Today I’m undertaking a good, old-fashioned closet cleanout. I’m rolling up my sleeves, clearing the racks, and embarking on a no-holds-barred closet purge. What do you see when you open your closet? Is it full of so many things you can’t squeeze another item inside? Is it overrun by unworn clothes you thought you’d love …
What financial facts would your family need to know if you became incapacitated or unexpectedly died? What documents would you need to gather, and what questions should you answer before the need arises? I’ve been managing my aging parent’s finances for a few months now, but I still have many questions. Yesterday, my dad and I sat …
This summer, I became an official member of the sandwich generation. After my dad’s cancer diagnosis in August, I began caring for my aging parents while raising my two boys. In August, I took over management of my parent’s finances, and I did so without any pushback from them. Why was the transition so easy? Because …
It’s been thirty days since I last published a post on this blog. Last month, I wrote about self-care guilt and my desire to care for myself without feeling bad about it. Over the past month, I’ve spent hours in doctor’s appointments with my dad, and when I come home, I’m exhausted. Writing is usually my go-to …
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “comparison is the thief of joy,” which means comparisons steal our satisfaction and rob us of long-term happiness. When we compare ourselves to others, we feel inadequate and inferior. In this negative frame of mind, we permit envy and jealousy to grow. Comparisons don’t fill our hearts with joy. Instead, they …
Self-care is defined as taking an active role in protecting your well-being and happiness. When you practice self-care, you carve out time to focus on your physical and mental health. For years, I struggled with self-care guilt. If I took time for myself, I was taking time away from everything that should matter in my …
Every year you receive a pile of invoices from primary care doctors, specialists, insurance companies, and imaging facilities. Have you ever wondered how long you should keep medical bills? At a minimum, you’ll want to hold onto medical bills for one to three years after you pay them, but if you have a health savings …
I type the phrase money isn’t everything into my keyboard. Then I stare at the words. Is that statement true? We often think of the world in terms of black and white. Ideas are true or false, and people are good or evil, but the truth is rarely this straightforward. Most things exist in the …
Have you ever heard of minimalist money? How about financial minimalism or financial minimalists? The word minimalism is often associated with simplifying and decluttering our possessions, but minimalism isn’t limited to our physical environment. Minimalism can help us streamline every aspect of our lives, including our finances. What is Financial Minimalism? Minimalism means doing more …
What does it mean when you dream about paper money? It depends precisely on what that money looks like and what you did with it. What happened to the notes you saw in your money dreams? Dreaming of Paper Money Meaning Dreaming of paper money is usually a sign of good things to come. It typically …