For some people, frugality comes naturally. I. Am. Not. Some. People. But I have adopted a fairly frugal lifestyle for the past few years, and I like it. I really do. We are much more intentional with our spending. The constant influx of of stuff has stopped. I wreak far less havoc on the environment. … [Read more…]
For a lot of people, January is a no-spend month. Since I’m not participating, I thought I’d share what I’m doing with my money this month. I’m spending it. Da dum tss! That is actually true, of course. I am also implementing three small changes this month that seemed notable enough to mention at length. … [Read more…]
How much money are you dropping this holiday season? $100? $250? $1000? (You know, the number that is otherwise known as the national average.) Last week, I shared my money win that Christmas was already paid for. It feels great to not have to worry about the cost of anything. It’s especially exciting because I … [Read more…]
Alright, alright. With Thanksgiving time nearly upon us, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much money Americans spend on turkey time each year. About $165, with nearly $68 of that going to travel. In my mind, this number is the problem with averages. If you are flying your family across the country, you’re spending … [Read more…]
Does income matter on the journey to financial independence? Duh. I agreed to be a guest on a podcast panel where I could weigh in on that very question. To be quite honest, I wasn’t sure what I could possibly add to the discussion besides a hearty, “Of course!” Still, I agreed. I anticipated that … [Read more…]
The holiday season is fast approaching. This is the time of year when everyone from your grandma to your favorite news anchor is talking about… Spending. Not what you thought I was going to say, was it? It almost goes without saying that when it comes to a celebration, there is usually some kind of … [Read more…]
Oh. You didn’t win the lottery? Bummer. Me neither. OK, fine. You don’t play the lottery. Neither do I. In fact, I have a really hard time doing anything other than sinking a few pennies in the slots in Vegas and cashing out right away. I like my money. Sue me. But still, it’s fun to … [Read more…]
“He looks like Buster Brown.” This statement is equal parts puzzling and entertaining when you don’t know who Buster Brown is. That’s the camp I fell into before today. I could tell my mom was dismayed over my son’s new haircut based solely on her delivery. The deadpan look. The hand on her hip. The … [Read more…]
$140. That’s how far we went over our budget last month. In just one category. As far as our budgets go, it was a bloodbath. It was also proof that if I give myself an inch financially, I’ll take a mile. Or at least a few hundred dollars. Rather than wring my hands or cry … [Read more…]
It’s a funny thing: to write about the meaninglessness of words. On a blog. Using my words. But I stumbled upon a quote that seemed really profound. Essentially, our words are who we’d like to be, but our actions are who we are. I set some lofty goals for the second quarter of this year, … [Read more…]