Just about a year ago, scientists and money nerds alike started talking a lot about exponential growth a whole lot. Around that same time, I noticed a really unusual run on frozen pizza that had nothing to do with sporting events. Of course, as we know now, we were headed full throttle into a pandemic … [Read more…]
As someone who is anxious, cautious, and risk averse, it probably surprises you to see the title of this post. Penny? Excited about unknowns? Not the Penny we know. The only thing that Penny faces the unknown with is a bottle of Tums. And maybe just a little too much chocolate. Our Penny makes lists … [Read more…]
Okay, okay. I know I’m late to the party. Many people have been in Buy Nothing groups for years. But I have an excuse! We live in a really weird slice of our town that basically hovers right outside the boundaries of two different Buy Nothing groups. As a result, I’d long given up on … [Read more…]
There’s a really good chance that you’re heard a side hustle defined as a success once it crests six figures. That is not why I am writing this post. You see, I have no idea what it’s like to earn six figures from a side hustle. I don’t even know what it’s like to earn … [Read more…]
If you follow me on Twitter, you know I battled wicked heartburn thanks to a tasty but aggressive jalapeno ranch salad…and then promptly ate the rest for lunch the next day. This isn’t just a reflection of who I am (it is a compelling snapshot!); it’s also a reflection of my focus. For us, the … [Read more…]
2020 was a dumpster fire. I’m not negotiating on this. It tested me in ways that I didn’t want to be tested. My family suffered loss that still stings enough to make me cringe at the thought of mining the last calendar year for silver linings. The teaching profession that has seeped into every fiber … [Read more…]
The weather hasn’t exactly been cooperative. Normally by this time, we’ve seen several snowfalls. This year? We’ve had one dusting that lasted maybe an hour before snowfall turned to rain and snow turned to slush. Layer on the pandemic and COVID restrictions, and it’s easy to see why any family would feel like they have … [Read more…]
Small businesses are struggling. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. If it saddens you, though, there are some action steps that we can take to help some of these businesses survive. We’ve tried to adopt these practices into our lives throughout the pandemic, and it’s been important to us as a family to revisit them in order … [Read more…]
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday. It goes on and on. And it truly does. By my calculations this is actually the second full Cyber week because one week and certainly one day isn’t enough. After writing in defense of Black Friday shoppers and also encouraging people to shop in a way that is … [Read more…]
There’s a chill in the air and a battle over when Christmas music can be played. The start of the holiday season is unmistakable. With all the promise of glitter and gifts, there’s also plenty of advice that gets floated around. Only spend X dollars. Purchase precisely Y things. Make sure you have Z experiences. … [Read more…]