After recognizing and confronting my “money neuroticism,” I’ve taken a break from obsessing about money. In my last post I observed how “the ruthless pursuit of statistics and numbers can cloud the true goal of FI -- freedom,” so I’m actively focusing on the big picture of financial independence. By consciously adopting a looser approach… Continue reading Forgiving Money Mistakes
Tag: budget
How To Start A Clothes Buying Ban
I could go on for hours about the personal and environmental benefits of a clothes buying ban. Simply choosing to refuse to buy clothes, shoes, and accessories for 15 months (with some exceptions) helped me learn so much. The ironic thing was that during my ban I never said the phrase, “I don’t have anything… Continue reading How To Start A Clothes Buying Ban
Why I Did a Clothes Buying Ban (and you* should too!)
Why Should You Do A Clothes Buying Ban? If you look into a packed closet and struggle to find something to wear, a clothes buying ban is for you. If you find yourself constantly browsing online stores and adding more to your cart just to get free shipping, a clothes buying ban is for you.… Continue reading Why I Did a Clothes Buying Ban (and you* should too!)
Summer Budget Busters or: How I’m Learning To Stop Worrying and Love (Some) Spending
This year is almost halfway over and I’m delighted to announce that my personal spending is lower than last year in every category of my budget. And without the worry of paying off my private student loan (I bid them good riddance in December!), the balances in my savings and investment accounts are higher also.… Continue reading Summer Budget Busters or: How I’m Learning To Stop Worrying and Love (Some) Spending
Money Lessons of the Traveling Pants
Reflecting on the Impact of One Purchase - Yes, this is a post about buying one thing 🙃 The first time I went to Europe I felt compelled to buy souvenirs from each country we visited on my high school trip. A small painting of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A decorative spoon from Lucerne.… Continue reading Money Lessons of the Traveling Pants
Budget Alignment: You Are What You Spend
When I think of budgeting, I think of dating. A few years ago I went on a really good first date. We met up after he finished work and laughed for hours about quotes from some of our favorite movies. I even stayed out past my bedtime on a school night 😬. At one point… Continue reading Budget Alignment: You Are What You Spend
Let’s Talk About Money, Baby
Last week I dreamed about my private student loans. In my dream--or rather my nightmare--I received a call to inform me I still had $5000 remaining on the private student loans I paid off last year. I was absolutely distraught in my dream, as I would have been in real life. Those two private loans… Continue reading Let’s Talk About Money, Baby
Budgeting Lesson Plan: Teaching Basic Budgeting Skills to High Schoolers (Part III)
Lesson Plan Part III: Prioritizing Mindful Spending to Maximize Happiness We're finally to the fun part of budgeting -- spending money on the things that make us happy! If you haven't read Part I or Part II of my lesson plan, please start there for an overview of estimating net pay and bills for students.… Continue reading Budgeting Lesson Plan: Teaching Basic Budgeting Skills to High Schoolers (Part III)
Budgeting Lesson Plan: Teaching Basic Budgeting Skills to High Schoolers (Part II)
Lesson Plan Part II: Estimating Bills This post continues the lesson plan introduced in Part I. Part II: Bills, Bills, Bills Nobody likes bills unless Destiny's Child sings about them After students figure out their rough net pay from Part I of the budgeting assignment, now starts the "not-so-fun" part -- figuring out their monthly… Continue reading Budgeting Lesson Plan: Teaching Basic Budgeting Skills to High Schoolers (Part II)
Budgeting Lesson Plan: Teaching Basic Budgeting Skills to High Schoolers (Part I)
Lesson Plan Part I: Estimating Net Pay Budgeting is one of the backbones of money management and personal finance. Understanding what’s coming in and what’s going out can help a household pinpoint areas to improve savings rates, prioritize spending on things that truly matter, and plan for expected goals as well as unexpected emergencies. I’m… Continue reading Budgeting Lesson Plan: Teaching Basic Budgeting Skills to High Schoolers (Part I)
My Economics Education 