It started with a plunger. A few days into the new year, I noticed our guest toilet was draining a little slowly. Considering the previous owners thought nothing of using the heating vents, the gas fireplace, and the bathroom sinks as garbage disposals, this fact didn’t really surprise me. In fact, like any former Girl … [Read more…]
The holidays are full of awkward moments. Like when your mother-in-law excitedly shepherds you into the family room to see the new family photos she framed. Your two sisters-in-law look like they stepped out of a magazine. And you? Well, you look like a cross between a Goodyear blimp and Violet Beauregarde because that’s what … [Read more…]
True to tradition, I will share my debt pay down numbers for 2017 in early January. While I’m eager to crunch the numbers, I wanted to start 2018 with a slight shift. Instead of emphasizing numbers right off the bat, I wanted to share my priorities for the new year, in addition to recapping some … [Read more…]
I am 100% average. When it comes to the average American, he or she spends $906 a year on Christmas. If my Google Sheet lieth not, I’m about to be able to say samesies. You read that right. I’m a personal finance blogger. Who practices frugality. And mindful spending. And toys around with minimalism. And … [Read more…]
The age old debate: kids are expensive…or are they? To commemorate my unpaid leave, I thought I would offer an unedited look at my checkbook register. Just kidding, I stopped balancing my checkbook in 2009 two years ago. If this first week looks a little light on the spending, it’s because it was my first … [Read more…]
Something strange has happened. Somewhere along the way, Mr. P and I have turned into adults. Real adults. It’s not just because we’re up to our eyeballs in dirty diapers. Nor is it because we shackled ourselves to the bank are proud homeowners. It’s because we have what our family and friends have deemed “good … [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…]
Being pregnant can be pricey. But how expensive are we talking? It’s something I wondered often when we first found out we were expecting, so I decided to keep a running tally of what we were spending, both on ourselves (OK, mostly me, but I’m the one doing the heavy lifting whose pants don’t fit) and … [Read more…]
Track your spending. Review your expenses. Keep a budget. These are the fundamental aspects of straightening out any money messes you may have gotten into and making your money goals happen. And for good reason. They work! But what if, just like rules, budgets are meant to be broken at times? How would you know?
There’s a lot to be said about being on the same page as your partner financially. Teamwork makes the dream work after all. But when I think about some of the best financial savvy that I learned growing up, I realize that much of it comes from the fact that I grew up in a … [Read more…]