One woman’s sacrifice set her up to achieve financial independence by the age of 31.
The Psychology of Poverty — How Adversity Taught Me The Lessons I Needed To FIRE
When Self-Care Gets In The Way
I used to have acne. Not just your typical teenage smattering of spots, but a full-blown pimple parade marching across my forehead, nose, and chin. When my birthdays ticked over from teens to twenties, the battle began in earnest. I tried everything—salicylic acid, oils and washes, and benzoyl peroxide that left my pillowcases and towels […]
Shit Finance Nerds Say
I just got back from a conference for finance content creators (bloggers, podcasters, youtubers, etc). What a bunch of nerds! I was walking with my friends Zach (Four Pillar Freedom) and Becky (TwentyFree) when we jokingly threw out all the money advice we’ve heard lately. We may have repeated some of this advice ourselves. Then […]
I Don’t Shave My Legs — The Hairy Topic of Beauty
I try to walk in my mom’s high heels, dressed for the day in pearls and a little blue dress. I want to be pretty. I’m three years old. The never-ending quest for beauty begins young. I’m twelve when a girl at school announces to the lunch table that I still don’t shave my legs, […]
7 Reflections On My First Year Blogging // A Peek Behind The Curtain
Exactly one year ago today, I hit “Publish” on my first post. My purpose for this blog was simple: I just wanted to write. I set my expectations low. It would have been okay if no one read the words I wrote. In fact, at first I didn’t share my content in any way. I […]
Seattle Roadtrip and Other February 2019 Expenses
Snow teased us in February. Reports warned of a record-breaking snowstorm headed our way. I saw the headlines for another “Snowmageddon” on Friday and started to get antsy– we were running low on food and last time it snowed the roads were treacherous. Preparing for the Storm Two years ago, I was trapped downtown for […]
How To Make Your Significant Other Hate FIRE
Here are some tried-and-true methods to get your partner to stop listening to you, ignore all of your advice, and make them second guess their choice of being with you in the first place.
Confessions of a Frugal Fraud
I was bent over my desk, studying, when I heard a muffled laugh from my roommate. The shifting glow of her screen lit up her face when I looked over. It was freshman year and we had just moved in, so our friendship was in the early stages: tentative but pleasant. She told me she […]
The Psychology of Money– 4 Ways Your Brain is Working Against You
If you are human, you likely have some hang-ups around money. Our brains are wired in ways that make money management difficult. In order to take control of your finances, it helps to understand the unconscious beliefs that underly your decisions. In the financial realm, there are four psychological phenomena that heavily weigh into our money […]
The Line Between Frugal and Cheap
Nobody wants to be called cheap. We dread being labeled a scrooge, likened to a mean, greedy recluse who would do anything to avoid parting from a penny. We want to be known for our generosity while still saving enough for ourselves. Those who decide to be money-wise are often nervous of being accused of […]