5 Fun Savings Challenges That’ll Put Extra Cash in Your Pocket
Have trouble motivating yourself to save? No problem! We’ve picked out 5 easy, accessible, and fun savings challenges that’ll help you set aside some cash in no time!
Financial Wellness Writer & IAPDA-Certified Consumer Debt Editor, Beyond Finance
Molly Simon is a financial wellness writer and IAPDA-Certified, AFCPE-trained Consumer Debt Editor at Beyond Finance, where she covers the emotional, behavioral, and practical dimensions of financial health for everyday Americans navigating financial stress and debt.
A Career Focused on Financial Wellness and the Human Side of Money
With nearly a decade of experience writing about consumer financial topics, Molly has built a reputation as a grounded, empathetic voice in the personal finance space. Her work goes beyond the numbers — exploring how financial stress shapes identity, relationships, and mental health, and what it actually takes to build lasting financial wellness from the inside out.
At Beyond Finance, one of the nation's largest and most decorated debt consolidation companies, Molly focuses on making financial wellness content genuinely accessible — the kind of writing that meets people where they are, without judgment, and helps them take their next step with confidence.
Areas of Expertise
Molly writes at the intersection of financial behavior and emotional wellbeing. Her work covers:
Education & Professional Certifications
Molly holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Lewis & Clark College — in German Studies and History — and is certified by the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA), giving her a formal, industry-recognized foundation in consumer debt and debt consolidation.
Media Placements
Molly's work has been featured and syndicated across major media outlets including AOL, Newsweek, and MSN, reaching audiences navigating financial stress and looking for honest, actionable guidance.
Mission & Philosophy
Molly believes that financial wellness is as much an emotional journey as a practical one. The shame and stigma that surround financial hardship are real — and they're barriers to recovery that deserve to be named and dismantled, not ignored. Her writing is grounded in the belief that financial struggles don't define a person's character or worth, and that everyone deserves access to resources that are honest, approachable, and genuinely useful.
She is particularly drawn to the places where financial stress and mental health intersect — the anxiety of debt, the identity disruption of financial hardship, the family dynamics that money conversations can fracture or heal. These are the human stories behind the financial statistics, and they're the stories Molly is most committed to telling well.
Outside of Work
Based in the Chicago area, Molly can be found biking around Chicagoland, flexing her green thumb in her vegetable garden, or with her nose stuck in a history book.
Molly's articles on this site reflect her own research and expertise. For personalized financial advice, consult a licensed financial professional.
Have trouble motivating yourself to save? No problem! We’ve picked out 5 easy, accessible, and fun savings challenges that’ll help you set aside some cash in no time!
Dealing with overwhelming debt can be incredibly stressful. And for many, bankruptcy can feel like their only way out. But pump the brakes — bankruptcy is an excellent option to getting rid of difficult debts, but it’s not always the best fit for everyone in debt. In this article, we’ll…
There are many ways to deal with debt: Budgets, loans and a whole slew of DIY debt payoff methods. So why, then, do so many turn to Beyond for help? Because debt consolidation works — and provides immediate relief on monthly payments. In fact, Beyond Finance has already helped over…
Enrolling in a debt consolidation program means more than just saving on monthly payments and working towards freedom from debt. It’s also a way for people to reexamine their financial habits, and start building better ones. In this article, we’ll look at how working through a debt consolidation program can…
Working on your credit can be a daunting prospect: The time and effort needed to build (or rebuild) your credit score can feel discouraging. So it’s something to celebrate when you achieve a credit score of 622. What a 622 Credit Score Means Credit rating agencies award you a score…
Paying off debt is a huge accomplishment. It takes years of dedication, thousands of hours of hard work and long-term planning. And once you’re done, you’re back at a crossroads: How will you proceed? We think your next step should focus on building on and protecting all the work you’ve…
Living with debt is as much an emotional trial as a financial one. The weight of debt can impact your self-esteem, relationships and even sleep. But stories like Vong S.’s remind us there’s hope. His debt consolidation success story shows how the right plan can lead to peace of mind….
Looking down the barrel of bankruptcy can be distressing. But is it your only option? For many Americans, bankruptcy can feel like a mark against you — and in some ways, it is. Bankruptcy can severely change your standard of living and restructure your financial life. But bankruptcy, like debt…
Making minimum payments on debt is incredibly common, but is it a smart way to get debt-free? Many Americans lean on credit cards when the going gets rough, and minimum payments can feel like a safe place to land until some level of personal financial stability returns. However, consistently paying…
Although the Great Recession of 2008 feels like a lifetime ago, its economic ripple effect continues to impact the lives of most Americans. This is especially true of the American middle classes: As housing, education, food and medical costs have skyrocketed, so too has the reliance on credit cards and…