Drum roll, please. We…did not pay off our mortgage. But you already knew that for two reasons. My Twitter feed hasn’t been nonstop GIFs and this blog post is coherent (at least somewhat). I solemnly swear that the day we pay off our mortgage there will be so much celebrating in real life and online … [Read more…]
Not every money win has to a huge one to matter. Last month, I focused a sizable win. We have enough in savings to wipe out our mortgage. That’s H-U-G-E. But this month? I’m actually equally excited by something that only adds up to maybe $20 or $30 a month. I am officially Diet Coke … [Read more…]
Aging is not a death sentence. It is, in fact, the exact opposite. Each birthday is another opportunity to grow, and it’s not just about becoming long in the tooth. People travel forward on their journeys, even if especially if their journeys aren’t straight lines. Of course, our thoughts and views change. What doesn’t get … [Read more…]
I used to confess this money secret pretty regularly, but I haven’t made mention of it for a while. I don’t track our net worth. Famously. Infamously. Stupidly. While it’s a rationale that’s probably complicated enough to merit a whole post, the short answer is that net worth doesn’t mean much to us right now. … [Read more…]
The maturity date on my mortgage is 2042. 2042. 2 0 4 2. It’s a pretty depressing number if you let that fully sink in. My kid will be done with college. My teaching career will be coming to a close. My car will most assuredly fly a la The Jetsons. 2042 is a long … [Read more…]
If I’m being totally honest, I haven’t felt much like celebrating lately. What a way to start a post on money wins, huh? I think I lost the forest for the trees. Or the trees for the forest. Or money doesn’t grow on trees. Or something. Everything has just felt so financially ordinary lately. There … [Read more…]
Normally, this money wins series is all about celebrating small victories. In past editions, I’ve shouted from the blog rooftops about everything from reversed credit card fees to rounding up paycheck pennies for charitable causes. But you know what? It’s the start of a new year, and it’s time for some major motivation. We made … [Read more…]
It’s the shortest day of the year, but we’re going to party hard. And not just because every day from here on out gets a little bit lighter and brighter for a little bit longer. Nope, we’re celebrating because the holiday money wins came pouring in this week. Why? I suspect a lot of us … [Read more…]
Are you giving the perfect gift this holiday season? If you’re anything like me, after spending 0.000547 seconds online, one thing is abundantly clear: you’re probably not. As with most of life, we’ve managed to overcomplicate things when it comes to gifting. I fell down that Pinterest rabbit hole so hard when I was picking … [Read more…]
What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given? A real gift. Something that came in a box with a bow. Or at least wrapped in the funnies. You know, a present. Of course, there’s health and happiness, family and friends. The gift of knowledge, which is something I have been giving my students all year. … [Read more…]