The Los Angeles Times launched an eight-week newsletter course on January 1st to teach readers how to take control of their finances.


"Totally Worth It," written by Jessica Roy, assistant editor of the Utility Journalism team, will provide step-by-step instructions on everything from creating and sticking to a budget to paying off debt and creating an emergency fund.

Roy invites readers to "imagine your best friend coming over with a bottle of wine and her laptop to sit down with you and really, truly get you to tackle your money stuff" in the newsletter's introduction.


The following topics will be addressed in the newsletter:

  • Week 1: How to make a budget
  • Week 2: How to maintain that budget
  • Week 3: How to spend less money on stuff
  • Week 4: How to create and grow an emergency fund
  • Week 5: How to pay off debt
  • Week 6: How to save up for the big things (vacations! weddings! houses!)
  • Week 7: How to protect your financial future and someday retire
  • Week 8: Reviewing your new financial reality

While Roy stated that she originally wrote the newsletter with people in their twenties and thirties in mind, "honestly, anyone who wants to finally get a budget together and feel more in control of their money would benefit from it."