Earn, Save, and Live Joyfully.
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 the doctor’s office. In the worst-case scenario, we would pay $6,000 … Read more
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. But deep down, I feared that same future. … Read more
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 2020, I decided to make it a tradition. In 2022, I published thirty-six posts on the topics of minimalism, financial independence, and exploring money mindsets and presented “How … Read more
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, something they need, something to wear, and something to read, you’ve got your kids … Read more
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 generate a giant wish list that everyone in the family can … Read more
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 holiday bargains. So what did I buy? A Fitbit Watch … Read more
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 than our kid-free days, but with careful planning … Read more
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 Christmas or celebrate a minimalist Christmas this year? Check out the simplicity of the four-gift-giving rules. Want Need Wear Read: Christmas Gift … Read more
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’t written about cash back websites in forever, but in case … Read more
It’s easy to spend inordinate amounts of time and money pursuing happiness while forgetting that joy can exist at any moment on any given day. When we think about happiness we often picture expensive outings and special occasions. We imagine traveling to exotic locations or spending money on extravagant meals, but the greatest gifts in … Read more