Kristina Tahnyak, Author at Dinks Finance

About Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.

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How to Travel Alone and Be Safe

Posted on August 19, 2015 - 5:01 am by Kristina Tahnyak

As you know I love travelling. If I had access to unlimited money I would travel all the time. Unfortunately my boyfriend doesn’t share the same passion. Every single time I think of a fabulous destination or a weekend getaway I always ask him if he wants to come, even though I know the answer. However that doesn’t stop me. If I can’t find someone to travel with then I just travel alone.

I know this may seem weird for someone who lives with her boyfriend, but I can’t let him stop me from seeing the world. I figure when he starts to miss me too much he’ll start travelling with me. The reverse psychology isn’t working yet, but it’s all part of my master plan.

To all my fellow single travellers out there I’ve learned a few things over the years that help me keep safe in foreign cities.

Plan your route ahead of time

There is no bigger red flag for thieves than someone looking at a map. It’s like you have a neon flashing sign that says I’m disoriented and don’t know where to go so rob me. I always plan my trip ahead of time – way ahead of time, even before I leave. Before I touch down on the ground I usually know where I want to go and what I want to see…but I don’t know how to get there.

I leave that up to my trusted Google search. Each day I plan my route and write down any subways and buses I need to take as well as street names and addresses. Sometimes I even take a photo of the screen on my phone so I just look like I’m reading an email instead of searching for directions.

Stick to public spaces

Short cuts are a no-no when you’re travelling alone. Back alleys and abandoned parks can only lead to bad things. Stay on main roads and just follow your directions, you’ll also get to see more of the city this way.

Don’t stop in front of your door

If you’re looking for your hotel room key in your purse by the time you get the door open someone could be standing right behind you and force their way in. I know this sounds like something that only happens in the movies, but I’m sure at some point it was based on a true story. Search for your hotel room key in the elevator and have it ready in hand when you get to your room.

Always use the double lock

I am super paranoid and have trouble sleeping in my own bed at home, so to say I don’t get much sleep in hotels when travelling is an understatement – thanks goodness for Nyquil. Using the dead bolt lock on my hotel room door always makes me feel a bit more comfortable when I’m travelling alone.

Why Uber is Ruining Everything

Posted on August 17, 2015 - 5:00 am by Kristina Tahnyak 9

Have you ever had one of those life experiences with a complete stranger that made your heart break, even though you don’t know them? This just happened to me in a 30 minute taxi ride on my way to the airport and I can’t stop thinking about it.

As you know I am not a fan of Uber. Not because I don’t value the service, just because I’m not convinced it’s a safe mode of transportation for a single female travelling alone. If I was travelling with Nick it wouldn’t even be an issue, but when I travel for work I’m usually alone and I just don’t want to take any risks.

Is Uber really safe?

After meeting my recent taxi driver I have another reason to boycott Uber drivers, because they’re stealing the livelihood of hardworking Americans. Hammond is a hard working man who supports his stay at home wife and four children (two of who are in college) by driving a taxi cab 12 hours a day, six days a week.

Of course there are a whole bunch of variables in the situation that can be changed such as: his lazy wife could find a job to help support the family and his spoiled children could work part time during college, but those his issues not ours.

Hammond told me that five years ago he sold his own taxi license and used the money to put towards the down payment on their home and now he rents a taxi. Some days he doesn’t even turn a profit after working 12 hours when you factor in the cost of the rental as well as the cost of gas. That’s heartbreaking. According to Hammond the demand for taxi cab drivers is down because rides are being outbid by Uber drivers.

Isn’t this the American way?

The great thing about living in a democracy is that we have options. I am usually all about saving money and the fact that I can get a ride to the airport for $22 with Uber instead of $40 from a licensed taxi would normally make me very happy. However there is just too much risk involved with taking an undocumented car by a driver who doesn’t make his living by being a registered taxi.

Of course one can argue that Uber drivers are also hard working Americans and yes I believe they are. However this new service is taking food right out of the mouths of families. Once again on the other hand one can argue that Uber is also putting money into the mouths of those who are willing to work for it. Although that may be true I just can’t get past Hammond’s story of how he can no longer provide for his family because of Uber drivers.

Do you use Uber?

Personal Finance Tips for Young Couples

Posted on August 14, 2015 - 5:00 am by Kristina Tahnyak 2

couples advice, couples tips, personal finance tips

So you’re in love. So you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. That’s all fine and dandy but what about the money. Nick and I had our share of arguments about money, but that’s because we met as teenagers and neither of us had any idea how to make, save or manage money. All we knew how to do was spend it and that led to big money woes.

I wish someone sat us down and said “Hey here are five things about money that every couple needs to know.” But no one did that so we had to learn on our own. We eventually did, it took almost a decade, but we did it.

I sat down with him and asked “What personal finance tip do you wish our parents gave us back when we were a young couple?” This is what he said:

Keep your bank accounts separate

At least until you’re ready to merge them. We made this mistake very early on and both our relationship as well as our money suffered for it. We met, dated and moved in together. Therefore we naturally thought our bank accounts should move in together too, but that’s not true.

Only when you can manage your own money can you merge your bank accounts as a couple. Trust me when I tell you that managing money as a couple is a heck of a lot harder than managing your own accounts.

Don’t get a credit card as a teenager

When we were a young couple I had a credit card and Nick didn’t. He saw how I was spending and ended up getting one too. This lead to a lot of (unnecessary) debt in our college years and several thousand dollars in interest charges.

When you’re a young couple dealing with the stress of life and learning to adjust to living together it’s hard to also worry about money. Not letting debt accumulate will definitely help your relationship.

Don’t buy anything joint until you’re at least 30

This is absolutely the one personal finance tip I have for young couples and Nick agrees. The biggest mistake we ever made was buying a car together in our 20s. Not necessarily because we both owned it and were both responsible for the massive $30,000 debt, but because we just weren’t ready to manage that kind of money together…or at all.

Before buying a house, car or anything else together I would suggest doing it separately. Money can equal stress and if you’re in a happy relationship you don’t want a reason to make it unhappy.

Travel together whenever possible

I love travelling and Nick not so much. So we find a happy compromise. We take one vacation together every year and then I travel alone or with friends all the other times I need to get away. When people are on vacation they’re usually worry free. This can be a nice break from the daily routine that couples fall in to.

5 personal finance basics you should know

Posted on August 13, 2015 - 5:00 am by Kristina Tahnyak

personal finance basics, personal finance advice, financial tips

Some people may say personal finances basics are just that, basic and therefore we should already know them. However the truth is that common cents for one person may not be common sense for the next. Am I right?

Unfortunately I didn’t learn personal finance basics a.k.a. common money sense until I was a lot older. I’m proud to say that now I’m in a good financial place, but I haven’t always been. If I could go back and teach myself some money management skills these are the personal finance basics that everyone should know.

Save as soon as you start making money

I starting working at McDonalds when I was 15 years old and I was so excited to get my first paycheck that I went out and spent every single penny. This set the basis for the next several years of my financial life.

I really wish I saved a portion of my paycheck from the very moment I started earning a paycheck. If you live at home I think it’s reasonable to save 50% of your paycheck, once you move out that can go down to 25%.

It’s O.K. to get into debt

Yes you read that right. I truly believe the only way people will learn how to manage debt wisely is to get a credit card and get into debt. I am a hands on learner and unfortunately I learned about debt the hard way.

However it doesn’t have to be like that for everyone. If you get a credit card, use it wisely and build a solid credit history you’re looking at a happy financial future. Oh and PS it’s never too late to start over.

Think about retirement

Whether your 20 or 40 retirement should be on your mind. If you’re young there are probably several other goals you want to achieve before retirement and with a little bit of planning you can achieve them all.

The truth is the later you start saving for retirement the harder it will be so start saving as soon as possible, even 5% of your after tax income can add up to a lot of money over several years.

Try to live on a budget

This has personally never worked for me, but that’s probably because I never learned how to do it. I save for the short term, save for the long term, pay my bills and spend everything else. If that’s a budget then O.K. I do it.

I save a dollar amount that I can afford, not a percentage that I’m “supposed” to. That’s what works for me and I’m happy with it. Some others like a more structured budget and that’s O.K. too.

Take advantage of employer savings plans

If you like free money then sign up for your employer savings plan. I can say this is personal finance basics 101. If you’re employer is offering to match your contributions into a retirement plan, stock plan or other type of savings account then take it. Regardless of how the market does you automatically get a 50% return on your money. How awesome is that?

Your Is-It-Worth-It Relationship Checklist

Posted on August 12, 2015 - 5:17 am by Kristina Tahnyak

relationship advice, couples advice, new couples

Today’s post goes out to all our new couples out there. If you’re new to Dinks Finance, let me be the first to say WELCOME! Being in a relationship is work (it can be a little or a lot) and it’s not always easy. If anyone tells you differently they’re lying. I’ve been with my boyfriend Nick for 16 years this month and we’ve been living together for 14. We’re not married, we don’t have kids and I write about it all right here.

Someone recently reached out to me on Twitter lately and asked for a quote about what makes a good relationship in one word. My advice was similarities. Of course there are also other qualities like trust and honesty that make a good relationship, but for us similarities are what works.

If you’re thinking about taking the next step in your relationship or if you just started dating someone and are trying to determine if it’s worth your time ask yourself the following questions to see if you’re compatible.

What’s your passion?

Now before we get into it let me say that I don’t think the perfect person exists, however I do believe there is a perfect person for us. It’s very important that you and your potential mate share the same passions. I’m not saying they all have to match but at least one of your top three should match one in their top three.

This is important because your passion is how you spend your free time. If you want to share time with someone you love then you’ll want to be doing something that makes you happy. I love to travel and probably couldn’t be in a relationship with someone who didn’t. I have a cousin who does nothing in life but eat, sleep, work and golf. So obviously he had to find a girlfriend who also loved golf because otherwise they would never see each other.

How do you feel about monogamy?

This seems like an obvious question right? Well it’s not so obvious to me, at least not any more. One of my friends (new friends) just confessed that she’s a member of an exclusive fetish club. Now to be honest I had absolutely no idea what that was. I thought it was a place where people dressed up in Catwoman-like black latex bodysuits and listened to house music until 3 am. However I was wrong.

A members only fetish club is a place where couples watch their spouse swing with other couples. It’s not exactly my scene, but I say as long as you both agree then there’s no harm. Where a relationship gets messy is if one person believes in sharing their love but the other person doesn’t. As long as you’re on the same page swinging could be the answer to a long and happy relationship.

Are they good with money?

This may not be a hot topic for everyone, but it is for me. At least it would be if I wasn’t already in a relationship. Not in a “He better make a lot of money” kind of way, but in a “I can’t be with someone who’s in debt” kind of way.

I would want to learn about my potential husband’s money habits right away. I fix people’s finances all day long at work, I definitely don’t want to be doing it at home.

Having Kids Ruined My Marriage

Posted on August 10, 2015 - 5:15 am by Kristina Tahnyak 5

divorce, ruined marriage, destroyed relationship

That’s what my co-worker told me yesterday after he announced he and his wife of nine years are getting a divorce. Now this may seem like a weird topic for me to bring up since I am neither married or have kids but I think it’s a very interesting topic to bring up.

They say the first year of marriage is the hardest

I’d like to know if that’s true. I would assume this used to be true back in a time when man and woman lived apart until the marriage and didn’t spend quality time together until the night of the honeymoon. However in 2015 isn’t it customary for an unmarried couple to live together before tying the knot?

If I wasn’t in a relationship I think I would definitely want to live with someone before we got married. I believe that only when you truly incorporate yourselves into each other’s daily routines can you honestly see if you’re a good match together.

I could definitely see getting married, moving in together, building a home together and getting used to each other’s lives all at the same time being very stressful. When you add in figuring out joint finances on top of that it could me more than someone can handle and that’s why the marriage ends in divorce. Taking all those steps slowly one by one can help couples adjust to each other before getting married.

Should having a child bring you closer together?

I think having kids is tough, however it’s a choice people make. Since having children is optional and not mandatory it makes it harder for me to feel bad for parents when they’re going through tough times. However with that being said I know kids can be awful.

Now that I’m 35 and look back at my childhood I can honestly say I don’t know how my parents survived together as long as they did. They got divorced when I was 16 and it was probably a long time coming. My sister says that my parents’ divorce is on them, they didn’t get along and lost their love; she doesn’t believe it has anything to do with either of us.

I absolutely see her point, but I still think the stress of having kids was a major contribution to their dislike for each other. They are two very different people who started dating at 19 and grew into different people by the time they were 40. When I ask my Dad about it he says “Yes you two girls gave me an ulcer.” My mother on the other hand gives a standard answer “No you girls were great.” Hence the divorce.

I think if a couple wants a family then having kids may be stressful, but not enough to break up a marriage. I mean no one said family life is perfect. However not being on the same page when it comes to raising your kids can absolutely be a hinder to a marriage.

How to attend a wedding alone

Posted on August 6, 2015 - 5:12 am by Kristina Tahnyak 3

attending a wedding, wedding guest, attending a wedding alone

This may seem like a silly topic to discuss today since you know that Nick and I are celebrating our 16th anniversary this month, but yet here we are. I have been invited to the wedding of yet another person who is getting married before me. I don’t mind it so much, I really don’t. But Nick won’t be joining me this time because he is sick and tired of going to weddings.

As you know I am not the type of girlfriend who doesn’t do something just because her boyfriend doesn’t want to. So I am still going to the wedding and Nick will be at home watching UFC or NFL or whatever else it is that men do while their girlfriends are out.

If you’re a single girl looking for the perfect man or if you’re a committed girl whose boyfriend doesn’t want to sit through another wedding then here are four tips on how to make it through the night.

Don’t catch the bouquet

When you’re 35 years old, in a long term out-of-marriage relationship and at a wedding alone there is nothing worse than having to declare your singleness in front of a room full of strangers. I don’t want to catch the bouquet for two reasons: 1. Nick and I are probably never getting married so the good luck of catching the bouquet will be totally lost on me and 2. I don’t want to get my hair dishevelled and my dress torn by a crowd of single women who are hoping to get married a.k.a. I don’t want to get in a fight over a bouquet of flowers with a bunch of women I don’t know.

Make sure you look amazing

Even in 2015 women of a certain age are expected to be married and have kids. I’m not sure why, but whenever I meet someone and they find out Nick and I aren’t married they always ask “Why not?” I would love to snap back and say because I like my freedom, am completely selfish and can’t afford it. However I have come to just smile and shrug my shoulders.

The one way to make yourself feel better for being unmarried in a room full of happily married couples is to look amazing. Spend a little bit on a great dress, get your hair done and make sure your makeup is flawless. When you notice people checking you out you can say “Yes, I woke up like this!”

Find a table of friends

If you want to go to a wedding solo you better make plans to have a good time. Don’t worry about acting silly, dancing alone or having a second piece of cake. Just have fun. I probably wouldn’t go to a wedding where I didn’t know anyone else who was going, however I’ve never come across that situation.

The weddings I’m invited to are usually those of co-workers so even though I’m not at the wedding as a couple I am not there alone.

My Bank Ruined My Credit Score

Posted on August 5, 2015 - 5:00 am by Kristina Tahnyak 4

ruined credit score, credit score, bank problems

Good morning Dinks. You aren’t going to believe the story I’m about to tell you. Remember how I was becoming debt free? Remember how Nick and I were thinking of buying a house? Remember how I was working on improving my credit score from years of bad credit? Well all that went out the window yesterday.

I logged into my online banking to verify my accounts and noticed that there was $14 owing on a credit card that had presumably been paid off (Notice I used presumed and not assume). Since I paid off the balance back in April I haven’t logged into the account since and therefore had no idea I was three months behind on the payment.

Should banks look out for your credit score?

I think the answer is yes. If you have a good credit score you can borrow more money and the more money we borrow the more profit the bank makes. So yes I think banks should always have our credit scores best interest at heart. But that’s just me.

As I’m writing this my mind is scattering all over the place and my head is filling up with anger. So if at any point this story doesn’t make sense let’s just blame it on the rage. Ok let me reiterate the fact that the $14 is the total balance due, not the minimum payment.

Over the last three months my bank (I should say former bank) has been reporting negativity to the credit bureau for $14. How is that fair?

Is it my fault?

Of course I don’t think so. Why didn’t I get a call after the first month telling me that my account was in arrears. When I asked the customer service agent they mentioned that collections calls are a courtesy, not standard procedure. Courtesy. Are they serious? If the bank wants their money and they’re not getting paid doesn’t it seem like common sense to make a quick phone call. But again maybe that’s just me.

I paid off this balance back in April when I received my tax refund. When I called the customer service number to inquire on the total balance owing they gave me an amount and I paid it in full. However it turns out that the amount quoted did not take in account accumulated interest from the last statement date. And there you have it – how I accumulated $14 in interest fees, got three months behind on my credit card payments and ended up ruining my credit score that I spent three years building.

No it’s not my fault.

The other two companies who I was paying off gave me the exact balance due as of the day I called – including interest. For some reason this bank didn’t. They are also not willing to make a correction or contact the credit bureau on my behalf. Why? Well as the agent told me on the phone “But ma’am you were late so we had to report it.” Worst. Service. Ever.

Needless to say I will not be applying for a mortgage with this company. This particular instance just reminds me of why they are my former – not my current – bank.

How to Survive Your First Day Back From a Vacation

Posted on August 3, 2015 - 5:00 am by Kristina Tahnyak

first day back from vacation, back to work, daily grind

Today was my first day back to work after almost two weeks of vacation and all I can say is “Good Lord It Was Hard”. I had a great time off work, I spent five days in NYC and then spent the rest of the time hanging out with Nick. All in all great vacation, except for the part where our rental car was broken in to but all that’s in the past now.

Today I went back to work and you know what I was kind of happy to. Well not really because of course I’d rather be at home in my pjs eating French Toast for breakfast but thems the breaks. I used to have anxiety every time I had to go back to work after a vacation and last night I didn’t have it. Either I’m getting old or I really really love my job. I think it’s a bit of both.

So back to my story about going back to work after almost two weeks off. I have learned there are a few tricks that can help us ease back into our work routine after a vacation. Even though the first day back is anything but routine.

How do you deal at your first day back to work after a vacation?

Start with the phone messages

I was out of the office for 10 days and I didn’t have a single phone message. I expected to come into the office and respond to phone messages first because a) if people feel the need to pick up the phone and call me their need must be urgent and b) people consider a delay in responding to a phone message to be very rude. However to my surprise I had no messages. I think by activating my extended absence greeting I blocked my voice mail box. Is that possible?

Tackle your emails next

There is a bit more leeway when responding to emails. I think 48 hours is a reasonable time to respond to an email so I get to these next. I had 220 emails, but each had a different request so they took some time to get through. Although if there’s one thing in the world I hate it’s an overcrowded inbox so I try to file emails and keep it as neat as possible.

Drink lots of water

The first day back after vacation is hard work so my advice is to stay hydrated. However more water means more trips to the bathroom and more bathroom breaks means taking time away from your work. So I’ll let you be the judge of this one.

Don’t forget to eat

Time flies when you’re busy answering emails and fielding phone calls from everyone who knows it’s your first day back from vacation. It’s real easy to get caught up in your work and forget to eat, drink or go pee. But you have to make time. Otherwise you’ll find yourself dehydrated and starving with a headache by 5 pm. No one wants that.

Be sure to leave at 5

If not you’ll be there until dark. There is always something to do but trust me it can wait until tomorrow.

Should education be free?

Posted on July 31, 2015 - 5:00 am by Kristina Tahnyak 3

education, free education, going to school

OK let’s have this debate today. I have very mixed emotions on this subject. On one hand I feel that education should be free for everyone who wants it, but on the other hand I feel that people should always have to work hard for the things they get in life. And there my friends lies our debate.

Who should get to go to college?

Everyone. Why? My simplest answer is because no one peaks in high school. Just because a student didn’t do well in high school doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential to succeed in college. Just because someone’s grades weren’t great in high school doesn’t mean they should be excluded from being offered a higher education.

I’m almost 35 years old (in October) and I’m just starting to find who I am. I’m only now starting to feel comfortable and content with my life and I’m thankful for it – but it took me almost 35 years to get here.

I had no idea what I wanted to be in college. I didn’t even know where I wanted to live. All I knew is that I wanted to get away from my parents’ divorce and college was the easiest way to do that. I changed my major three times in college before graduating in economics.

I think it’s unreasonable to base someone’s future on who they were or how they performed at 17.

Why should education be free?

Because the younger generations are the future of our country, economy and world. If we send them out into society without an education what sate will the world be in in 25 years? The unfortunate reality is that not everyone can afford to go to college so the government should make it affordable.

Scholarships and bursaries are one way to assist students pursue a higher education but is it enough? I am not sure why education costs are so high but they definitely seem excessive. Especially considering the fact that the younger generations are going school to take care of the state of the economy for the older generations we should definitely invest in their future.

What are the parameters?

Let’s say we live in a perfect world where every high school student gets a free college education. Is that actually an ideal situation? We would need several more schools to house all the students across the country who wanted to take advantage of a free education.

I know I had to work full time during my college years and my grades definitely suffered. Thank goodness my poor grades didn’t prevent me from getting a job after graduation. I still also graduated with over $10,000 in student loans – that was a lot back then. Trust me when I say my life would have been easier if my education was free.

So what do you think. Should a college education be free for anyone who wants it?