Episode 34

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Published on:

10th May 2021

How to Politely Decline a Friend’s Wedding Invitation (Navigating Awkward Money Conversations) | E34 Erin Lowry

If you have a skill of finding free food, you’re consistently dealing with an unreliable laptop or phone, or you furnished your apartment with cheap furniture from family and Craigslist, I’m assuming you might be a broke 20-something. “I Need a Dollar” by Aloe Blacc probably hits a little different.

My guest today knows a thing or two about this stage of life. Erin Lowry is the author of the 3-part book series, Broke Millennial. Her newest book, Broke Millennial Talks Money shares advice on how to navigate awkward financial conversations at work and with your friends, family, and romantic partners.

If money has ever caused awkward tension when it comes to splitting the bill or picking an Airbnb for your upcoming girls trip, this conversation is going to be perfect for you.

Most of this episode centers on having money conversations with your friends. Erin shares her thoughts on when it’s appropriate to share how much you make, setting financial expectations when your friend asks you to be in their wedding, and why creating a friend fund might be what you need to say yes more often.

 

Key Takeaways:

[8:22] How a coffee with a friend turned into Broke Millennial blog

[24:23] What numbers should we share with our friends?

[36:13] Why Erin wishes she would have spent more money in her twenties

[44:08] How to manage the onslaught of other people’s weddings

 

Favorite Quotes:

[7:38] “I just had a really fun job in entertainment...but I also had to work two other jobs to sustain my life.”

[10:22] “I never really felt stressed about controlling money. I had stressed at times about how much I had but not about if I felt like I was in control.”

[33:53] “I’m a true fan of saving for/investing for opportunities/options.”

[36:53] “What would you have done differently with money in your twenties...I would have spent more money.”

[49:19] “Bridesmaids...they should just be able to pick a cocktail dress at knee length in a certain color scheme or….if you want them in a particular gown, add that in your wedding budget and f’ing pay for it.”

 

More of Erin:

Twitter: @BrokeMillennial 

Instagram: @BrokeMillennialBlog

Broke Millennial Book Series: https://brokemillennial.com/get-the-book/

 

More of TSIR:

Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/

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FI Minded - Financial Independence Without the Extremes
Achieve Financial Independence & Have Fun Doing It
Pursuing financial freedom, a work-optional lifestyle, or early retirement often leads to the same questions: “one more year,” “do I have enough?” “what does life actually look like after this?”

FI Minded helps you think like someone who’s already financially independent so you can make smarter decisions about how you work, spend, and live.

From Coast FI and Slow FI to lifestyle design, career transitions, healthcare, and self-employment, each episode explores the real decisions behind building a flexible, work-optional life…without burnout, over-optimization, or missing out along the way.

We cover:
* Smarter ways to reach financial independence (without burnout)
* Designing a flexible, work-optional lifestyle
* Coast FI, Slow FI, and enjoying your time along the way
* What life actually looks like after FI (and how to prepare for it)
* The tradeoffs behind big money decisions

Make progress toward financial independence while actually living your life.

Some of our past guests include Carl Jensen (1500 Days), Jeremy Schneider (Personal Finance Club), Nick Loper (Side Hustle Show), Andrew Giancola (The Personal Finance Podcast), Jordan Grumet (Earn & Invest), Rachael Camp (Work Optional), Jillian Johnsrud (Retire Often), Sean Mullaney (FI Tax Guy), Jill Sirianni (Frugal Friends), Jackie Cummings-Koski (Catching Up to FI), Joel Larsgaard (How to Money), Cody Garrett (Measure Twice), Jesse Cramer (Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors), Jess (The Fioneers), Chris Hutchins (All The Hacks), Diania Merriam (EconoMe), Andy Hill (Marriage Kids Money), Fritz Gilbert (Retirement Manifesto), and and others helping you rethink how to approach financial independence.
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