Call it serendipity, coincidence, or even divine intervention. As much as I believe that I am largely chartering my own course, every once in a while, the universe slaps me with a reminder to do something. Literally. OK, it wasn’t a slap. It was a trip. I was walking across the intersection in front of … [Read more…]
“Well, that’s not stealth wealth.” “Do you know how many years you’re delaying retirement with that kind of spending?” “Could my neighbor keep up with the Joneses any harder?” “I have these friends who would have a lot more money if they just wouldn’t make such bad choices with their money.” It’s easy to spout … [Read more…]
I spent the better part of a year dropping our grocery budget to $200 a month. I wore that number like a badge of honor. That’s why when I told my husband I wanted to spend $1000 a month at the grocery store, he thought I was joking. What I’m really trying to do is … [Read more…]
I’ve been a bit busy lately. Instead of blogging, I’ve been spending a fair amount of time pricing out bounce house rentals for our son’s first birthday. I know. I KNOW. My son can’t walk. He can’t even crawl properly. He looks more like a dog scratching its butt on carpet than a graceful cherub … [Read more…]
It’s a tale as old as time. Or at least as old as Hallmark. Couple sees Valentine’s Day on calendar. Couple spends lots o’ bucks to show their love. It doesn’t have to be like that, but for us, it was. The Ghost of Valentine’s Day Past Last year, my husband sent me a text … [Read more…]
Move over, 1999. We are going to party like it’s 2013. Or 2014. Or whenever it was that most of the world bought their Fitbits. We might also have to redefine the word party. It’s more like eating financial crow. Here goes nothing.
850. Eight hundred fifty perfect points. It happened for the first time a few months ago: My FICO score hit the fabled 850 mark. It was, in a word, perfection. It also gave me the opportunity to think about how I got a perfect credit score. How I Landed a Perfect Credit Score I shop. … [Read more…]
I’m a firm believer that whatever someone does with a gift is their business. Maybe they keep it. Maybe they exchange it. Maybe they sell it, regift it, or even throw it away. When you’re none the wiser, it’s easy to not care. But what happens when you are?
It started with a plunger. A few days into the new year, I noticed our guest toilet was draining a little slowly. Considering the previous owners thought nothing of using the heating vents, the gas fireplace, and the bathroom sinks as garbage disposals, this fact didn’t really surprise me. In fact, like any former Girl … [Read more…]
I am 100% average. When it comes to the average American, he or she spends $906 a year on Christmas. If my Google Sheet lieth not, I’m about to be able to say samesies. You read that right. I’m a personal finance blogger. Who practices frugality. And mindful spending. And toys around with minimalism. And … [Read more…]