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: mindful spending
Is Pursuing FI Making Me More Neurotic?
One of my best friends went back to school a few years ago and for a psychology assignment she had to interview people about the “Big 5” Personality Traits -- openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. She asked me to rank myself from 1-5 for each -- 5 indicating that I most strongly associate that… Continue reading Is Pursuing FI Making Me More Neurotic?
Why We’re Not Having a Frugal Wedding…But How We’re Keeping Some Costs Down
Personal Finance bloggers are known to buck trends representative of middle-class lifestyles and signs of status. They downsize their homes even as their income grows, sell their cars and bike to work instead, refuse to buy consumer goods for a whole year, and countless other examples that defy mainstream narratives of "success." The expectation to… Continue reading Why We’re Not Having a Frugal Wedding…But How We’re Keeping Some Costs Down
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
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
Conscious Consumption: Getting Something On Sale is NOT a Marginal Benefit
Shoppers love a good deal. If you’re like me, the rush of getting something on sale is borderline euphoric. I was raised by a wonderful woman who lived for sales. During my childhood, I spent Saturdays with my mom hunting for bargains at yard sales, moving sales, rummage sales, thrift stores, you name it. I’m… Continue reading Conscious Consumption: Getting Something On Sale is NOT a Marginal Benefit
My Economics Education 