5 Ways to Raise Money for Your Business (With or Without Investors)

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."

Liner Revival

The lip liner trend for spring 2025 embraces bold definition with a fresh, modern twist. This season, it's about pairing rosy nudes with soft, lighter lip colors and rich, warm tones with deep browns and cherry reds for a sculpted, high-impact look. City Lips Defining Liner is our favorite new lip liner. It prevents color fading, smudging, and feathering, so you can keep your look intact all day or night! It’s available in two pretty shades: Blush, a soft, rosy nude that pairs beautifully with pink hues and lighter lip colors, and Willow, a rich, warm-toned nude that complements brown tones and deeper shades.

Multitasking Makeup

The trend toward skincare-infused makeup is making your beauty routine work harder with nourishing ingredients. City Lips Defining Liner features vitamin E, helping to keep the lip line smooth while subtly enhancing its shape for a fuller, more defined look. For the ultimate plump and polish, pair the pigmented liner with City Lips Plumping Gloss — a duo that gives you a naturally voluminous pout, plus extra hydration.

Pastel Pop

From butter yellow to sage green, this season’s nail trends are embracing soft, yet statement-making hues that bring a fresh pop of color. Alongside these chic shades, almond-shaped nails are offering a sleek, elegant look that flatters your mani aesthetic.

'90s Nostalgia

A softer, smudged take on the classic cat-eye is making waves, with eyeliner staging a bold comeback in full, effortless sweeps. Blue eyeshadow is also back and better. Expect a nod to cool-toned, ’90s grunge eyes, a trend that lends itself to easy, minimalist lines, like a single, clean swipe of liner, proving that less can truly be more.

Lobs, Bobs & Natural Manes

Haircut season is in full swing, and lighter, fuss-free bobs at all above-shoulder lengths, plus natural curls, are making their way in and out of salons for spring. We couldn't be happier for the low-maintenance 'dos!

Satin Skin

This understated look highlights healthy, natural skin with a soft-matte finish — radiant, yet never flat or overly glossy.

Glossy lips, instead, shine this season. Upgrade your lip routine this spring with City Beauty’s new City Lips Defining Liner and lip glosses for a refreshed look.

Twohy’s been a TJ’s fan ever since she was little, where she remembers joining her mom on grocery trips to the very first Trader Joe’s store in Pasadena, California. Since then, her love for the Trader Joe’s ‘treasure hunt’ (AKA finding fun, new products to try) hasn’t wavered.

In developing The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 15th Anniversary Edition, Twohy said crafting the collection of 150 recipes took years.

“Many were tested and debuted when I had a cooking school in CA,” she said. “Now that I live 3 hours round-trip from the closest Trader Joe's, the drive can take longer than the recipe testing! I don't pay much attention to the clock when honing a recipe, because it's so much fun.”

When asked about her favorite items to pick up from TJ’s Twohy was quick to give her best recommendations! Some of her go-to’s include: puff pastry, fennel, the Umami Seasoning Blend, the Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa, frozen garlic cubes, creme fraiche, and 10 Minute Farro – and, of course, the entire cheese section.

“If you are a ‘can of this, package of that’ sort of cook, TJ's products are great because they don't use artificial colors, preservatives and all that stuff,” Twohy offered. “Not only [are they] time saving, but good for you, too.”

We were lucky enough to get a peek at some recipes from Twohy’s cookbook: One-Pot Pesto Pasta, Potatoes, and Green Beans and Linguini with Leeks, Shrimp, and Arugula. Scroll on for the deets!

Recipe: One-Pot Pesto Pasta, Potatoes, and Green Beans

"The first time I heard of this classic Ligurian dish, I thought it sounded so strange," Twohy writes. "Talk about carb overload! But the flavors, textures, and colors couldn’t be more perfectly paired, and you’ll be converted to the pasta-and-potato combination with the first bite."

Ingredients:

• 1 large boiling potato (or two small ones)
• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths
• 1/2 (16-ounce) bag thin pasta, such as capellini or spaghetti
• 1/2 cup Trader Joe’s Pesto alla Genovese (in the refrigerated section)
• 2 ounces Trader Joe’s Chevre Goat Cheese, softened
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, scrub the potato and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place the potato cubes in the boiling water and cook until barely tender, about 7 minutes. Scoop the potatoes out of the water with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Add the green beans to the same water and cook until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the potatoes.
3. In the same water, cook the pasta until tender. When you drain the pasta, reserve 1⁄2 cup of the cooking water.
4. In the pasta pot, combine the pesto, goat cheese, and 1⁄4 cup of the water, then add the cooked pasta and toss. Add the potatoes and green beans.
5. If a saucier consistency is desired, add a bit more of the reserved pasta water. Adjust seasonings to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe: Linguini with Leeks, Shrimp, and Arugula

"I’m a sucker for the pink-and-green look of this dish," Twohy writes. "The leeks, arugula, and shrimp get all tangled up in the long pasta strands, and the grated Parmesan provides a nutty saltiness I just love."

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
• 2 cubes frozen crushed garlic
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (16-ounce) bag linguini (or another long pasta), cooked and drained
• A handful of arugula
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium sauté pan, heat the olive oil and butter. Sauté the leeks over medium-high heat until tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
3. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sauce is slightly reduced.
4. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until pink.
5. Toss the leek-shrimp mixture with the cooked pasta. Add the arugula and toss.
6. Add the grated Parmesan, toss, and adjust seasonings to taste with salt and pepper.