In 2021 I moved from Santa Barbara to Amsterdam and made it my goal to spend more. This report will go into detail about every dollar I spent in 2021.
Every Book I Read Last Year
One silver lining about all of the lockdowns and stay-home orders last year was that I ended up getting a lot of time to read.
The Results of My Anti-Frugality Experiment of 2021
I had a unique New Year’s resolution this year for a frugal financial blogger. While many people vow to get their spending under control, create budgets, or start investing (all very noble goals), I thought I could try something new. After living extremely frugally for years, I wanted to try something totally different: spending more. […]
Self Care Gift Ideas for Someone Who’s Had a Rough Year
Life has been tough for so many people lately, and it’s hard to imagine anyone who hasn’t had at least some struggles over the past year or two. These self care gift ideas are perfect for someone who’s had a rough time to give them a little pick me up.
Is Everyone High And Other Questions About Living in The Netherlands (Part 2)
Tons of people responded to my last post answering questions about living in The Netherlands, and it seemed to spark even more questions. I decided to write a Part 2 to make sure I could answer follow-up queries. This time I’m tackling more stereotypes, some money management tips abroad, and other things I’ve learned as […]
5 Most Asked Questions About Living Abroad in The Netherlands (Part 1)
I arrived in The Netherlands seven months ago, in the middle of spring hailstorms. Now the leaves are changing color and more people are asking about how my experience has been so far, beyond just working abroad. There were many things I was warned about before I moved: that it would be hard to make […]
What It’s Like Working in the Netherlands As An Expat
Shockingly I’ve lived in The Netherlands for 6 months now. After getting my bearings, I’ve had a decent amount of time to get adjusted to living and working in an entirely new culture. One of the questions I get the most is about what it’s like working in The Netherlands at a Dutch company. Is […]
Should I Take A Mini-Retirement or Stick It Out? (WITH AN UPDATE!)
A lot has happened since you created this blog post about my dilemma: Should I Take A Mini-Retirement or Stick It Out? A quick update from my side…
How Financial Independence Let Me Leave An Abusive Relationship
“But what do I do about all of my things?” I asked, standing in the hallway with my phone pressed up against my ear. All day I’d been shaking with adrenaline, my fight or flight instinct on high alert. “I remember that one of my biggest worries when I left was my stuff, but I’ll […]
I Didn’t Save Any Money Last Month
“How much is it? Actually, wait, you know what, just put it in the cart.” After the words came out of my mouth, my sister looked at me like I had grown another head. We both come from a family of famed frugality, so she wondered what had gotten into me. May was my anti-frugal, […]