Blog

Blog

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

How to book an award ticket in 785 easy steps

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  In my last post I talked about how adventure shouldn’t be postponed. To this end, I decided to redeem some of my frequent flyer miles for the first time ever. … Read More

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Don’t let your adventures expire

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  I’ve been collecting frequent flyer miles for over a decade, when I bought one of my first plane tickets on US Airways and absentmindedly signed up for their Dividend Miles program. At the time, it didn’t seem possible that … Read More … Read More

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Lift only one leg at a time, or how to move forward successfully

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  One <blank> at a time. You can fill in the blank with many possible answers. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. How do you recover from alcoholism or other diseases? One day at a … Read More … Read More

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Do you need to wear a suit to be seen as successful?

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  I attended a “speed networking” event recently. This was a fundamentally new experience for me (both the “speed” and the “networking” aspect) but it was hosted by a guy I knew from the Art of Non-Conformity community, so it … Read More … Read More

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How credit cards are like alcohol

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  Alcohol is dangerous; would anyone disagree? For me, while it’s something I’ve used from time to time, it’s never been something that I’ve felt like I had a problem with. I don’t have to keep going when I start. … Read More … Read More

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Who are you doing it for?

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  After I impetuously signed up for the Seattle to Portland ride last week, I found myself out on my bike, experimentally riding a dozen or so miles along the Willamette River, and getting used to the idea that I … Read More … Read More

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Be comfortable making mistakes

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  My step-brother-in-law is a pretty impressive guy. I don’t know him all that well (not that surprising given our slightly convoluted connection) but every time we meet up I hear about some interesting and complex project that he’s working … Read More … Read More

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Change your personal narrative

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  I was that kid in gym class that never got picked for anything. When they absolutely had to pick everyone for some event, I would be almost dead last, my mortification saved only by a few kids seemingly even … Read More … Read More

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Why do you feel poor?

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  Many people are feeling poor these days. “The down economy and all.” “So much debt.” “My rent keeps going up.” “Government taking more of my hard-earned money.” There are loads of reasons. There is a difference between feeling poor … Read More … Read More

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How to defeat the lawn mower army

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  Walk outside your house and look around on your street. Chances are that you can see maybe a dozen houses. Now I want to let you in on a secret: Everyone of those houses probably has a lawn mower. … Read More

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