Low points are inevitable in any relationship; no two people can see eye to eye all the time. But when push comes to shove, how do you know if your relationship has the foundation to endure? 

As a psychologist who studies relationships, I’ve come to learn that thriving relationships often share some key traits.

Here are four simple questions that can determine longevity of your connection. If your answers are all “yes,” you’re likely on solid ground.

Every healthy relationship should be grounded upon a foundation of friendship. Imagine your partner as just a friend: Would you still want to spend time with them, laugh with them and turn to them for support?

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Couples who say “yes” to this understand that relationships require a lot more than just passion and commitment. Studies even show that if like your partner as a person, your bond will be much harder to break.

On the other hand, some couples stay together out of habit, fear of starting over or because they feel they’ve already invested too much in the relationship to let it go. This is what keeps people in unhappy relationships for years.

Your life partner should bring out the best in you. Does having them in your life make you feel supported, loved and inspired to grow? Or do you feel stifled, diminished and drained?

Truly great relationships often reflect what’s called the “Michelangelo effect.” Just like the artist shaped raw stone into breathtaking sculptures, healthy partners will “sculpt” each other into better versions of themselves. They encourage your goals, cheer on your successes and remind you of your worth even on hard days.

Unhealthy relationships can have the opposite effect. If being around your partner makes you feel small, criticized or unsure of yourself, it’s worth reflecting on why. The way you feel when you’re around your partner is often one of the biggest clues about how healthy your relationship is.

No one is perfect, but ignoring flaws isn’t really what love is about. Rather, we all have to learn that those imperfections aren’t what define your partner, nor your relationship. Couples in healthy relationships don’t rely on fantasies of how the other person could change — they focus on loving each other as they are presently.

This doesn’t mean you should tolerate toxic behavior. But it does mean accepting the small fumbles and imperfections that make your partner human, like forgetting to pick up their socks once in a while or telling the same joke over and over.

If you can genuinely say you’d choose your partner if they stayed exactly as they are, warts and all, then you’ve likely built a relationship that can stand the test of time.

One of the clearest signs of a strong relationship is that your partner isn’t just there for the hard times — they’re also your go-to person for sharing your wins. When you get exciting news, do you instinctively reach for your phone to call them? Do you look forward to celebrating your successes together?

Psychologists call this “capitalization,” and research shows that couples who actively share and celebrate each other’s good news tend to have stronger, happier relationships. It builds a sense of partnership and camaraderie — one that reinforces that your joys are their joys, too.

Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website, Therapytips.org.

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The U.S. Department of Education is cutting around 1,300 staffers from its workforce, the agency announced Tuesday.

The layoffs will effectively cut the agency in half in an effort to meet President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s goal of making the department more efficient and reducing the federal government’s involvement in education matters like curriculum and school choice.

“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” McMahon said in a statement. 

The department says it “will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview,” which includes student loans and Pell Grants.

But some student debt activists worry that these cuts will bring further delays and confusion for those who need federal student aid to attend school or are paying back federal loans.

Student loan experts and debt relief activists have raised concerns over ED’s downsizing.

“A reduction in force at the Department of Education, which is the smallest Cabinet-level federal agency, is nonsensical,” Sabrina Calazans, executive director at the Student Debt Crisis Center, said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Borrowers are already dealing with uncertainty over programs ED oversees, such as student loan repayment and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and the cuts will make processes like applying for financial aid and repaying student loans more complicated, Calazans said.

Fewer staff members at call centers could mean longer wait times for borrowers who need assistance, for example. Plus, last year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid catastrophe showed how difficult it can be for the department to make major administrative changes without disruption.

In fact, hundreds of users reported issues accessing the federal student aid website, and specifically the FAFSA, on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.

“Americans with student debt have already been impacted by the recent removal of income-driven repayment plans from the studentaid.gov website; this will only make things worse,” Calazans said.

Indeed, the online application for all income-driven repayment plans has become unavailable in response to a federal judge continuing the block on President Joe Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education IDR plan in February.

Borrowers who enrolled in the SAVE plan are currently in an administrative forbearance and without another income-driven repayment option, they may not be able to afford monthly payments on the standard repayment plan. 

Further, the loan simulator page on the Federal Student Aid website, where borrowers could previously compare repayment options, says the following as of March 12: “Information related to income-driven repayment plans, including the SAVE Plan, may not be accurate at this time.”

Not all student loan experts are sounding warning bells yet, though. 

“With any significant policy change, employment or otherwise, there is a risk that things won’t go as smoothly as hoped,” Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning policy think tank American Enterprise Institute, told CNBC Make It in an email.

Akers has criticized some policy moves, like an employee buyout option that lead to nearly 600 ED personnel leaving the agency, but also opposes the idea that closing the department entirely would be detrimental.

“It’s not apparent how the staffing reduction at the department will cause any immediate disruption for borrowers who are currently in repayment and in good standing on their student loans,” Akers said.

“All divisions” within ED will be affected by the mass layoffs, according to the federal agency’s statement, but it hasn’t provided further details as to how the cuts were distributed.

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, a left-leaning nonprofit, is similarly interested in seeing which specific departments or programs may be affected by the cuts, though the organization is more skeptical of the Trump administration’s assurances.

“Claiming that eliminating half the Department won’t affect its services — without any clear plan to redistribute the workload — is, at best, naïve and, at worst, deliberately misleading,” Beth Maglione, NASFAA interim president and CEO said in a statement. “It also raises serious concerns about how billions of dollars in federal student aid will continue to be disbursed to students without interruption.”

Amid ongoing uncertainty, there isn’t a lot current student loan borrowers can do aside from continuing to make required monthly payments to remain in good standing. But experts encourage borrowers to take at least one step to protect themselves while personnel and programs at ED get shuffled around or canceled: keep a record.

That’s because administrative changes, such as loans being transferred to a different servicer, have historically caused problems for borrowers. For example, borrowers whose loan servicers change often experience issues like incorrect payment amounts or histories, Abby Shafroth, co-director of advocacy and director of the student borrower assistance program at the National Consumer Law Center, recently told CNBC Make It.

“If we’re talking about not just changing the servicing, but entirely transferring all operations management of the [student loan] program from one federal agency to a new agency that never managed student loans before, I would be very concerned about those sorts of problems being potentially much worse,” Shafroth said.

You can obtain your payment history and screenshot you current loan balances on your loan servicer’s website. You can also download your loan data by logging into StudentAid.gov, going to the “my aid” section and clicking “download my aid data.”

Additionally, Akers warns borrowers to be on the lookout for scams during confusing periods like these. 

“We know scammers take advantage of moments like this to exploit targets who might feel anxious or confused about their situation,” she said. “Ensure you’re only communicating with a legitimate loan servicer before providing personal information.”

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey from being $300,000 in debt to becoming a self-made millionaire, it’s this: I wasn’t broke because I didn’t make enough money at the time — I felt broke because I overspent on things that weren’t aligned with my health and wealth goals.

Yes, I spend money on things I like. I love a good K-pop concert and a well-deserved vacation. But I also know that swapping unnecessary spending in some areas frees up money for things that truly matter, like investing, financial security and experiences that bring real joy.

Here are six things I think Americans waste too much money on — that I used to overspend on, too! And here’s what I do now instead.

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Buying in bulk can save you money, but only if you actually eat everything you buy. Let’s be real. How many times have you bought the mega pack of spinach only to throw half of it away a week later? 

You’re not getting a deal if you toss half of what you paid for in the garbage.

I now buy produce weekly because I found myself not being able to finish the bag of avocados or kiwis, even though they were cheaper per item at the bulk price. 

For other pantry items, I only buy what I’ll eat in the next month, and I’m mindful of expiration dates. 

I understand the impulse to go to TJ Maxx and buy a different wreath and set of decorative pillows for every holiday. But instead of spending on decorations that will be outdated soon, try to invest in timeless, high-quality home essentials and switch things up with small, inexpensive accents like candles or flowers. 

I rotate photo frames and mementos from concerts around different areas in my home to make it feel fresh, without it having to be seasonal. I have also gotten a ton of compliments about my rotating display of Broadway playbills.

Most kids play with the box more than the toy itself. I’ve seen parents spend hundreds, sometimes thousands, on toys that their kids lose interest in within weeks.

Less is more. Rotate toys instead of buying new ones, and prioritize experiences over stuff.

If the kids must have toys, let your family members chip in. As the auntie without children of my own, I’m more than happy to buy my nieces and nephews a toy every now and then, so that their moms and dads can put that money toward other expenses.

I’m guilty of having bought multiple pairs of shoes that look amazing but felt like medieval torture devices. I stopped buying shoes that don’t fit, don’t support my feet or that I’ll only wear once.

A few high-quality pairs of comfortable, well-made shoes will take you further, than a closet full of painful ones. 

Shoes are a great item to apply the $1 rule: If a high-quality pair of shoes costs $100 and you can wear them 100 times, then I think it’s a worthy splurge — more so than a pair of discount shoes you’ll only wear a few times

The beauty industry convinces people they need a 12-step routine with $80 serums, when most of it is marketing hype.

I learned this the hard way when I got sucked into the K-beauty trend of buying all sorts of serums and masks, only to go back to my slightly less glamorous routine of pharmacy brand face wash and moisturizer. 

Stick to simple, dermatologist-approved products that actually work. Your skin (and your wallet) will thank you.

My $15 warehouse leggings and free t-shirts are just as good as the $100 Lululemon ones. People love to justify expensive activewear by saying it motivates them to work out, but wearing a fancy outfit doesn’t do push-ups for you.

Ironically, I’ve found that I have better workouts when I wear less expensive clothing because they tend to breathe better, since they’re often looser and made of natural fiber than shiny material. When I wear the stuff I don’t care that much about, I am more focused on the exercise itself, than how I look.

Buy workout gear for function, not fashion. Focus on quality and comfort over brand names.

Ultimately, I’m not saying it makes sense to give up everything fun or live like a monk. But if you want to build wealth, start questioning if these short-term dopamine hits are really saving you money in the long run.

Every dollar you don’t waste is a dollar that you don’t have to work for, whether that’s growing your investments, paying off debt or funding a life that brings you a sense of peace.

Bernadette Joy is the author of ”CRUSH Your Money Goals″ and a personal finance expert and investor dedicated to helping you beat burnout and reach financial independence. You can find her on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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The idea of working a traditional 9-to-5 in a corporate environment was never for me. I always wanted financial freedom and the flexibility to work on my own terms.

So, over the past two decades, while I was a student, a full-time employee, an academic researcher and a stay-at-home mom, I started a variety of side hustles.

Now I have multiple streams of passive income, which include selling card games on Amazon, creating online courses, speaking at companies about emotional intelligence, lecturing at universities and impact investing.

Whether selling goods or providing services, my No. 1 advice for anyone starting a side hustle is to develop a clear profitability plan. All too often, I see people diving into their passions without considering how and when they will turn a profit. This oversight can make or break your success. 

Here are three things to keep in mind:

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How much are you willing to invest, and potentially lose, before becoming profitable? Knowing this requires a realistic understanding of your initial net profit margin and ways to boost your profitability.

Your net profit — calculated by subtracting expenses from sales — is the lifeblood of your side hustle. Examples of expenses include materials, labor, equipment, packaging, shipping, advertising, traveling and business subscriptions.

Your profit margin represents the percentage of each sales dollar you keep as net profit. For example, if your product or service sells for $10 and your expenses amount to $8, then your net profit is $2, resulting in a profit margin of 20%. If you’ve invested $100 upfront, then you need to sell 50 units to break even.

To fund my first card game and boost early profitability, I launched a Kickstarter campaign with a $1,500 goal. This funding covered essential expenses like product manufacturing and jump-started my sales by getting products into the hands of early adopters. 

I needed to sell 60 units to break even but ended up selling over 400 units. This higher sales volume allowed me to manufacture at a reduced cost per unit, which improved my profit margin by lowering my cost of goods sold (COGS).

I found that there are three traps that can severely undermine the profitability of a side hustle:

1. Underpricing your services

When I was selling handmade goods on Etsy, I made the mistake of chasing sales over tracking profit. Hoping to establish credibility, I underpriced my products aggressively and went above and beyond in customer service. 

But I soon realized how difficult it was to raise prices once you’ve set a low-cost precedent. Despite making thousands of sales on Etsy over the course of five years, I ended up having to close my shop due to slim profit margins.

2. Failing to accurately account for your time

That experience helped me grasp the difference between running a passion project versus a profitable business.

Recognizing the need for scalability and efficiency, especially when it came to the time I was putting into it, I pivoted to selling products on Amazon and utilized the automated Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service to handle logistics.

3. Overlooking opportunity costs

I’ve also stumbled upon similar dilemmas when pricing my speaking and consulting services. When I first started out, I lowered my fee in hopes of securing contracts from big names like Accenture and Google.

But when they came back the following year, I had to raise my fees significantly because my opportunity costs — the cost of what I could have been doing and earning with my time — outweighed what I was charging. I learned the importance of valuing my work from the start.

Over the years, I’ve developed a more expansive definition of profitability. It isn’t just about money. Profitability is also about how this venture affects your quality of life. Your physical and mental well-being come first.

To see if your side hustle is truly profitable, ask yourself:

1. How much money am I willing to invest in my side hustle?
2. How much time am I prepared to dedicate to my side hustle?
3. Is my goal to make my side hustle into my main hustle?
4. At which point do I pivot if the reality is not matching my answers to these questions?

It’s been exhilarating to see my hard work pay off. But this process has also required me to have a very clear understanding of what I value the most, and to get comfortable with saying “no.” Without that foundation, none of my success would have been possible.  

Dr. Jenny Woo is a Harvard-trained educator, EQ researcher, and founder/CEO of Mind Brain Emotion. She created a series of educational card games and mental health tools to help kids and adults develop human skills in the age of AI. Her award-winning card games, the 52 Essential Coping Skills, 52 Essential Relationship Skills, and 52 Essential Conversations are used in 50+ countries. Follow her on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

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To connect with others, we can’t hide large parts of ourselves. We have to be willing to reveal, to some extent, what we think, do, feel and relate to in order to give our conversation partner something to work with.

While this can be hard for those of us who are introverted, socially anxious or are perfectionists, research has found that sharing of our lives in a gradual and reciprocal manner is the very foundation of a strong friendship. 

Luckily, there’s one easy trick that the most trustworthy, relatable and likable people use. It involves tapping into conversational “doorknobs.”

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Coined by social psychologist Adam Mastroianni, a conversational doorknob can be anything that piques your interest, reminds you of something else, elicits a question, or is “No way! Me, too!” relatable. You get the idea.

Listen, grasp onto whatever doorknob gets your attention and enter the door it opens. Here’s an example:

You to your colleague: “Good morning! How was your weekend?” 
Your colleague: “Great. My partner and I did some work on my dad’s place.” 

You now have a bunch of everyday conversational doorknobs at your disposal. Maybe you heard “partner,” “work,” “dad” or “place.” Whatever part of that sentence your brain grabbed onto, you can toss it back with a related response:

• “Nice. Are you the DIYer, or is your partner?”
• “That’s cool. What did you work on?”
• “Oh, nice. I’m thinking of doing some remodeling on my place, but knowing where to start is always a challenge.”
• “That’s excellent. Do you see your dad often?” 
• “My dad’s place could use some work. He’s lived there for 40 years, so you can imagine how full the basement is.”
• “Oh, cool. Does your dad live locally, or did you have to drive a long way?”
• “That’s awesome that you do it yourself. I put caulk around my tub several rental apartments ago, but that’s the end of my skills.” 

Whatever you toss back, offer up a few doorknobs of your own — what you think, do, feel, remember or relate to. Remember, we’re going for personalistic. Telling your conversation partner about yourself sharpens their picture of you with ever-finer pixelation, which makes you more relatable to them.

Here’s how you might offer a doorknob when you’re speaking:

Your colleague: “How was your weekend?” 
You: “It was great. I…”

• ″…took the kids to their volleyball tournament. We were there for, I am not kidding, 12 hours.”
• ″…made my annual pumpkin bread.” 
• ″…finished this Steve Martin memoir I’ve been reading. It was so good.”
• ″…accidentally played Baldur’s Gate 3 until 4:00 a.m. in the morning.” 
• ″…went to the farmers market on Sunday and got some funky blue potatoes.”
• ″…saw a parade of tuba players wearing tutus march by as I got my morning coffee on Saturday.” 

No matter what you picked, you just gave them something to work with. Then, listen for whatever they offer and keep going. It’s like tossing a ball back and forth. 

Will your conversation partner always respond with a conversational doorknob? Maybe not. You might just get an “oh” or “cool.” But that’s okay. Let it drop or try again later.

None of these doorknobs have to be fancy, impressive or extraordinary. Decrease the pressure by setting the bar way lower.

Aiming for out-of-this-world conversations — when we hold ourselves to the standard of appearing impressive or extraordinary or super smart — “can make the people who have them strangers to everyone else on earth,” according to psychologist Gus Cooney.

Especially for perfectionists, when we’re used to aiming high, lowering the bar might feel wrong, but it allows more friends and potential friends to clear the bar and join in. 

Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. She is the author of ”How to Be Enough″ and ”How to Be Yourself.” Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC News, New York Magazine, The Guardian, Harvard Business Review, Scientific American and Psychology Today. She earned her PhD at UCLA and completed her training at Harvard Medical School. She lives in the Boston area with her family.

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This is an adapted excerpt from the book “How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists″ by Ellen Hendriksen. Copyright © 2025 by Ellen Hendriksen. Published with the permission of St. Martin’s Essentials, an imprint of the St. Martin’s Publishing Group.