YOUR PLANNING GUIDE FOR APRIL 2026
April is here. It means beautiful weather, as immortalized in this scene in “Miss Congeniality,” and meaningful holidays, such as Passover and Easter. We believe in celebrating any accomplishments, so give yourself a special treat when you have completed your income tax returns. If you plan to host a party, grab out our Celebrations Kit. Going on vacation? Use our Travel Kit.
Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, April 1-Thursday, April 9 - Passover
Sunday, April 5 – Easter
Wednesday, April 15 - Income taxes due
To Do:
File income tax returns
Make a voting plan for primary elections
Pay bills
Save money for events, parties
Clean house
Prepare for meetings, volunteer work
Prepare for medical appointments
Prepare for concerts, parties, sports, theater
Other errands
Start thinking about …
Sunday, May 10 - Mother’s Day
Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day
Monday, June 15 - Quarterly income tax deadline for self-employed
Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth
Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day
Saturday, July 4 – Independence Day
Tuesday, Sept. 7 – Labor Day
Friday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Sept. 13 – Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Quarterly income tax deadline for self-employed
Sunday, Sept. 20 – Yom Kippur
BOOK REVIEW: “HOW TO BE A RICH OLD LADY” BY AMANDA HOLDEN
“I will be asking you to summon your inner Rich Old Lady,” writes Amanda Holden in her book, “How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Your Guide to Easy Investing, Building Wealth, and Creating the Wild, Beautiful Life You Want.” “What I’m talking about is the freedom to imagine a future that is wild, weird, and uniquely you.”
And Holden does that in this book, which focus on financial independence and is focused on investments.
The book starts with foundations, such as setting up an emergency fund and establishing a budget. But Holden goes deep on investing, describing the purpose of Roth IRAs and 401Ks and the origin of terms such as the stock market “index.”
This book sounds like it would be dry, but it’s not. Holden, who works in investment management and runs the Invested Development website, knows how to describe complex terms in simple ways.
“I am going to break down investment accounts like we’re in the eleventh-grade personal finance class we all wish we had,” she says.
But, best of all, she’s very witty. “Think of credit unions as Well Fargo’s bra-burning, llama-owning hippie aunt from Portland,” she writes.
Another chapter starts with this: “If you’ve never heard about asset allocation and its supreme reign over your financial future, that’s probably because it’s, well, boring as hell.” She then spends that chapter comparing investment diversification to dating.
Throughout the book, Holden has “10-minute missions” and worksheets so readers can implement strategies for their lives. Although this book isn’t explicitly for single women, it is for independent women who want power over their future. Her purpose should be everyone’s purpose: “I am investing – my time, my energy, my money – because I want to improve the quality of my life and the lives of those around me.”
This book is, obviously, a great investment.
#SoloProfiles: Jennifer Kirk
#SoloProfiles is our feature in which we talk to single women about how they accomplished their goals.
Meet Jennifer Kirk, who runs the popular Instagram account, The Happy Maverick, aimed at breaking the single stigma and embracing midlife.
Age: 64
Residence: Northern California
Career: Retired from corporate sales, content creator for the last four years
Instagram:@jenniferthehappymaverick
“I left home at 18 and have been self-sufficient ever since. Although I didn't complete college, I've always maintained a strong work ethic. It wasn't until my late 30s that I realized I probably would stay single and needed a solid career to support myself for the rest of my life. That's when I chose to pursue a potentially lucrative path in corporate sales. I took the time to envision the life I wanted — filled with fun, adventure, travel and home ownership. Being single allowed me to focus on my dreams and make them all happen. I managed to purchase my first home at 48 and semi-retired by 60 and continue to live life my way and on my terms. Now, in my 60s, I still feel like I am writing new chapters in my life. The possibilities are endless!”
Your map for march
As the calendar turns to March, spring starts to show up and there are festive celebrations, such as Holi and St. Patrick’s Day. A few cold days start to linger, so that gives you the opportunity to do some adulting, such as preparing your income taxes and making a plan for primary elections. Use our Travel Kit to plan a vacation and our Celebrations Kit to host a party.
Dates to Remember:
Tuesday, March 3 – Holi
Sunday, March 8 – Daylight Savings Time begins; International Woman’s Day
Tuesday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
Friday, March 20 - Eid al-Fitr
To Do:
Prepare income tax documents
Make a voting plan for primary elections
Pay bills
Save money for events, parties
Clean house
Prepare for meetings, volunteer work
Prepare for medical appointments
Prepare for concerts, parties, sports, theater
Other errands
Start thinking about …
Wednesday, April 1-Thursday, April 9 - Passover
Sunday, April 5 – Easter
Wednesday, April 15 - Income taxes due
Sunday, May 10 - Mother’s Day
Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day
Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth
Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day
Saturday, July 4 – Independence Day
Use our checklists to help you plan:
Monthly Checklist – This helps you map out the month ahead by saving money for upcoming events and scheduling time for errands. And it’s free.
Yearly Adulting Checklist – Our free one-page guide makes sure you’ve completed your financial and health tasks.
Personal Goal Checklist – With our worksheet, you set a goal and create the steps you need to achieve it. Free.
New Life Starter Kit – Great for college graduates, this kit helps your job and apartment search. $25
Travel Kit – Plan your next trip. $25
Celebrations Kit – Host a party and get ready for the holidays. $25
Health Kit - Keep track of your medical history and appointments. $15
Safety Kit – Prepare a go-to bag and other tasks in case of emergencies. Free.
#SOLOSTORIES: “QUIZ LADY”
#SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
Question: What’s a good movie to watch that is tons of fun and doesn’t have the obligatory partner/husband/boyfriend?
Answer: The movie is 2024’s “Quiz Lady”!
Anne Yum (Awkwafina) works for CPYay! accounting services, invisible to her coworkers and everyone else, except a neighbor who needs to complain to get attention. Her sister, Jenny (Sandra Oh), has gone from actress to fashion designer to life coach, all of which she thinks as her “destinies.”
They’re brought together when their mom goes missing. Kidnappers take Anne’s beloved dog, Linguini, and demand $80,000.
But Jenny thinks of a solution. Anne should appear on “Can’t Stop the Quiz!,” the game show she has watched obsessively since she was 4 years old. Most of all, Jenny wants to change Anne’s life.
“You’re like a 28-year-old woman living the life of a 98-year-old widower,” Jenny tells Anne.
But Anne is nervous when she goes through the auditions. “I’ve just been so scared of being judged, being laughed at,” she says of her life.
This being a comedy, this story is played for laughs, with running jokes about Benjamin Franklin and Alan Cumming. But Anne has the brains to answer the questions, which are more difficult than the typical game show. The movie, which streams on Hulu and won the 2024 Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie, also features fun cameos from Will Ferrell and Holland Taylor.
There’s not a note of romance in the movie. It’s nice to see a show without the social conformity of a partner and cliches of the hapless or needy husband. You just sit back with some pizza and enjoy the movie without somebody questioning why they need a boyfriend.
The movie does show the importance of needing someone to help you out even when you think you’re fine on your own. At the end, Anne learns to stand up for herself, and Jenny discovers she can help others and not just live for herself.
“I feel like we make a pretty good team,” Anne says.
#SOLOPROFILES: MEET HADY MÉNDEZ
#SoloProfiles is our feature in which we talk to single women about how they accomplished their goals.
Meet Hady Méndez, who has published her first book, “Calladita No More: My Latina Journey and the Lessons that Shaped Me.”
Age: 55
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Career: Entrepreneur and founder of Boldly Speaking LLC, author, speaker and leadership coach
Instagram: @calladitanomorebook
“‘Calladita No More: My Latina Journey and the Lessons that Shaped Me’ is truly a dream come true. It’s the book I needed at the start of my career and the one I now get to put into the world. If you’re wondering how I did it, I would describe it this way:
A deep belief that my voice mattered and I had something important to share with women who’ve been consistently overlooked or dismissed.
A commitment to surrounding myself with experts who believed in my purpose and who supported me every step of the way.
A community who was hungry for what was coming, who pre-ordered my book, shared, liked or commented on my social media posts, and who otherwise reminded me to ‘keep going.’
If you have been itching to tell your own story, do it. Because what I know for sure is that we all have a story the world needs to hear.”
Photo: Dee Dee Thompson
YOUR ROADMAP FOR FEBRUARY 2026
February brings cold weather, holidays focused on love and religious celebrations, the Olympics and good candy. It’s also time to start preparing for the most adulting chore of them all – income taxes. And primary elections are coming up, so register to vote and make your voting plan. Start thinking about the warmer days ahead by planning a trip (use our Travel Kit) or planning a party (with our Celebrations Kit).
Dates to Remember:
Friday, Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day
Saturday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day
Sunday, Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day
Monday, Feb. 16 – Presidents Day
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Lunar New Year
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Mardi Gras
Tuesday, Feb. 17 - Ramadan begins
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Ash Wednesday; Lent begins
To Do:
Prepare income tax documents
Register to vote for primary elections
Pay bills
Save money for events, parties
Clean house
Prepare for meetings, volunteer work
Prepare for medical appointments
Prepare for concerts, parties, sports, theater
Other errands
Start thinking about …
Tuesday, March 3 - Holi
Friday, March 20 - Eid al-Fitr
Wednesday, April 1-Thursday, April 9 - Passover
Sunday, April 5 – Easter
Sunday, May 10 - Mother’s Day
Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day
Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth
Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day
Use our checklists to help you plan:
Monthly Checklist – This helps you map out the month ahead by saving money for upcoming events and scheduling time for errands. And it’s free.
Yearly Adulting Checklist – Our free one-page guide makes sure you’ve completed your financial and health tasks.
Personal Goal Checklist – With our worksheet, you set a goal and create the steps you need to achieve it. Free.
New Life Starter Kit – Great for college graduates, this kit helps your job and apartment search. $25
Travel Kit – Plan your next trip. $25
Celebrations Kit – Host a party and get ready for the holidays. $25
Health Kit - Keep track of your medical history and appointments. $15
Safety Kit – Prepare a go-to bag and other tasks in case of emergencies. Free.
#SOLOSTORIES: “FISK”
#SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
“Fisk” is the fun, easy binge about a woman who just wants a decent cup of coffee.
“Fisk,” an Australian TV show that streams on Netflix, follows Helen Tudor-Fisk after she has been fired from her job at a Sydney law firm and her marriage has ended. She moves to Melbourne, and winds up at a wills and probate law firm run by a pair of siblings, Ray and Roz Gruber.
Life keeps throwing her punches as she tries to adjust to her new life. She goes from an Airbandb to her aunt’s house to her father’s house. She deals with kleptomaniac clients, gets saddled with a noisy photocopier in her office, must dig into a dumpster for a cookbook about cabbage, hosts a seminar that goes out of control at a library because of too much wine and cheese, and her attempts at finding good coffee is a running joke.
Helen has a brusque, brisk manner that doesn’t always mesh well with people. She wears the same beige suit in a cast of colorful characters.
Many clients see Helen as arrogant. And that’s not a wrong impression. And through the course of three seasons, she finds herself humbled. Once you’ve hit middle age, you think you know it all, but life keeps throwing punches at you and you have to rebuild your life.
Except for one episode in which she briefly reunites with her ex-husband, Helen isn’t given any romance.
But she does get to eat plenty of mud cake. (Mud cake here is what cheesecake is to “The Golden Girls.”) Helen adjusts to life in the office and her current situation, and the rewards come. She remains independent – Helen doesn’t need anyone to fix her. She begins to grow and see things differently.
Her mud cake and cup of coffee is well-deserved.
#SOLOLIVES: K.T. OSLIN
#SoloLives is our feature in which we look at notable single women in history.
K.T. Oslin was a unique woman when she emerged on the country charts in the 1980s. She was 45 years old and she was single. But those attributes made her a dynamic and popular artist.
Oslin lived in New York City, working on Broadway and singing jingles, for 20 years before she took up songwriting and changed careers to country music. She wrote about female friendships ("’80s Ladies”), procrastination (“Come Next Monday”) and desire (“Hey Bobby”). It takes a single person to write a love song called “Live Close By, Visit Often” (co-written with the late, great Raul Malo and Kostas). "I'm alone, but I like my own company," she said.
Oslin won three Grammys in the country music categories, two County Music Association Awards and four Academy of Country Music Awards.
Oslin died in 2020 at age 78. “She became the inspiration for every middle-aged woman who felt vibrant yet overlooked; who believed she had wisdom, sex appeal and something to offer; who yearned for recognition of her experience,” wrote Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann in the classic book, “Finding Her Voice: The Sage of Women in County Music.”
#SOLOSTORIES: “Shrill”
#SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
“Shrill” is about a woman trying to exist in the world, as a writer, as a fat person and as a single woman.
The show, which ran from 2019 to 2021 on Hulu, stars Aidy Bryant as Annie, a writer for an alternative newspaper in Portland – inspired by the writings from co-creator and journalist Lindy West. Through the three seasons, we watch as Annie examines other people’s lives through her reporting and explores her own choices. It’s about those mid-20s, that time when life is full of making mistakes and learning how to be human.
Annie reports on strippers and women’s conferences and a separatist family. She gains an online following for her essays on living in her body in a world that wants only people who fit a certain way. One of its most famous episodes shows Annie attending a pool party with women of various body types and the freedom and joy that it brings.
She deals with a lot. She screams at a troll who mocks her body and a doctor who suggests she gets surgery. She has to deal with her eccentric boss and odd coworkers and her sick parents.
Most of the time, you want to root for Annie for her ingenuity. In one hilarious sequence when she’s unemployed, she steals food and toilet paper from her parents’ house. (Come on, you know you’ve done that.)
Other times, you cringe at some of Annie’s choices. She sticks around with one boyfriend for two seasons, when he should have been dumped in the first episode after he made her walk out the backyard so his friends wouldn’t see her. And, this is nitpicky, but why does she wear mules when she was reporting out in the Oregon country? She ends up in the mud.
Her friend Fran (Lolly Adefope) has more of a lighter, IDGAF attitude, even though you know she does care. She goes through a series of relationships until she seems to find a good match in the third season.
In that same time, Annie seems to find a solid relationship, even though it has its missteps.
“I was in a very devaluing relationship where I really didn’t think I deserved shit,” she tells him. “And part of that was because how I look, and when I was sitting in front of someone who was actually good, like, I couldn’t actually see it.”
But, at the end of its last episode, Annie and Fran have found professional success and personal heartbreak. They sit on the bench, with each other, but alone. In many shows, it would end with characters dancing at a wedding or other cliché, but “Shrill” depicts reality. This is how life is. Being single gives you choices, and you get to experiment and experience everything.
We know. It’s not very glamorous.
With the new year, it’s a good time to remember to replenish your less glamorous supplies that you often forget. You can switch some of these out July 4 as a good date to remember -- plug it into your calendar. (People often change batteries in their smoke detector during the time changes in March and November – which is another good time.) Here are some items to consider changing:
Home:
Air filter
Batteries
Bathroom:
Shower curtain liner
Sponges
Toilet brush
Toothbrushes
Kitchen:
Cleaning tools
SET A PERSONAL GOAL THIS YEAR
It’s that time of year when the world bombards you to make new resolutions and habits. It gets to feel like work. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can make a new goal that’s fun. We now offer a free planning worksheet that makes it easy for you to accomplish the goal, whether it’s to improve yourself or try new activities.
Here are some ideas if you’re looking for a new goal:
Try a new restaurant once a month
Go hiking
Declutter
See five plays or concerts this year
Take dance lessons
Volunteer
Travel to a new place (Use our travel kit.)
Cook a new recipe once a month
Throw a party (Use our celebrations kit.)
Learn a new craft
YOUR GUIDE FOR JANUARY 2026
It’s a new month and a new year. It gives us a chance to start fresh and make new goals. We can help you out with that. Try our new personal goal checklist – it’s free. But a new year can always feel intimidating and if you don’t want to make a resolution, that’s OK, too. January is a long month. Be good to yourself, however that looks for you.
Here’s our guide for this month:
Dates to Remember:
Thursday, Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day
Thursday, Jan. 15 – Quarterly tax deadline for self-employed
Monday, Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
To Do:
Pay bills
Save money for upcoming events, parties
Clean house
Prepare for meetings, volunteer work and medical appointments
Prepare for other errands
Prepare for concerts, parties, sports, theater
Start thinking about …
Friday, Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day
Saturday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day
Sunday, Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day
Monday, Feb. 16 – Presidents Day
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Lunar New Year
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Mardi Gras
Tuesday, Feb. 17 - Ramadan begins
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Ash Wednesday; Lent begins
Tuesday, March 3 - Holi
Friday, March 20 - Eid al-Fitr
Wednesday, April 1-Thursday, April 9 - Passover
Sunday, April 5 – Easter
Sunday, May 10 - Mother’s Day
Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day
Use our checklists to help you plan:
Monthly Checklist – This helps you map out the month ahead by saving money for upcoming events and scheduling time for errands. And it’s free.
Yearly Adulting Checklist – Our free one-page guide makes sure you’ve completed your financial and health tasks.
New Life Starter Kit – Great for college graduates, this kit helps your job and apartment search. $25
Travel Kit – Plan your next trip. $25
Celebrations Kit – Host a party and get ready for the holidays. $25
Health Kit - Keep track of your medical history and appointments. $15
Safety Kit – Prepare a go-to bag and other tasks in case of emergencies. Free.
How To Know When to Buy Something
You buy a new skirt and you realize you need to buy a new top. Or you get a record player and now you need a table and you don’t know where to put it. When you are about to make a purchase, especially this time of year when there are so many sales, ask a few questions before you hit that “add to cart” button.
DO I NEED THIS?
If you have holes in your socks or your computer is dying, then of course you should buy it. Some purchases make sense. But do you need another dress or journal?
HOW WILL I USE THIS? WILL IT COLLECT DUST?
A new kitchen appliance will get used, but other purchases end up sitting there due to lack of time or other use.
DO YOU HAVE SPACE FOR IT?
Think it over if you need to make room for more books or furniture.
DO I NEED TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE TO SUPPORT IT?
Check to see if you have a top that matches the skirt or you need tools for a crafting project.
WILL IT REQUIRE ASSEMBLY?
Set up time to put it together and look for help if needed.
IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE?
Check your library for books and movies and ask your neighbors to borrow tools.
IS THERE A PROMO CODE?
If you’re sure of the purchase, always check that you can get it on sale.
#SOLOSTORIES: “LAST HOLIDAY”
#SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component (although this is a slight exception).
In the world of winter holiday movies, the story usually revolves around a cute couple or a frantic family. In the 2006 comedy “Last Holiday,” the focus is on a single woman who needs to find her spirit.
The movie has a predictable premise. Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) is a lonely retail worker at a New Orleans department store. She keeps a book called “Possibilities” with recipes she’s made and places she’d like to visit. One day, a medical exam shows she has a condition that gives her only three weeks to live.
So she cashes in all her savings and, for the week between Christmas and New Year’s, she travels to a Prague hotel that one of her favorite chefs works at. And here, she begins to do things she wouldn’t usually do. And she does it all by herself. She’s living the solo life to the fullest. She reserves a table for one and tries all the chef’s dishes. She gets a massage. She curls up in all the pillows of the bed. She goes snowboarding and BASE jumping.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for something like this,” she says before she takes the plunge.
Other hotel guests and workers notice her vivaciousness. “She’s the most amazing person who’s ever came to this hotel,” one staffer says. “She lives on the edge. She says what she wants. She does what she wants.”
At a night at the casino, the guests turn to her to liven things up. But she knows her time is coming up. She tells herself how she would change things. “We’ll laugh more. We’ll love more. We’ll see the world. We just won’t be so afraid.”
This being a Hollywood movie, Georgia Byrd gets her second chance. She also gets her romance. (Well, it is LL Cool J.) But the movie is not about the relationship, which takes up maybe 10 minutes of the movie’s runtime. “Last Holiday” is about a woman who learns to live and love herself.
HOW TO HELP YOURSELF AND A FRIEND WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING
If you’re planning a trip during the winter break or starting to plan an adventure next year, here’s a few tips to keep in mind for yourself and to help your friends. Grab out Travel Kit with loads of checklists to plan your next trip.
How to help yourself when you’re traveling:
Ask friends for the best lodging, restaurants and places to see. Post your requests for suggestions on Facebook or other sites. You may get better recommendations than from travel guides.
Make a list of sites you want to visit at that destination, then arrange your itinerary by their geographic location so you’re traveling to places near each other.
Give yourself plenty of time to plan. It can take a lot of thought and work to figure out the right itinerary, especially if it’s a multi-day trip overseas.
How to help a friend who’s traveling:
Offer them a place to stay – or take them out to eat - if they’re in your city.
If you’re able, drive them around. Travelers are tired and won’t know the best routes.
Give them your favorite recommendations for best lodging, restaurants and places.
YOUR ROADMAP FOR DECEMBER
It’s December. Did you book your flight yet? Have you gotten all your presents – including for the Secret Santa at work? Did you RSVP for that party? There’s so much to do this month. But here’s the great thing about being single this time of year. You’re an auntie with no kids relaxing during the holidays (see above video). You can move at your own pace and make your own choices.
And we got you. Our Celebrations Kit is a big help with checklists for Christmas and other holidays. And our roadmap is here to help you with those little things you may miss.
Dates to Remember:
Sunday, Dec. 14-Monday, Dec. 22 – Hanukkah
Thursday, Dec. 25 – Christmas
Friday, Dec. 26-Thursday, Jan. 1 – Kwanzaa
Wednesday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve
To Do:
Book flights for Hanukkah and Christmas
Make gift lists for Hanukkah and Christmas
Pay bills
Save money for events, parties
Clean house
Schedule meetings, volunteer work
Schedule medical appointments, vaccines
Other errands
Attend concerts, parties, sports, theater
Start thinking about …
Thursday, Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day
Thursday, Jan. 15 – Quarterly tax deadline for self-employed
Monday, Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Friday, Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day
Saturday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day
Sunday, Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day
Monday, Feb. 16 – Presidents Day
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Mardi Gras
Tuesday, Feb. 17 - Ramadan begins
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Ash Wednesday; Lent begins
Tuesday, March 3 - Holi
Friday, March 20 - Eid al-Fitr
Wednesday, April 1-Thursday, April 9 - Passover
Sunday, April 5 – Easter
Use our checklists to help you plan:
Monthly Checklist – This helps you map out the month ahead by saving money for upcoming events and scheduling time for errands. And it’s free.
Yearly Adulting Checklist – Our free one-page guide makes sure you’ve done your financial and health tasks.
New Life Starter Kit – Great for college graduates, this kit helps your job and apartment search. $25
Travel Kit – Plan your next trip. $25
Celebrations Kit – Host a party and get ready for the holidays. $25
Health Kit - Keep track of your medical history and appointments. $15
Safety Kit – Prepare a go-to bag and other tasks in case of emergencies. Free.
How to help yourself or a friend undergoing a MEDICAL PROCEDURE
Facing a medical procedure or illness is never easy. It could be as simple as a getting your wisdom teeth pulled out. Or something more complicated like a colonoscopy or major surgery. Our guide can help you out. Be sure to grab our health kit, with checklists that help keep track of your medical history and appointments.
How to help yourself when you’re undergoing a medical procedure:
Arrange caregiver, if needed. If you’re undergoing a surgery, it’s great to have a family member or friend to help you out.
Get time off from employer. Arrange your work assignments and leave an out of office message.
Arrange transportation. You’ll need another driver after many procedures.
Prepare meals ahead of time.
If you don’t have supplies, get them delivered so you can rest.
Set aside money in budget for medical bills and other expenses.
How to help a friend who’s undergoing a medical procedure:
Offer a ride if they need a procedure.
Bring them food, reading materials and other supplies.
Offer to do small errands, such as taking out the trash.
CELEBRATE SINGLES DAY WITH OUR FAVORITE #SOLOSTORIES
Happy Singles Day! In China, friends present their single friends with gifts, and it’s become the biggest shopping day of the year. We’d like for this to become a holiday in the U.S., but until then let’s celebrate the freedom and fun that comes with being solo. We’ve compiled our favorite books, TV shows and movies about single women so you can enjoy the day.
Single life:
Great non-fiction books about living on your own.
“I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself” by Glynnis MacNicol
“Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner” by Meghan Keane
“All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation” by Rebecca Traister
“Single” by Nicola Slawson
“Thrive Solo” by Lucy Meggeson
SoloStories:
This is our features in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
Alphabet mystery series by Sue Grafton
“The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichel
“The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies” by Alison Goodman
“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig
“Flying Solo” by Linda Holmes
“All Grown Up” by Jami Attenberg
“Table for One” by Emma Gannon
#SOLOSTORIES: “Table for one” By Emma Gannon
SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component.
The shelves of bookstores are lined with romance novels, with a woman matched up with a man in a premise as realistic as the novels in the sci-fi section. They meet cute, they always find themselves forced to share the bedroom on a trip and they break up three-fourths of the way through. But don’t worry, they’ll get back together with some grand gesture.
So it’s nice to see a novel that offers a different outlook.
In the novel “Table for One: A Modern Love Story,” author British writer Emma Gannon poses a question – what if being solo is a great adventure?
Willow enjoyed being single in her college days, remembering one date: “I surprised myself by having a great time. I loved the film (“Frances Ha”), walked along the waterfront, browsed in Foyles, and then found a fantastic dumpling spot, where I nestled into a corner and eavesdropped on the conversations around me. It was the best date I’d had in months.”
But she found herself in a relationship with Dom throughout her 20s. Now in her early 30s, she’s experiencing what it’s like to be single for the first time in years.
She has single pals – including some members of her female group of friends and Carla, her aunt who raised her. While writing a profile for a magazine, Willow becomes entranced by Naz, a Gen Z influencer who touts the advantages of being single.
After an evening with fellow single women arranged by Naz, she says, “I forgot how much I enjoyed carefree evenings where no one knows where you are or what time you’re going to bed.”
Willow discovers some hard truths about Naz and goes through a tough situation with Carla. But, unlike some other authors, Gannon never dismisses single people by stating that there’s something wrong with them. Carla is always at ease with herself, and Naz makes the lifestyle seem ideal.
Willow goes from feeling awkward to embracing her new path in life. In one portion of the story, a teacher tells her that writing is “a way of owning your own narrative. … Every time you type something, you are taking back power. You get to be the author of your own life.”
“Table for One” shows us that being single is a wonderful way to live your own life, and as valid as any romance.