Last Minute Tax Tips Every Procrastinator Should Know

1. Not everyone's parents can put them through college. 

"My parents are wealthy, but I grew up in a place where many of my peers' parents were super, duper, crazy wealthy, so I had a skewed understanding of wealth," shared one user.

"It was really eye-opening for me when I went to college. I didn't have to take out student loans; my parents were able to just pay for it. But I had friends who, even with financial aid, had to work their [behinds] off year-round to cover the cost of school. I realized pretty quickly just how privileged I was and that I did, in fact, grow up with wealth."

2. Country clubs aren't the only kind of "clubs" out there. 

"When I was confused about people on Maury complaining their spouse was at 'the club,' and I couldn't figure out what type of country club would let people like that through the front security gate," admitted another user.

3. Not everyone views their parents as good role models. 

"Becoming an adult and realizing that I have extremely good role models as parents because when they have disagreements, they talk them out, and I have never, ever, heard them argue or badmouth each other," one user revealed.

"I also realized that as a kid, my parents got me mental health help that I needed even though it was expensive and continued that care for as long as I have needed it," they added.

"A third [wake-up call] that doesn't seem like much but has had a huge impact was being taught financial literacy from a young age; to budget my money and only buy the things I really, really want."

4. Many people have never left the country.  

"My parents loved to travel. By the time I was 16, I had been to every continent aside from Antarctica. I didn't realize that this was privileged behavior until I went to university, and most of the guys I met had never left the country," a user shared.

"In fact, I grew up thinking I was less privileged because everyone at my school was just obscenely rich. Like, all their stuff was high-end designer stuff while I was in Converse."

5. Some families cannot afford to have pets. 

"My dad was an engineer, so professional wealth, but... probably hearing about a kid whose family had to give his dog away due to the cost in elementary school," another user remembered.

"Giving away our dog wasn't on the radar or even on the table. But it was only out of the question because my parents had the money for it to be out of the question."

6. Owning multiple properties is not the norm. 

"When I learned that not everyone has a summer cottage or trust fund, and not all grandparents have weekend and summer homes," a user noted.

7. Exposure to cultural education isn't a given. 

"I didn't think I grew up in a wealthy family, but when I started high school, I was part of a group of girls who became close friends with me. Apparently, they thought it was very weird that I knew things that I considered cultural knowledge, like the history of some important building in the city or the fact that I actually knew about art and went to museums quite often," detailed a user.

"All this because my parents made me go to museums and theaters my whole life growing up. Apparently, that's not a normal thing for normal parents to do with their kids, and asking your parents if they can take you to the ballet is not something a teenager would normally ask."

8. Some people have never been able to fill up their tanks at the gas station. 

"In college, I went on a road trip with friends, and one asked how much money he should put in the gas tank. I told him to fill it up," recalled a user.

"He kept asking, 'Okay, how much should I pay?' and I kept saying, 'Fill it up!' It turned out he had only ever put $10 to $15 at a time, and it had never occurred to me that some people never fill their gas tanks to the top."

9. Seeing how families abroad make do.

"I realized how privileged I was when I spent a summer with my great-grandmother in a small village in rural Hungary. No indoor running water, the only phone was at the church, and everyone came out to touch the rental car we drove there in. This was in the late 1980s," recalled a user.

10. Learning that not everyone takes their first flight as a child.

"I have been flying around the world since I was 4 months old. When I was 16, my friend told me she'd fly for the first time in an airplane, and I was shocked," said another user.

"I told my dad that I couldn't believe it took her 16 years to fly! I got a stern talk after; my dad is very humble despite it all."

1. Not automating your savings

When's the last time you actually put money in savings when you said you would? Let me guess: it went towards your fave Chick-Fil-A meal or the Valentine's Day decor you couldn't resist buying. This is a judge-free zone, so I'm not here to make you feel bad, but sometimes our best efforts to save money fall flat. Yet have no fear because there's a solution that stems from something you've been overlooking.

"One of the most common money mistakes is not automating your savings. If you’ve ever gotten to the end of the month and felt guilty because you didn’t save any money (or as much as you hoped), this is one thing you can do to help yourself out," says Dunlap. According to her, this looks like you taking the time to "set up an automated transfer from your checking to your savings, at least once a month." You could "set up the transfer on the first day of the month, maybe on the first and half-way through the month, whatever works for you."

But don't worry about getting things "wrong" because Dunlap doesn't think the amount you transfer has "to be a lot" because "even $20 means we're choosing progress." In her opinion, the very act of automating your savings means "you're doing the hard thing first!"

2. Overlooking high yield savings accounts

In addition to having an automated savings transfer, it also matters what kind of account you're putting your money into. I'm 100% guilty of going beyond a basic savings account as a broke college student because I was terrified I wouldn't understand the terms of what I was doing. Apparently I'm not the only one because Dunlap says we tend to overlook "ensuring that savings money is going into a high yield savings account. But, what is it?

"This is just like a normal savings account, but it’s going to earn you WAY more in interest. Basically, your savings are going to make you more savings," she shares. If you're scratching your head and need more information, we've got your back! Basically, "this is going to be the perfect account to keep your emergency fund in," according to Dunlap.

Instead of being limited to when you can access your funds (like a certificate of deposit or CD), she says "you can take your money out at any time, your money is insured," and "the partner" she and her team "recommend" doesn't have "fees" or "minimums." However, she warns "terms always apply, so check with your bank" before making a hasty decision.

3. Treating your retirement account as an investment

Full transparency moment: I didn't start paying attention to my retirement account until I left my prior job and had to roll the funds over. Even then, I thought I didn't have to focus on investments because I was sure my new IRA covered all the bases. Wrong! "...one of the biggest financial mistakes is believing the misconception that a retirement account itself is an investment–your IRA is not the investment, it's an account that HOLDS your investments," stresses Dunlap.

Her advice? "Don't just put money into a Roth without actually investing it. It’s a two-step process: make sure you transfer money into your account, and then buy investments with that money."

4. Going into debt to enjoy yourself

I fear little treat culturesunk its teeth in us and hasn't let go. I'm a recovering shopaholic who puts things in my cart and empties it if I ever feel the urge to do some unhinged damage to my debit card. Still, there are other people who are still in the trenches of living a FOMO-life.

"We know Millennials and Gen Z-ers are more likely to splurge or go into debt for travel, events and entertainment than their generational counterparts–there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun money (plus, I don’t blame them after the pandemic), but we want to make sure we’re not going into debt or dipping into an emergency fund to make it happen," says Dunlap.

If there's something you really want to do, back away from the credit card and listen to Dunlap's suggestions first. She says, "For something like a big trip or a concert, I would suggest starting a sinking fund or a dedicated high-yield savings account. That way, you know you’ve saved that money for the exact purpose you’re using it for, and you get to protect your emergency fund and credit cards in the process."

5. Waiting too long to start a retirement fund

Be honest: do you have a retirement fund? If your answer is no, Dunlap is ready to have a heart-to-heart with you. "In addition to not investing, I see a lot of women waiting too long to start preparing for retirement," she says. It's so easy for Millennials and Gen Z to think our elderly years are far away, but that doesn't mean we can't start planning for them now.

Also, saving or investing your money while you have debt isn't a sign of irresponsibility. Dunlap says, "You may have heard that all of your debt needs to be gone before you start investing–sure, some of your debt needs to be gone." Of course she'd like to see "your high cost debt like credit card debt" lowered as much "as possible before you prioritize investing," but she doesn't want you to "wait too long to start investing because" you think your "other finances aren't perfect," you're clueless about next steps, or think you "need a billion dollars to get started."

All you have to do is try. "...you’ve got to start somewhere, and something is better than nothing," adds Dunlap.

6. Bypassing investing because you have limited information

Financial literacy is important, but you're not incompetent because you have limited information about investing. Dunlaps says she sees "people believing the misconception that investing means you’re just selecting individual stocks and taking a gamble on them." Though she agrees it's "an option," she wants you to realize it's "not the only one." So, what to do?

"You can also consider investing in index funds. Essentially, this is a group of companies or groups of stocks. So rather than putting all of your eggs in one basket, you’re putting your money towards something more diversified and low-risk, that’s going to be less of a gamble long-term," suggests Dunlap.It's actually something she likes and teaches about in Stock Market School. "...index funds made me a millionaire," she offers.

BRB, going to sign up so I can get my finances together once and for all.

7. Shying away from budgeting because you don't want to be restricted

Friends, we can't keep running away from the "budgeting" word. It hasn't helped us, especially if we've been crying about sneaky expenses that are doing a number on our accounts. There's a reason we keep running from it though.

"A lot of us associate a budget with restriction–the idea that in order to save money, you have to restrict yourself and keep a tighter budget. But if you treat money like a diet, it will inevitably fail," Dunlap points out. Here's a secret she wants you to know: "It’s not your fault that you’re not sticking to your budget, it’s just psychology! If you tell me I can’t have fried chicken, all I’m going to do is want fried chicken. Psychology."

Her point is that "a super restrictive budget just doesn’t work, it's not sustainable" because "your budget shouldn’t stop you from doing things." Instead, she feels "it should be the thing that allows you to do things comfortably." You know like buying those new pair of shoes without calculating if you're going to forfeit part of your cell phone bill.

Dunlap further says, "I’m not going to tell you to stop spending money, because that’s not the solution. I am just going to tell you to stop spending money on things you don’t care about." Her number one suggestion for "helping your budget" is to "establish 3 areas of your life where you get the most joy (ex. eating out, traveling, nesting)."

"When you review your budget, these are going to be the 3 areas you make sure your spending is in line with," she also says.

8. Pretending your debt doesn't exist

How many of us are guilty of ignoring the credit card bill until we get our statement? According to Dunlap, that's a terrible idea. "The first thing is to make sure you know your numbers, and aren’t running from them–the only way to take control of your debt is by avoiding what’s called the Ostrich Effect.

This is when you avoid addressing and accessing a situation because you’re afraid of what you’ll find," she says. Wondering who the ostrich is in this situation? You are because you're keeping your "head in the sand." However, it's "so common when it comes to debt, but conquering it is the first step to making progress."

Next up? Get familiar with "tackling debt" by "building an emergency fund — regardless of how much debt you're in," says Dunlap. Even if things feel like they're going really well, she knows "life is inevitably going to throw you a few curve balls." Here's looking at you unexpected car crash that totaled my car last year.

"If you're not prepared for emergencies, you still need to find a way to navigate them–whether that’s dipping into your savings, using credit cards, or asking family and friends for help. We don’t want you to have to do that–we want you to have an emergency fund that you can use," she says. It "safeguards you from going into more debt in an already stressful situation," according to her.

After you've started building a nice emergency fund, she can't wait for you to use her "favorite debt handling method" called "the Debt Avalanche."

1. Write down all of your debts, listing them from highest interest rate to lowest, and how much the minimum payment is on each.
2. Calculate your total minimum payments to give you an idea of how much you need to pay every month to keep current.
3. Start paying extra on the credit line with the highest interest rate. Keep paying the minimums on the rest. This process works best when you focus on one bill at a time.
4. Once you’ve paid off the debt with the highest interest rate, move down the list to the next one and start paying whatever extra you can towards it each month.

Again, Dunlap doesn't want you to feel like you have to have a fail-proof system in place. "Start where you’re at — you’ll be amazed how fast that debt will start disappearing even with just an extra $15 – $20 a month."

Noted! How can I create attainable financial goals this year?

Now that you're ready to stop making financial mistakes, you can start thinking about your overall money goals for the year. Dunlap says, "One thing you can do to make your goals automatically more achievable is attach them to a mission. It’s one thing to give it a deadline and make it specific, but thinking about what achieving it actually means to you is going to drive you to accomplish it a little more."

An example she gives is you saying "'I will save my first $100K (specific) by the end of 2026 (timely)'," but she asks, "what does that mean to you, what does it get you? Why is important?"

Per her suggestion, "add your answer as a part of your goal statement." She says you could write something like "'because I want to have enough money to quit my toxic job (mission-driven).'"

Doing this "makes accomplishing your goal about more than the money, and reminds you why you're doing it in the first place," she says as her final piece of guidance.

What's the easiest thing to cook for dinner?

In our experience, meals that feature a bunch of different ingredients thrown together (think poke bowls, burrito bowls, stews, and salads) end up being the easiest options to cook for dinner. Plus, they're a great way to clear out any leftovers you may have from the fridge!

What can I cook in 10 minutes?

Easy meals like air fryer salmon, scrambled eggs and toast, and our risotto cupscan be made in 10 minutes or less. You probably won't be able to make something like a chicken breast or casserole in 10 minutes, but that doesn't mean your dinner still can't be delicious!

What can I cook in 30 minutes?

In addition to the 10-minute meals mentioned above, there are plenty of recipes you can make in 30 minutes (some of them are right on this list!). You can also check out our Instant Pot Recipes and Air Fryer Recipes for some more quick and delicious meals.

What meals can I make for $5?

Meals like canned soup, frozen veggies, bagged salads, and other single-serve, pre-assembled meals usually fall under $5. Frozen pizza and spaghetti with marinara sauce are some other great hearty options!

Easy Dinner Recipes To Make Tonight

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta

We love a good Instant Pot meal, and this creamy and delicious pasta dish does not disappoint. It's great for any day of the week, and the leftovers save really well to last you all week! (via Anna Monette Roberts for Brit + Co)

Heart-Shaped Pizza

20-Minute Vegan Nachos

Nachos that have no animal byproducts and only take 20 minutes? BRB — we're adding this to our easy dinner recipes lineup for the week. (via Brit + Co)

Instant Pot Steamed Cod With Ginger Scallion Sauce

This easy Instant Pot-made dish can be on your table in roughly 30 minutes. From a frozen state, the fish only takes 5 minutes to pressure-cook! (via Anna Monette Roberts for Brit + Co)

Pressure Cooker Vegan Chili

Easy dinner recipes are supposed to be simple. Just dump the ingredients for this pick into your pressure cooker, and you'll have enough food to feed a family, all in less than 30 minutes. (via Anna Monette Roberts for Brit + Co)

10-Minute Vegan Trader Joe's Stir-Fry

Keep a bag of frozen stir-fry veggies and frozen brown rice on hand, and you have the base of a healthy, fast meal you can enjoy for dinner and beyond. (via Brit + Co)

Mango Shrimp Curry

A jar of mango chutney acts as the base of this flavorful shrimp stir-fry. Talk about summery goodness! (via Brit + Co)

Pancetta Pasta

This hearty, saucy, and salty pasta inspired by none other than Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis is the perfect easy dinner idea to whip up on chilly nights. You can make some easy swaps if you don't have pancetta or Pecorino on-hand, using bacon and Parmesan instead. (via Brit + Co)

Easy Dinner Recipes To Try This Week

Vegan Veggie Sausage Foil Packs

Whether you cook them on the grill or in the oven, these foil packets require no cleanup. That's why they're one of the best easy dinner recipes to keep in your back pocket! (via Justina Huddleston for Brit + Co)

Thai Basil Stir-Fry

Punchy Thai basil, chiles, and garlic add a burst of flavor to this simple ground chicken stir-fry. Serve with sticky white rice, so you can soak up every last bit of sauce. (via Ashley Bare for Brit + Co)

4-Ingredient Vegan Baked Ziti

Bake your pasta without having to boil it beforehand by giving it a quick soak. You'll be surprised at how much time you save with this easy dinner idea. (via Brit + Co)

20-Minute Pizza

Trader Joe's ready-made pizza dough saves the day for this easily customizable pizza idea. (via Meredith Holser forBrit + Co)

Keto Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

A rotisserie chicken cuts a lot of the labor involved in assembling these lettuce wraps. You can even use canned chicken if a rotisserie is out of reach. Add blue cheese crumbles and walnuts for a meal that's a little more elegant than your usual chicken salad. (via Anna Monette Roberts for Brit + Co)

Cacio e Pepe Chickpeas

Get the classic flavor of cacio e pepe in even less time than usual. Skip waiting for a pot of pasta water to boil, and swap your noodles for chickpeas instead. They have more protein, too! (via Audrey Bruno for Brit + Co)

Foil Pack Chicken & Broccoli

Seasoned with your favorite spices or marinade, these flexible chicken and broccoli packets can be changed up every time you make them for dinner. (via Jessi Devenyns for Brit + Co)

Instant Pot Tuscan White Bean Soup

We love easy dinner recipes that are hearty and perfect for winter! Start with this veggie-loaded soup, then add sausage, bacon, and Parmesan. (via Brit + Co)

Easy + Quick Dinner Ideas

Vegetarian Pigs in a Blanket

Three ingredients, 12 minutes, and vegetarian to boot — could it get any easier?! (via Melanie Burke for Brit + Co)

Sheet-Pan Lemon Chicken, Squash, and Green Beans

We love everything about this simple and fresh sheet-pan chicken and veggies. Swap out the veg depending on what you've got in the fridge for an easy dinner. (via Brit + Co)

Vegan Sheet-Pan German Sausage and Veggies

Hearty vegan cooking doesn't have to take forever. Whip out your handy sheet-pan, and you'll be eating this medley of veggie sausage, potatoes, and cabbage in about 45 mostly hands-off minutes. (via Justina Huddleston for Brit + Co)

Make These Fast Dinner Ideas Tonight!

Mexican-Style Hot Dogs in Lettuce Wraps

A jumble of veggies and black beans put a much fresher spin on traditional hot dogs. (via Patricia Conte for Brit + Co)

20-Minute Tahini Salmon Salad

The rich and nutty tahini dressing is the key to transforming this salmon salad into an scrumptious easy dinner recipe you'll actually get excited about eating. (via Brit + Co)

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio With All-O the Parsley

You will always have something to eat when you bust out this recipe, which calls for all pantry staples: spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, anchovy, red pepper, and whatever herbs you have. (via Where Cooking Begins)

Easy Chicken Piccata

Whip up your this easy dinner recipe in just over a half hour with a cast iron pan! A side of pasta or mashed potatoes completes the meal perfectly. (via Munchkin Time)

Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breast

Sneak in some veggies by sandwiching them in between slices of cheese and chicken. (via Primavera Kitchen)

Baked Greek Chicken Wings With Tzatziki

Chicken wings don't have to be a labor of love — this recipe bakes them on a sheet tray for easy clean-up. Tangy tzatziki dip on the side is a fresh alternative to ranch dressing! (via My Modern Cookery)

Tasty Easy Dinner Ideas

Bean Stuff Casserole

Cheesy bean casserole will please the whole fam any night of the week. (via Crazy for Crust)

15-Minute Spam Fried Rice

This quick fried rice dish is savory, salty, and protein-filled, thanks to the addition of Spam. (via Takes Two Eggs)

Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Pizza

You won't think twice about adding more Brussels sprouts to your meals after you taste them in this smoky, cheesy pizza. (via Bowl of Delicious)

Chicken Cabbage Stir-Fry

This stir-fry will please those on paleo, low-carb, or gluten-fee diets. Plus, it's thrifty in time and cost of ingredients. (via Wholesome Yum)

Chicken Scallopini

This classic pasta dish stars a few secret convenient ingredients you probably have in your pantry already. (via The Cozy Cook)

Chorizo Scallop and Kale Stir Fry

Spicy chorizo and sweet scallops cook up quickly in this kale-flecked stir-fry. (via Neil's Healthy Meals)

Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil

Cooking this buttery salmon in foil means you've got an easy dinner recipe that has a very seamless cleanup. (via Primavera Kitchen)

Greek Chicken Sheet-Pan Dinner

Sheet-pan chicken gets a big boost of flavor with lemon, feta, olives, and roasted veggies. (via Laughing Spatula)

Hearty Easy Dinner Ideas For You!

Grilled Hawaiian Pork Chops

Using the grill for these pork chops adds another nice layer of unexpected flavor. (via The Life Jolie)

Easy Dinner Recipes For Every Season

Honey Ham, Gouda, and Apple Quesadillas

This unique spin on the quesadilla is the tastiest answer for nights when you can't bear the thought of eating yet another grilled cheese. (via Simple Seasonal)

Kale and Shrimp Tortellini

Keep frozen tortellini on-hand for when you need to whip up some filling dinners in a flash. (via Goodie Godmother)

Lemon Chicken Quinoa Bowls

Loaded with veggies, these protein-packed lemon chicken quinoa bowls fill you up while fueling your body with good stuff. (via Foodal)

Margarita Chicken Quesadillas

Make your quesadillas into a more substantial meal by filling them with tequila-lime chicken. A dollop of sour cream on top, and dinner is served. (via Life as a Strawberry)

Mexican Shrimp Skillet

This savory Mexican shrimp skillet can be on the table and ready to eat in 20 minutes tops. (via Family Food on the Table)

Pasta With Peas & Ricotta

Creamy ricotta and Parmesan cheeses transform this pasta dish into a grown-up version of macaroni and cheese. (via Mindy's Cooking Obsession)

Quinoa Taco Salad

Skip the fried tortilla bowl, and add extra nutrition to your taco salad by including a healthy dose of quinoa. If you're still craving some crunch, sprinkle in a handful of pepitas. (via Fannetastic Food)

Coconut Lime Shrimp

Zesty shrimp cooks up in minutes for a seriously ideal meal any night of the week. (via Salt & Lavender)

Spicy Vietnamese Salad With Garlic Shrimp

This is not your average salad. Garlic shrimp, avocado, rice noodles, and lots of herbs combine for a hearty bowl with quite the kick! (via The Rustic Foodie)

Spinach & Feta-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Bake these rolled chicken bites in the oven for a surprisingly easy and satisfying meal. (via Primavera Kitchen)

Tortellini, Pesto, and Asparagus Soup

A cozy soup featuring pasta and veggies is the fastest way to sate your comfort food cravings. Pesto contributes to the bright, herbaceous flavor of this easy dinner recipe. (via The Freelancer's Cookbook)

Tuna Panzanella

Adding a little protein to your favorite Italian bread salad makes it into a full meal. Use oil-packed Italian tuna for a luxurious touch. (via Inside the Rustic Kitchen)

Za'atar One Pot Chicken & Rice

Za'atar, a blend of thyme, sumac, and sesame, puts a Middle Eastern twist on this easy, one-pot chicken and rice dish. (via Living Sweet Moments)