Like most bloggers, I have a variety of goals and milestones that I hope to achieve. I also have a carefully crafted timeline (read: spreadsheet) upon which these ambitions are judiciously plotted. One month, six months, one year, five years, and on down the line. My situation is not unique. Think back to the five … [Read more…]
There’s nothing quite as unsettling as being caught off guard when it comes to money. While you don’t want to treat every day like the sky is falling (Hi, my name is Penny, and that’s exactly how I used to watch my Vanguard account), you also don’t want to bury your head in the sand. … [Read more…]
Windfall season is upon us! Extra paycheck month and tax time are both nearly here. Of course, I know I’m not actually coming into any money that isn’t already mine. In fact, if I wanted to go all Debbie Downer on you, I’d point out the fact that this is actually money I’ve already earned, … [Read more…]
Normally, year-end posts are all about numbers. Consumer debt reductions. Mortgage payoffs. Portfolio numbers. Net worth increases. And my last post about paying off $27,000 worth of debt was no exception. But to round out the year, I wanted to highlight one of the few goals that I actually kept that made me most happy. … [Read more…]
To the people who say not to make your work your passion*, you’re right. Your approach is far more strategic and systematic. You will reach financial independence much faster pursuing a six-figure career than I will figuring out why teenagers are still tempted to cover their arms in glue whenever we create posters. You will … [Read more…]
No, I don’t have a crystal ball or a super power. I have a salary schedule. In addition to revealing exactly how much money my coworkers make, a salary schedule also lets me predict the future in the sense that I know exactly when I’ll crack the six-figure salary mark. I imagine there are a … [Read more…]
Growing up, I celebrated nearly every birthday at an arcade. It was magical: bumper cars, skeeball, Bozo Buckets, Whac-a-Mole, and more. The lights and bells that signaled a win delighted me almost as much as the sound of the mechanism churning out tickets. Ever so gently, I would remove my winnings from the ticket dispenser, … [Read more…]