The $3K mistake I made in Africa, and why I don’t regret it
Hey everyone! It's been a while. I just got back from a 3-week trip to Africa, and it was incredible! My husband and I spent half of our time in South Africa on safari, and the other half on the beach of a tiny island called Mauritius. I've wanted to visit Africa for...
How to build momentum in the midst of financial overwhelm
Hi there! First of all, I'd like to acknowledge that it's been a while since I've posted here! I've been working really hard on some exciting new projects that I can't wait to tell you all about soon - so I promise my absence will have been worth your while. I read a...
How cake decorating can inform your money story
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had the privilege of making the "smash cake" for my husband's godson's 1st birthday, as part of a larger discussion around the link between money and happiness. I know I said I would share pictures, but it turns out there's even...
Ways to build your credit and get free stuff
Build credit, get free stuff. Sounds pretty good, right? Credit cards can be an excellent way to meet both of those objectives, but as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. Today I'd like to share what's in my wallet and why. I'll also share the...
The missing link between money and happiness
I have always been fascinated by studies on the relationship between money and happiness. As a rough benchmark, once you're earning more than $75K annually (it varies by state), any increase in pay pretty much does not move the happiness needle at all. Startling,...
My top 3 considerations for avoiding buyer’s remorse
"Knowing what you know now about money, do you regret buying that?" This question came up recently in reference to a Louis Vuitton bag I was carrying (and from a person who knows I own several). The short answer to that question is: No, I don't regret buying it....
Why I’m happy I was robbed in Europe
I went to Europe for about two months after graduation, with nothing but a credit card to finance the adventure. I was crazy frugal and basically ate protein bars and crackers I'd brought from America for the first month, mapped out all of the free museum days and...
A starter guide to setting an annual budget
The New Year has arrived! Even though I don't set resolutions, I do have some January traditions that I really look forward to. The most important one, in my opinion, is the process of setting the annual budget for our household. Yes, I honestly look forward to it!...
Why I don’t set New Year’s Resolutions anymore
New Year's Eve is upon us! Many of us will spend the day trying to come up with resolutions we'd like to implement in the new year. Others (myself included) have decided to ditch resolutions altogether. Let me explain why. Have you ever set a resolution for a new...
The very best Christmas gifts
We're a week away from Christmas Eve! This is by far my favorite time of year, but it also leaves me a little conflicted in the ramp-up to the big day. You see, I'm a minimalist, but gift-giving is also one of the primary ways I express love and appreciation. I'm...