Earn, Save, and Live Joyfully.
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
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 reaches $100,000, or you retire. Years ago, I met a woman whose kids … Read more
Have you heard the saying, “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime?” The quote suggests that people enter our lives for three reasons. To teach us lessons, guide us through specific periods, or join our life-long journey. People Come Into Your Life for a Reason, a Season, or a … Read more
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 subtraction brings happiness in ways that more stuff never could. By reducing the excess in my life, … Read more
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 stressed and overwhelmed by life, I turn to organizing … Read more