OCT 13, 2026

INSIDE: Smart Budgeting, Game Night, and Better Baking.

TODAY I WILL:

Normalize changing my mind when I know better.

We talk a lot about creating smart budgets that don’t cut out the things we love. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that we need to keep an eye on recurring expenses. Monthly cell phone bills can certainly be a drain on your budget, but they don't have to be! With Tello, we can lower that monthly expense to just $25/month for an unlimited plan, keep our phone number, and count on quality service with no contracts or hidden fees. And by making just one trim, we suddenly feel better about making room for the things we actually want to spend our money on.*

Are you richer than a 5th grader?

It's never too early to start teaching your kids about money. Researchers at Cambridge have found that many financial behaviors already begin taking shape by age seven—which tracks with what Matt Kisloski, Financial Wellness Manager at Visions Federal Credit Union, recommends: Start young and keep it hands-on. “Even preschoolers can grasp the basic idea of saving versus spending if you make it hands-on, like having them start a piggy bank and watching it grow over time,” Kisloski said. From there, lessons should scale with age, introducing savings “goals” around 6 to 12, a first checking account and debit card in the early teens, and real exposure to credit and interest by the late teens (before kids have to make these calls on their own). 

You also don't need a perfect financial track record to model good habits, which many parents believe (preventing them from advising their kids). Kisloski explained that “you don't have to have it all figured out to model good habits; you just have to be willing to be honest and transparent in front of them.” Narrating small decisions out loud, like “I'm moving some of this paycheck into savings before I spend on anything else,” works because “kids absorb the process more than the perfection.” And you can keep these lessons going even if money is tight. “Struggling with money doesn't disqualify you from teaching your kids to be smarter with theirs,” he explained, pointing to things like planning a grocery budget together as a low-stakes way to build real problem-solving skills without oversharing adult stress. 

His biggest tip is to keep the conversation going over time. “Financial habits stick best when they're built into everyday life rather than saved for one big ‘money talk,’” said Kisloski.

This season, the best plans tonight are happening at home. Equal parts nostalgia, friendly competition, and an excuse to gather your favorite people, game nights are having a moment. And to really make the night memorable, you’ll need conversation-starting games and crowd-pleasing snacks. Here are our picks for elevating the night.

1. Scrabble Aura Edition, 2. Sounds Fishy Board Game, 3. The Collective Pink Champagne Glasses, 4. Mastering American Mahjong, 5. Etsy “Lit Like My Group Chat” Candle, 6. Anthropologie Yatzy, 7. Grab the Mic Game, 8. The Favorites Triple Snack Bowl, 9. Oh My Mahjong Starter Kit

Everybody loves cupcakes… especially when they’re delightfully bite-sized. If you haven’t had one (or realistically a dozen) of Baked by Melissa’s signature tiny cupcakes, you’ve definitely seen them. Founded in 2008 by Melissa Ben-Ishay, the brand has become a must-know bakery for anyone who loves a sweet treat and has grown from an NYC favorite to a go-to gift order all over the country. 

What you might not know about Melissa, however, is that her skills in the kitchen go well beyond baking. Her recently released cookbook, Come Eat, shares recipes that are nutritious and easy (which we love). Our editors especially got into her salad recipes, which instruct a micro-chop so that every bite is as good as the last. 

Here, we sat down with Melissa to chat about the perfect bite, her wellness routine in and out of the kitchen, and the perfect cupcake order.

After nearly two decades of Baked by Melissa, do you still eat the cupcakes regularly?  

All the time. I always need a bite of something sweet after meals. And they’re even more delicious now than they were when we launched almost 20 years ago.

Social media introduced a whole new audience to Melissa, not just Baked by Melissa. How has becoming a creator changed your relationship with the brand you built?  

While I've always been the face of the brand, social media has given me the opportunity to build real relationships and feel a real connection to our customers and community. I care so deeply about the community I've built, and I prioritize showing up for them every day, whether that's teaching you a new recipe, sharing a mom hack to make your day a little easier, or showing you a day in the life of chaos so you know we're all going through the same hard stuff.  

What makes a bite perfect to you? 

The perfect bite is when you have the right ratio of flavors in each one. With our bite-size cupcakes, that means making sure you get the perfect ratio of cake to stuffing to icing to topping. Same philosophy for my salads: I micro-dice so many of them so the dressing coats every piece evenly, and you get that same perfect bite with every forkful. 

What’s your personal Baked by Melissa order?

I always get the latest and greatest 25-pack because of the variety. It has our 8 Original Great flavors, 3 seasonal flavors, and a rotating Mini of the Month.  We usually have a secondary 25-pack assortment on the menu, too. We will have our scary delicious Halloween assortment. I always get one of those, too, because I’ve got to show up with all the flavors! 

Food can be a big part of a wellness routine. What is your relationship with wellness right now?