There are three weeks of August left.
Don’t be sad! Now is the time to do all those summer activities you were dreaming of back in May.
So hit the beach, light the BBQ, and grab an oversized ice cream (is there such thing?).
I’m going to vomit.
Then take that same “seize the day” energy to your finances.
Here are three high-impact moves you can make this week to take full advantage of opportunities you might be missing.
Do future-you a huge favor.
1. Unlock the Ultimate Financial Cheat Code
You might have access to a Health Savings Account (HSA), the single most powerful investment account that exists in America. Many people use it for small medical bills, completely missing its true purpose.
Your Move: Check if your health plan is HSA-eligible. If it is, open an account and start contributing. If you can afford to, pay for your current medical expenses out-of-pocket and leave the money in your HSA invested to grow.
The Win: You've unlocked the "triple tax advantage", a true cheat code.
1) Your contributions are tax-deductible,
2) your money grows tax-free, and
3) your withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free, forever.
You're seizing the opportunity to build a completely tax-free fund for health expenses in retirement.
2. Start the Clock on Future Tax-Free Money
For a Roth IRA, the ability to withdraw your investment earnings tax-free in retirement is governed by a "5-year clock" that starts the moment you make your first contribution. The sooner you start that clock, the better.
Your Move: If you don't have a Roth IRA, take 10 minutes to open one this week. Contribute any amount, even just $25. That first deposit officially starts your 5-year clock, permanently.
The Win: By making this tiny move today, you're setting yourself up for massive advantages decades from now. Once the 5-year rule is satisfied (and you're 59½), every dollar of growth your account ever earns can be withdrawn 100% tax-free. You're seizing the opportunity to give your future self the gift of tax-free wealth.
3. Make a 15-Minute Career Investment
The biggest financial opportunities often come from increasing your earning power. You don't need to enroll in a long course; you can plant the seed for a future raise in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
Your Move: Identify one specific skill that would make you more valuable at work (e.g., creating pivot tables in Excel, using a new AI tool, improving your presentation design). Go to YouTube or a site like Coursera and watch one 15-minute introductory tutorial on that exact skill.
The Win: You've built a small piece of "career capital." You broke the inertia of "I should learn that someday" and took a tangible first step. This micro-investment boosts your confidence and skills, which is the foundation for landing bigger projects, getting noticed, and commanding a higher salary down the line.
Tons of free courses on here! https://www.coursera.org/
No time wasted
Quick financial power-ups like these stack and compound. Every step forward makes you more confident.
Seize the day and stack your cash!
