Every so often, I resurrect my gratitude journal. When I’m feeling particularly irritated and curmudgeonly, I drag it out of hiding. Before opening the cover, I take a deep breath, reframe my thoughts, and choose to be grateful. When life is going well, it’s easy to count my blessings. It’s easy to feel grateful when …
Stepping inside, I feel cramped and uncomfortable. The problem is obvious. There is too much stuff and not enough space. The room is full of oversized furniture and piles of unwanted objects. Large wooden shelves overflow with cookbooks, medical records, and toys. A stack of blankets and old pillows gathers dust in one corner, next to three …
In my twenties and early thirties, I considered myself a model of frugality. My definition of frugal living included saving, reducing spending, and fiscal restraint. I checked off the boxes for each of these tasks then patted myself on the back for a job well done. I thought highly of my thrifty ways, but I was far …
I often read about people who overindulge and get into debt but rarely see stories about individuals who struggle to buy things they need or want. For years I wrestled with an inability to part with money. No matter how much I earned, I never wanted to buy anything for myself. It took me forever …
We begin forming beliefs about money as we take in the sights and sounds of our parents handling financial matters. If our parents fight about money, we hear the tension in their voices. If they cry, we feel the stress of their worries and fears. Over time we fill in the gaps between what we …