Book Review: “Clock in” by emily Durham
“Clock In: No-BS Advice on Getting Ahead in Your Career (Without Losing Your Mind)” by Emily Durham is a handbook for one of the most important and vexing aspects of our lives – our careers.
Durham is a former recruiter who runs the “Clock In” podcast and social media feed and doles out advice she’s learned throughout the years. She writes in an easy-to-read manner so the book doesn’t feel heavy, and she provides great tips on writing a resume, asking for a raise and dealing with burnout, complete with examples and scripts.
Her advice is practical and witty. She says a great resume “boils down to three core elements: design, data and details. (Hey, if DDD is good enough for Dolly Parton, it’s good enough for me.)”
She talks about the 10 percent rule – spending that amount of time focusing “on something outside the scope of your job description. Online shopping doesn’t count – it needs to be something that will help you get to your ideal next job.”
It’s all good stuff, but the book best serves a specific audience – those who work in the corporate world in major cities. Some of the strategies won’t fit for those who serve in government, education and nonprofit fields and those who are in smaller towns.
It also feels like it’s written in a different time, with its overly optimistic tone. “Take ownership of your career growth, and when things feel off track, either redirect the action plan or get out of that job.” OK, the job market is very competitive right now and finding a job is not that easy. And many people are doing the work of two people because of budget cuts. Durham is a believer in “ABI (Always Be Interviewing),” but again it’s just not that simple. Job openings do not appear magically, and networking is not as easy as it appears.
Still, most of the information is solid and it’s especially useful to young people. Work is hard, and this guide gives you a good roadmap. It’s great to mark it up with a highlighter and turn to it when you need advice.
#SOLOPROFILES: MEET Angela gentile
#SoloProfiles is our feature in which we talk to single women about how they accomplished their goals.
Meet Angela Gentile, a podcaster and community builder
Age: 44
Residence: Massachusetts
Career: Community builder and founder of The Single and Childfree Network, and host of The Empowered Millennials Podcast
Instagram: @theangelagentile
“One of my proudest accomplishments has been building a life that I genuinely love as a single, childfree woman. For a long time, I felt othered and that I wasn't enough or connected until I found the right relationship, bought the right house or checked all the boxes society told me I should want. Instead, I learned how to create fulfillment on my own terms.
After leaving a career in education, I reinvented myself multiple times, becoming a fitness entrepreneur, speaker, corporate trainer and the founder of a thriving community for single and childfree women. I've traveled internationally on my own, hosted events, launched a podcast, and built meaningful friendships and experiences without waiting for a partner to join me.
The biggest lesson I've learned is that confidence comes from action. Every time I pulled myself out of struggle or pursued a dream independently, I proved to myself that I was capable. Creating a rich, meaningful life on my own has been both empowering and deeply rewarding. I hope other women know they don't have to wait for permission or a partner to pursue what they want.”
HIP HIP HOORAY! WE’RE TWO YEARS OLD TODAY!
We started this website two years ago for July 4 for a reason. As the U.S. marks Independence Day, we wanted our readers to know that being single is a celebration of freedom.
Being single can be fun, but it comes with responsibility. Our website looks at the postive aspects of being single, as well as the challenges.
So, here’s the links to our posts and stories that honor and support those who are single. (We also post fun quotes and memes on our Instagram feed.) And there’s more to come – in the coming year, we’ll offer new kits – Retirement and Beyond, which will prepare you for life after career, and a yearly planner, which will help you organize all your responsibilities and revelry.
Thanks for all your support!
Checklists:
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.
Let’s take a look at the posts from the past two years:
Single life:
Great non-fiction books, podcasts and other features 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
Podcasts focusing on single life
“All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation” by Rebecca Traister
“Single” by Nicola Slawson
“Thrive Solo: Embracing the Freedom, Joy, and Opportunity of a Single, Childfree Life" 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 Jamie Attenberg
“Table for One” By Emma Gannon
“Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman
#SoloSongs:
We highlight songs that show the joys and struggles of being independent.
“Wide Open Spaces” by the Chicks
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
“Loneliest Girl” by Kacey Musgraves
#SoloLives:
#SoloLives is our feature in which we look at notable single women in history.
#SoloProfiles:
#SoloProfiles is our feature in which we talk to single women about how they accomplished their goals.
Hady Méndez, author
Jennifer Kirk, content creator
#SoloSolutions:
Tips on everyday situations.
Career:
Tips on office life.
Money:
Grow your nest egg.
“How To Be A Rich Old Lady” by Amanda Holden
Travel:
Plan the trip of your dreams.
Holidays:
Prepare for the most stressful times of the year.
Cooking:
Get some food in your belly.
“You Gotta Eat” by Margaret Eby
“One Pot One Portion” by Eleanor Wilkinson
Health and Safety:
Take care of yourself.
“Get Home Safe” by Rana Abdelhamid
Community:
Be a good citizen.
YOUR GUIDE FOR JULY 2026
July is arriving with a bang as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary. Plus, there’s lots of fun events – including the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon. If you have a party in your future, use our Celebrations Kit to plan it and if you’re taking a trip, grab our Travel Kit.
Dates to Remember:
Saturday, July 4 – Independence Day
To Do:
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 …
Monday, 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
Monday, Oct.12 – Indigenous People’s Day
Saturday, Oct. 31 – Halloween
Tuesday, Nov. 3 - Election 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.
#SoloSongs: “Loneliest Girl”
#SoloSongs is our feature in which we highlight songs that show the joys and struggles of being independent.
County music is often about broken hearts, and Kacey Musgraves has always upended the conservative genre’s traditions in her 13-year career. She’s carved a niche with fun wordplay and lyrics that take a different perspective, such as “Follow Your Arrow.”
“Loneliest Girl,” one of the tracks on her newest CD, “Middle of Nowhere,” is another unconventional track in her great career.
The narrator has broken up with her boyfriend. She’s a little bittersweet — sad, but also pragmatic.
She talks about the things she doesn’t have to do – awkward conversations, liking his friends and his mama, and dealing with his drama and childhood trauma. We told you she’s good at wordplay.
The narrator knows that going out into the world can be a tease. It promises good times that you can post on your Instagram grid, but sometimes that’s an illusion. Those moments are filled with its own kind of anxiety.
“If I’m only doing it for company, I’d rather be the loneliest girl in the world,” Musgraves sings.
The narrator is comfortable with who she is right now, even if there is a trace of melancholy to her voice. (For a raunchier take on single life, listen to “Dry Spell.”) As she did with “Follow Your Arrow,” Musgraves lets the listener know it’s OK to be yourself.
As the chorus says, “I’m happy to be the loneliest girl in the world.”
#SOLOSTORIES: “SURVIVAL OF THE THICKEST”
#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.
“Oh my god, I’m single. I’m single! Whoo!” Mavis Beaumont cheers before dancing and drinking after she has broken up with her boyfriend.
Moments later, she says, “This is me single, OK? And It’s messy, and it’s gross and I’m really sorry, um, and I’m just so tired and my tits are so heavy.”
This perfectly sums up “Survival of the Thickest,” the Netflix series starring comedian Michelle Buteau.
Mavis possesses a big heart and big personality, which carries her through many up and downs as she navigates life as a single woman in her late 30s in New York City. Mavis is so effervescent, and so vulnerable – all while she’s wearing some fabulous outfits – that you can’t help but root for her.
“I have everything I need to make my own way,” she tells her ex-boyfriend. “My identity got mixed up with yours, and I let you take the lead. And I got lost. But you know what? Here the fuck I am.”
There’s some other great quotes, including, “I’m an independent woman that could definitely make her way, but sometimes I just want someone to ask how my day was.” And, thinking about how her mother treated her, she says, “Sometimes I just wanna feel comforted and supported.”
The show, which also features single friends Khalil and Marley, tackles tough issues, such as racism and mental health.
What makes Mavis so great is that she cares for others, especially the underdogs. Mavis makes a living as a stylist and, as the seasons progress, she opens her own business, including an “Oddie Bodies” pop-up shop for “baddie fatties” and trans women. These are for women who are forgotten and have cried in the dressing room, she says.
“I wanna be the person that I never had when I was younger. I wanna take fashion and show these people that feel like they’re on the outside that they’re beautiful just as they are. And that it’s the world that needs to catch up to them.”
Mavis navigates several relationships through the seasons, including an on-again-off-again romance with an Italian named Luca (who we think is awfully cute). We suspect the third and final season, which starts July 2, will focus more on their partnership, as well as Mavis’s desire to be a mother.
Whatever direction the show goes, we love seeing Mavis grow as a friend, an entrepreneur and a human. She shows us a world in which single women are fabulous.
Your roadmap for June 2026
June 2026 has arrived and so has the hot weather and travel season. We hope you can make some escape from reality, even if it’s just a few hours reading in your home or a nice restaurant meal for yourself. If you’re marking a milestone, scroll down and check out our kits to help plan for life after college, your next trip or a fun party.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, June 15 - Quarterly income tax deadline for self-employed
Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth
Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day
To Do:
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 …
Saturday, July 4 – Independence Day
Monday, 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
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: “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine”
#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.
When “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman was released in 2017, it became an instant classic. It depicted a woman who was coping in a world that had been unkind to her, but the book was so witty and easy to read that it didn’t feel like a survival story. The book is one of the best depictions of being single – both the loneliness and its freedom.
Its heroine is Eleanor Oliphant, 30, a finance administration assistant who lives by herself in Glasgow. She drinks too much vodka. She has prominent scars on her face, indicating she’s been through some trauma, although Eleanor doesn’t tell us too much. She was raised by a single mother and she doesn’t know who her father is.
“It often feels as if I’m not here, that I’m a figment of my own imagination. There are days when I feel so lightly connected to the earth that the threads that tether me to the planet are gossamer thin, spun sugar. A strong gust of wind could dislodge me completely, and I’d lift off and blow away, like one of these seeds in a dandelion clock.”
She’s fine living on her own. (“Some people, weak people, fear solitude. What they fail to understand is that there’s something very liberating about it; once you realize that you don’t anyone, you can take care of yourself.”) She lacks self-awareness and conjures judgmental thoughts about people that make her a younger version of Larry David.
Eleanor’s humdrum life takes a turn who she acquires a crush on a local musician. Eleanor decides to change up her looks and go out more. At the same time, she and her coworker Raymond help out an elderly man after he suffers a medical event incident on the street. She begins spending time with the man’s family and Raymond.
But she realizes the crush is unrealistic and goes on a drinking binge and has a nervous breakdown. She starts seeing the counselor to discuss her childhood trauma.
This book sounds heavy, but it’s not. Honeyman is a brilliant writer who can capture innermost thoughts beautifully (“There are scars on my heart, just as thick, as disfiguring as those on my face. I know they’re there. I hope some undamaged tissue remains, a patch through which love can come in and flow out. I hope.”) and sarcastically (on paying for a wedding shower gift: “They choose things like plates, bowls and cutlery – I mean, what are they doing at the moment: shoveling food from packets into their mouths with their bare hands? I simply fail to see how the act of legally formalizing a human relationship necessities friends, family and coworkers upgrading the contents of their kitchen for them.”) We couldn’t list all of our favorite quotes because there’s too many. You have to read the book with a pen to mark the best ones.
In the end, Eleanor realizes she isn’t responsible for her childhood trauma. She also has a friendly kiss with Raymond, although their relationship isn’t clearly defined just yet. We’re glad it didn’t take the romantic comedy route.
The book is about how Eleanor displays the courage to live and love her life. “In the end, what matters is this: I survived.”
#SoloStories: “Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar”
#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.
Do you want a movie with a wacky plot, beach scenes, a talking crab, musical numbers and feminist empowerment? Well, then, “Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar” is for you.
The 2021 movie starts off weirdly … but just go with it. It’s weird in a good way. And it will make sense later.
Then the plot focuses on Barb and Star, two roommates in their 40s living in Soft Rock, Nebraska, who just lost their jobs at a furniture store. Their only excitement is a Talking Club and their fantasies about supermarket food mascots. A friend tips them off about a resort in Vista Del Mar, Florida.
Star (Kristen Wiig) sees this as a sign. “You know those days when you see me staring at the carpet? Sometimes I daydream about life outside this place. Maybe something is telling us to do something different.”
Barb (Annie Mumolo), a widow, is reluctant. But they end up going to the sun-filled coast. They make new friends and Barb goes off on adventures, including snorkeling.
“I’ve been doing everything. I … have never felt more alive,” she says.
But trouble is brewing. And Barb and Star are the ones who have the power to stop a nefarious plot. Again, this plotline is too good to tell. We’re not going to tell you about the celebrity cameos and other fun dialogue because we don’t want to spoil that for you. (We already told you about the talking crab.)
But we can tell you that Star finds love and Barb finds herself. She learns she can live life on her own and to the fullest.
When the villain tells her that she’s a nobody, Barb retorts: “I am Barb freaking Quicksilver and I have been delivered. I used to be afraid of a lot of stuff, including people like you. But I’m not afraid anymore. And I know my truth. I’m a phoenix.”
If you need a feel-good story and want to see a single woman finding her power, “Barb and Star” is a great treat.
YOUR GUIDE FOR MAY 2026
Welcome to May, where the weather gets better and there’s the promise of freedom – for new graduates seeking out a new life (our New Life Starter Kit can help with your transition to adulthood), for those who are traveling (use our Travel Kit to plan your next trip) and for those waiting for the holidays (host a Memorial Day party with our Celebrations Kit).
Dates to Remember:
Sunday, May 10 - Mother’s Day
Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day
Wednesday, May 27 – Eid Al-Adha
To Do:
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 …
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
Monday, 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
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.
BOOK REVIEW: “GET HOME SAFE” BY RANA ABDELHAMID
“You have the strength, control, and authority to shape you own life,” writes Rana Abdelhamid in her book, “Get Home Safe: A guide to Self-Defense and Building Our Collective Power.”
That is a perfect summation of Abdelhamid’s guide to protecting yourself from physical danger but securing your financial life. (In fact, security is one of SoloList’s values.)
Abdelhamid is the founder of Malikah, an organization based in Queens, New York, which offers self-defense courses and mutual aid to it residents. She is a political activist and organizer who knows violence firsthand.
A man saw Abdelhamid, then a teenager wearing her hijab, and grabbed her. He yelled and spit at her. It changed Abdelhamid’s outlook, as violence does when it affects survivors.
“Gendered violence coils around your ankle like a venomous snake, dictating the way you move in all the spaces you occupy,” she writes.
Throughout the book, she provides tools, such as connecting with your intuition and sharpening your external awareness. She recommends women carry a safety bag. And, of course, she provides self-defense tactics, such as the blocks and strikes.
But she seeks out other solutions, noting that institutions are too often slow to respond.
“Safety isn’t just about knowing how to throw a punch. It’s about rent money. It’s about job security. It’s about being able to say no because you have the option.”
It’s about saving money and shopping locally so you’re building relationships with others, she says. “You meet the cashier, and over time, this becomes a safe place to leave a spare set of keys or to duck into if you’re feeling unsafe walking home.”
The author has a soothing voice. Abdelhamid is realistic but remains positive. The topic is intimidating, but she is approachable. We’re get through this together, her tone says.
“No one is coming to save us,” she says. “But we can, and we will, save each other.”
#SoloSolutions:
Preparing to meet with a financial advisor
Today’s the day when we must complete the most adulting chore of them all – filing our income taxes. It’s also a good reminder to think about your financial life and meet with a financial advisor to consider investment strategies. Here are some steps to take to make your meeting run smoothly. (We also recommend reading “How To Be A Rich Old Lady” by Amanda Holden.)
Get recommendations for a financial advisor from friends or look online through CFP Board at letsmakeaplan.org
Set up an appointment
Set up a purpose for your meeting, whether it’s improving your retirement funding or planning a big goal, such as buying a house
Prepare questions
If meeting online, make sure you have your accounts ready for advisor to view
If meeting in person, bring copies of your account statements
Documents to have ready – bank statements, pay stubs, income tax returns, retirement accounts, and any debts and loans
As the meeting ends, write down the next steps and put them into action
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.