The Smart Girl Newspaper
The Smart Newspaper for Curious Fools
Happy April Fool’s Day to all the Mavens!
A quick little story about the best prank I’ve ever pulled: I convinced one of my besties and roomie in college that Beyonce was coming to perform at Texas Relays (a track meet at the university I went to). It is big, but maybe not Beyonce big… 🙂 I laugh about it to this day.
Now onto the real stuff… One of my favorite segments this week? A video my hubby shared with me on the story behind a 1930s invention we use everyday… you won’t regret the watch!
FACT VS. FICTION
Fat loss? Muscle Building? Bone Building? The Truth Behind This Viral Trend!
Are vibration plates the next lazy girl fitness hack? Do they actually help you lose fat and build muscle?
We uncover the truth behind vibration plates and do a little investigative journalism on whether or not this fitness tech is worth it or just another expensive place to put your laundry.
The T of a Dynamic Dinner Party Guest
YOUR WEEKLY READING, WATCHING, + LISTENING EDIT
THE 5 EMERGING CONSUMER IDENTITY TYPES.
Are you a Wellness Junkie? The Analog Revivalist? The 2016 Nostalgia Seeker? The Main Character? The Comfort Curator?
READ ON →
THE PAYPAL MAFIA
The article for girls who like Shark Tank, White Lotus, and West Wing and evidence of “power that compounds”.
READ ON →
HOW SPACEX WORKS
Love him or hate him, curiosity and constantly questioning what has been done in the past has made SpaceX what it is today. One of my favorite episodes to listen to last week!
THE STORY BEHIND A 1930S INVENTION YOU USE DAILY
And it was built almost perfectly the very first time.
Niche Maven Things
SMART GIRL MONEY HABITS & TRAVEL HACKS
I had the opportunity to sit down with Katie Kelton, a writer for Bankrate and Certified Credit Counselor. She is an expert when it comes to travel and personal finances. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, USA Today, Fidelity, Yahoo Finance, and more, and she is here today to give us all of her money cheat codes and travel hacks!
What are your money cheat codes for girls who want to build better money habits in 2026?
Download a budgeting app and actually use it! This is the secret to knowing where your hard-earned money is going and to align your budget with your values. Start by inputting your income and assigning dollar amounts to necessities, like rent, debt repayment and savings. Then, you can set spend limits for every category — from groceries to clothing to concert tickets — so that you’re using the right amount of your income. From there, an app can automatically sync and categorize your transactions. You’ll just want to check the app weekly or monthly to ensure you’re not overspending.
Set up an automatic transfer to savings each month. For example, if your goal is to save $200 a month and you get paid twice a month, you might schedule a $100 transfer from checking to savings after every paycheck. That way, the money’s in savings before you can even think about spending it.
If you have money in the bank, make it grow. Most banks offer high-yield savings accounts, which means you’ll earn between 3-5% yield on all the money in the account — which is way better than a traditional savings or checking account. You can also open a free investment account and fund it with any extra money you have, which also lets you keep tabs on the market with very little effort.
Where do women struggle the most with finances compared to what men struggle with?
Factors like the gender pay gap and motherhood can prevent women’s income from keeping pace with men’s. Data also shows women are conditioned to take fewer risks, which can lead to less financial gain when it comes to investing and asking for promotions. On the other hand, women tend to be better at budgeting and saving. In a financial system that was largely built by men, women today must learn to either play the game or rewrite the rules. That might look like growing our assets, gaining financial independence and planning for interruptions. It can also look like leaning into our natural strengths — like consistency and frugality — to succeed in ways that are different from traditional, masculine money tactics.
For someone just starting to better understand their finances, what is an easy rule for them to abide by?
Know when your money goes. Try to account for every dollar you earn, including what you put toward savings, debt repayment, groceries, new shoes and vacations. Keeping a budget is the best way to avoid overspending and make sure you’ll reach your financial goals.
What are the accounts that every woman needs to have?
A high-yield savings account, a 401(k) or IRA, an investment account and a rewards credit card (if you’ll use it responsibly).
When it comes to travel, which credit cards give us the best bang for our buck in 2026?
I like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture cards for their reasonable annual fees, generous welcome bonuses and rewards on everyday spending as well as on travel purchases. Once you’ve accrued a nice stash of points, you can put them toward your next trip. And most of the major issuers like Amex, Citi and Discover have a version of this mid-tier travel card.
What are some of your favorite resources for women who want to learn more about travel or their finances in 2026?
Money With Katie is a good social media follow. The Death, Sex and Money podcast. Also, shameless plug that I and other Bankrate writers do our best to post helpful, informative content on social media and on the site.
Wedding Season!
A GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE + DRESSING FOR THE EVENT
My sister is in her bridal era, so wedding season has been on my mind! Here are a few articles/books that caught my eye…
A Final Note
FROM THE EDITOR
I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of The Smart Girl Newspaper! As always, I’d love to have your input & feedback on ways to make this a virtual newspaper you look forward to opening every week!
