Blog

Blog

Musings on personal finance and more. Not written with AI since 2012.

Travel hacking to get free hotels

Posted by on | Featured

  I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Gwangju, South Korea. The question that invariably popped up whenever I told anyone that I was staying in Gwangju (even Koreans all said this) was, “why!?” Yikes, do they know something I … Read More … Read More

Tags: , , ,

Accept when your plans are changed

Posted by on | Featured

  It was to be a good day. I could make it to the ferry terminal with enough time not to have to rush (for once). The ferry would be a leisurely two hour ride to the island of Jeju, … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,

How avoiding conflict can ruin everything

Posted by on | Featured

  Greetings from the Shinkansen. While on my travels, I got to talking with a guy who had lived in Japan for a while. We talked openly about our lives (in that way that happens surprisingly frequently in situations when … Read More … Read More

Tags: , , , , ,

How to feel like an infant (in a good way)

Posted by on | Featured

  I approached the packed little restaurant with interest and apprehension. I say “little restaurant,” but it was really just a hallway with a kitchen and some chairs shoehorned into it. I tried to place an order via the universal … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,

How to enjoy your travels more (and come home less exhausted)

Posted by on | Featured

  It’s a gorgeous Spring day here in Tokyo. Sunny, warm, light breeze. There’s a bird outside saying “‘Caw’” like it’s got scare quotes around it. “‘Caw.’ I’m a bird, it’s what I say. ‘Caw.’” And here I am, inside, … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,

How to determine how much money you need to travel

Posted by on | Featured

  Warning: this post contains math. I want to expand on a point I made last time about reasons people don’t travel: namely not having enough money. I’ve been having an ongoing conversation where I’m trying to convince someone to … Read More … Read More

Tags: , , , ,

Why you don’t travel more

Posted by on | Featured

  “I wish I could travel more.” Oh, if I had a frequent flyer mile for every time I’ve heard this lament. Travel appears to be the universal wish. Even the usual mileposts of marriage, kids, and house don’t seem … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,

What does this have to do with anything?

Posted by on | Featured

  Recently, the Strong Towns blog linked to one of my posts about car dependency. This was awesome, as Strong Towns is one of those blogs high enough to be a member of my esteemed “check most frequently” list. I … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,

Fool yourself into savings

Posted by on | Featured

  I’ve been preparing for my latest adventure recently. And while this involves things like digging out my passport, buying travel guides, and maybe booking some lodging (I always wait until the last minute on this), one of the more … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,

Three reasons to avoid bullet points

Posted by on | Featured

  If you write for a living or even just as a hobby, and there’s any component of advice or help in your work, it’s important to be able to get your point across in as effective a manner as … Read More … Read More

Tags: , , ,