Earn, Save, and Live Joyfully.
They say there are only two certainties in life – death and taxes. So it seems particularly fitting that a money nerd like me would face a near death experience on tax day. The exact date: April 15th of 2005. I knew something wasn’t right long before that day. I’d felt sick for weeks. Unable to get … Read more
My husband is the type of guy who stays up late into the night. It’s not unusual for him to stay up until one or even two o’clock in the morning. I go to bed much later than I should, but most nights I call it quits between eleven and twelve. That means my husband … Read more
As a child I always cleaned my room before starting my homework. Even now I typically fold the laundry, empty the dishwasher and straighten up my children’s odds and ends before sitting down to work. I function better when horizontal spaces are free of clutter and vertical spaces are empty. I relish the sight of … Read more
My husband and I bought our first house at the age of twenty-two. When we signed the loan papers the closing agent looked me straight in the eye and said, “You are the youngest couple to ever sit across the table from me. You should be very proud of this accomplishment.” I remember feeling a … Read more
Life experiences can have a profoundly positive or negative impact on the way we think about money. When good things happen we view the world through rose colored glasses. When bad things occur we squint through shards of glass. How does your past impact your feelings about money? Do you face financial matters from a … Read more
Last summer I went in for a typical dental cleaning and asked the hygienist about an area where my gum is receding. Many moons ago the dentist nicked it while filling a cavity. I was told the gum would repair itself, but low and behold time has only made matters worse not better. The hygienist … Read more
There are twenty-four hours available in any given day. Is it just me or do those hours seem to pass in the blink of an eye? One minute you are rising out of bed and the next you are climbing back into it. Math has a funny way of playing tricks on our minds. Twenty-four … Read more
Many members of the FIRE community set dates for retirement. I constantly read things like I plan to retire in 5 years. I want to retire at age 40. I will no longer be working by age 45. I understand the premise behind these dates. If you set a specific goal you are more likely … Read more
As a personal finance enthusiast I read a lot about the so-called neighbors of the Joneses. Do you know these folks? This imaginary family that supposedly wants to purchase expensive cars, ginormous houses and extravagant vacations just to keep up with their neighbors. We are told their overwhelming envy and desire for social status forces … Read more
Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away I started writing this blog. Wait, wait, wait. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t in another galaxy, but right here on planet earth and maybe it wasn’t so long ago, but 2006 seems like ancient times doesn’t it? Especially since every FIRE blog I read, says “hey … Read more