A few years ago, I went into my local bank branch to do a wire transfer. I wrote my name on the check-in sheet and helped myself to a free cup of coffee in the waiting area. After a few minutes, a well-groomed young fellow in a suit and tie came over to greet me. As he reached to shake my hand, I noticed his eyes looking me up and down, studying my old t-shirt, dirty jeans,
Life
2020 Money Goals: Mid-Year Review/Revise/Remove!
Happy Monday, personal finance nerds! This week we cross over the halfway mark for the year 2020. Oh man, what a crazy year it's been so far. When I sat down and wrote my 2020 money goals back in January, I had no clue about the poopstorm of events we were about to experience ... One of the biggest stock market crashes in history Immediately followed by one of the
Things I learned while taking a sabbatical
Since taking time off of work, I’ve had a ton of epiphanies. Most of them happened within 90 days of quitting my job. But even now, after a two-year sabbatical, I’m still discovering new things about my relationship with “work.” Let’s rewind a bit … Thinking about taking a sabbatical from work It was early 2018 and I was feeling run down, unappreciated, and a little lost.
Engagement Rings 💍 A Contest + Fun Facts
Happy Friday, y’all! Here are some fun facts about engagement ring bling to take your mind off of this yo-yo stock market! But first, let’s have a little Budgets Are Sexy competition ... Do you think you could win one of these engagement ring categories if you’re stacked up against other Budgets readers? Keep in mind that the average engagement ring cost was $5k (WOAH)
How Much Do Dogs Cost? I’ve Spent $14,000 (so far)
How much do dogs cost? Last month we had to rush my dog to the vet. Well actually it was my wife who took him to the vet … I’m a huge wimp when it comes to blood and doctors and stuff. Anyway, Cooper had ripped off one of his dew claws at the dog park. He was born with a few extra toes on his back feet, and they’ve never really been a problem until now. Not sure how he
Farewell, my friends!
Well this is The Day, my friends!! 12 years, 3 months and 17 days since writing my first post here, and now it's time to say farewell! Eek! We sure had fun though, didn't we??? And got a lot OLDER in the process? Lol... I started this blog in my 20s and ended in my 40s! With kids and a mortgage and a dog! :) But what a ride... and I've subtly changed in a number of
My Favorite Reads This Month 💎
Morning! I don't know why people keep saying they have so much more time during these quarantine days than normal as it's only shrunken for us (these kids nip at us 24/7!), but if you're one of those fortunate ones, perhaps some of these articles will help you pass the time more enjoyably :) Below's a mix of my favorite financial and lifestyle reads from the month that
Financial Sayings I Wish Were True!
Here are a bunch of financial phrases I wish were true, along with some that I'm glad are not. If you ever wondered what I do on my spare time, this is it :) ****** Being worth your weight in gold At gold hovering around $1,770/oz currently, I'd be worth approximately $4,956,000! Having a license to print money Yes please! Cash cow That would be cool to see
Did you get a Stimulus Check? What did you end up doing with it?
Saw some stats on how people are using them, and thought it would be interesting to compare with our own community here :) Here's what SmartAsset.com found when they polled 1,300+ people: More than half of adults – 52.09% – said they primarily plan to use their stimulus check on needs such as rent and food. Putting the money into savings was the next most popular category,
Crappy Jobs on My Path to FIRE
[Hey guys! Please welcome 5 AM Joel back to the site today as he starts transitioning into his new role here while I go the opposite way at the end of the month... Really really enjoyed this post of his, and hoping you do too! See ya back on Monday!] ******* Check out that old name tag up above... Yep, I used to work at McDonald's. Started back in 1999 when I was 14
