It's time to re-write the scripts and get an updated view on what's the "ideal" income for peak happiness! It's about time, right? Obviously, cocktail parties will never be the same if we are throwing around old numbers. Over the last decade that happiness income number has always been quoted at around $70,000 to [...]
Is it dangerous to play with FIRE and ICE for retirement? If so, what's your retirement path? I read a thought provoking article the other day titled "Retire Early? Work Forever? Both Are Wildly Unrealistic" by Sarah Green Carmichael. The article touches on the recent concept of FIRE (financial independence, retire early) and the [...]
Money is definitely a theme in the music world just as it is in the world of relationships. That's probably because money is a big driver of emotions and decisions in relationships. It's rich territory for writing songs that people can connect with from their own experiences and lives. In fact, bands have produced [...]
It's spring! The days are getting longer, the sun is getting stronger, and the temperatures are rising. That means it will soon be time to put in my vegetable garden. I'm sure you are asking what the heck is the connection between gardening and your financial life. Let's take a look at how the [...]
How to you prioritize your spending? Do you spend your money on what you want to like moments and experiences, fulfillment, enjoyment, and social connection? OR what you have to like the big mortgage, keeping up the fancy house, the shiny car, and keeping up with the Jones? That's an important question to understand and [...]
Well ok. I will start with the embarrassing story. Let's get it over with sooner than later. Also because it's the reason for my tale about the value of being handy. Not Enough Coffee? I was really excited to go skiing one recent Saturday morning. I do love to ski. The plan was to meet [...]
Why does house size matter? Bigger is better, right? Apparently so because in the last 45 years the average new single family home in the United States is 1000 square feet bigger! Another way to look at that is the average square foot of house per person has gone from 551 square feet to 1058 [...]
I bumped into this idea a few months ago when I was negotiating with a contractor on some work that was performed at my house that had some bumps and issues in the process. As I was imaging our negotiations beforehand, I was ready for his statement along the lines of "but we are a [...]
Let's get real on comparing our financial life to others and the resulting negative self talk. "Look at that. Look at them go. Wow, they are doing so well. Everything always goes right for them. How did they do it? Geez. I could never do that. I'm so far behind. They just got lucky. I'm [...]
I enjoy food and good eating. I like to cook a wide variety of good and tasty meals. Ethnic food is definitely a treat to me with all the variety of spice flavors and food combinations. It's a never ending smorgasbord of food tasting opportunity. It's also important to share meals together with family [...]