It started weeks ago like any other conversation about holidays. “You don’t need to get me anything,” I said. Knowing full well that Mr. P would never listen, I followed up with a gentle reminder that Dollar Tree sells lovely cards. Valentine’s Day. Mother’s Day. Sweetest Day. They all follow the same cookie-cutter pattern. And … [Read more…]
I gave it my best shot. I really did. But if being pregnant has taught me anything, it’s this: there’s a time and place for frugality. And the time isn’t always and the place isn’t everywhere. What a thing to say just two days after I condemned the side hustle. It is almost as if … [Read more…]
The first quarter of 2017 went out with a bang. Or a boom. Or maybe a thud. Instead of sharing how much our net worth soared (we don’t track it) or how much our investments made (I mostly try not to look), I want to share another kind of truth with you. Sometimes you will … [Read more…]
“What would you do with $5,000? Would you buy one of those purses or would you take a nice cruise?” The thing about my nana is that it was never really all that hard to tell exactly where she stood on an issue. A master of both Italian guilt and loaded questions, if she wasn’t … [Read more…]
Why do you save? This question is spotlighted enough in the personal finance world that if I asked it in a room, I’m sure I’d see arms waving everywhere. For a rainy day, a downpayment, early retirement, any type of retirement. Pick a goal, slap it on your savings account. But what if I asked … [Read more…]
Have you ever gone a month without being asked to contribute to a group gift at work? In nine years of teaching, I’m almost positive I haven’t. If it isn’t a bride-to-be and her shower, it’s a new baby on the way, meal train for an ailing coworker, or a bouquet of flowers delivered to … [Read more…]
Last year, I couldn’t make up my mind when it came to our debt. At first, it seemed like we had paid off just shy of $20,000. Then, I remembered came clean about the fact that we still had a car payment. So we clocked in right around $24,000 when it was all said and done. … [Read more…]
Four years ago, I bought our house. I know what you’re thinking. But no, this isn’t one of the many times where I type I even though I really mean we. I purchased our house. And it seems like the strangest secret in the world to finally share and celebrate because even though the house was … [Read more…]
We’re known as the generation that photographs our food. There’s #instayum, there’s #foodspotting, and there’s the overly clever #yummmm. Thanks to us, brunch is chic, and if you want rosé all day, no one will stop you. What do millennials eat? Do we live out these hashtags in real life or is this a social media … [Read more…]
Alright, personal finance blogosphere. Enough with the haterade for new cars. Are they depreciating assets? Yes. Is interest bad? Yes. Is financing a car the worst thing someone could do financially? Not necessarily. In fact, as someone who financed a $27,000 car several years back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Except maybe I would have … [Read more…]