Welcome back, everyone. When I heard about a new performance that combined comedy and money, two seemingly incongruous topics, I was intrigued — and of course I had to go. The show, Funny Money, is the brainchild of Erin Lowry, the author of the “Broke Millennial” book series, who described it as part jokes, part actionable advice, but mostly storytelling. Ms. Lowry opened up last week’s show with a personal experience of her own dealings with debt, and also featured a “brave New Yorker” who shared how she accumulated more than $30,000 in credit card loans. “We really should not be applying morality to our money, especially given all of the factors, both politically and systemically, that makes it a Herculean feat to get out of and stay out of debt,” Ms. Lowry said from the stage. That sounds heavy, but there were many moments of levity and laughter from the audience. Melissa Jean-Baptiste, a financial educator and author of “So…This is Why I’m Broke,” talked about her propensity to overspend in the summer, and her solution: a so-called sinking fund, a high-yield savings account that she contributes to each month to prepare for the inevitable splurges that bring her joy each summer. They also talked about how to effectively say no to pricey destination weddings and other expensive social gatherings — and what to do in return so that you continue to receive invites. Alyce Chan, a stand-up comedian, had an especially funny bit about her father’s love language: handing her $20 bills after every time she said, “I love you.” It was a fun afternoon, and there are more Funny Money shows lined up in September and November, where attendees and those who watch via livestream can send in questions (anonymously, too). Below, you’ll find a selection of money-related stories from across The New York Times. As always, our lines are always open here: Yourmoney_newsletter@nytimes.com Have a great week.
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