Since I announced Half Penny’s impending arrival, I’ve heard two questions asked with equal gusto: “What do you mean your maternity leave isn’t paid?” and “You know kids don’t have to be expensive, right?”. And the best part is that sometimes the same person will ask both of those questions. Let me break this down … [Read more…]
Could you come up with an extra $500 in an emergency? What about $5000? The statistics about Americans’ inability to cover emergency expenses are sobering, so it’s not surprising that posts calling for emergency funds are everywhere. Peace of mind for the win. And with all the emergency fund hoopla, there’s even been some debate … [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…]
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…]
This year, we’re getting ready for more. If you’re visited my blog before, you know my closet is no stranger to shoes. While I’ve promised to declutter more and shop less, I’m sure you’ll grant us this one exception. Yup, you guessed it! Mr. P and I are over the moon getting ready for more … [Read more…]
I’m afraid of getting sick. Not in the sense that I’m actually afraid of germs. Goodness knows how many germs pass through my fingers (literally) on any given school day. Normally, the concept of illness lurks in the back of my mind and then lurches to the forefront when a student gets sick (literally). I’m … [Read more…]
No, this isn’t going to be a post about how I put breakfast and booze in my suitcase to save money. That kind of packing isn’t necessary here. We’re taking Mr. P’s favorite kind of trip where he can eat so much that people marvel at his ability to not throw up: an international all-inclusive … [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…]
This week, we paid off Mr. P’s car loan. Approximately 56 minutes after clicking “submit” on the payment, our furnace started squawking. I had a morning appointment to keep, but Mr. P promised to stand at the ready in the basement. I’m not entirely sure what that entailed, but I like to imagine him with … [Read more…]