Blog

Blog

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

How avoiding conflict can ruin everything

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  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

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

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  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

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

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  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

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How to determine how much money you need to travel

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  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

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Why you don’t travel more

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  “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

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What does this have to do with anything?

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  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

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Fool yourself into savings

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  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

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Three reasons to avoid bullet points

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  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

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You are more than what you do

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  “I’m a musician.” I used to define myself that way. When people asked what I “did,” and if the context wasn’t obviously asking about my day job, that’s how I would respond. Music was such an integral part of … Read More … Read More

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Is there such a thing as good debt?

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  I said it for years: “…but it’s good debt.” More specifically: “I have [a stupid amount] in student loan debt, but it’s okay, because it’s good debt. I mean, at least it’s not credit card debt.” One day, though, … Read More … Read More

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