10 Financial Mistakes Women Make and How to Fix Them

5. Not rolling over that old 401k

So… that 401(k) from your old employer is still your money. What are you going to do with it?

You could leave it where it is, but you won’t be able to contribute any more to it after you’ve left. If you change jobs a lot, that’s a lot of old accounts to keep track of. And while many employers pay at least part of your 401(k) plan’s administration fees, there’s no guarantee they’ll keep doing that if you leave.

You could cash it out, but wait — this option comes with massive tax penalties. Like potentially massive. If you’ve decided that neither of those options is right for you, that leaves a 401(k) rollover.

What’s a 401(k) rollover, you ask? Rolling over a 401(k) means transferring the money to another tax-advantaged retirement account. This could include many different types, but the two most common examples are your new employer’s 401(k) (if their plan allows it) or an individual retirement account (IRA).

If you have a 401(k) or an IRA sitting there, and you want to get it to a place where you can track it, how about starting now? Ellevest, a wealth management platform targeting women, can help. You can get a rollover in under 10 min.

6. Waiting until a less risky time to invest

7 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor (Plus, the Answers)

“The market feels iffy.” Or “I feel like I need to get through that stack of reading on the markets.” There are many, many reasons to wait to invest. But timing the markets is pretty much impossible, even for people who do it full-time. Investing steadily over time helps to smooth out the market’s ups and downs…and is historically a vastly better alternative than keeping your money in cash.

An important financial lesson that many fail to understand: It’s never too early to begin investing.

There’s a rampant myth that you need to be rich to start investing. The truth is you don’t need to have a lot of cash to start investing. You can start with as little as $5, $20, $50 or $100 and grow your money from there. The key to building wealth is to be consistent and to automate your deposits. Don’t know how much to start with? The 50/30/20 budget can help you figure it out.

See what goes into your goals with Ellevest here.

7. We think we have to “know everything” before we invest.

I don’t know about you, but I loved turning over the test at school and seeing that A. And we women can carry that through our lives…wanting to be knowledgeable enough “to get the A.” As a result, so many women I speak to have a big stack of “investing reading,”that they really are planning to do, sitting on their bedside table.

And while we can all stand to know more about compound interest, or what standard deviations are, or what beta is — we will never know everything. I would never argue against more financial education, but waiting til we “know everything” is very expensive. I’ve seen it deprive women of years of investment opportunity. (See #10 for exactly how expensive this can be.)

Interested in learning more? You can get a personalized portfolio from Ellevest (for free) in under 10 min. And it’s made by women, for women, with portfolios that allow you to invest in companies that support women.

Money Mistake #8: We forget our most important asset: ourselves.

8. We forget our most important asset: ourselves.

It’s not your stocks; it’s not your bonds; it’s you. And this means that every action you take can have a significant impact on your financial profile. Think about it: One great way to have more money for retirement is to earn more money. If you are like the typical woman in the U.S., you are making 78 cents to a man’s dollar (even less for women of color). Get to that dollar and you’ve just earned a 28% return on what may well be your biggest asset: your salary.

And to put this in context, according to our sources at Ellevest, if you’re earning $85,000 a year and you get that raise, that can mean you earn another $1.1 million over the next 40 years. Now turn around and invest that puppy (no buying that Range Rover) and you may have another $1.2 to $2.3 million – or more – at the end of 40 years.

I hate asking for a raise, too, but this is A LOT of potential return on one-meeting you need to have this year. Do it. Here are a few things every woman should know before going in.

9. Setting resolutions and goals but not investing for them

A goal that you’re not actively planning for is just a dream. You may have seen the research that writing the goal down can substantially increase your chances of achieving it; writing it down, setting aside money for it, regularly adding money to it and investing toward it? Well, there’s likely no stopping you.

Some rules of thumb: at Ellevest, they recommend that you have 2 years of salary (net of taxes) set aside before you launch your new business. Having this money give you the runway you need to make it work. And for retirement, your goal should be to get to 10 to 15 years of your pre-retirement salary.

10. The biggie: We (significantly) underestimate the costs of waiting to invest

Ask yourself this: Are you doing the most with your money? Is it working FOR you? If you have to think about it a minute. You’re not investing. We, women, have a tendency to underestimate the costs of waiting to invest.

We wait. We wait till we know more about invest. We wait for the right time to invest. We wait til the market is quieter, we wait til we get the raise, we wait til we get that raise — because we’re busy. We wait til we can talk to our partner about it. We wait because it can be such a weird topic. We wait because the last time we talked about it, we got in a fight.

So we wait.

And it costs us. So much. Quick calculation: again, say you’re making $85,000 a year, saving 20% of your salary, and putting it in the bank instead of investing it. Wait five years to invest and that just cost you more than $170,000 when it’s time to retire. Wait ten years, and you’re down more than $337,000.

And, in case you’re wondering, that cost of waiting is almost $100 a day. Every day.

I know it’s a hassle to start and it’s kind of stress-inducing. That’s why the entire raison d’etre at Ellevest is to help you get invested so that you can close your personal investing gap. Believe us, nights, weekend, too many cups of coffee…they’re fundamentally rethinking investing for women, and they’re inviting you in. Investing. Don’t ignore.

Ready to take control of your financial future?

Sign up to get your free financial plan now. In just 10 minutes, Ellevest can help you figure out how much you should be saving now so you can sit back, relax, and focus on your life goals. Try it here.*

Here are more personal finance topics for you…

The One Money-Habit All Wildly Successful Women Share

The Personal Finance Tips Everyone In Their 20s Should Follow

3 Reasons Why You Need a Roth IRA- Even If You Have a 401(k)

Questions? We’re here to help. Leave us a comment and we’ll get back to you!

The 7 Best Budgeting Apps to Download in 2019

Aug. 4, 2019Budgeting, Debt, Money, Saving, Saving for RetirementBudget, Budgeting, budgeting appsSanchita Sivaraman

Adulthood comes with its fair share of responsibilities. Unless you’re an actual superhero, it can be a hard ask to always stay on top of things, especially when it comes to personal finance. If you’re in need of a little help managing your money, a budgeting app may be the answer.

There are so many money management and budgeting apps to choose from these days. Having so many to choose from can be difficult, which is why we’ve done the hard work for you by making a list of the best budgeting apps out there today. Keep reading for the most efficient and useful budgeting apps that you can download right now.

Best Overall for Budgeting: MINT

Brought to you by the creators of QuickBooks and Turbo Tax, Mint is one of the most well-known budgeting apps – and for a good reason. Through Mint, you can track spending and create budgets by connecting all your bank and credit card accounts in one convenient place. Mint will remind you when bill payments are due, what you owe and what you can afford to pay based on available funds. The app will also display your real-time credit score for no added cost.

We love how Mint automatically categorizes transactions, tracking them against a budget. As a result, you can be more mindful of exactly where your money’s going.

Get Started with Mint

⇒ Start Budgeting with Mint

2. Best Overall for Automation DIGIT

You may also use your Digit savings to fund your checking account. And if you do find yourself with an overdraft, Digit will cover the bill. To top it off, every three months, you’ll receive 1% of the average balance in your Digit savings account, which could start to add up pretty nicely.

Get Started with Digit

⇒ Start Budgeting with Digit

3. Best for a Hands-Off App: ALBERT

Albert is the definition of “set it and forget it”. When you sign-up, Albert provides suggestions for financial goals that you can tweak as you see fit. Dragging your goals up or down on the homepage will determine how aggressively the app will save toward each. Once that’s done, Albert will automatically start transferring money into Albert Savings located in the app.

Get Started with Albert

⇒ Start Budgeting with Albert

5. Best for Couples and Family: MVELOPES

Mvelopes is a great app for anyone looking to revamp their spending habits. When you sign-up, Mvelopes will ask you to select financial goals most important to you. Then, you’ll be asked to connect your bank accounts, state your income and create a categorised budget using the age-old envelope method. After adding money to the digital envelopes, you can start tracking your expenses by seeing how much you’ve spent from each one.

The app is extremely user-friendly and is the perfect option for first-time budgeters.

Get Started with Mvelopes

⇒ Start Budgeting with Mvelopes

6. Best for Budgeting and Investing: ELLEVEST

Sallie Krawcheck, a former Wall Street executive, is the founder and C.E.O. of Ellevest, an investing platform that helps women reach their financial goals. Ellevest is one of the few money apps out there that offers gender-specific advice. When you download the app, you’re expected to complete a questionnaire, outlining your financial goals and any hurdles that may prevent you from achieving them. Professionals will then take a look at your answers and set up a personalized portfolio that depicts how much you want to invest. It’s totally free and you can change your details at any time.

The Ellevest app is available for both Digital and Premium users that already have an investment account on the Ellevest web platform.

In a planning mood? See how a investment plan could help you manage your future. Ellevest is one way to do it. You can get a personalized portfolio in under 10 min. And it’s made by women, for women.

Get Started with Ellevest

⇒ Start Planning for a Retirement You’ll Love With Ellevest

7. Best for Just Budgeting: WALLY

Manually entering your expenses can sometimes be, well, tedious. Wally makes life easier by letting you take photos of your receipts, using your geo-location to fill in the relevant information. The app will help you track your income and expenses, alerting you in case you overspend.

A major benefit of Wally is that it supports pretty much all foreign currencies, which is excellent news if you’re based outside the States or are traveling.

Get Started with Wally

⇒ Start Budgeting with Wally

8. Best for Growing Your Spare Change: Acorns

Like Ellevest, Acorns allows you to budget and invest your money instead of spending it. The app is focused on helping you invest your spare change automatically. You can sign up in no time to save and invest more money.

Get Started with Acorns

⇒ Start Budgeting with Acorns

12 Simple Steps to Plan Your Estate

Aug. 2, 2019Insurance, Moneyestate planning, insurrance, moneyBrooke Brestel and Sara Buca

Estate planning is one of those subjects we would all rather avoid. The obvious reason being that most people aren’t exactly thrilled about preparing for their own death. Worse, it seems like some kind of self-fulfilling prophecy wherein researching it kills us of boredom. Well, we’ve decided to do you a solid and put together a list that gets you well on your way to boss-level life preparation.

So What’s The Big Deal?

The importance of a bulletproof estate plan is not always self-evident. This is particularly true if you don’t consider yourself especially wealthy, or if you’re confident your family will navigate the process in a fairway. In reality, having a plan in place is extremely important for just about every adult. For example, let’s say you’re married with children. If you and your spouse end up in a fatal car accident, as happens to about 1 million people per year worldwide, who is going to choose your children’s guardian if you haven’t? Is a judge you’ve never met more prepared to make this decision than you are?

Shouldn’t An Attorney Handle This?

Yes, for much of your estate planning you will need to get the help of an attorney. If you can, it’s a good idea to find an estate planning law firm that will walk you through each step for convenience and a reduced likelihood of error. There are a lot of great options out there that offer this service.

1. Write a Medical Directive

If you’re over 18, you need to designate a medical decision-maker. It’s as simple as that. If you cannot speak for yourself, you need a trusted loved one to make medical decisions for you, and they need to know what decisions to make. A power of attorney for healthcare and advance directives ensure your wishes are considered, first, and by the person you trust to make those decisions. Don’t plan that skydiving outing until these are done! Medical directives are a must.

2. Assign a Financial Power of Attorney

Let’s say the skydiving trip doesn’t go so well and someone ends up in a coma. The medical decisions are taken care of, but what if important financial decisions need to be made while the victim is incapacitated? It is imperative that a trusted agent is named in the event of a tragedy. People have ended up in extremely difficult situations due to lack of planning in this respect.

3. Execute a Last Will

When we pass, our assets are transferred to family members according to the default rules in our area. As mentioned earlier, the guardianship of children is handled in the same unsettling manner. A will can ensure that loved ones aren’t left in a position that is more difficult than necessary after you pass. Family members will still likely need to deal with probate court, which can be a long and stressful process. In order to avoid probate, continue reading.

4. Consider a Living Trust

Creating a living trust is more expensive and time consuming than a will. It also requires annoying, regular maintenance. The upside is that your beneficiaries get to avoid probate court in the event of your death if this is done correctly. If you are a high net-worth individual or a business owner this can save a lot of time, money, and stress for your loved ones. You’ll still want a will as a backup to name a personal representative/executor among other things. Often times the trust successor and will personal representative/executor are the same person.

5. Don’t Treat Children Like Adults

A sixteen-year-old racked with the grief of losing their parent probably shouldn’t be handed hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not only would this enable the child to make decisions that can be damaging to their financial future, but it also is not uncommon for financial windfalls to lead to serious health damage as well. By naming an adult to manage these assets until the child comes of age, the likelihood of them mismanaging the assets drops dramatically.

6. Name a Beneficiary to Avoid Delays

It’s an unpleasant fact that deaths are expensive. By naming a beneficiary on bank accounts, retirement plans, and many investments these funds can skip the probate process altogether. This can keep your family from suffering undue burden while they’re already grieving.

7. Dad Was Right About Life Insurance

We’ve all received an ear beating about the importance of life insurance at some point in our lives. While this experience is typically unpleasant, it turns out it was actually for good reason. Life insurance can cover estate taxes, major debts, and even replace your income for your spouse in the event of your death. If you don’t already have it, stop putting it off.

8. Do Your Estate Tax Homework if You’re Rich

I’m sure we can all agree that someone with an $11.4 million net worth is rich right? Well, if your estate is worth that or more, Uncle Sam wants a slice. There may or may not be options available to you that ease the burden here, so do some reading or talk to an attorney if you fit the bill.

Plan your financial future now with Acorns. They can help you invest, save and spend responsibly. Set aside the leftover change from everyday purchases by turning on automatic Round-Ups. Get ready for later in life using Acorns Later, the easiest way to save for retirement.

9. Put Money Aside for Funeral Costs

If you have the ability to put some cash aside, your family will thank you for it. Money can be tagged as “Payable on Death” at your bank, specifically for funeral expenses. As an added bonus, you never know when life might throw you a curveball that leaves you glad you had something tucked away. A separate, dedicated emergency fund might be ideal, but we’re not all eligible for estate taxes.

10. Write Your Last Wishes

Last wishes can range from eccentric to pragmatic. Often, last wishes consist of organ donorship, burial instructions, cremation instructions, etc. However, some last wishes carry a bit less utility. Take Sandra West, for example, an oil heiress who was buried in her blue Ferrari with “the seat slanted comfortably.” Does it get any more classy?

11. Don’t Neglect the Business

If you own a business, it’s likely that people depend on your decision making for their well-being. Some business owners get too caught up with this responsibility in life to consider it in the frame of their passing. If people count on you, you have a responsibility to name a competent successor or at least define a buyout agreement.

12. Get a Filing Cabinet (Seriously)

This process has a talent for generating important paperwork. Your personal representative/executor/successor will need access to all of that paperwork to do their job properly. Score a filing cabinet, they’ll be glad you did.

Brooke Brestel and Sara Bucar are the founding partners at Brestel Bucar, Ltd., a probate and elder law firm in Denver, Colorado.

10 Facts Every Woman Should Know Before Whitening Their Teeth

Aug. 1, 2019Beauty, Makeup, Skin, Wellnessoral health, pregnancy, pregnancy advice, quip, TEETH WHITENING, whiteningDr. Desiree Yazdan

So, you’ve made the big decision. No, not the one to get a new job or get married, but to do teeth whitening. Good move, my friend.

It’s no secret that in today’s world, white teeth imply health, success, and vibrancy. Your smile is the first impression you give people, and to be honest, it’s the best accessory you can wear.

If you feel good about the way your teeth look, you’ll smile bigger which creates an image of happiness. Who doesn’t want that? My name is Dr. Desiree Yazdan and I am a cosmetic dentist in Newport Beach, CA.

I’ve become an expert in the field of dentistry. In southern Orange County, the norm is for my patients, especially women, to have teeth whiter than the whites of their eyes. Having women come to me with the desire to have their smiles be bright and healthy has made me become creative on how I can get them to achieve their goals safely and effectively. If you’re thinking of whitening your teeth, there are a few things you should know before doing it.

Keep scrolling for my advice on how to prepare for doing a whitening treatment. Plus, shop the best whitening mouthwashes for a brighter, healthier smile!

Fact 1

Essential Oxygen Certified BR Organic Brushing Rinse, All Natural Mouthwash for Whiter Teeth, Fresher Breath, and Happier Gums, Alcohol-Free Oral Care, Peppermint, 16 Ounce Essential Oxygen Certified BR Organic Brushing Rinse, All Natural Mouthwash for Whiter Teeth, Fresher Breath, and Happier Gums, Alcohol-Free Oral Care, Peppermint, 16 Ounce 12.38

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Teeth whitening products all have different strengths. Whether it’s a strip from the drug store like Crest 3D whitening strips, a gel for your bleach trays, or a treatment at your dental office, the products all vary.

Teeth whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide, or a compound that breaks down into hydrogen peroxide, like carbamide peroxide. They are designed to remove surface staining and debris. They all work through the same mechanism of action, but the strength of hydrogen peroxide varies in each of these products.

The products in a drug store, such as Crest whitening strips, range between one and five percent, bleaching gel that you pick up at your dental office to take home usually is about 14 percent, and a professional teeth whitening treatment inside of a dental office is usually 25 percent. So you could see from the strength of the whitening product alone, the most effective method would be to have your teeth whitening professionally inside a dental office.

Fact 2

POPWHITE Whitening Primer Toothpaste POPWHITE Whitening Primer Toothpaste

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Teeth whitening does not damage your teeth. As long as the products are being used properly, they are incredibly safe. The active ingredients temporarily open pores in your teeth and lift out the stains. After each whitening session, the teeth naturally rehydrate and the pores close.

Fact 3

Colgate Optic White Whitening Mouthwash, Icy Mint , 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 6) Colgate Optic White Whitening Mouthwash, Icy Mint , 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 6) 23.94

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It takes 48 hours for the pores of your teeth to close after any teeth whitening procedure. That means you should stay away from food and drinks that are known to cause staining. Examples include coffee, tea, and that glass of red wine you’ve probably been craving!

Fact 4

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Sensitivity is normal and everyone has a different level of sensitivity after the treatment. Since your teeth are unique to you, it’s impossible to predict the degree of sensitivity and pain. Some people can become very sensitive, while others experience no discomfort at all.

Just remember that it’s normal to have sensitivity after any teeth whitening procedure. Additionally, the sensitivity should not last more than 48 hours. There are some ways to help reduce this sensitivity. Some treatments include a desensitizing gel like amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), which can be applied before and after the whitening procedure. If you are whitening your teeth at home, you can rinse with a fluoride rinse before and after your treatment.

A commonly used on is ACT, and you can pick it up at any drug store. You can use toothpaste that has fluoride in it for 1-2 weeks prior to your treatment to help reduce sensitivity. A well known fluoridated toothpaste that can be picked up at any drug store is sensodyne. And, if all else fails and your teeth are sensitive, try taking some advil.

Fact 5

Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Multi-Care Whitening Fresh Mint Flavor Mouthwash, Pack of 3 Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Multi-Care Whitening Fresh Mint Flavor Mouthwash, Pack of 3 21.45

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If you are pregnant or nursing you should not have your teeth whitened Although there has no evidence that teeth whitening procedures can cause fetal damage, if you are pregnant or nursing, I recommend steering away from teeth whitening procedures.

It may be tempting to whitening your teeth when your pregnant or nursing, but it’s always better to be safe.

Fact 6

Organic Oral Care PACK – Food Grade Peroxide Whitening Mouthwash + Activated Coconut Charcoal Toothpaste – By Lucky Teeth. Organic Oral Care PACK – Food Grade Peroxide Whitening Mouthwash + Activated Coconut Charcoal Toothpaste – By Lucky Teeth. 24.99

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Whitening does not last forever. It doesn’t matter how much you invest in a teeth whitening procedure, it’s only a matter of time before your teeth will be ready for a touch-up. If you are constantly eating and drinking foods that cause staining to your teeth, then the effects of the whitening treatment will go away much more quickly.

Some tips to remember if you are a heavy coffee or tea drinker would be to drink your coffee or tea with a straw. This way there will be less staining molecules that come into contact with your teeth. Or, drink your coffee or tea iced. Iced drinks are typically more diluted, which means less staining molecules on your pearl whites!

Natural Activated Charcoal Mouthwash: Purify, Detoxify & Freshen Your Breath! – Peppermint Flavor (Made In The USA) Natural Activated Charcoal Mouthwash: Purify, Detoxify & Freshen Your Breath! – Peppermint Flavor (Made In The USA) 24.97

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Fact 7

Supersmile Whitening Pre-Rinse – Clinically Formulated Pre-Brush Dental Mouthwash, Cleans And Whitens Teeth in Hard-To-Reach Places – Fresh Breath – Anti-Germicidal – Alcohol-Free (16 Fl Oz) Supersmile Whitening Pre-Rinse – Clinically Formulated Pre-Brush Dental Mouthwash, Cleans And Whitens Teeth in Hard-To-Reach Places – Fresh Breath – Anti-Germicidal – Alcohol-Free (16 Fl Oz) 16

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Crowns, fillings, and veneers don’t whiten. Before you invest in any teeth whitening products or procedures, be sure that you don’t have a mouth full of crowns, veneers and fillings. These types of restorations don’t change colors. If you notice that your restorations are stained, let your dentist know because the stains can usually be polished out. But adding bleaching products onto the surface of those restorations will not remove the staining.

Fact 8

Essential Oxygen Pristine Protocol A 3-Step System (1. Rinse 2. Brush 3. Polish) for Your Best Smile Ever, 3 Count, Combo Pack ($26.11)

Golden Goose Superstar Stripe Sneaker ($565)

A professional teeth whitening treatment inside a dental office is better than any over the counter product. It’s not just about the prescription strength bleach you get inside the dental office that makes it the best, it also has to do with the way the bleach is delivered. For starters, when you have your teeth whitening inside a dental office, your tissues are isolated from the bleach. If you didn’t know, the bleach products can burn your tissues.

So isolating the tissues greatly reduces the risk of damage from the bleach. Additionally, the bleach that’s applied won’t be contaminated by your saliva, which will mean that your results will be more effective. When you use bleach trays at home, or white strips, often times your saliva gets in the way and dilutes the bleach, causing the effects of the whitening to be even less significant. Always remember that when it comes to your teeth, the difference is in the details.

Fact 9

Rembrandt Deeply White Whitening Mouthwash with Fluoride Fresh Mint, 16 Ounce Rembrandt Deeply White Whitening Mouthwash with Fluoride Fresh Mint, 16 Ounce

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Just like computer hacks, there are hacks to prolong the effects of whitening. I’m not talking about the old tricks of brushing your teeth with a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda. That’s definitely not recommend because that can actually damage your enamel due to the abrasive nature of baking soda combined with the acid of the lemon juice.

There is no roadmap to have whitening last forever, but there are a few guidelines you can follow to upkeep your treatment. For example, make sure you brush and floss your teeth regularly, get your teeth cleaned professionally every 3-6 months, rinse with water after you eat or drink teeth staining foods (i.e. coffee, tea, ketchup etc.) And please, if you smoke — quit. Stains caused by cigarettes are almost impossible to remove.

Another, often overlooked tool to whitening maintenance is to use an electric toothbrush. A manual toothbrush can damage the teeth if used incorrectly (too much scrubbing, mainly). This is where an electric toothbrush comes in. An electric toothbrush like Quip can clean your teeth a million times better than a regular toothbrush.

Fact 10

Oral Essentials Whitening Mouthwash Dentist Formulated Whitens without the Teeth Sensitivity Oral Essentials Whitening Mouthwash Dentist Formulated Whitens without the Teeth Sensitivity 11.99

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Beware of kiosks at malls and local shopping centers that offer teeth whitening procedures. Staff running these kiosks often have no healthcare training and no license. Yet, they are dispensing chemicals that could permanently affect your teeth and gums.

They do this by having the consumers themselves place the products in their own mouths, thereby never entering the mouth and claiming to not be performing a dental procedure. The staff members do not have the appropriate knowledge of teeth, they don’t have the appropriate training and understanding to work with these products, nor can they follow up if there are any issues after the procedure. Bottom line: be wise — it is your mouth.

With all this said, there are few dental procedures that bring instant gratification the way teeth whitening does. That’s why it’s so popular. If you are interested in having a brighter, whiter smile I encourage you to do your own research and see what teeth whitening methods are right for you. For more information, you can check out my website at www.DrYazdan.com or find me on Instagram, @DrYazdan. I’m on Instagram a lot and am always sharing the best tips and tricks for your health.

Dr. Yazdan transforms smiles at the Center for Reconstructive & Cosmetic Dentistry in Newport Beach, CA. Contact us to schedule your consultation today.

The Coolest Ways to Wear White Sneakers

Jul. 31, 2019Accessories, Handbag, Outfits, Trendsadidas, Kendall Jenner, Nike, SNEAKER TREND, SupergaSara LaTorre

As much as we all love following the latest trends, it’s easy to find ourselves wearing the most flattering pair of yoga pants and a tank while running errands. We do this for one simple reason: the combo of cuteness and comfort.

So you can imagine our excitement when we started following the latest sneaker trend this fall. Sleek kicks can really tie an outfit together. It’s clear you can rock these kicks with cute dresses, leggings, jeans, workwear and of course, workout attire. Bonus: you’ll be able to get more steps in and feel like a #bossbabe doing it

This trend has caught on like wildfire. Bloggers, celebs, and working women all over can agree that the comfort you will feel in sneakers will have you exuding confidence. Comfort, cuteness, and confidence. This trifecta trend is worth following.

Scroll below for the coolest ways to wear white sneakers this season and to shop our favorite picks that are trending for fall.

Travel-Friendly

The Coolest Ways to Wear White Sneakers for Fall

Let’s be honest, it’s no fun wearing stilettos to the airport. Sneakers are perfect for traveling and exploring new destinations, while still taking on trend photos for the ‘gram.

Worn with a Dress or Skirt

The best way to dress up your favorite kicks? A perfect dress with trendy accessories.

Worn to Work

Who says you can’t wear sneakers to work? When worn well, white sneakers can elevate almost every look.

Weekend Look

Sweats, tousled hair, and stylish sneakers make for a cozy fall outfit.

HAOYIHUI Floral Print Wide V Neck Short Puff Sleeve Dress ($19.99)

adidas Superstar Bold Leather Sneakers-White 100

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adidas Women’s Shoe’s Cloudfoam Advantage Clean Sneakers, White/Black, (7.5 M US) adidas Women’s Shoe’s Cloudfoam Advantage Clean Sneakers, White/Black, (7.5 M US) 60

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adidas Originals Women’s Superstar Shoes Running White/Grey, 7.5 M US adidas Originals Women’s Superstar Shoes Running White/Grey, 7.5 M US 71.95

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Superga Women’s 2790 Platform Sneaker,White,37 EU/ 6.5 US Superga Women’s 2790 Platform Sneaker,White,37 EU/ 6.5 US 79

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adidas Originals Continental 80 Grosgrain-trimmed Leather Sneakers 80

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Axel Arigato Axel Arigato Leather Low-Top Sneakers 225

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Converse Converse Women’s Lift Leather Platform Sneakers 70

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Michael Kors Michael Kors Collection Marina Leather Slip-On Sneakers 295

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adidas Adidas Women’s Superstar Lace Up Sneakers 80

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Nike Free Tr 8 Stretch-Knit and Mesh Sneakers 100

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Superga Superga 2750 Cotu Classic Sneaker 65

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Jeffrey Campbell Jeffrey Campbell Lo-Fi Sneaker 125

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Vans Vans Metallic Sidewall Classic Slip-On Sneaker 60

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Rag & Bone Rag & Bone Dylan Leather Sneakers 350

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Shop our sneaker boutique for even more great sneakers.

Every Summer Wardrobe Needs These 6 Timeless Items

Jul. 29, 2019Outfits, Trends, Vacationbasket bag, cut-offs, straw hat, Summer, summer 2018, summer wardrobeSanchita Sivaraman

Daydreaming about the the warmer months ahead? You’re not alone. There’s so much to love about the summer season: Warm days and far-off destinations — and of course, what’s not to love about daylight savings time. But here at Style Salute, it goes without saying that planning our summer wardrobe is what we look forward to most.

There are already some big items about to hit the fashion scene that we have our eyes on, so if you want to get an early start on summer’s biggest pieces (and we know you do), look no further. We’re breaking them down here. From the shoe trend that everyone’s talking about to the new It bag that’s replacing the mini bag, these are the summer fashion trends to get a start on now.

Scroll down to them now.

1. A Wrap Mini Dress

It’s worked its way through countless runways and has prided itself as a tasteful means of adding flair to any outfit.

Diane von Furstenberg Rent the Runway Pre-Loved Julian Dress, Blue, 6 ($127.89)

Milumia Women’s Vintage Floral Print Split Wrap Dress Large Multicolor-Pink Milumia Women’s Vintage Floral Print Split Wrap Dress Large Multicolor-Pink 22.99

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Levi’s Juniors Cut Off Short, White Birch, 15 ($29)

2. The Flowing Top

Summer is all about fun items, and nothing embodies that more than delicate flowy tops with ruffle details. Prepare to see these on every fashion girl.

Mesitelin Women Chiffon Off Shoulder Blouse Top Shirt Short Sleeve Boho Casual Blouse T Shirt(M,White) Mesitelin Women Chiffon Off Shoulder Blouse Top Shirt Short Sleeve Boho Casual Blouse T Shirt(M,White) 9.99

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Akery Women’s Sexy Spaghetti Strap Off Shoulder Shirt Tops Blouses X-Large Black Akery Women’s Sexy Spaghetti Strap Off Shoulder Shirt Tops Blouses X-Large Black 13

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SheIn Women’s Off The Shoulder Ruffle Tassel Scalloped Hem Blouse Top X-Large Navy SheIn Women’s Off The Shoulder Ruffle Tassel Scalloped Hem Blouse Top X-Large Navy 14.99

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Women’s Summer Off Shoulder Chiffon Blouses Short Sleeves Sexy Tops Shirt Fashion Casual Ruffles Solid Loose Fit Blouses T Shirt (S, Black) Women’s Summer Off Shoulder Chiffon Blouses Short Sleeves Sexy Tops Shirt Fashion Casual Ruffles Solid Loose Fit Blouses T Shirt (S, Black) 14.99

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3. DENIM SHORTS

Because nothing says “summer” more than quintessentially summer shorts.

Levi’s Levi’s Wedgie Shorts 98

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Espadrilles Wedges Sandals for Women Summer High Heels Ankle Buckle Strap Party Shoes Comfortable Open Toe Espadrilles ($49.99)

Blank Denim Denim Shorts 88

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4. Wedge Mules

Every Summer Wardrobe Needs These 6 Timeless Pieces

Minetom Wedges Shoes for Women Espadrilles Heels Ferbia Ankle Strap Fall Summer Sandals C Leopard 9 B (M) US Minetom Wedges Shoes for Women Espadrilles Heels Ferbia Ankle Strap Fall Summer Sandals C Leopard 9 B (M) US 25.73

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Simplee Women’s High Waist Faux Suede Mini Bodycon Skirt (Beige 8)($32.99)

5. A Bright Mini Skirt

These Are the 6 Biggest Trends of Summer 2018

This spring it has been all about light pastels, but as we move into summer, expect to see bright bold colors and pops of bright hues.

6. The Basket Bag

From mini rattan box bags to oversize straw totes and wicker baskets, the stylish and versatile basket bag is a fashion-girl favorite this summer.

Vintga Bamboo Handbag Handmade Tote Bamboo Purse Straw Beach Bag for Women (Bamboo Large) Vintga Bamboo Handbag Handmade Tote Bamboo Purse Straw Beach Bag for Women (Bamboo Large) 37.38

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LibbyPet Bamboo Handbags for Women Handmade Bamboo Bag Summer Beach Tote bag (Sandal Wood Small) LibbyPet Bamboo Handbags for Women Handmade Bamboo Bag Summer Beach Tote bag (Sandal Wood Small) 37.49

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Bali Harvest Round Woven Ata Rattan Bag Linen Inside and Leather Button (with Genuine Leather Strap) Bali Harvest Round Woven Ata Rattan Bag Linen Inside and Leather Button (with Genuine Leather Strap) 46.95

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Rattan Nation – Rectangular Woven Rattan Bag (Leather Closure), Ata Basket Bag Rattan Nation – Rectangular Woven Rattan Bag (Leather Closure), Ata Basket Bag 79

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Sweaty? We got you–check out the beauty products makeup artists recommend for hot days.

32 Basic Financial Terms Every Grown-Up Should Know

Jul. 28, 2019Budgeting, Debt, Investing, Money, Saving, Saving for Retirement, Taxesfinance, financial advice, financial terms, moneySara LaTorre

Let’s first be honest here: Adulting is hard. From work to exercise, cooking and cleaning, running errands and managing relationships, adult is tough. While it’s an obvious statement to say that being an adult is challenging, there’s one aspect of grown-up world that can be particularly challenging: personal finance.

Even after going to college and taking finance classes, you may still feel uncertain about what all those financial terms (and there’s a lot of them) actually mean. Unfortunately, this uncertainty could mean missing out on the potential to grow your money.

Don’t worry — you don’t need to know everything to be successful with your money — just the basics. And we’re here to help. We know that your finances doesn’t come with a technical-support hotline, so we put together a glossary of 32 money 101 terms you need to know.

Whether you’re confused about what mutual funds are or not sure how compound interest works, this cheat sheet will help you get up to speed!

Banking and Credit Terms

1. Compound Interest

Think of it as “interest on interest.” When you’re investing or saving, this is the interest that you earn on the amount you deposit, plus any interest you’ve accumulated over time. When you’re borrowing, it’s the interest that is charged on the original amount you are loaned, as well as the interest charges that are added to your outstanding balance over time.

2. FICO Score

A number used by banks and other financial institutions to measure a borrower’s creditworthiness. FICO is an acronym for the Fair Isaac Corporation, a company that came up with the methodology for calculating a credit score based on several factors, including payment history, length of credit history and total amount owed. FICO scores range from 300 to 850, and the higher the score, the better. People with scores below 650 may have a harder time securing credit at a favorable interest rate.

3. Minimum Balance

This is the balance required to keep an account open and earning interest, without paying any fees.

4. Net Worth

This can simply be defined as the difference between your assets and liabilities. You can calculate your net worth by adding up all of the money or investments you have (including the current market value of your home and car), as well as the balances in any checking, savings, retirement or other investment accounts. After you have this number, subtract all of your debt, including your credit card balances, mortgage balance, and any other loans. The resulting number is your net worth number.

5. ACH Transfer

This is just a fancier way of saying electronic transfer between banks.

6. Interest rate

In banking terms, interest rates are the amount the bank pays you in interest (percentage) for having your money there.

7. Overdraft

If you have never experienced this, you are one smart cookie. Overdrafting happens when you spend more money than is available in your checking account. Many banks charge a hefty fee for this or automatically deduct money from your banking credit card if you have one. Watch out for this.

Investing Terms

8. Asset Allocation

The process by which you choose what proportion of your portfolio you’d like to dedicate to various asset classes, based on your goals, personal risk tolerance and time horizon. Stocks, bonds and cash or cash alternatives (like certificates of deposit) make up the three major types of asset classes, and each of these reacts differently to market cycles and economic conditions. Stocks, for example, have the potential to provide growth over time, but may also be more volatile. Bonds tend to have slower growth but are generally perceived to have less risk. A common investment strategy is to diversify your portfolio across multiple asset classes in order to spread out risk while taking advantage of growth.

9. Stocks

In the simplest terms, stocks are part owners of a publicly traded company. Also called equities or shares, stocks give you ownership in a company. When you buy stocks, you become a company shareholder, giving you a claim on part of that company’s assets and earnings.

10. Bonds

Commonly referred to as fixed-income securities, bonds are essentially investments in debt. These are often considered safer than stocks. In short, they are a debt instrument— like an “I owe you” — and often a set percentage interest rate is paid back to you. When you buy a bond, you’re lending money to an entity, typically the government or a corporation, for a specified period of time at a fixed interest rate (also called a coupon). You then receive periodic interest payments over time and get back the loaned amount at the bond’s maturity date. Bond prices tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates — that is, when interest rates rise, bond prices typically fall.

An important financial lesson that many fail to understand: It’s never too early to begin investing.

Stock Market Terms

11. Capital Gains

This is the increase in the value of an asset or investment — like real estate or stock — above its original purchase price. The gain, however, is only on paper until the asset is actually sold. A capital loss, by contrast, is a decrease in the asset’s or investment’s value. For tax purpose, you pay taxes on both short-term capital gains (a year or less) and long-term capital gains (more than a year) when you sell an investment.

12. Rebalancing

This is the process of buying or selling investments over time so you can maintain your desired asset allocation. For example, if your target allocation is 60% stocks, 20% bonds and 20% cash, and the stock market has performed particularly well over the past year, your allocation may now have shifted to 70% stocks, 10% bonds and 20% cash. If you wanted to return to that 60/20/20 asset allocation, you’d have to sell some stocks and buy some bonds.

13. Diversification

This is having money in investments that are not correlated with each other. Examples of ways to diversify include stocks in different companies, sectors, or regions of the world; bonds, real estate, commodities, and even cash.

14. Mutual Funds

Essentially, these are actively managed baskets of securities (stocks/bonds). A mutual fund might have 500 different stocks with an active manager working to get the best return.

15. S&P 500

Short for the “Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.” The company was so named when the Standard Statistics Co. merged with Poor’s Publishing in 1941. The index (a measurement that looks at a set of stocks and tracks their performance) includes the 500 US companies with the largest total value (market capitalization). So when you hear “The S&P 500 is up 4%,” that means that the values of the 500 biggest companies in the country have gone up by a (weighted) average of 4%.

You can’t invest in a stock market index directly, but you can invest in a fund that’s built to look like one. And because they include so many companies from lots of different industries, that strategy can add diversification to your investment portfolio.

16. ETFs

Unlike mutual funds, ETFs are a passively managed basket of securities. Instead of paying a fund manager to buy and sell, ETFs are just a basket of securities that track a specific index. A well-known example of an index is the S&P 500.

17. Defined-Benefit Plans

These are employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as pensions, in which the employer promises a specified retirement benefit based on a formula that may include an employee’s earnings history, length of employment and age. The employee may or may not be required to contribute anything to the plan. Defined-benefit plans high costs which is why many companies no longer offer this type of benefit.

18. Defined-Contribution Plans

A retirement plan companies may offer as a job benefit, which lets employees contribute some of their own money into an account for retirement. The employer may also choose to match a certain amount of those contributions. The 401(k) and 403(b) are the most common forms of defined-contribution plans. The money that goes into these accounts also typically provide a tax benefit, as long as you don’t make withdrawals prior to retirement age (age 59½ or older).

19. Executive Compensation

These packages are typically negotiated individually and spelled out in employment contracts. The pay and benefits package provided to senior executives, which is usually different from what’s offered to the typical employee. Executive compensation often includes a base salary, bonuses, incentives based on the company’s earnings (such as stock options), income guarantees in the event of a sale or public stock offering, and a guaranteed severance package.<

Retirement Savings Terms

20. Roth IRA

This is a retirement account funded with after-tax dollars. This means the funds were taxed in the year the money was earned and contributed, so it will grow tax-free.

21. Roth 401(k)

Like a Roth IRA, this retirement account is funded after-tax dollars and grows tax-free, but is sponsored by your employer who often matches a percentage of your contribution.

22. Traditional IRA

At retirement account funded with pre-tax dollars and will grow tax-deferred until it is distributed during retirement.

23. Traditional 401(k)

Again, this is just like a traditional IRA but is sponsored by your employer.

24. Required Minimum Distribution

A minimum amount that must be withdrawn from an IRA and 401 Ks (not Roth) once you’ve reached the age of 70 ½. Once you withdraw your money in retirement, you are taxed. This is mandated by the IRS.

25. Contribution Limit

This is the maximum amount of new money you can put into a retirement account in a given tax year.

If you have an IRA sitting there, and you want to get it to a place where you can track it, how about starting now? Ellevest, a wealth management platform targeting women, can help. You can get a rollover in under 10 min.

The One Money-Habit All Wildly Successful Women Share

Tax Terms

26. Credits

For tax purposes, credits reduce how much you pay dollar for dollar.

27. Deductions

These reduce the amount of income you have to claim on your income taxes. Examples of deductions include student loan interest, mortgage interest, retirement account contributions, and charity donations.

28. Withholding

This is how much of your income you set aside for the state and federal government taxes each year. This should be based on how many allowances you have. It’s best to set up your monthly withholding to come out of your paycheck, so that, come April, you’re not surprised with a giant amount owed.

29. AGI

Short for adjusted gross income, AGI is calculated as your gross income (e.g., what you earn from your job, a pension or from interest on investments) minus certain IRS-specified deductions. The way to calculate your AGI is from your Form 1040 when you file your taxes. Your AGI serves as the basis for helping to determine your taxable income as well as whether you qualify for certain credits or deductions.

30. Dependent

A person who is financially dependent on your income, typically a child or an adult relative you may support. You may be able to claim certain tax credits or deductions for these dependents on your taxes.

31. Itemized Deduction

A qualified expense that the IRS allows you to subtract from your AGI that helps further reduces your taxable income. Itemized deductions can include mortgage interest you paid, medical and dental costs, or gifts to charity. Itemized deductions must be noted on IRS form Schedule A.

32. Standard Deduction

A standard amount that can be used to reduce your taxable income if you decide not to itemize your deductions. Your standard deduction is based on your tax-filing status, and it’s the government’s way of ensuring that at least some of your income is not subject to tax.

Ready to take control of your financial future?

Here are more personal finance topics for you…

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How Women Can Get What They Want in a Negotiation

Jul. 23, 2019Career, Career Growth, First job, Job Search, Money, Negotation, ProductivityEllevest, Go Getter, life & career, Money advice, Negotiating Habits, negotiation tips, power of habit, successful women habits, woman upErika Driscoll

When I set my resolutions last January, taking control of my career and my money was top of my list. But here we are again, New Year 2020 is coming up, and I’ve barely taken the steps to get there. As 2020 approaches, I’m ready to take control and woman up—and you should too.

If you’ve just been offered a new job (or you want to get paid more in your current position), the first thing you need to do is figure out how to effectively negotiate your best salary. And yes, you can—and absolutely should—negotiate the first offer.

On average, women are less likely to negotiate than our male counterparts. Why? According to Sallie Krawcheck, CEO, and co-founder of Ellevest, a female-focused investment platform, it’s because we often lack confidence or guidance. “Aside from leaving money on the table, that hesitation is a reason—at least in part—that the gender wage gap still exists.” But we want to change that statistic. To help you take control of your future, we’re uncovering tips that will help you manage your career and your future. Ready to take it head-on?

Krawcheck, who held executive roles at both Bank of America and Citigroup before co-founding Ellevest, says the first (and biggest) mistake women make in their careers is not negotiating because “we take whatever first offer we’re given, assuming that’s the final offer,” she says. In other words, we tend to assume that once we’re given an initial salary offer, that’s it. Done deal.

When in reality, it’s just a jumping off point to start negotiations (thanks, Cher!). Yes, it’s scary. But you know what’s even scarier? Working alongside a man who makes more than you for the same job just because he was smart enough to speak up and ask for more.

But you need to be prepared and know the right way to ask for the raise. Style Salute is here to help. We sat down with Krawcheck to find out everything you need to negotiate that first job offer, from salary-comparison research to how to resist the urge to talk too much.

Ahead we outline the key learnings we’ve learned from chatting with Krawchek.

1. Ask for More

If you’re negotiating your pay for a new job: Ask for more than the salary they offered you. That’s right–whatever offer they give you, you can (and should) ask for more. This is the best time to negotiate and don’t be afraid to do it. Your boss is used to it, and they expect it. Think about it: they want you. They just offered you a job! So, muster up the strength and ask.

How much more should you ask for? Krawcheck suggests negotiating an increase of 5% to 10% on the initial salary offer. Picking an exact number rather than a range is more specific and indicates you’re serious. “And, while you’re at it, negotiate for more than just money,” says Krawcheck.

If your employer won’t budge on the increase in salary, try negotiating for something else. “How about repaying your student loan debt? More vacation time? Working from a remote location one day a week? That’s like money in the bank too. Try it.” Remember, this is the best time to do it.

Bottom line, ask for more. Also, it can be fun spending that money. It can be even more fun watching your savings grow. You’ll thank us later.

When Is The Right Time to Invest? (Good Question)

2. Jot Down Your “Glows”

Negotiating for a raise means defending your worth. Show your boss you’re more eligible than any other employee (including your male counterpart). The intention is to state your value to the company.

Remind your boss of your superb qualifications with a list of tasks, accomplishments, contributions, and any statistical growth you contributed to the company. Exuding confidence will add assurance to your statement.

3. Prepare Your Counter Arguments

Similar to the first initial interview with your boss, come prepared to be grilled. Instead of panicking on the spot, contemplate possible scenarios and points of discussion. Consider persuasive counter-arguments that will surprise your boss and force him to reconsider any doubt. This means researching the market for statistics that will back up your stance.

4. Embrace the Silence

After you make the ask, let the silence hang in the room.

“One of the most important tactics to an effective negotiation is learning to become comfortable with occasional bouts of awkward silence,” says Katie Donovan, the founder of Equal Pay Negotiations, a consultancy that helps women get the pay they deserve. Learn to become comfortable with occasional bouts of awkward silence, Donovan says. One of the most important tactics to an effective negotiation is learning.

Women tend to avoid negotiation because doing so can present a socially awkward situation (silence)—a phenomenon called the “social cost of negotiation.” But, we shouldn’t be afraid. “One of the most important tactics to an effective negotiation is learning to become comfortable with occasional bouts of awkward silence,” says Katie Donovan, the founder of Equal Pay Negotiations, a consultancy that helps women get the pay they deserve. Learn to become comfortable with occasional bouts of awkward silence, Donovan says. One of the most important tactics to an effective negotiation is learning.

So, stop selling against yourself. “Ask a question, then be quiet and give the other person a chance to respond.” Let them break the silence, which will prevent you from saying anything you will regret.

5. Rehearse

As the saying goes, “Practice, practice, practice–and then practice some more.” Practice negotiation with a family member, your friend, a roommate–anyone. “The key is to remain calm and avoiding any sort of an emotional appeal,” says Krawcheck. In other words: Focus on your value to the company, or how you’ll make the company better—not for personal reasons. And have your number ready.

You can play both you and your boss, or maybe even cast your bestie as your boss. In both scenarios, creating and acting out the possible scenarios will reduce jitters and keep you confident when you’re ready to go in for the meeting.

Invest Like a Woman - Open an account with Ellevest — PHOTO: Ellevest

Once you get the raise, invest the money you earn. Some amount from every paycheck, like clockwork.

Here are more money topics for you…

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Questions? We’re here to help. Leave us a comment and we’ll get back to you!

Disclosures: We’re excited to be working with the team at Ellevest to start this conversation about women and money. We may receive compensation if you become an Ellevest client.

5 Retailers That Will Reward You For Recycling Your Old, Used Clothes

Jul. 23, 2019Outfits, TrendsEarth Day, Eco-Friendly Style, Environmental sustainability, h&m, kiehl's, levi's, madewell, recycle, recycling programs, shop spring, spring, Sustainable Fashion, the north faceSanchita Sivaraman

With spring being all about new beginnings, there’s no better time to get your wardrobe in check. If you’re looking for a little incentive to clean out your closet, we’re here to give you a great one: some of your favorite brands offer recycling programs!

At Style Salute, we always try to put sustainability at the core of everything we do.

Being the eco-style detectives we are, not only do we share what brands have sustainable and eco-friendly practices, but we are also always on the hunt for how we can help you be more eco-conscious about your decisions. Today, we’re letting you in on the forward-thinking brands that offer sweet reward-based recycling programs for your used clothing.

Let’s face it: throwing away clothes is not smart. Many of the products and possessions we throw away contain bad chemicals that can be detrimental to the environment. Luckily, many of our favorite retailers are enhancing their corporate social responsibility by ensuring a hassle-free recycling process.

How? It’s all about recycling, and we’re super into it.

Here’s how it works: you wear your clothes, you love clothes, and when you’re tired of the clothes, you get a sweet reward. (read: big discounts!)

Intrigued? Keep reading to discover five retailers that reward you for recycling your old clothing.

1. The North Face

Being an outdoor gear specialist, it’s only natural that The North Face puts all its recycled clothing towards nature conservation. It’s Clothes The Loop Program encourages people to drop off unwanted clothing and footwear (any condition, any brand) at one of their stores and in return, you get a $10 reward coupon toward your next purchase of $100 or more at The North Face.

The North Face Base Camp Duffel Moonlight Ivory Scratch Print Moonlight Ivory The North Face Base Camp Duffel Moonlight Ivory Scratch Print Moonlight Ivory 159.99

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The North Face Unisex Standard Issue Beanie TNF Black/Asphalt Grey SM/MD The North Face Unisex Standard Issue Beanie TNF Black/Asphalt Grey SM/MD

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The North Face NF0A3JRN Women’s Aconcagua Vest II, TNF White – M The North Face NF0A3JRN Women’s Aconcagua Vest II, TNF White – M 99

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The North Face Base Camp Duffel-Large, TNF Black, The North Face Base Camp Duffel-Large, TNF Black, 145

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2. Levi’s

Levi’s will recycle virtually any clothing and shoes from any brand. Any consumer who brings an item of clothing to recycle will receive a voucher for 20 percent off a single, regular-priced Levi’s item in-store. I:CO, Levi’s clothing collection partner, will ensure that the discarded garments and footwear are re-worn, repurposed or recycled, leaving nothing to waste.

Looking for more on Levi’s denim? This is the cool new denim everyone is wearing.

Levi’s Women’s Original Sherpa Trucker Jackets (Also Available in Plus), (New) Feeling Everything ($99.99)

Ultra Facial Cleanser 2.5 Ounce ($14.95)

Levi’s Cropped Jeans 148

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Levis Indigo Sherpa Trucker Denim Jacket 104

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Levi’s Women’s 501 High Rise Shorts, Fault Line, Blue, 30 Levi’s Women’s 501 High Rise Shorts, Fault Line, Blue, 30

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Signature by Levi Strauss & Co Women’s Totally Shaping Pull On Skinny Jeans, Harmony, 12 Medium Signature by Levi Strauss & Co Women’s Totally Shaping Pull On Skinny Jeans, Harmony, 12 Medium 29.99

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Levi’s Faux Leather Moto Jacket 88

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3. H&M

Known to be one of the most sustainable brands in the industry, H&M’s garment collecting initiative makes a hugely positive impact. Here’s how it works: you can drop off your unwanted garments (no matter what brand and what condition) in all H&M stores across the globe, and in return H&M will give you a coupon to use toward your next purchase.

H&M Short Sweatshirt 9.99

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1. Madewell

Madewell’s Denim Donation Program takes in your old jeans and donates them to make housing insulation for Habitat for Humanity builds. For every pair of jeans you donate, Madewell will give you $20 off your next jeans purchase. Now that’s a sweet reward.

Madewell Cotton Denim Jacket (Pinter Wash) 18

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5. Kiehl’s

Skincare brand, Kiehl’s, now provides their customers perks for recycling their used or finished products. Simply bring back an empty container of any full-size Kiehl’s product to any Kieh’s retail counter and you’ll receive a stamp card. Each time you come in with an empty container, you’ll get a stamp, and for every ten stamps you earn, you’ll be able to select a complimentary Kiehl’s Travel Collection product.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner with Squalane, Gentle Alcohol-free Face Toner, Hydrates Skin and Refines Skin Texture, Non-stripping Formula, with Avocado Oil & Vitamin E, Paraben-free – 8.4 fl oz ($24)

Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Hydrating Serum, Plumps Skin, Improves Elasticity, Reduces Appearance of Dry Skin, All Skin Types, Ophthalmologist and Dermatologist Tested, Fragrance-Free – 2.5 fl oz ($82)

Kieh’ls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado ($30.3)

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Cream for Dark Circles & Eye Puffiness, Nightime Eye Treatment, Smooths Undereye, with Butcher’s Broom Extract, Lavender Essential Oil & Evening Primrose Oil – 0.5 fl oz ($48)

Kiehl’sBrand Super Multi-Corrective Eye Cream, 0.95 Fl Oz / 28 ml, Anti-Aging Cream that Lifts Brow Bone Area, Smooths and Firms Eye Lids, Bilberry Seed Extract and Collagen for Smoother Looking Skin ($51)

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps, Rich, Luscious Body Lotion, with Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter for Fast Absorbing Hydration, Skin Feels Soft and Smooth, Suitable for All Skin Types – 16.9 fl oz ($60)