One of the greatest gifts of financial independence is the gift of choice. It provides the opportunity to follow your heart instead of the money. I can decide where to go and what to do. After working twelve years as a software engineer and spend...
In late January, I opened an Etsy store. Two weeks later, I sold over one hundred Etsy printables. Does that seem impossible or unbelievable? Before I opened my store, I would’ve thought so too. Is it a fluke? Maybe. Lucky timing? Probably....
Have you ever heard the phrase the grass is greener on the other side? Is it really greener elsewhere, or could it be greener where you water it? My dad always considered himself lucky, and he kept an upbeat attitude even after he was diagnos...
Every day I jot down random notes. Today, for no particular reason, I decided to publish the list. So here it goes. 1. New Blog I’ve been cheating on this blog. After a decade and a half of writing about personal finance, I got the itch to write ...
Are you a stay-at-home mom who wants or needs to return to work? I am too! After a decade of being home with my kids, I’m excited to explore the next chapter of my life. Ten years ago, I left my high-paying career to become a stay-at-home mom....
For about eight years, my husband and I subscribed to a high-deductible health plan. Every year I renewed our insurance and hoped we would stay healthy. In the best-case scenario, we would pay lower premiums, sock money away in our HSA, and never visit...
I’ve always had a strange fascination with the future. As a kid, I was mesmerized by the notion of fortune tellers and palm readers. I wanted to see my future laid out before me like a map indicating where I would travel and where I would land. B...
The year is coming to a close, which means it’s time for my annual blogging recap! I started summarizing my blog content in 2019 after Angela, Revanche, and FinCon 2019 rebooted my excitement for writing. In 202...
How many gifts should you give your kids for Christmas? Is there a magic number of presents? The perfect amount that makes kids feel happy, satisfied, and grateful? In most instances, I think four is enough. After choosing something they want, somethin...
This December, I gathered my kids into the living room and asked them what they wanted for Christmas. Every year, they provide me with a long list of toys, games, books, and other non-essential items. I gather their ideas, log in to Amazon, and generat...
This December, I did something I haven’t done in a very long time. I bought Christmas gifts for myself! Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I devoted time to creating a wish list, but I jotted down some ideas and began the search for h...
When my husband and I were young, road trips consisted of nothing other than a starting point and a destination. We’d grab a few drinks, throw a change of clothes in the back seat, and hit the open road. A road trip with kids requires more work t...
Have you heard of the Want, Need, Wear, Read Christmas gift-giving strategy? It’s an approach to Christmas that helps us appreciate holiday traditions while minimizing the cost and complexity of the holidays. Do you want to simplify Chr...
This may be the shortest post I’ve written in a decade! I just bought my kids a one year membership to the Maryland Science Center through Groupon. Memberships were on sale for 50% off, plus I earned 12% back by shopping through Rakuten. I haven&...
We often picture expensive outings and special occasions when we think about happiness. We imagine traveling to exotic locations or spending money on extravagant meals, but the greatest gifts in life don’t need to come from pricey excursions. Sim...
Do you find joy in the journey, or are you constantly delaying happiness? Maybe you’ve thought, I’ll be happier when I get my next promotion, or elated when I get that next big raise. Perhaps you’ll be happier when your bank balance r...
Have you heard the saying, “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime?” The quote suggests that people come into our lives for three reasons. To teach us lessons, guide us through specific periods, or join our life-lo...
In my younger years, I believed more stuff would make me happy—more events, activities, clothing, friends, and, of course, more money. But as time passes, I recognize that minimizing my life leads to more enjoyment. The law of addition by su...
There have been times when I wanted to get rid of everything, when I thought of grabbing a set of garbage bags, throwing everything I owned into the car, and driving it far from home. Some people turn to alcohol, drugs, or gambling, but when I’m ...
Do you associate holidays and birthdays with piles of brightly wrapped gifts? Many of us do. But this year, I’m taking a different approach to gift-giving. After helping my parents downsize their possessions, I don’t want to add another unn...