Going back to dance after more than a decade away made me more nervous than I expected. This week I took a beginning-to-intermediate contemporary dance class with two friends. There was a feelings circle, a warm-up that looked a lot like yoga, and an Olivia Rodrigo routine we had to perform at the end. My…
Prefer to listen? Press play below, or keep reading for hightlights. In this Money Monday episode, I share the 7 simple habits that helped me go from a broke college student with a “shotgun” 401(k) to early retirement. We cover embracing your inner frugalista, keeping housing costs low, the 3 questions to ask before any…
Prefer to listen? Press play below, or keep reading for highlights. The last time I recorded an episode was early 2020. Nothing about my life today looks like it did six years ago. Some of that was my own choosing, and some of it was life happening whether I wanted it to or not. This…
Love and Friendship in 3 Stages Inspired by secure attachment and evolved dating wisdom In a world full of dating apps, ghosting, and fast feelings, Detached Dating offers a different way to approach connection. It’s not about playing games or being emotionally unavailable. It’s about being intentional, grounded, and clear-headed. This method isn’t about finding…
When You’re Lost and Don’t Know What to Do This morning when I woke up this thought came to my mind, “Bumper the ends of your day.” I’m heading into a new phase in life. I met my goal and retired young, about 10 years before the average. But now I have a thing my…
Sleepy Time, Travel, Food, Exercise I thought retirement would look just like days filled with all the things I wished I was doing while I was working, every day, in an office. I thought I’d be posting daily YouTube videos, working on my writing projects, exercising like a maniac and eating impeccably. Habits are Strong…
I love any excuse for a fresh start — like a new year. Forget the usual resolutions about fitness and finances – let’s explore three unique angles to make 2024 truly extraordinary. 1. Flipping the Script: Your Worst Year or Its Opposite Fast forward to December 2024 and envision the worst possible version of your…
Hello 2021! This is the year to simplify, make beautiful, create your plan for life. I’ve been obsessed with YouTube videos about minimal moms and other people that have taken a penchant for getting rid of stuff and having a home filled with only items they love. It’s very Marie Kondo.
When I was in law school, I used to say, “I want to be the richest woman in my law school graduating class.” I pronounced it so much that the guy I was dating, on the last day of school gave me a little hardbound book about money inscribed with my own quote.
This is the only thought I have for the day: picture your life at its busiest, most hectic and strung out. Do you remember days when you thought, “I wish the world would stop and let me off ?” I do. Well, today is that day. The world has stopped for at least a month.…
This is truly unprecedented times. No one can recall anything like this since the Spanish Flu in 1819. My friend who is 83 said her poet, orchestra, charismatic grandfather died at age 28. He got up one morning fine, died that night in his sleep. Spanish flu. She says that word of mouth through her…
Woohoo! We are entering a brand new decade and leaving 2010-2019 behind us. Did I mention I love new beginnings and fresh starts? It’s always a time to reflect on what we’ve done, what we’ve learned, and where we want to go. In fact, one of the best New Decade evaluations I did of my…
Put on those comfy clothes . . . And start hunkering down for a year-end assessment. The end of the year is a fine time to do the following financial housekeeping tasks that put you in the right frame of mind to tackle a new year. Make this last month of the year count (before…
There are a couple of things that for me, are critical to starting my day right. One of them is going to bed at a decent hour. The second is getting up early, but not too early. I consider 5:30 a.m. the middle of the night; 6:30 a.m. is a little better; somewhere between 6:45…
I was reviewing a documentary called “Diet Fiction” on Amazon Prime after someone had given it 1 star and called it “propaganda” for vegans and vegetarians. Another 1-star reviewer admitted they only watched 20 minutes. There are documentaries I like a bit better on the topic of healthful eating, but this one highlighted many of…
I have a new YouTube “crush.” And I mean crush like I mean a current Netflix show that I binge watch from Season 1 through Season 18. His name is Graham Stephan (pronounced gram stef-un). You know what they say about dating guys with two first names (yes, I mean you, Brett Brian and Drew…
Ever been in a penny pinching mode? We all have. And it’s usually temporary and fine, until it’s not. Until that day when everyone is staring at you, wondering why you won’t break down and just go to dinner already.
If you want to be the bomb with your money, and have lots of it over time, the key is prioritizing our wants. A Skinny book by Bettheny Frankel said something like, “You can have anything you want, you just can’t have it all at once.” It’s the same with money.
Keep it Super Simple. The number one way to stay in physical shape or money shape is to keep it super simple. Step 1 – Evaluate Your Money Fitness “Consult with a physician before starting any exercise routine.” In this case, you’re the doctor. There are three key numbers you need to know.
I remember years ago my then boyfriend told me about a guy who smoked a lot of pot and drank alcohol. And then would drive his kids in the car. Boyfriend proceeded to regale me with several more colorful stories about what a mess this guy was and how he habitually put his children’s lives…
Being stressed out about money will affect your teaching, consciously or unconsciously. Money troubles can make you unfocused and stressed, worrying about how many students are in the room instead of the quality of your teaching. Ippoliti, Amy & Smith, Taro, The Art and Business of Teaching Yoga (2016). I love this quote because it…
How Russell Simmons got it so right. If any of you don’t know, Russell Simmons, among many other accomplishments, is a founder of Def Jam records and Phat Farm clothing line. His book, Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple caught my eye on my way out of the library last week. I grabbed it and added it to my…
When it comes to improving our financial situations, I am a huge proponent of reading both about mind set and productivity. Recently, I checked out The 12 Week Year: Get more done in 12 weeks than others do in 12 months by Moran & Lennington. I liked it so much, I bought a copy for my personal…
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I love chips. And French fries. Sugar isn’t a big temptation, it’s more of a habit or a mood than a craving. As I get older, I become more and more aware that I can’t eat whatever I want and stay thin, much less healthy.
“Follow your passion” has been said so many times in the past two decades, I’m a little suspicious of the very phrase. Something rings inauthentic or untrue to me. When I hear this phrase, I get a bit leary that “follow your passion” is more coffee mug wisdom than a solid life strategy. When I…
What Happend in the Market This Week? Oh my goodness! If you have been watching the stock market at all the last five days, it was looking like a total “ice bath” or stock market meltdown. You know what I saw? EVERYTHING ON SALE!! And you know a girl loves a good sale. So on…
What is an Index Fund and Why Should I Care? I’m a huge fan of index funds. Before I started investing in index funds, I heard about them, but never understood what they were. I’d hear financial pundits say things like, “Most fund managers invest their own money in index funds.” Warren Buffet recommends long…
If you’re still wondering “why do a budget,” read our post here. If you’re ready to add a measure of peace to your emotional and money life, read how to create a budget that puts you in control and tells your money what to do, rather than the other way around…
If you’re wondering how spending and getting rich can exist in the same sentence, the answer is contained in one monthly discipline: a budget. A sexier way to say it: cash flow planning. When I talk about a budget with friends, I often hear, “Why do a budget?” or “That sounds horrible,” or “I…