Un-cool living to get more from life
We have a plan for our lives — a plan to save as much money as possible, so we can become financially independent in the next ten years, and then do whatever we want with the rest of our lives. You could call us Mustachians or Early Retirement Extremists, but really we just like the idea of being able to decide how to spend our time without worrying about a paycheck.
7 super-easy ways to eat healthier food on a budget
Recently I decided that I should probably stop eating lunch from the fast food place across the road from where I work, and that existing solely on oven fries and breaded chicken did not a happy Kitty make. Along the way I found some quick and easy things that I could do to improve the quality of my food whilst still being on a tight budget.
Earning extra income at home by doing laundry
There are a lot of articles and blogs out there about making money from home, most of these are targeted at stay at home moms and include things like, “Get a job as a virtual assistant” or, “Sell your handmade goods through an Etsy shop.” These are great ideas, and I am sure they work for a lot of people, but in my experience with this a lot more time is spent scouring the interwebs for opportunities than actually generating any income. What I have found works best for me is low tech and old fashioned. I wash clothes and I bake bread.
When is saving money more important than living in a great place?
I live in the wonderfully offbeat city of Portland, right in the thick of things. I love where I live, like LOVE LOVE where I live. I can walk anywhere I could possibly need or want, and our apartment is adorably vintage. Problem is, I’m about to have to take a major pay-cut. It seems more financially responsible to move, but it’s good for our souls to live here. All that to say, when is saving more important than living in a great place?
How do you curb impulse spending?
The combination of a steady income, no huge financial responsibilities other than rent, and the ease of online shopping has meant that I have been spending money (and acquiring things) more quickly than I would like to. I know a good solution is not to browse in the first place (even if all the shoes do look pretty…), but I’m wondering what strategies other homies might have when it comes to resisting impulse purchases either online or in a store.
Help! My life is stuck in a rut
We feel like our life is stuck in a never ending rut of my student loan repayment and unemployment. We are desperate to move into our own place but it never seems possible. Has anyone else ever been stuck like this? How did you find a way out, even a place to start?
Why you should try busking: Yes, even you!
Earlier this year, I took a singer-songwriter course at a local cultural institute, to improve my songwriting. Our tutor encouraged us to play in public as much as possible. Go to open mics, play family parties, play for your friends until they beg you to stop, and also: busk. I’m not here to give you busking tips though; I haven’t got nearly enough experience for that yet. I just want to explain to you why busking is AWESOME, and why you should consider doing it if you play an instrument (or have other performance skills).
Why every home needs a terramundi money pot
We bought our first terramundi — a traditional Etruscan money pot — when I was pregnant. Over five years, we managed to fill eight pots. We filled each one to bursting, until they were a real struggle to carry. They had already moved with us once, when we left Scotland for England two years ago. But we decided they should not make the next move. And in smashing them all open before our move, we fell even further in love with the idea that every house should have a terramundi pot.