I'm a financial planner and dad. Trump Accounts come with a free $1,000, but I still prefer my current savings strategy.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
a family of three on a park bench
Eric Roberge and his family.

Beyond Your Hammock

I grew my salary to $180K a year while paying down $40K in credit card debt. I've gone from ashamed to empowered.

Tech Insider : Business, Style, Travel
Lindsey S with Salary Journeys treatment

Courtesy of Lindsey S; BI

Lindsay Stockall is a 38-year-old who splits her time between Newport Beach, California and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Business Insider has verified her income and employment history with documentation. The following as-told-to essay has been edited for length and clarity.

I paid off $150,000 in student loan debt in 16 months. Here are the sacrifices I made and the jobs I worked to become debt-free.

Tech Insider : Business
a woman poses in a white coat with her husband
Arden Missal and her husband, Jordan.

Courtesy of Arden Missal

We quit our jobs to buy a sailboat and enjoy a 'first retirement' — it's been worth the risk

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Technology
Charles Boddie and Bianca Chan with their dog
Charles Boddie and Bianca Chan had careers on the upswing, but they quit their jobs and bought a sailboat to travel and pursue hobbies. Months later, they are happy with their decision.

Courtesy photo

I make $300,000 and don't feel financially secure living in Seattle. It's still not enough to support my family of four.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Travel
Senior Product Manager Eshaan Jain
Senior product manager Eshaan Jain

Courtesy Eshaan Jain

I'm the CEO of a mocktail company. I embrace the art of puttering and balance the 'yucky' part of business with creativity.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
the CEO of Mingle Mocktails poses with her product
Laura Taylor.

Mingle Mocktails

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Laura Taylor, the 54-year-old founder and CEO of Mingle Mocktails, based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I thought I could juggle motherhood and a promotion at Amazon. A turning point made me reevaluate everything.

Tech Insider : Business
Becca Selah
Becca Selah

Courtesy photo

I got laid off from Google, then found out I was pregnant. Going from DINK to self-employed has felt like the wild west.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Economy
head shot of a woman outdoors
Shanon Morris.

Stacy Foster

I get Botox as often as I can afford it. My aging face started to distract me on work calls — the cost is worth every penny.

Tech Insider : Business
a before and after image of a woman getting Botox
Melissa Petro before and after Botox injections.

Courtesy of Melissa Petro

I was laid off from my banking job at 55 and left corporate America to build my own AI consultancy. Here's what I learned in the process.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Kristina Martinelli headshot.

Photo courtesy of Kristina Martinelli

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