Business

How to Take Back Control of Your Finances

Published

5 years ago

July 28, 2021

Living your life without financial worries is something we all aim for, avoiding the stress that comes with settling bills on time. However, this is difficult to achieve for many, especially if you earn a low income but still need to make ends meet. Whether you have been living paycheck to paycheck with very little in savings or have been enjoying the past few years using credit for the things you want, it is probably time to take back control. It is easy to put off financial issues until they become a much greater problem, but this only makes climbing out of it a tougher task. Here’s how you can start to take back control of your finances today.

Review Your Outgoings

Having a picture of your financial situation is the best way to start and will quickly show you where your efforts need to be focused. By reviewing your total outgoings against your income, you will be able to determine your disposable income – money that is left over after all essential outgoings are paid. If you are left with very little after your essential bills, such as rent or mortgage payments, are paid, this will indicate you will need to address your other monthly expenditure. If you have disposable income and this comes as a surprise, it could be because your spending on non-essential items is high.

Borrow Only When You Need To

If you are in a cycle of relying on credit to make purchases, this could be slowly increasing your level of debt. The best way forward is to only choose to borrow credit when it is necessary and avoid borrowing to pay for non-essential items. It can be tempting to take advantage of buy now pay later schemes or store cards, but this can quickly mount up. By only turning to credit if you have no other options in an emergency, for example, savings or available credit, you can reduce credit dependency. Lenders who offer payday loans online can help to provide a short term option when you need it most and when you have few other options. In the long-term, you’ll want to have an emergency savings fund to rely on instead.

Build Your Savings

Whilst it may seem you have very little to save, you may have discovered opportunities to reduce your outgoings when reviewing your finances. By reducing non-essential spending, you will have more money to save. Your essential outgoings should always be your top priority, but from the money that is leftover in your disposable income, starting to put some of this aside will build a stronger financial outlook. You should aim to build both your savings and an emergency savings fund so that you have money you can grow as well as savings to cover the unexpected. Start with you can afford to save and build from there.

Budget Your Spending

One of the most difficult habits to stick to that will help gain control of your finances is being consistent. The best way to achieve this is by creating a budget that will help curb any impulse buying. Your budget will be determined by how much disposable income you have, which you can then break down into weekly spend. This way, you’ll know if you are on track to achieving your savings goal, for example. Sticking to a budget will ensure your essential bills are always covered and you do not run out of money too quickly after your salary date.

These are just some of the ways to start and help you take back control of your finances. If you are currently in debt, you will be able to start reducing this quicker than before and focus on a healthy financial future.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

1 week ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.