Numbers are everywhere. Of course they are, Penny. You’re a personal finance blogger. It’s hard to talk about money without mentioning numbers. Touche, friend. Touche. But we’ve already established that your bank account is a poor measure of you as a person. In case you need me to say it again, though, I will. You … [Read more…]
I logged onto Facebook. That was my first mistake. Every once in a while, I can’t resist the temptation to check in with far-flung relatives, so I log on. There were three messages waiting for me. I knew what they were without even clicking. Like death and taxes, there is another certainty, albeit much more … [Read more…]
I I owe my undergrad professor an apology. He was the ultimate minimalist. He railed against conspicuous consumption, thumping his dog-eared copy of Veblen’s The Theory of the Leisure Class on a desk. He cycled through the same handful of clothes in the same neutral color scheme. He wore shorts that showcased socks he haphazardly … [Read more…]
My bookcase also broke this year. So did a lamp and a picture frame. Though we are still months from the end of the year, by my very rough estimates from a largely imperfect student-run checkout system, over fifty books are missing from my classroom library. Nevermind the ones that have come back with cracked … [Read more…]
Y’all, I am frugal. I am FRUgal. But let’s tell the whole truth, mkay? If this sounds familiar, cool, that means I haven’t been totally wasting my time on Twitter. Last week, I wanted to send a little thought out into the universe. I never imagined it would gain the traction that it did. It … [Read more…]
“That’s it? $60?” My husband’s reaction to his first paycheck of the school year was dramatically different from mine. I was thrilled. Thanks to his graduate classes, he is bringing in an extra $120 after taxes each month. To him, it was such a small amount of money in light of the time, effort, and … [Read more…]
It’s back to school time. School supplies are on sale, parents are snapping photos, and students are celebrating. Or not. It also means that legions of professionals are about to roll up their sleeves and welcome another crop kiddos with open arms and unabated enthusiasm. With school on the brain, a very thoughtful neighbor of … [Read more…]
With so much conversation about the student loan crisis and speculation about the necessity–or lack thereof–of bachelor’s degrees, it makes sense to be skeptical about pursuing graduate work. Unless you are an educator. Then, at some point in your career, you will most certainly find yourself signing up for more school. But how much of … [Read more…]
The state of Illinois is giving us $3,000. That’s right. The Land of Lincoln, otherwise known as the Land of No State Budget, is actually coughing up money. So put on your hats and let’s get this TRS pension party started, shall we?
At the beginning of the summer, I outlined my grand plans to earn extra income this summer. And grand they were. Summer school wraps up today, and I only have two more meetings on the docket. Thanks to all of my school-related side hustling, I’ll have clocked in just shy of $3500 after taxes. That … [Read more…]