It’s no secret that, since the pandemic, more and more people have been quitting their 9-5s to become their own bosses. With side gigs becoming main gigs and social media careers being taken more seriously, the possibility of being self-made seems more tangible than ever. But while working for yourself sounds absolutely amazing, not getting a biweekly paycheck can come with challenges. Like, how do you make sure you get paid consistently? How do you control your spending? How much do you set aside for savings? These are the questions that keep us up at night, and luckily, Haley Bookholdt (she/her) is here to answer them. As a 24-year-old golfer, content creator, and grad student, she has a ton of expenses to account for, so here’s how she keeps her finances in check with the help of Fidelity Bloom®.

Having a career as a content creator can be financially unpredictable. How do you stay in control of your spending and make sure you have enough savings for a rainy day?

1. Spend smarter. I have a lot of spending to account for. I have my own LLC for content creation, and since I work in the women’s golf space, I invest a lot of money on rounds of golf, equipment, and things that help me keep up with life as an athlete, like my yoga membership, sports massages, physical therapy, and healthy food. But with Fidelity Bloom®, I’m saving while I’m spending. With rewards like getting 10 cents cash back every time I use the Fidelity Bloom debit card, it really helps me spend my money more wisely.

2. Establish clear savings goals. I used to feel guilty for spending money because I had an “all or nothing” mindset where if I wasn’t saving 100% of my earnings, it wasn’t enough. But setting clear savings goals has played a huge role in removing that guilt, because I have a better understanding of the things I’m willing to spend on and invest in. The Fidelity Bloom® debit card has also been essential because it automatically rounds up my purchases and saves the leftover change, allowing me to build my savings without even trying! Plus, it gives me 10 cents every time I use it, so it’s kind of a no-brainer.

3. Stay informed. So much of the financial industry seems designed to be complicated. The amount of terms and information out there is so overwhelming, it makes you wanna depend on somebody else to manage your finances. But the Fidelity Bloom® app helps make it simpler. It has a one-stop hub where you can learn tips and tricks on how to adopt better money habits, which is a lot better than searching the internet for answers and being confused by a hundred differing opinions. I think every financial app should have that educational aspect, because it’s helped me become a lot more intentional with my purchases.**

**DISCLOSURE: The Fidelity Bloom® app features 2 brokerage accounts.