This past weekend, I attended the 2019 Cents Positive retreat in Chicago. I started the weekend wondering what the retreat would be like (thanks to the #centspositive Twitter hashtag, I had a hunch it would be amazing!), and I am ending my weekend hoping that I can make this money retreat a yearly tradition. Here’s … [Read more…]
Babies don’t have to be expensive. They don’t require a lot of stuff. Except…they definitely are and they kind of do. There are myriad ways to cut costs when it comes to child rearing. But there’s no denying the breathtaking burden of childcare and college tuition. It’s easier to combat clutter that college costs, but … [Read more…]
If personal finance feels like punishment, you’re doing it wrong. Ask me how I know. Better yet, let me tell you. As someone who would compulsively and mindlessly spend hundreds of dollars a month on unnecessary items at the mall and then rack up another hundred dollars each weekend at different bars, I know a … [Read more…]
In less than three months, it’s going to be 2020. I don’t actually care about the year, but based on Internet memes, I needed to point that out, right? Whether it’s 2020, 2021, 2022, or any other flip of the calendar year, I think there’s something really inspiring about the time of year leading up … [Read more…]
Does money ever just feel like it’s burning a hole in your pocket? If I’m being honest, that’s a big reason why I don’t carry cash. It’s too easy and too tempting to spend. But even when I’m budgeting, tracking my expenses, and tucking paper bills out of sight and out of mind, I still … [Read more…]
I read something online the other day. It boiled down to this: Don’t worry about other people online because those people never showcase their failures anyway. Boy, do I have a blog for that person. And you’re reading it. Because I am nothing if not a perfectionist, I met the majority of my goals for … [Read more…]
Is apple picking worth it? We can–and do!–go to the store and score apples for less than what we pay at an orchard. So, from a purely mathematical standpoint, this would be the shortest post ever. Even by my standards. Fortunately, personal finance is rarely ever just a numbers game. To us, apple picking is … [Read more…]
Do you watch the register and check your receipts when you’re checking out at the store? Usually, I pay close attention…but when I’m shopping with a toddler, my focus is a little lackluster. Mostly because I’m trying to apprehend him before he puts every bag of M&Ms he can find on the conveyor belt. Thanks … [Read more…]
You’re expecting a metaphor, aren’t you? The truth is I took an honest-to-goodness nap today. And it’s so important, I’ve actually decided to write about it. It wasn’t a particularly exceptional nap in any regard other than the fact that I actually took one. A lot of times, I think about resting. Occasionally, I even … [Read more…]
“But isn’t that a really expensive event for frugal people?” As someone who ended up buying multiple bottles of hotel gift shop almond milk during a previous FinCon (and winning a frugal blogging award there!), I can assure you that professional conferences can be expensive. Of course, it’s vital to remember that spending on ourselves … [Read more…]