I mentioned recently that I enjoyed reading Scott Adam’s book “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big.” He has a fantastic chapter on setting your activities to your inner clock and I highlighted this a bunch of times. …the single biggest trick for manipulating your happiness chemistry is being able to do what… Read More: How to feel in control »
I love your emails. I do. I know I haven’t replied to you or maybe I replied to you once, you replied back and then you never heard from me again. I’m terribly sorry. Please know that I’ve read it though and your kind words make my day, my week, my month, my life. Here… Read More: FAQ »
There’s no good way to describe the first four months of the year. I’ve used “trimester” in the past, but oops, that only means three months. Quadrimester would be more technically accurate, but I find that word a bit pretentious. Google suggests “tertile,” which I would like if it were more widely-used or I had a good turtle joke.… Read More: Updating Thriftygal’s Charts – Jan-Apr 2016 »
I mentioned recently how a drop of water told me to change my attitude, so now instead of despairing about not being as good as everyone else is at everything, I feel relieved that so many sophisticated people are working on life’s problems, thinking about how to make things better and sharing their knowledge. Think of the possibilities! Maybe humanity is not completely screwed after… Read More: Thanks, Trent »
Human beings are relative creatures. To appreciate and enjoy the world, you have to think comparatively. To that end, I have several items on my Life Bucket List that I hoped would give me some empathy on what other people go through and perhaps it would help me despise my “real” working life a bit less. I’ve… Read More: Bucket List Item – Be a Waitress »
Dear Dad, I’ve been officially “retired” for just over six months now and you still occasionally ask me if I have any income, if I plan to ever work as a lawyer again, if I have health insurance. I explain to you my numbers and my charts and that seems to appease you for the… Read More: A Letter to my Dad »
I’m not giving you legal advice. This is more organizational and motivational and…nondenominational advice. I know it’s macabre, but you should get your shit together, because you’re going to die. There’s no way to make this funny. I’m just going to plunge straight into content. I remember watching a young widow on one of those morning or afternoon… Read More: Create a Help-Your-Family Packet »
Recently I was visiting my parents and my dad asked me to check out their bundled bill for television, home phone and Internet. Their 12-month promotion had just expired and the price increased. I had recently convinced my dad to subscribe to my blog, so I think he wanted to test my personal finance skills and… Read More: Call and ask for a discount »
Pyramid schemes fall into the same category in my brain as timeshares and timeshare presentations. You might get suckered into the first meeting by a vague advertisement, but your financial avatar will walk away either exasperated or training for perpetual knife fights. Pyramid schemes are scams. It’s not a way to make money. It’s not a way to get rich quickly.… Read More: Pyramid Schemes: A lobotomy for your financial avatar »
The first time someone tried to sell me on the idea of going to a timeshare presentation, I have to admit that my first thought was “that doesn’t sound terrible.” The woman on the other end of the line promised me two plane tickets to Las Vegas and two nights in a hotel for only $99 and my… Read More: Timeshare Presentations: Throw your financial avatar into a cage match »