stuff for drinks. She forgets mixer, so I offer to grab some from the corner market under my building. I love the guy who works there — he allows dogs, and every time he seems my pup he says "my baby!" I grab two bottles of seltzer and then go back to my place where my sister has finished cooking dinner. We eat and hang out for a few hours before she heads home. $6.57

11:30 p.m. — I'm a little tipsy and end up watching Netflix on the couch with my dog and cat. It's nice but I start getting oddly anxious and decide to call it a night. Lately drinking does that to me sometimes, so I've been trying to cut way down. I'm asleep around 1 a.m.

Daily Total: $12.51

Day Two

12 p.m. — I wake up super late and am feeling hungover. It's not the best. My dog is staring at me intensely, as he needs to go out. Having a dog is a bad thing and a good thing when you're hungover — they force you to wake up and go for a walk, which is brutal but good. After the walk, I curl up on the couch and watch Netflix. I'm still not feeling great, so I decide to make ramen for lunch to fill up my stomach.

4 p.m. — I promised my pup that I would take him for a long walk today, so we head down to the sculpture park. It's a pretty nasty day out, but I like watching the waves crash on the rocks and so does he. It isn't a dog park, but he is so good off leash. I see a ton of other dogs running around, so we play fetch for a bit. Since it's a cruddy day, there aren't many runners or people hanging out in the park and we have the whole field to ourselves. While we play and walk, I listen to season one of Serial. I've listened to it before, but I love it so much!

6:45 p.m. — Pup and I have been walking and playing for quite some time now, and I'm getting pretty hungry. It's Saturday night and I don't have any plans, so I decide to use a coupon I got from Domino's to order a Hawaiian pizza for pickup. There's a Domino's right by my apartment, so we grab it on the way home. $9.12

8 p.m. — I have a FlyBarre class in the morning, so tonight I decide to take it easy. I clean my apartment and drink tea (this makes up for the pizza and ramen, right?) while watching The Sinner. I've been having concentration problems recently so it's super hard for me to commit to a TV show, but this one is pretty good so far. My doctor says I might be stressed and need my antidepressants increased, but I really don't want to take anymore. I'm working on relaxing and taking time for myself, which will hopefully help. I end up going to bed at 10 p.m. Barre is really challenging for me and I need all the energy I can get.

Daily Total: $9.12

Day Three

9 a.m. — I wake up to my alarm — so glad I set one! I almost didn't since I went to bed so early but apparently I had a lot of sleep to catch up on. Every day starts the same way — my dog staring at me until I take him on his morning walk. I used to dread this part of the day, but now I love it. The fresh air wakes me up, plus I live right by the water and it smells like the ocean. I have a barre class at 10:45 and don't want to eat beforehand, so I make lemon ginger tea and sip on it while I get ready.

10 a.m. — Right before I head out, I text my friend who is coming over for lunch after that I want to make shakshuka! I have him pick up tomatoes, feta, and bread, and I will grab the rest after class. Working out early in the morning sucks, but working out later in the morning is the best. I'm awake enough but still feel like it's a good start to the day. Walking to class takes about 30 minutes so I head out to ensure I have time to stretch.

11:45 a.m. — Barre is brutal! I love it because I feel so challenged but at the same time it can be really intimidating. I am always very aware that I'm the only Black woman in the room as well as the only one who isn't dressed head to toe in Lululemon. I walk by a Whole Foods on my way home and (very) begrudgingly go inside to buy the rest of the ingredients I need for the shakshuka, plus a couple of things I need for meals this week. Honestly, Whole Foods is not only incredibly expensive, but I am also really not a fan of the whole anti-GMO, gluten-free, organic food scene. There's pretty much no science behind it and the mindset that a lot of people have around it can be very poverty-shaming. I grab just what I need and try to get only things on sale — eggs, tahini, harissa, baby kale, and two cartons of soup. It comes out to way more than I'd like, but I've spent under $100 on groceries this month, so I don't feel too bad about it. $42.22

4 p.m. — I had the best time catching up with my friend! I haven't seen him in so long and it was really great to check in. I make a delicious shakshuka and there's a ton of the leftover tomato sauce to use in meals this week. We end up watching three episodes of The Proposal (ultimate trash TV but I love it) while drinking tea (me) and hot cocoa (him). Afterwards, I'm still sweaty and gross so I decide to make the most of it and deep clean my apartment. I spend about an hour unclogging my vacuum, which has fallen victim to the pet hair in my apartment. I honestly can't keep up with the two of them, they both shed like crazy! I have to clean out the vacuum three times while I clean!

7 p.m. — Once my apartment is clean, I jump in the shower and do my favorite face mask from The Ordinary. It's an acid exfoliant and I swear it does wonders for my skin, plus it's super inexpensive! Now it's dinner time and I want something healthy after Saturday's super heavy meals. I make a serving of bowtie pasta and add it to baby kale, then add a scoop of ricotta, some of the leftover shakshuka tomato sauce, and a fried egg. It's one of the best meals I've had in awhile!

9 p.m. — After dinner and an episode of The Sinner, I take the pup for a longer walk. I like our night walks — the city is all lit up and it's a bit more quiet. I used to hate living in Seattle, but nights like this remind me of how great it can be. When we get back I make another cup of tea and snack on peanut butter, two mini pitas, and strawberries while I play around on my phone. Finally around 10:30 I make a cup of tea and head to bed.

Daily Total: $42.22

Day Four

8 a.m. — Work time! I do the usual morning routine: wake up, walk pup, drink tea, and head out. I have a hard time picking an outfit this morning, so it takes me longer than usual. I really need to get some new work clothes for fall. (Maybe with this paycheck I'll hit up a sale.) Once I'm at the office, I grab my morning coffee and then start working. It's a really slow morning. $1.87

12 p.m. — One thing that is cool (and also very not cool) about my work is that there's always tons of free food. Today, there are free donuts and cupcakes. It's so tempting, but I'm really trying to make changes in what I eat. After my breakup a few months back, I went completely off track and have been feeling sluggish. I want to get back to eating food that makes me feel good! On Saturday, that was pizza, but today that's the salad I brought for lunch.

4 p.m. — The second half of my day was super busy and had me running back and forth from the hospital nonstop. I really want to go home, but ClassPass has Flywheel and FlyBarre classes for only two credits right now (normally they're nine!) so I sign up for a 4:30 class. I LOVE spinning. If a membership wasn't over $300 per month (hi, that is ridiculous) I would get one, but I can't afford it. Even if I could, I don't think I could justify it. I'm always a little nervous before these classes but once the lights dim and the music starts I feel super zen and relaxed. I leave class feeling totally refreshed and walk home.

6 p.m. — I get home and remember that I have a new episode of Insecure to watch! I'm so addicted to this show. It was my replacement for Girls (which I loved despite not loving Lena Dunham so much...) and I really relate to it. I like that the women are more grown up, but they're still imperfect and struggling to make their way in the world. My bestie and I always talk about how relatable it is. Before I sit down to watch it, I decide to take a shower so that I can be really lazy for the rest of the night. Flywheel is a killer workout, so I really need a chill night. After I get out of the shower I realize I'm hungry and a bit dizzy, so I have a snack of seed bread with peanut butter and cherry jam. Yum! This and a large glass of water are the perfect accompaniment to Insecure.

8 p.m. — I clean my apartment a little and then read on my couch. It's small — 450ish square feet, so I feel like I'm always working to keep up the cleaning. I love this place though. It's got a great setup that makes it feel more like a junior one-bedroom than a studio, and it has super tall ceilings, a bay window, and a great view. I lived in the building before I moved in with my ex, so my landlord gave me a killer deal on the rent.

9 p.m. — In classic me fashion, I forget about dinner until it's super late. I don't feel like cooking real food, so I heat up soup that I had leftover from lunch and make a grilled cheese to go with. After dinner I take the pup for his last walk of the day and then head to bed. I've been trying to go to sleep earlier, but it's really hard for some reason. I discussed it with my doctor and she thinks it's stress, which might be true — money is really tight and I am beginning to stress about the holidays already. I don't end up falling asleep until about 2 a.m.

Daily Total: $1.87

Day Five

8 a.m. — I'm running a little later than I'd like this morning, so it's an awesome treat when my dog does his business right away! As I start walking to work, my phone is already dinging with work emails coming in. I open one and it's from a notoriously rude person and (shocker) the email is very rude. I can already tell it's going to be one of those days. I don't wear a lot of makeup (just an easy brow fill-in and mascara), so most days I do it on the trolley. Since the day is already rough and I'm completely zapped of energy, I grab coffee and a scone. I'm a bit of a coffee and tea addict these days. It's a new thing for me, but I like the ritual of it a lot. $3.87

12 p.m. — The emails keep pouring in.

1:45 p.m. — Okay now I'm hungry, and because I was running late today, I forgot my lunch. They have kinda tasty taco salads at my work, and I definitely want something a little lighter, so that will do. The only thing is that the food at my job is so expensive, and I really hate buying lunch. I'm just giving them back my paycheck! $8.82

4:30 p.m. — After work, I jump on the trolley and go home. It's been awhile since the pup and I went to the park, so I change, grab him, and head out. One of my favorite old coworkers texts me asking if I want to go to happy hour, but I decline. I'm still really mad at myself for buying breakfast and lunch yesterday and it's definitely not in my budget. I was a first-generation college student and when I took my loans out, my parents told me that the loan companies work with you. I wish we would've known better. I have all private loans because my parents have poor credit and couldn't co-sign a federal loan, so I had to have my grandfather co-sign. It's not fun having the entire extended family extremely involved in my finances, but I'm lucky that my parents are able to help me a bit and that I have a job where I can afford the rest. I always remind myself that it could be a lot worse.

7 p.m. — It starts to get dark out, so I pack up my stuff and the doggo and I walk home from the park to make dinner. On the way home I call my mom, who has been struggling with mental health issues lately. She's always been my best friend, so it's hard to deal with.

8:30 p.m. — For dinner, I eat a giant quesadilla and beans. I text my boyfriend about my conversation with my mom and cry a little bit. Then I take my dog on his last walk of the day and buy a pint of ice cream at the store, which I end up putting on the counter and accidentally leaving out while I lay in bed and mope. I fall asleep at about 1 a.m. $6.49

Daily Total: $19.18

Day Six

9:30 a.m. — I end up getting to work at around 9:30 and head straight to the coffee stand where I get my usual drip. I work downstairs in the coffee shop area on my laptop. It's a nice change of pace and I always end up talking to people who I know, which is fun. $1.87

12 p.m. — Lunch is once again soup. At least this time it's not butternut! I add cooked rice to it so I can make one box last for three or four meals. This time I have a curried lentil soup, and it's delicious. While I eat my lunch (a packet of ramen I happened to have in my purse), I can't stop thinking about money. My doctor emailed me to check in and see if I've gone to see a therapist yet, and I tell her I can't afford the copay but that I'm trying to remain positive. She suggests I check out the financial assistance her office offers, but I don't qualify because I make too much. Making a lot of money but having none is a weird thing.

5 p.m. — By the time work is over, I'm still not feeling great, but decide to fake it 'til I make it. My boyfriend is coming over tonight and we're having a little date night at home! I haven't seen him for a week and a half because he was out of town, and I can't wait. I go to Safeway after work to grab stuff for dinner. I'm roasting a chicken and veggies. He grabs stuff for drinks so I don't have to worry about that. $22.86

6:30 p.m. — I end up walking home from Safeway...with a chicken. It's about a mile but by the time I get home, I'm a little sweaty and need to fix my hair and makeup. We are still in the honeymoon stage of things, so even though we're staying at home, I want to look nice. I slip into my best "I didn't try that hard I just look this amazing lounging around the house" outfit and turn on The Office while I wait for him to arrive. As soon as I sit down I realize I'm starving, so I grab strawberries from the fridge to snack on.

9 p.m. — We have a super late start to making dinner but I don't care, I've missed him and it's so much fun to just hang out and drink in my apartment. I toss the chicken in the oven and set a timer. We put on an episode of American Horror Story but are too caught up in each other to pay any attention.

Daily Total: $24.73

Day Seven

9 a.m. — I wake up totally confused and disoriented...apparently four drinks after eating nothing but a pack of ramen all day isn't the best idea. I'm so embarrassed and can't remember anything about last night after about midnight! My boyfriend is so sweet and tries not to make me feel bad about it, downplaying all of the embarrassing things I did. (He's a saint.) At first I feel fine, but after about 20 minutes I'm hit with the worst hangover I've had in recent memory.

12 p.m. — Originally the plan was to go to my sister's house this morning and grab things she's giving me before she moves, but it's not happening...at least not right now. I can hardly move, let alone carry boxes to my top floor apartment, so I tell her it will be awhile. My boyfriend goes and pays for more parking and grabs us bagels from the corner deli while I lay in bed, questioning my decision-making skills.

2 p.m. — Two episodes of American Horror Story later and I'm not feeling great, but my sister is starting to get mad that I'm not there yet, so it's time to pull it together. We walk a few blocks to the local pho place. It was my boyfriend's suggestion and in theory seems like the perfect hangover food, but my body is just not ready yet. I sip on broth and have a few bites of noodles but immediately know it's not sitting well. I end up picking up the bill because I feel so bad about last night. $30

4:45 p.m. — We make it home from my sister's place and I have to face the reality of carrying boxes up to my apartment while I'm still not feeling well. My boyfriend makes two trips and I make one because he can tell I'm really hurting. Originally he was going to go home to finish up homework, but we end up getting back right around rush hour so he decides to just study at my place. It gives me time to nap and by the time he's done I'm feeling 100% better.

8 p.m. — It's getting late so I decide to make us my favorite meal for dinner — chickpeas in tomato sauce served over rice. It's super cheap, healthy, and tasty. While it's cooking, I start to unpack the stuff my sister gave me. There are a ton of spices and hair products (score!) as well as everyday items like plastic wrap. The pièce de résistance is her giant flat screen TV that I'm babysitting while she's gone. It looks absolutely ridiculous in my tiny apartment, but the screen is so much better than my old one.

9 p.m. — We finish up eating and my boyfriend heads home. I miss him a little bit already! I'm sure last night wasn't that bad, but I am so mortified. I decide that I need to stop beating myself up about it, so I try to salvage the night by doing a hair mask and face mask and cuddling on the couch with my pup. I end up going to bed later than I'd like, around 1 a.m.

Daily Total: $30

If you are experiencing anxiety or depression and need support, please call the National Depressive/Manic-Depressive Association Hotline at 1-800-826-3632 or the Crisis Call Center’s 24-hour hotline at 1-775-784-8090.

Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

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Princess Eugenie Had A True Millennial Royal Wedding Reception, Tequila Shots & All

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Royals, they’re really just like us. Even when they throw star-studded weddings in storied castles with a red velvet cake designed to feed 850 guests. Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank was every bit as lavish and you’d expect, including her diamond-encrusted platinum tiara set with six dazzling emeralds (to match her eye color, naturally). But even the royals need some down-to-earth moments in their wedding, and this one was full of millennial touches — right down to the tequila shots.

Vanity Fair gives us the scoop on the royal after party, and frankly, we’re torn between FOMO and taking notes for our own wedding bash. Tequila shots aplenty were in downed, which makes sense, given that Brooksbank is a brand manager for Casamigos tequila. It’s the company founded by George Clooney and Rande Gerber, but Clooney was notably absent from the wedding. No matter, the royal revelers had plenty of other famous guests to hobnob with. Cara Delevingne showed up, looking stunning in a black tuxedo. Demi Moore also attended, strolling in with a happy smile.

Embracing the world of us commoners, the royals and their pals ate pizza from a food truck. We’re sure it was very fancy pizza from a very fancy food truck, but now we’re totally inspired to have our favorite neighborhood pizzeria cater our wedding. For entertainment net, English pop star Robbie Williams performed a surprise set for the guests. Williams isn’t as well-known in the United States, but in England, he’s the equivalent of Justin Timberlake and Barbra Streisand. Yes, he’s that beloved. He sang “Angels,” and we’re also hoping he sang “Millennium,” which is one of our favorite Williams jams.

The partying isn’t over for the royals: they reportedly have another full day of celebration, with a festival theme. Vanity Fair says that guest will enjoy the fairground games of our youth. We bet Princess Charlotte and Prince George will have a blast in the bouncy house. Can we see pictures now, please?

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7 Things Sunday Riley Taught Me About Getting Great Skin

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When you think of skin-care lines with serious cult followings, Sunday Riley is right up there with #shelfie stalwarts like Glossier and Drunk Elephant. The brand's best-selling products, including Luna and Good Genes, can be spotted in the Instagram feeds of practically every in-the-know beauty lover.

But it isn't all about good looks. Riley's carefully-crafted formulas really work — and I should know. Good Genes has always been there for me and my troublesome skin, and the recently reformulated Ceramic Slip cleanser has well over 30,000 "loves" on Sephora. So when I got the opportunity to grill Sunday Riley herself (yes, the actual expert behind the beloved products) on the skin-care tips and tricks we should all be following, I couldn't turn it down. Here's what I learned from an hour with one of the most recognizable, well-respected names in the beauty industry.

You can't have a good skin-care routine without a good cleanser.

And no, we don't mean a splash of water, but a proper, product-based cleanse — even in the morning, as your skin will have produced oil overnight.

"Cleansing for one minute is amazing, but as long as people are washing their face, I’m happy," Riley says. "We deal a lot with people who come in and say they don’t wash their face and that's problematic. Pollution micro-particles stick to your skin and cause inflammation, sensitivity, redness, and collagen degradation. Dislodging pollution is quite difficult because it really does stick to your skin, so the longer you massage a cleanser in, the better. Oil and balm cleansers are particularly good at removing this, but just a splash of water won’t remove anything."

Your skin might not actually be sensitive.

"Most people aren’t born with sensitive skin — it’s what they’re doing to their skin that can sometimes cause this sensitivity," says Riley. "For example, if you live in polluted environments, barely wash your face, and simply splash it with hard water. Think about it: Do you have sensitive skin, or do you have reactive skin which is a result of what you’re putting it through?"

If your skin feels congested, start with a blank slate.

"People with acne-prone skin always come to me using 20 products, so we need to fix that first," says Riley. "I knew a woman who was applying three or four moisturizing products every day and she had severe cystic acne — it just wasn’t working for her. I'd suggest just switching to a gentle cleanser like Ceramic Slip and using nothing else for just three days, then beginning to layer on something like Good Genes. You can use it in the morning with a vitamin C serum and in the evening with a retinoid."

Lutein is the new antioxidant you need to know about.

Riley extols the virtues of vitamins C and E for protecting skin against pollution and other environmental aggressors, which can cause skin damage like hyper-pigmentation, fine lines, and dullness. Lutein might be a little under-the-radar, but it's just as good to keep in your arsenal. "You might find antioxidant lutein inside food supplements, and we use marigold-derived lutein in the Auto Correct Brightening Eye Contour Cream," Riley says. "It’s a very good antioxidant for protecting against blue light especially, something that I'm quite concerned about."

This popular tool might be wreaking havoc on your skin.

"Cleansing brushes can dry your skin out more and disrupt the skin barrier even further," says Riley. "They can be great if they’re used well and are being cleaned regularly. If they are dirty, then they’re horrible. I know a lot of people with acne who use facial brushes and makeup brushes and don't clean them properly, and all of these factors can contribute to problem skin."

A quick "flash mask" makes your makeup routine easier.

If you want your makeup to sit better throughout the day or before a big event, Sunday suggests a flash mask. "We were doing a show and the makeup artist asked what we did to the skin, and I said, 'Oh, we just used the cleanser,' and she said the makeup went on so much smoother and faster," she says. Because the Ceramic Slip formula is packed with French green clay, it can double up as a mask when left on skin for a few minutes. Riley suggests applying makeup immediately afterwards to feel the full benefits.

You're being too careful when applying eye cream.

We tend to be overly cautious when it comes to using eye cream, tapping in product with the lightest hand possible to avoid rubbing or pulling the sensitive area. But Riley says this might not be the best application technique. "If you have under-eye circles, really massaging your eyes will help circulation flow, and the more you massage, the more this will help," she explains. "If you use your ring finger, it’ll provide the least pressure. Really tap it in and go all the way round your eye." And yes, that even includes your eyelids.

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A Week In New York City On A Joint $315,000 Salary

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Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

We're going on book tour for our new book, Money Diaries: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Your Finances... and Everyone Else's. Next stop: NYC on Tuesday, October 16! Grab your tickets here!

Calling all entrepreneurs: We want to hear from you! If you’re a freelancer or self-employed, we’d love to feature your Money Diary. Submit here.

Today: a project manager working in construction who makes $135,000 per year ($315,000 when combined with her husband) and spends some of her money this week on soft pretzels.

Occupation: Project Manager
Industry: Construction
Age: 30
Location: New York, NY
My Salary: $135,000
My Husband's Salary: $180,000
My Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $3,977
My Husband's Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $5,200

Monthly Expenses
Rent: $4,600 (I live in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with my husband.)
Student Loan Payments: $0 (I already paid off my student loans, and my husband had a full scholarship to college.)
Electricity: $120
Cell Phone: $40
Spotify: $14.95
Internet: $101
Netflix: $0 (It's free with our internet package.)
401(k): $0 (We are both expats so we have opted out of 401(k)s in the U.S.)
MetroCard: $121 (This comes out of my monthly paycheck. My husband's is comped through his work.)
House Cleaner: $120 for a monthly cleaning
Mortgage: $0 (I have an investment property back home which is covered by the rent.)
Savings: We put whatever we have left after all of our expenses into our joint savings account. Then we get $1,000 every two weeks redistributed back to our personal account for spending, and what we choose to spend this on is completely at our discretion. We have recently started this at my behest — I am terrible with saving (what's that?) and budgeting (huh?). But now that we are in our 30s and looking into the future, it's important.

Day One

6:30 a.m. — My husband and I are woken up by my alarm, and are both out the door by 7:15. We catch the subway together and use the time to brief each other on what we each have going on today and any other things we need to do — I remind him that we need to book our accommodations for our vacation at the end of the year, and make a mental note to look online at work today.

7:45 a.m. — I grab my morning coffee on the way to work. Our work has a coffee machine, but I really can't handle that pod stuff. Having recently moved from a country that takes coffee VERY seriously, American espresso is one of the few things I refuse to acclimate to. Normally I get a croissant or danish from the coffee shop, but I ate an Rxbar on the subway. $4.75

12 p.m. — I head to the salad bar at the local deli near our work for lunch. $7.41

7 p.m. — Get home and look at the groceries in the fridge. I usually order from FreshDirect once a week and try to stock up on dairy, eggs, fruit/vegetables, and pantry items. For meat, I have a great butcher shop near my work that I go to every two weeks. The quality is great and doesn't break the bank — two weeks' worth of chicken/pork/beef will usually set me back about $25 to $30. I see that the romaine lettuce in the fridge won't last much longer, so for tonight's dinner I whip up a chicken Caesar salad.

10 p.m. — My hubby and I watch TV and hop into bed.

Daily Total: $12.16

Day Two

7 a.m. — My husband has an early call this morning, so he is up and out the door. I get up as I hear him leave and quickly get dressed and throw my makeup on. I'm out the door in 20 minutes and make it in time for my 8 a.m. meeting, medium latte in hand. $4.75

12:30 p.m. — I have a client meeting today that falls conveniently between the hours of 12 and 2, so I ask a coworker who is getting her lunch to grab me some food too. I come out of the meeting at 2 totally famished and am welcomed by the sight of a salad bowl from my favorite haunt (Sweetgreen) sitting on my desk. I pay back my coworker and down the salad hastily at my desk, as I need to prep for another meeting at 3 p.m. $14

5:30 p.m. — I run out of work to make it to my lash extension appointment in midtown. I normally go every two weeks for a touch-up, and it sets me back around $85-$100 every time. But they usually run a promotion on certain days, and today's promotion is 20% on touch-ups. The total is $71 and I leave the lady a $14 tip. $85.06

7 p.m. — My lash parlor is near Koreatown, so I run to the Korean grocer on my way home and pick up a few items — kimchi, green peppers, and a pack of peeled chestnuts to eat on the way home because I am famished! My husband and I have a joint account for rent/utilities and groceries, so this purchase comes out of our joint account. I head home and eat leftover rice from the other day with the kimchi I just bought. It's simple, but delicious. $12

Daily Total: $115.81

Day Three

8 a.m. — It's Friday! I always sleep in a little later on Fridays just because. I get to the coffee shop and order my regular medium latte and get to work at around 8, coffee in tow. I feel like that Paris Hilton meme where she clutches the coffee and the caption is something like "me walking into work with the coffee that made me late." My start time has never been stipulated, but in my industry people come into the office as early as 6 a.m. I'm probably one of the later ones but I still get my work done within the hours I work. When the situation calls for it, I'm happy to start early or stay back to complete the task at hand, but I don't believe in hanging back at the office or coming in early just for show. $4.75

12 p.m. — I decide to go for a walk around the area for lunch, as I feel like I'll turn into a piece of lettuce if I eat another salad. I find a cute cafe close by that seems like it will hit the spot, and I order a spicy tuna sandwich to go. Spot hit. $10

4 p.m. — It's New York Comic Con tomorrow and of course my husband and I have waited until the last minute to get tickets, and now they're sold out. I post on a forum to buy tickets and get a hit after an hour — a couple who bought Friday and Saturday passes can no longer go on Saturday and agree to meet up and sell me their tickets. They are selling them at face value ($55 per ticket), which I agree to instantly — my husband is a diehard nerd and I don't want to miss out on these tickets by lowballing these guys. My husband texted me earlier in the day about how disappointed he was that we missed out on tickets, so I decide not to tell him about my success and to surprise him with the tickets at dinner. $110

6 p.m. — The weekend is finally here! My coworker invited me and my husband to dinner to celebrate her husband's birthday, and since it doesn't start until 7 p.m., we have an hour to kill. We catch the subway downtown and head to a bar near the restaurant where the wines are $5. Yay for happy hour! I get a pretzel because I'm starving and I need something to soak up the alcohol so that I'm not completely useless by dinnertime. $20

7 p.m. — We get to the restaurant at 7 p.m. and meet up with her husband and their friends. My husband is outside and I surprise him with the tickets. The look of instant happiness that washes over his face makes the fact that I will be visiting comic stands and buying posters in a convention hall with over 10,000 people tomorrow while hungover almost worth it. Almost. The bill ends up being about $35 per person. We then go to a bar where we proceed to get a respectable amount of inebriated for people who have an event to attend tomorrow. My husband buys a round for the party. Everyone decides to head to the next bar, so we say our goodbyes at around 11 and get a cab home ($25). $195

Daily Total: $339.75

Day Four

9:30 a.m. — I'm woken up at 9:30 a.m. by the intercom — our cleaner is here. We have a regular cleaner once a month, which sets us back about $120 each time. We have a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, so it usually takes about three to four hours of deep cleaning. My husband and I both hate cleaning, so it's a price that we are both more than happy to pay for a happy marriage. Chores are something we have never argued about, and I'm sure having a cleaner is a big part of why. I'm not too hungover but definitely could've done with a few more hours beauty sleep. Groggily, I head to the shower and get ready for the day ahead. My husband's already up and getting ready for Comic Con. I feel about 80% more human after my shower and then slap on makeup, which takes me up to about 90%. I just need food and I'm all good to go. We're packed and out the door by 11 a.m.

11:20 a.m. — We get off the subway and stop off at a deli with a food bar on the way to the convention. My body is craving greasy food, so I get stir-fry noodles from the hot bar and a fruit salad (balance in all things, right?) and basically wolf it down in silence, much to my husband's amusement. We get to the convention center and are struck by the sheer size of the exhibit. My husband is like a kid in a candy store and we trudge around for around five hours before making our way out. Halfway through, we get what may possibly be the driest pretzel in the history of mankind (so unlike the one I had last night, which is what I was hoping it would be), which sets us back $5. $35

5:30 p.m. — After walking around for hours, we are famished and tired. I booked us a Japanese BBQ reservation for tonight a while back, which is just what we needed after a long day of walking and no food. We order a plethora of meats with frenzied enthusiasm. This, coupled with our lychee martinis, is a perfect way to end the day. Plus we come home to a spotless apartment! $115

Daily Total: $150

Day Five

10:30 a.m. — Sundays are for snoozing and sleeping in! Our body clocks usually wake us up around 7 a.m., but if we're lucky sometimes we fall back asleep for a couple of hours. Today, we successfully snooze until 10:30 a.m., and I could have slept for longer if it wasn't for my rumbling stomach. I get up and make avocado toast for breakfast while my hubby eats the rest of the leftovers from dinner last night. Sundays are usually a day of relaxation for us — we'll either watch Netflix, play computer games, or generally just chill before the work week ahead. My husband works a stressful job in finance, so it's an opportunity for him to de-stress and ready himself mentally for the week ahead.

2 p.m. — I online shop a bit — it's fall and if that isn't an excuse for a new wardrobe, I don't know what is! I pop a few things in my cart from my favorite stores and then realize the value of everything I want exceeds my entire weekly budget, so I regretfully close the tab.

Daily Total: $0

Day Six

7:45 a.m. — Today is a public holiday for some (i.e. my husband), but not for me. It's dark and gloomy in NYC today, and it's taking all my will power to drag myself out of bed. I leave my husband snoozing in bed and leave for work. Hopefully, with half of the city off, it will be a quiet day today. I grab an iced latte on my way into work, which is a change from my normal hot latte, but what can I say, I'm unpredictable like that. $5

12 p.m. — I have no meetings at work today, so I use the opportunity to catch up on paperwork and admin stuff. By noon I'm starving, so I run down to the deli and get my usual salad mix. The SCOTUS saga is trending on Reddit, so I read articles and find myself losing my appetite. I go back to something more lighthearted — puppy videos. $8

6:30 p.m. — I get home and my husband and I decide to get takeout. We are both craving Thai, so we order from our favorite Thai restaurant on Uber Eats. We watch the latest episode of Law & Order: SVU Season 20 while eating dinner. God I love this show so much. Olivia Benson/Mariska Hargitay is my idol. $40

Daily Total: $53

Day Seven

7:45 a.m. — I'm surprised by my self-restraint from purchasing any clothes or makeup over the weekend. Previously, I would spend $500 on say, a leather jacket, or $200 on face and makeup products from Sephora in the blink of an eye, so I feel accomplished in that I am taking budgeting more seriously! I grab my regular latte and head into work. $4.75

12:30 p.m. — I have leftover Thai food from last night for lunch.

7 p.m. — I get home and cook a big dinner for the week ahead. I normally cook two nights' worth of food for my husband and me, which means I only have to cook about two to three nights a week. Tonight I'm feeling extra domestic-goddessy, so I make a meatball and vegetable soup, a chicken and potato stew, and a beef stir-fry with rice. It's a resounding success, and I think I've made enough for the next two nights. I wonder how long my frugality will last — this is probably the most frugal week I've had in a long time. Until next time!

Daily Total: $4.75

Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.

Have a Money Diary you'd like to share? Right now, in addition to our ongoing diaries, we're looking for potential diarists along the following theme:

Your Spending In Your State: We want to run one Money Diary from a different state each week. Want to rep your state? Submit here! In particular, we're looking for diaries from Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Mississippi.

Have you been working for at least 8 years and seen your salary increase or fluctuate? If so, fill out this form for a chance to be featured on our Salary Story series!

Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? Read our Money Diaries FAQ doc here: r29.co/mdfaqs

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How I Share A Tiny 460-Square-Foot Studio With My Fiancé

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What $259,000 Gets You In Los Angeles

In Refinery29's Sweet Digs, we take a look inside the sometimes small, sometimes spacious homes of millennial women. In today's episode, 27-year-old Jessica James shows off her Burbank studio apartment which she shares with her fianc é.

When Jessica James decided to make the jump from renting to owning, she knew she would need some help. Luckily, a friend offered to be her real estate agent, and was forwarding studios and apartments within her price range automatically — which is how James found her Burbank studio apartment for $259,000.

"I was actually at a pool party, and I got a notification in my email," James says. "Within two hours, both of us were over there looking at the place, and I put in an offer that day. It was on the market at that point for five hours, and I had already written my offer and they accepted it in two days."

Yet even with all the help, nothing could prepare her for the sheer amount of paperwork needed to close the deal. "I didn’t realize that everything that had to be inspected, that at every stage of the process someone would have to get my signature or my fingerprint," James says. "Plus, everyone has to get paid. When you talk about closing costs and inspection costs and putting down such a large down payment, I pretty much put my life savings into it. I inherited some money from my grandparents and I saved money since I was in high school, and every dime I had went into the place."

She to save additional money for renovations — including replacing the flooring — knowing that the space she got wasn't exactly what she wanted. Watch the video above to see how she changed up her space, and how she shares it with her fiancé.

Can you talk a little bit about the price of the apartment?

"It was $259,000, which I thought was astronomical at the time, especially for 460 square feet, but I actually just looked yesterday to get feel of what it's marketed at right now, and the same type of studio sold exactly two weeks for $375,000. So it's gone up a lot in three years for such a small space."

Did you have to change anything moving into such a small space?

"When I moved in, I lived in a loft, I had two walk in closets, a beautiful spiral staircase up to my bedroom. So I had a lot of space. When I moved a mile over to Burbank, I had to downsize all my belongings. It was a struggle. It took me a lot of editing over and over and seeing what really I needed living in that space. On top of that, a year after I moved in, my fiancé moved in — and he works from home a lot."

How did that process go?

"That was another editing for himself and myself again. Going from two walk-in closets to sharing a one closet with somebody else. I wouldn't call myself a minimalist, but really I have to really love everything in my space. If I don't love it, it has to go. It can't fit."

Did you have to edit your furniture in any way?

"We had a couch at one point, a tiny apartment couch I brought from my loft. It took us about a year to realize that no one sat on that couch, because you're either in our bed area or you're sitting at the dining table. So we swapped out the couch for a credenza, because storage is extremely important and it just made more sense."

What is your secret to trying to stay organized in such a small space?

"I focus on areas one at a time. I think trying to stay organized in a space as small as mine can be really daunting. So one day, I might decide, Okay the closet's kind of getting crazy, it's time to reorganize that one area. Or you know, I'm collecting too many books. I don't focus on the entirety of the apartment all the time.

But especially with two people moving in and out all the time, it's never going to be perfect. It's never going to be a 100 percent clean and magazine-ready, but staying on top of those tiny areas one at a time, it becomes manageable."

What do you want in your next dream apartment?

"A door. We just want one door. Ideally we'd want at least two bedrooms, but I think we have to start with our dreams small. After our wedding next year, we really want to find something with more space. But as the market keeps shooting up in prices, we've kind of come to the realization that we're probably going to have to move out of our neighborhood and move a little more inland. We just have to make sacrifices, I guess."

Do you have any advice you'll keep in mind for next time?

"With all the closing costs, I would definitely have a couple extra thousand dollars on hand, that's for sure."

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Trump Is Still Rallying For His Failed Family Separation Policy

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After fierce public pushback to President Donald Trump’s zero-tolerance family separation policy, which forcibly separated families at the U.S.-Mexico border and was ended by a court order to reunite them, the president announced that he is again considering family separation as a means of deterring illegal immigration.

In a press conference held on South Lawn of the White House on Saturday, Trump revealed that he believed the administration’s previous separation policy was an effective method of disincentivizing families from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats, humanitarian organizations, and a considerable portion of the general public disagrees, particularly after news broke that children were being held in cages far longer than the three-day limit allowed by U.S. Border Patrol facilities.

Currently, families are still being detained, but are being held together, a policy which resulted from an amendment to the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy inspired by enormous political pressure.

Trump believes the rise in illegal border crossings is a direct result of the United States’ robust economy. “We have people that are trying to get into our country because of how well our country is doing,” said Trump. “You know, in the old days, when the country wasn’t doing well, it was a lot easier. Now everybody wants to come in, and they come in illegally, and they use children. In many cases, you have really bad people coming in and using children. They’re not their children. They don’t even know the children. They haven’t known the children for 20 minutes. They grab children and they use them to come into our country.” Trump didn’t offer any data to support these claims.

Shockingly, his approval ratings during and after the zero-tolerance policy did not take a considerable or lasting hit. The policy was put into effect in April 2018, his approval rating hovered around 40% at the time. When news of the ramifications of the policy broke and he eventually amended the policy, his rating was between 41-45%.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Katie Waldman, made a statement on behalf of the government: “DHS will continue to enforce the law humanely and will continue to examine a range of options to secure our nation’s borders.”

Senator Jeff Flake spoke against a new family separation policy, describing it as “un-American” in a statement on the air with ABC. “I think everybody recognized that. The president seemed to. Certainly, the first lady and others spoke directly against it. I hope we don’t return to that policy,” said Flake. Yesterday, Melania Trump offered her first interview since moving into the White House. In it, she claimed to have told her husband that she thought the policy was “unacceptable.”

Organizations are already getting together to campaign against any new policies that aim to separate families at the border. Amnesty International tweeted an infographic equating family separation to torture. Southern Poverty Law Center tweeted a Washington Post article along with a statement which read: “The Trump administration is again considering plans to separate children at the border. No matter the method, it's heartless, cruel, and will traumatize children.” Children’s Partnership tweeted out a link to a portal for their followers to submit comments directly to the government.

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Ariana Grande & Pete Davidson Have Reportedly Broken Up

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Is it all over for Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson? Sources tell TMZ the couple have ended their romantic relationship and that the engagement is off.

Apparently things ended between the two with no ill-will, it "simply was not the right time for their relationship to take off." Which has serious undertones of "it's not you, it's me."

People also confirmed the split, with a source calling the relationship "way too much too soon."

Grande's last Instagram post was of her new pet, Piggy Smallz. Davidson hasn't made an appearance since August 28, when the two decided to be a little less public. After several weeks straight of mentioning their relationship on Saturday Night Live, Grande's presence was notably absent from the last few episodes episodes.

Rumors earlier this week resulted in Grande confirming to fans that she doesn't have a secret child, after a selfie she shared with a crib in the background caused conspiracy theories to run wild. It was, according to Grande, for the pig.

News of Grande and Davidson's engagement broke back in June, with Grande later saying it was a low-key affair for which Davidson did not get on one knee. "We were just hanging out and he had a ring," she said in an interview for the Zach Sang Show. Davidson said the couple found each other at the right time, remarking that "we both were in a similar situation at the same time" with respect to their long-term relationships, hers to Mac Miller and his to Cazzie David, ending. Miller unexpectedly passed away in September.

The couple originally met on the set of SNL in 2016. Grande dedicated a song to him on her latest album, Sweetener, appropriately titled "Pete Davidson."

Refinery29 has reached out to Grande's representatives for comment.

This is a breaking news story, it will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Check Out Week 5 Of The Money Diaries Savings Challenge & Save More Than $600

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Managing your finances can be a pretty personal project, but when I was writing Refinery29 Money Diaries, I was really inspired by the idea of women connecting online and IRL to cheer each other on as we all try to achieve the same goal: getting more comfortable with managing our money.

With that in mind, I've developed this savings challenge that you can follow along with here, in the book, and in our Facebook group. The challenges I'm going to be sharing over the next six weeks aren't always exactly same as the ones featured in the book, but having a copy will make this project a richer experience. (Don't have a copy yet? You can pick one up here! Don't want to buy the book — grab a copy from your local library!)

A few quick notes on our six-week money saving challenge:

How it works: Over the next six weeks, I'm going to challenge you to cross one financial task off your list every day and save a corresponding dollar amount. We'll start on Day 1 with writing down your financial info and saving $1. Once a week there will be a "Bonus Challenge," where you'll save even more money. You'll also get rest days where you don't have to save any money and can use that time to relax or get caught up on past challenges. At no point in the challenge will you need to save more than $32 in a single day. In the end, you can save as much as $628 if you do every single challenge.

When: Every Sunday evening, I'll post the schedule for the week ahead. While we're starting this challenge on a Monday, and each new week will kick off on Mondays, you can start this challenge on any day of the week.

Are you having an expensive month and can't manage to save $32 in one day, let alone $600 in six weeks? Don't stress. Try saving every other day, or every few days, or even once a week. The idea is to get more mindful with your money, not beat yourself up if you can't hit these goals.

Where: I'll update this page weekly with a new schedule, but you can also follow along in our Facebook group, where Anabel Pasarow and Kate Guarino, two Refinery29 employees, will be doing the challenge as well.

Let's get started, shall we?

Week 1: Getting Started

Day 1: Write down your financial info
Before you can even get started, you need to know where you stand. Take time today to write down all your financial information in one place. That includes your checking and savings account balance, your 401(k) balance, and any outstanding debt. To get the full list of what you should include see page 12-13 in the book. Save $1

Day 2: Do one annoying financial task
It wasn't until I started writing this book that I finally took care of some pretty annoying financial tasks — like rolling over a really old 401(k). (Hello, productive procrastinating!) Today, tackle one of the outstanding financial tasks on your to-do list. File an FSA claim. Ask the bank to refund any fees. Need some more suggestions? Check out page 32-33 in the book (and find out why you might want to take a whole money mental health day!). Save $2

Day 3: Check your credit score
Checking your credit score used to be an involved process, but it doesn't take much to track it down these days. You can sometimes find it on your credit card statement, or you can use an app like Turbo. These apps will also let you know if your score goes up or down, which can be helpful if you're about to get a mortgage, refinance your loans, or rent an apartment. For more about how your credit score works (and an easy way to bump it up), check out pages 28-29 in the book. Save $3

Day 4: Take the highlighter test
This might be my number-one favorite piece of advice in the book. Developed by the financial advisor Manisha Thakor, it's step one in a three-part challenge to help curb unnecessary spending (you can read about steps 2 and 3 on pages 22-24 in the book). The idea is that you go through your spending for a month (including everything from your rent to your cable bill) and highlight anything that doesn't bring you joy. Check back on Thursday when we'll be sharing the highlighter test from a reader. Save $4

Day 5: Use your credit card points
I've never been strategic about using my credit card points and maybe the best and worst thing that's ever happened to me is the new Amazon feature that lets me pay with my Amex points. Today, take some time to figure out how many credit card points you have and make a point to use them if they are going to expire soon. Don't have a credit card? Check out page 30-31 of the book to see why you should consider getting one. Save $5

Day 6: BONUS CHALLENGE: Write a Money Mantra
Financial advisor and founder of Stash Wealth Priya Malani first shared the idea of money mantras with me way back in 2015. I was initially a little skeptical — it sounded a bit too New Age-y for me. But I learned that it can be really helpful to have a mission statement when it comes to your money — a sentence or so that grounds your goals. I share a little more about my personal mantra in the book (see pages 15-16), and we've talked about them in the Facebook group before. (Plus, there was a whole room at 29Rooms dedicated to them!) Today, write down your own. Then save an extra $5 because this is a bonus challenge!

Day 7: Rest Day
You killed it tackling six money challenges! You've also saved $20. It's a good start! Enjoy a day off and get ready for Week 2!

Week 2: Raise Week

This week we’re going to focus on getting you paid.

Day 8: Calculate your compensation package
You know your base salary or hourly wage. But when was the last time you considered how much your other job benefits are worth? Today, take some time to calculate your whole compensation package, from your 401(k) match to the number of vacation days you have to any annual or semi-annual bonuses you might receive. You might even want to include all the money you’re saving on snacks if you work for one of those awesome companies that keep fully-stocked kitchens and serve gourmet (or even half-way decent) coffee. To get the full list of what you should include when adding up your compensation package, see page 100-101 in the book. Save $6

Day 9: Make a plan to ask for a raise
We’re coming up on the end of the year, so it’s definitely not too early to start talking to your boss about their plans and your goals for 2019 and beyond. Need more help asking for a raise? Check out pages 86-92 in the book for expert advice from Sallie Krawcheck and Fran Hauser (and also a few anecdotes from me). And this Tuesday, we’ll be publishing a piece from Fran, where she shares the negotiating success stories from women who have followed her good advice! Save $7

Day 10: Talk to a recruiter
One of my favorite pieces of advice in the book comes from Fran, who suggests the best way to know what salary to ask for in a job negotiation is to talk to a recruiter. I recently had dinner with a woman who said two different recruiters suggested she ask for two vastly different salaries (we’re talking $50,000 difference!). When it comes to knowing what you should be paid, the more data you can collect the better. So don’t just stop with one recruiter, ask a few. (Not sure how to find one? This Muse article has some great advice.) Save $8

Day 11: Go out to a networking coffee
It’s easy to fall into a habit of going to work every day and not thinking about your long-term career goals. But there’s no better time to look for a new job than when you have a job. And even if you have no desire to make a switch today, it’s always good to nurture your relationships. Take a page from one of our awesome book diarists (A Week in Philadelphia on $88,000) and go out to coffee with someone in your network today. Save $9

Day 12: Update your résumé
There are few things that are less fun than revising your résumé, but it’s so much easier if you update as you go along. Spend a little time tidying it up today — even if it’s just 10-15 minutes. We’ve got a lot of great résumé resources for you right here. Save $10

Day 13: BONUS CHALLENGE: Plan a vacation
Did you know that if you don’t take your paid vacation days, it actually means you’re working more for less money? So take some time off! (Want to know how much those vacation days are actually worth? See page 83 in the book.) With the end of year fast approaching, spend some time today planning a vacation. Don’t have an emergency fund? Then make that a staycation, okay? Then save an extra $10 because this is a bonus challenge!

Day 14: Rest Day
You made it through the second week of the challenge! Nice job! Take today to rest and relax, or catch up on anything you didn’t finish yet from week 1 or 2.

Week 3: Debt Week

It’s time to get back in the black.

Day 15: Write down your debt details
Do you know how much debt you have? You might have a vague sense of your credit card and student loan balance, but today let’s figure out the exact amount. And if you have student loan debt, write down the date the final payment is due. Even if that’s 15 years (or more) from now, you’ve got an end date and that’s powerful information. Save $11

Day 16: Set up a plan to manage your debt
There are two debt repayment methods that financial advisors typically recommend: snowball and avalanche. With the snowball approach, you first pay your monthly minimums, then throw any extra cash at the smallest amount of debt until you conquer it. The avalanche method focuses on interest rates, so you pay off the loan with the highest APY first, because that’s the debt that’s costing you the most money. Pay your monthly minimums first, and then focus on the debt with the highest interest rate. Want to learn more about the fastest way to pay off your debt and how to consolidate your loans? See Chapter 5 in the book. Save $12

Day 17: Do a Zero-Dollar Day
You’ll need to do a little prep ahead of doing a zero-dollar day to make sure you’ve got enough food, a full tank of gas or a prepaid Metro card, and your rent or bills aren’t due. Then simply don’t spend any money for one day. Looking for other easy ways to save some cash? See pages 132-133 in the book! Save $13

Day 18: Cancel 1 subscription
Most of us are paying for a subscription or service we don’t really need because sometimes it’s just easier to not cancel them. But do you really need Netflix and HBOGO and Hulu and cable? Or what about that gym membership you never use? Today, cancel one subscription you’re not using. Save $14

Day 19: Social your debt payment
Okay, I know this is a little out there, and even if you don’t want to share your debt payment with the world, you should still $15 today. But if we really want to change the negative stereotypes around debt (and we do!), we have to be more open talking about our money challenges. So today, social your debt. Take a snap of your most recent student loan or credit card statement (don’t include account numbers, I don’t want you getting hacked!) and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Use the hashtag #MoneyDiariesDebtChallenge Save $15

Day 20: BONUS CHALLENGE: Use found money to pay down more debt
One of my favorite financial tips from Priya Malani, financial advisor extraordinaire, is to use any extra money to pay off more of your debt. So say you sell something on Poshmark, get an unexpected bonus at work, or your grandma sends you some birthday cash — use some of it to make an extra payment on your student loans or credit card debt. Every extra bit can help you get back into the black more quickly! Need some ideas for a side hustle you could take on to earn some extra cash? See pages 166-167 in the book. Then save an extra $15 because this is a bonus challenge!

Day 21: Rest Day
Nice job, you’ve made it through week 3, and we’ve only got three more weeks to go! Take today off, or get caught up on any challenges you might have missed!

Week 4: Emergencies Week

This week, let's lay some ground work to protect future you.

Day 22: Open a high-yield savings account
This simple task that Priya Malani has been preaching for years is a game-changer. It doesn’t take very long to do, but it can have a real impact on your savings. Do you know how much interest your savings account is earning right now? Most traditional banks offer pretty paltry interest rates (I’m talking 0.02%), but do a little digging and you can find a lot of great options at 1.5% or higher. Maybe that doesn’t seem like a lot, but just do the math. Say you manage to save $600 over this 6-week challenge. In a traditional savings account, you might earn $0.12 in interest. In a high-yield account with a 1.5% interest rate, you’ll earn $9. That’s $9 more dollars on your way to saving for a fully-funded emergency account. Save $16

Day 23: Make a plan to save $2,000
In the book, I worked with financial advisor Manisha Thakor to finally answer the question: how much money do you need in an emergency account? Her answer is $2,000. Today, map out a plan to save that much. It roughly breaks down to $5 a day over the course of a year, but maybe you can do it faster! Need some quick money-saving ideas? Check out pages 132-133 in the book. Save $17

Day 24: Deal with any outstanding medical bills
Is it just me sitting on a few medical bills that need some attention from the insurance company — as in, isn’t this included in my coverage plan? This kind of project is a bigger lift, so you might want to break it over a few days. See page 119 for more advice on understanding your insurance plan. And when dealing with insurance reps on the phone, just remember: It’s okay to ask questions until you get an answer you understand. Good luck! Save $18

Day 25: Decide if you need life insurance
Life insurance is one of those scary adult things that most people don’t worry about until they have kids. But I worked with Certified Financial Planner Barbara Ginty to determine just who needs life insurance — and what kind. Check out pages 128-131 to build out your ultimate “escape plan” — that’s the 21st-century version of an estate plan, and everyone needs one. Save $19

Day 26: Use your FSA dollars
An FSA account is a great idea — but only if you spend it. These pre-tax dollars can be used on everything from your birth control to your therapy copay. With only a few months left in the year, make sure you’re up-to-date filing all the paperwork. I have to admit, there’s nothing quite like seeing the reimbursement check hit your bank account to feel a little bit (unexpectedly) flush for a minute (or two). Save $20

Day 27: Rest Day
This has been a busy week, so I’m giving you a rest day a day early. Use today to get caught up on anything you missed or give yourself a break. You’ve made it through four weeks of this challenge — that’s amazing!

Day 28: BONUS CHALLENGE: Meal prep for the week
I swapped the rest and bonus days this week, so you could spend Sunday doing meal prep. One of my favorite Money Diaries money-saving tips is prepping your meals so you can save on lunch and dinners. Today, take a page from a bunch of awesome OPs and prep for the week ahead. Need some inspiration? My fellow Refinery29 food editors pulled together a slideshow of their favorite Money Diaries meal prep tips. Check it out here! Then save an extra $20 because this is a bonus challenge!

Week 5: Relationships Week

This week, let's talk about how our money impacts others!

Day 29: Share a financial secret with someone you trust
One big theme throughout the book is how awkward it can be to talk about money, whether you’re trying to navigate splitting the bill on the first date, chatting with your parents about their retirement savings, or asking your boss for a raise. But it’s awkward for almost everyone — it only gets easier if you talk about! Today, share a financial secret with someone you trust. It doesn’t have to be something super dramatic. Maybe just share a goal you’ve set for yourself, or finally fess up to how much student loan debt you’ve got. It might not be easy, but it will be worthwhile. Save $21

Day 30: Make a plan for kids & money
One time, in a Refinery29 focus group, a young woman said, “It’s not like you can save to have a baby.” Cue the record screech. You can save to have a baby — and it’s not a bad idea to think about the cost of raising a kid before you start trying to have one. Today, begin to plan for how you might afford a baby one day. Already have one? Do you have a 529 plan, a will, and life insurance? Never want kids? Start thinking about another long-term goal you want to achieve and start putting a plan in place to make it a reality. Oh yeah, the book has a whole chapter on kids and money — check out pages 168-193. Save $22

Day 31: Send your parents a thank you note
I’ve taught my toddler to say “please” and “thank you,” and it’s so sweet to hear him expressing gratitude for everything from a new toy truck to a cup of milk. Today, take a few minutes to send your parents (or a parental figure in your life) a thank you note for all the nice things they’ve done for you, whether they paid for college or still pay your phone bill. Save $23

Day 32: Make a money date
Got an S.O.? When’s the last time you talked money? Today, schedule a money date so the two of you can start really discussing your finances — and your future together. Not sure what to say? Check out pages 54-57 in the book for 21 questions to get you started. No S.O.? That’s okay! Make a money date with yourself! Save $24

Day 33: Donate money to a cause you care about
Okay, I know it might seem counter-intuitive to spend money during a money-saving challenge, but hear me out. Yes, I want you to save money, but I also want you to make sure you’re spending money in a way that makes you feel good. So today, take a few minutes to donate money to a cause you care about, whether that’s a friend’s GoFundMe, a political campaign, or a local nonprofit you believe in. Save $25

Day 34: BONUS CHALLENGE: Catch up on a missed challenge
We’re almost to the end of our six-week challenge — just one week left! And I bet you’ve missed at least one challenge along the way. Take today to get caught up on one of the bigger projects, whether that’s developing your escape plan or going out for a networking coffee. Then save an extra $25 because this is a bonus challenge!

Day 35: Rest Day
Look at that! You made it through week 5! Nice job! Today, take a real rest day and don’t think about your money. It’s good to take a break every once in a while, and you’ve been doing such an awesome job! Over $400 saved at this point! Well done!

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