And how to get there without letting despair overwhelm you. I love simplicity. But, sometimes, even if you avoid the trap of over-simplifying things, the simple answer is far from easy. Case in point – the $1,000-a-month savings retirement rule. If you’re not sure what that is, here’s a quick explanation of the $1,000 a […]
The road to financial independence has its ups and downs. It depends on what you know but more on how you use the knowledge. Here are seven lessons to smooth your journey, so you will never have to worry about money again. I experienced financial hardship as an undergraduate and graduate student and then as […]
Rising prices aren’t all embattled American consumers have to struggle against. Shrinkflation is on the prowl. That sinking feeling you get upon opening a bag of chips that’s nothing but air? You’re not alone – everyday items really are getting smaller, according to a new report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The government […]
It’s no doubt there is no greater time to be a woman in the history of our civilization — I agree there’s still a lot of work to be done, but I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be alive right now as who I am today. It’s true that there continue to […]
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” “Always remember that you are absolutely unique, just like everyone else…” I love quotes with a delicious twist like the above two (apparently both mis-attributed, the first to Mark Twain, the second to Margaret […]
Growing up in a family that clawed its way out of poverty and into the middle class, I was always aware of the value of money. By the time I was born, my parents were able to (barely) buy a small house in a newly developed suburb far enough outside the city to make it […]
A reader asks: I attended a party recently and met a woman who told me she lives in a converted school bus. By choice. I could tell this wasn’t the first time she encountered a stunned look on the face of the person hearing this sentence uttered. She said it’s a thing called “skoolie living” […]
There’s a difference between “being in debt” and “having debt.” You may think the difference is subtle, but it’s anything but… Wondering how to get your debt payoff priorities right? Let’s dive in. Being in Debt Back in 1992, I borrowed $6,000 at 10.4% (!) interest to buy a used car. As I’ve written elsewhere, […]
There are a lot of things we spend on that are unnecessary, but there are 3 things that are always worth spending money on. Mindful spending is one of the keys to feeling in control of your finances and comfortable with your spending habits on any budget. There are an awful lot of things we […]