SoFi Blog

When you work hard, you want to play hard. We get it. You deserve to enjoy the finer things in life, and you can have them—you just have to be smart and strategic with your spending. Sticking to a budget while saving toward financial goals doesn’t mean you can’t splurge a little. In this latest article in our series on spending hacks, we continue to help you figure it all out.

With the holidays fast approaching and the season of giving upon us, wouldn’t it be amazing if the special moments you plan for yourself and your partner weren’t just memorable, but also spectacular?

Creating experiences of this caliber can seem daunting when you’re stressed at work, digging your way out of student loan debt, or have your sights set on earning the coveted title of “first-time homeowner” in the next few years.

Five years ago, running a startup wasn’t even close to being on Michael Zanetti’s mind. But life is unpredictable—and that’s exactly how he likes it. As a veteran with combat experience in the Army, Michael thrives on unpredictability. After all, in the Army, every mission requires a contingency plan.

After serving in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, and receiving a Bronze Star, Michael went on to serve in the National Guard. He transitioned from the military into civilian life in 2011, and earned an MBA in 2014 from Thunderbird School of Global Management. A year later, he partnered with his friend Brady Bagwan—also a former army officer—to co-found TradesFactor, a professional network for people in the skilled trades.

Equity markets continued to fall last week. The S&P 500 matched its longest losing streak since 1980 with 9 straight losing days as polls indicated a tightening race for president. The search for safety from political uncertainty resulted in rising Treasury prices (and falling yields) throughout the week. While the price action has been painful over the last couple weeks, the economy continues to look good and we still expect a December rate hike from the Federal Reserve.

You’re no stranger to the slew of productivity tools available today. You probably swear by Evernote to keep a running list of your ideas, and have some favorite planner apps to stay on task. And you do those things because being efficient and productive helps you bring your A game to work every single day.

But to do your best job and realize major successes, it’s crucial that the ways in which you work and the tools you use, are in sync with your work culture and your success goals. For example, if you’ve ever used a productivity tool in the hope of upping your effectiveness twofold only to discover that you’re slogging through tasks at a slower pace, there’s a solid chance the tool just doesn’t match up with the way you receive and process information.