Wellness Wednesday Issue #112

💡 Can a $500 red light really improve your skin? Yes—and doctors explain why.

🌟 Make a bold career move without second-guessing yourself.

🤖 “I tested ChatGPT vs. DeepSeek with 7 prompts” (& the surprising winner).

🌙 Fighting anxiety by moonlight—self-care by daylight.

Investing can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re first-gen or from a low-income family. Add in the question of whether to pay off debt first or invest while repaying loans, and it gets even trickier.

Should You Pay Off Debt or Invest?

Our take? Do the math and do what’s best for you. Start by calculating your monthly budget against your debt, evaluating whether the snowball method (paying off small debts first) or the avalanche method (targeting high-interest debt first) works better for your situation. Then, take any leftover surplus and invest it. If you don’t have surplus cash, consider making sacrifices—big or small—to increase your ability to invest, like house hacking or cutting back on daily coffee runs.

Example: Should You Invest or Pay Off Debt?

Let’s say you have an extra $300 in your budget each month. Should you put it toward your student loans or invest it?

If you have a $20,000 loan at 3% interest with a minimum monthly payment of $160, it will take you 12 years and 7 months to pay off, and you’ll pay $4,010.36 in total interest.

But if you invest that $300 per month instead, assuming an average annual stock market return of 10%, in 12 years, you would have $87,896.95 in your investment portfolio.

Now, what if you took that same $300 and apply it toward your student loans monthly payment instead? You’d pay it off in 3 years and 11 months, with $1,199.26 in total interest.

Your money works harder for you when you invest it—but if your personal goal is to be debt-free, focusing on loan repayment first might be the right move. The key takeaway? Run the numbers and align your strategy with your long-term financial goals.

Best Investment & Budgeting Apps for Beginners

No matter how much you can afford to invest, these financial apps make it easier to start and manage your money.

• Stash

Stash simplifies investing by allowing users to start with minimal funds. It offers “smart investing,” which auto-invests for you based on your risk tolerance and goals. The app provides a curated selection of stocks and ETFs, making it easier for beginners to build a diversified portfolio while learning along the way.

• You Need a Budget (YNAB)

YNAB is one of the best budgeting tools for tracking expenses, identifying surpluses, and allocating funds toward debt repayment or investments. It helps users create a plan for every dollar, ensuring you have money set aside for financial growth.

• M1 Finance

M1 combines automated investing with customizable portfolios. Users can choose from pre-built “expert pies” or create their own, and the platform automatically rebalances portfolios and reinvests dividends. It’s a great option for beginners who want both automation and control.

• Acorns

Perfect for micro-investing, Acorns rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the spare change into diversified portfolios. This is an effortless way for beginners to start investing without thinking about it.

• Vanguard

Vanguard is known for its low-cost index funds and ETFs, making it an excellent choice for long-term investing and wealth building. Its app provides access to a broad range of investment products, including retirement accounts.

• SigFig

SigFig is a robo-advisor that provides automated portfolio management with low fees. It offers personalized investment strategies and real-time monitoring, making it a great choice for hands-off investors.

• Ellevest

Ellevest is designed specifically for women investors, offering personalized portfolios, financial planning tools, and resources tailored to women’s financial needs.

• Greenlight

Greenlight is a financial app designed for families, combining banking and investing features. It helps parents teach kids about money management and investing through a user-friendly platform.

• Stockpile

Stockpile allows users to buy fractional shares of stocks, making investing more accessible. It also enables users to gift stocks via e-gift cards, making it a great way to introduce younger investors to the market.

The key to investing? Just start—even with small amounts. Whether you’re tackling debt first or investing alongside it, choose a strategy that fits your goals. These apps make it easy to budget, invest, and grow your financial future.

When it comes to managing customer support, the stakes are high. You need a system that works, that’s reliable, and doesn’t eat up your entire budget.

Zoho Desk and Zendesk are two heavyweights in the world of help desk software. But here’s the catch: They’re not created equal.

In one corner, Zendesk promises a powerful, all-encompassing solution. In the other, Zoho Desk is charging ahead with its cost-effective approach and efficiency. So, which one can deliver what you need without draining your resources?

Let’s break it down.

🛠️ Features:

Zendesk is the go-to for enterprise-level features. From advanced automation to AI-powered insights, Zendesk has it all. It’s a dream for large teams managing a high volume of tickets and complex workflows. But here’s the thing: The more you use, the more you pay.

Zoho Desk isn’t here to show off—it’s here to deliver. You get all the core features you need: multi-channel support, automated ticketing, and reporting, all bundled in a straightforward package. It’s not overloaded with unnecessary extras, but it’s more than enough to handle your growing business needs. And it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

📱Ease of Use:

Zendesk’s strength lies in its vast capabilities, but it’s not the easiest to navigate, especially for smaller teams.

On the other hand, Zoho Desk is intuitive, fast to implement, and easy to navigate from day one. You don’t need a Ph.D. in software to get it up and running, which means you can focus on what matters: customer satisfaction.

💸 Pricing:

Zendesk’s pricing can skyrocket, especially as you add more features. Zoho Desk keeps it budget-friendly, offering a more cost-effective solution for businesses that don’t need the full enterprise package.

⚖️ The Final Verdict

Big budget, big team? Zendesk might be your pick. But if you’re looking for an affordable, straightforward solution that still packs a punch, Zoho Desk is the winner.

So, you had a stellar performance review, hit a massive goal, and the salary bump discussion was teased for Q1. Now what? Following up after a salary review can be a mix of excitement, nerves, and strategic planning. Here’s how to approach it like a pro while keeping it casual, confident, and effective.

1. Set the Stage with a Strong Follow-Up Email

Time has passed since your initial discussion, but your accomplishments are still fresh. The key? Frame your follow-up in a way that reminds leadership of the agreed-upon goal, your achievements, and the next steps.

Here’s a sample email to get you started:

Subject: Follow-Up: Performance Review & Salary Discussion

Hi [Manager and any relevant executives],

I hope you’re both doing well! I wanted to follow up on our discussion from [date of performance review], where we talked about [specific goal/metric]. As agreed, the objective was to reach [goal], and I’m excited to share that I exceeded this by [hard-hitting numbers and impact].

This achievement reflects my commitment to driving results and optimizing [specific processes/strategies] that directly benefit our team and company goals.

With the new year underway, I wanted to check in on the next steps regarding the salary adjustment we discussed. I understand we haven’t finalized a figure yet [or, if discussed, reference the amount and when it was mentioned], and I’d love to align on a salary that fairly reflects my contributions and the impact of my work.

Additionally, I’d like to confirm if the raise will be retroactive to January 1, 2025, as initially mentioned, to account for the significant Q4 milestones achieved.

Thank you both for your time and support—I’m excited to continue driving results and growing with the team. Let me know when would be a good time to connect!

2. Come Armed with Data and Documentation

The best way to make your case? Receipts. Bring copies of key documents that reinforce your achievements. This includes:

• A one-pager with a summary of your top 5 accomplishments of 2024 [the more you can give, the better] (make it visually appealing, bullet-pointed, and metric-driven).
• A breakdown of how you crushed the Q4 performance goal—numbers, impact, efficiency gains, and any improvements made along the way.
• Market research or internal salary benchmarks that justify your request.

3. Have a Meeting Agenda Ready

A well-structured meeting agenda helps keep the conversation professional and goal-oriented. Here’s what mine looked like:

1. Recap of Q4 Performance Goals – What was set, what was achieved, and how it impacted the company/team.
2. Highlight 5 Key 2024 Achievements – A quick, high-level rundown of key wins.
3. Discussion on Pay Raise – Present numbers, justify the request and be open to negotiation.
4. Vision and Goals for 2025 – Show that you’re not just looking at the past but also planning future impact.
5. Next Steps & Closing – Align on a timeline, clarify expectations, and ensure action items are set.

4. Be Ready to Negotiate

While you might have a target number in mind, be prepared to discuss flexibility around figures, timelines, and additional benefits (bonuses, stock options, professional development opportunities, etc.). If a retroactive raise was part of the initial conversation, fight for it! If leadership hesitates, reinforce the fact that your performance directly contributed to hitting a new milestone.

5. Follow Up (Again, If Needed)

If the meeting doesn’t result in an immediate decision, don’t let it slip into the void. Follow up within a week, reiterating the key discussion points and asking for a timeline on the next steps. Persistence is key.

Following up on a post-performance review salary discussion isn’t just about asking for a raise—it’s about advocating for the value you bring to the company.

Be confident, data-driven, and professional, but also human. Leadership appreciates employees who are prepared and proactive, and by taking these steps, you’ll position yourself strongly for the compensation you deserve.

Cameron (TA Newsletter Operations & Revenue Manager)

Annual reviews that feel like a box-checking exercise? Been there. Generic feedback that leaves you wondering, “What now?” Yep, that too. Traditional performance reviews often miss the mark—but they don’t have to.

BambooHR transforms reviews into continuous, meaningful conversations that actually help employees grow. No more waiting months for feedback that comes too late to matter.

What Makes BambooHR Different?

• Real-time feedback loops – Ditch the yearly dread with regular check-ins that give employees timely insights and support.
• Goal tracking that works – Set and adjust goals easily, so your team always knows where they stand and what’s next.
• Customizable templates – Use pre-built review formats or tailor your own, so every conversation is relevant and actionable.
• Simple dashboards – Quickly see performance trends, overdue reviews, and areas for improvement without digging through spreadsheets.

Tip: Use BambooHR’s one-on-one templates to structure manager-employee meetings. Add agenda points like wins, roadblocks, and upcoming goals to make each check-in count.

Tired of performance reviews that go nowhere?

See how BambooHR can change that →

🌟 Your goals are one of a kind—start Hers’ free weight-loss assessment and see if a personalized plan fits your journey.

🐦 Stick this bird feeder to your window and enjoy front-row nature views.

👀 This eye cream hides your all-nighters like a pro.

🐶 Spot Pet Insurance helps pet parents get up to 90% cash back on covered vet bills.

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