Earn, Save, and Live Joyfully.
Did you ever keep a money jar growing up or a savings jar where you stored all of your loose change? I did. I searched for pennies in stores and saved up the nickels and dimes from my weekly chores. When I got home, I raced to my room to hear the coins plink against … Read more
When I turned sixteen, my parents bought me a ten-year-old used Ford Escort. After a stream of thank yous and lots of big hugs, I took it out for a spin. I hopped in, manually cranked down the windows, popped a tape into the in-dash cassette deck, and drove straight to my friend’s house. Beater … Read more
Financial inequality occurs when one partner earns significantly more than another. Money imbalances in relationships aren’t unusual. It’s rare for two working partners to make the same amount of money each month, but this imbalance can wreak havoc on your relationship. Ten years ago, I walked away from my high-paying career to become a stay-at-home mom. Although I … Read more
“If you need anything, let me know,” a good friend said after telling her about my dad’s recent diagnosis. “Do you need anything?” another friend asked later that day. “I’d love a hug,” I said in response. As news of my dad’s illness spreads, I keep hearing the question in different forms. What do you need? … Read more
What does it mean if you dream about stealing money? If you dream about stealing money, you may feel anxious, stressed, or scared. Perhaps you are taking significant risks or interacting with people who are not good influences. These dreams occur when you fight with someone or in a disagreement that threatens your long-term relationships. … Read more
Last week I wrote about protecting and managing my parents’ money, but I didn’t write about the heartache involved in taking over the task. Money management isn’t a problem. I know how to help my parents financially. It’s my parents’ health that keeps me up at night. My dad was recently diagnosed with advanced-stage esophageal cancer. … Read more
The phone rings. “I need you to take me to the emergency room,” my dad says calmly. “My bloodwork shows some abnormalities, and my doctor wants me to go to the hospital.” It’s eight o’clock on Monday morning. I search for my shoes, provide the contractors modifying our new home with instructions, and race out the door. … Read more
The past forty-five days have been a whirlwind of events. We bought a house, packed our belongings, sold our place, and moved. Clearing out the old house was more difficult than I thought it would be. “I’m a minimalist,” I always tell myself, but the truckload of boxes we lugged suggest otherwise. Reducing Moving Costs While … Read more
Are you buying a house in 2021? It’s been a wild ride for us. But, thankfully, after facing limited inventory, ridiculous bidding wars, all-cash offers, and nearly purchasing the wrong place, we finally found a home we love. So what comes next? A race to the settlement date, which includes applying for financing for the first time … Read more
In America, we traditionally measure success by the amount of stuff we accumulate and own. We admire bigger houses, luxury vehicles, and extravagant vacations, and spend our days earning money to pay for all those treasures. But, in doing so, we disregard the most valuable resource: our time. What if we stopped using stuff to measure … Read more