Across the country and in cities around the world, hundreds of thousands of teachers, parents, students, and activists are participating in the March for Our Lives, an anti-gun violence rally organized by student survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people.
The central march is taking place in Washington DC, but as was the case with the January 2017 Women’s March, thousands of demonstrators are participating in local marches from New York City to Orlando, Florida, to Los Angeles, and as far away as Berlin. For many of the young people taking part in the estimated 800 March for Our Lives that are currently underway from coast to coast, the event is about much more than just the Parkland shooting — as they've told us, it’s about feeling safe and being heard.
Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Times reports that thousands of area residents flocked to downtown LA to participate in Saturday morning’s march. Brianna Cornejo-Perez, a 14-year-old student at Santa Monica High School who attended the march with her mother, told reporters: “We used to have lockdown drills — now we have active shooter drills. It’s a bit scary.” (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty)
Philadelphia: Hundreds of protesters descended in the city’s protest, WHYY reports. Savannah Goldstein, a junior at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, told reporters: “In school, kids aren’t worrying about their tests for the day. They’re worrying about when the alarm goes off,’ Is this actually a drill or am I going to get hurt in school today?’ ” (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis/Getty)
New York City: The Manhattan march drew a crowd of thousands. Some protesters veiled themselves in white and carried with them photos of students and teachers who were killed in US school shootings, including the deadly 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty)
Washington DC: Massive crowds filled at least 10 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue, where some 20 teens — many of them, survivors of the Parkland shooting — were scheduled to speak. Stoneman Douglas High School student Cameron Kasky was among those to address the gathering, heralding today as a new era in youth-led change: “To the leaders, skeptics, and cynics who told us to sit down, stay silent and wait your turn, welcome to the revolution. Either represent the people or get out. Stand for us or beware. The voters are coming.”(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty)
Pflugerville, Texas: The Austin, Texas suburb attracted more than 200 demonstrators. Pflugerville High School junior Anakaren Salinas was among the teen speakers to address the crowd and held back tears as she told those gathered: “Instead of worrying about if you’re going to get gunned down at a school, you should worry about getting good SAT scores or passing a test.” (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty)
Berlin, Germany: The New York Times reports that 150 to 200 people, mostly American expats, gathered near the Brandenburg Gate carrying signs that said “bullets aren’t school supplies” and “Waffeln statt Waffen” (Waffles Instead of Weapons.) (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty)
Your relationship with your finances is one of the most important relationships you'll ever have, and you can't avoid it. That said, for many of us, the pandemic only added to our financial stress. If you find yourself feeling frazzled, just remember that financial insecurity isn't a net-worth issue — it's a mindset issue. And, we happen to have plenty of advice on how to turn your money mindset around so you can take charge of your funds once and for all.
To start, feeling secure begins with a strong foundation, and there's no better time than now to get started stacking the bricks. It's easy to get swept up in the January "new year, new me" mentality, but really? Any time is the right time to get yourself in order. You don't need to wait for a new year, a new moon, the right moment, or a sign from above. You don't even have to start on the first day of the month — you just need to start.
Introducing NerdWallet: A Safe and Reliable Money App
To help with that, we've put together a list of the just-right-for-you ways that NerdWallet can help you monitor your financial outlook. Haven't heard of them yet? NerdWallet is a personal finance company that helps consumers make smarter financial decisions. Their website and app let you compare different financial products, find articles and tools to make financial decisions with confidence, and keep tabs on your finances (hey there, credit score, I see you!) all in one place. Plus, NerdWallet has over 75,000 glowing reviews in the App Store (and a 4.8 star rating) if you want to read up on any more testimonials.
Tim Chen, NerdWallet's CEO and co-founder, started this financial journey in 2009 after his sister needed help finding a credit card. Even with an economics degree and a Wall Street background, it took awhile for Tim to find the right recommendation (so don't feel too bad when it takes you a while, too). Their mission is to bring clarity to all of life's financial decisions.
So it's safe to say that NerdWallet is a pretty good sherpa for your journey, too.
Get the most from your money
Did you know that the money you park in a savings account can lose value? Harsh, but true. If your money isn't earning interest that's on pace with inflation it will actually be worth less to you in the future. And if the bank charges fees? Forget about it. Make sure you're earning the interest you deserve and come out on top. NerdWallet has researched dozens of financial institutions to help consumers find the best options. The hard work has already been done for you, so you can just select the account that works best for you and your nest egg.
Keep an eye on everything, securely
Once everything is set up, tracking and managing your finances is what will keep the money machine running smoothly. You can create an account either through the site or the app and link your bank accounts, then keep tabs on all your finances in one place. Get a clear picture of your saving and spending, get insights into how to master your money, and even build your credit score all in one place.
Get extra credit points
Do you have the best credit card for your lifestyle? Some cards give cash back on every purchase, ones with travel perks, and ones that charge way less interest than you're paying now. NerdWallet takes the guesswork out of choosing the right credit card with simple side-by-side comparisons of different credit cards so that you feel confident choosing the right one. Whatever you want to do, NerdWallet can help you find the best credit card to get it done.
Know your options for settling down
Mortgage rates are pretty low and it looks like they're going to stay that way for awhile, so buying a home might be the move sooner than you think. But there's so much more to a mortgage than just the interest rate! To help you choose a mortgage lender, NerdWallet has in-depth reviews on multiple lenders in a mixture of categories so you get the home loan with the mortgage rate, term, and fees that's right for you.
Settle an old score
NerdWallet helps you monitor your credit score for free and helps you see how little things (like raising the limit on your credit card or paying your bills on time) can increase your score. NerdWallet partners with TransUnion® to provide your VantageScore® 3.0, based on information in your TransUnion® credit report. Your score and credit report information are updated weekly. But that's not even close to all:
- They provide you with tips from experts on how you could build or optimize your credit score
- You'll get a detailed look at your credit score and all the factors that go into it—your payment history, credit utilization, the age and type of accounts, balances, and any recent inquiries
- The credit simulator tool gives you an idea of how your credit score would change if you applied for a new credit card, closed your oldest credit card, or got a new auto loan
- You also get free, unlimited access to your credit report
When it comes to managing your money, safe and reliable is where it's at. Establishing a healthy relationship with your finances begins when you take control and practice habits that build wealth. Signing up just takes a few minutes. Set your intentions to build a solid financial foundation, it will only strengthen your relationship with your finances. And don't be afraid to get a little nerdy while you're at it.
Photo via Shutterstock