Decisions

On being kicked out of my apartment, or Nothing is unexpected

  Have you ever rented a place, and been very comfortable there, only to receive a voicemail message from your landlord that started like this: “I don’t know how to say this to you, but I just wanted to say … Read MoreRead More

On questioning the extravagance of eating out

  I’m in London now, my first time here in a while. (Put it to you this way: the London Eye is new to me, and last time, there was no distinction between the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern.) … Read MoreRead More

Why not to get the London Pass (or any multiple attraction ticket)

  It’s a standard part of the American vacation: We only have limited time, so let’s try and see as much as possible! It’s an understandable impulse, especially if you don’t assume you will return. However, there are of course … Read MoreRead More

The absolute best way to use frequent flyer miles

  I’m going on a big trip starting this week, and I’m really excited about it! I’ve hinted about it in previous posts, but I wanted to lay it all out here so you can share in my excitement and … Read MoreRead More

How to lose 20 pounds on the Slow-Carb Diet (without eating meat)

My experience on losing weight with the Tim Ferriss “Slow-Carb Diet”, as made famous in his The Four Hour Body book. I live a good life here in Portland. Almost too good at times. With excellent food at overly reasonable prices … Read MoreRead More

How to do college wrong

  There were parts of college that I did pretty stupidly. I mean, I guess everyone is stupid in college in some way, but I mean that I made some decisions (or rather, didn’t make some decisions) that I would … Read MoreRead More

How entering the job market during a downturn is like a disability

  Media likes to talk about “Millennials“. And there’s nothing that is said about them that isn’t a total contradiction. Are they slackers who just want to pursue their dreams without having to pay any dues? Or are they all … Read MoreRead More

How to succeed at your first month of budgeting

  Let’s say you finally decided to make a change and create a budget for your finances. Perhaps you’ve become suitably inspired, or, like the parable of the burning building, the alternative had become that much worse. So what do … Read MoreRead More

A month of living cash-only

  I’ve talked about how to spend money. When you think about it, it’s a surprisingly complex decision, and one that takes place many times a day. I’ve hammered home the point about the dangers of putting everyday spending on … Read MoreRead More

The importance of a shared financial strategy for couples

  In my post about how couples can combine their finances, I ended by stating that if there was any wrong answer on the many ways that such commingling was possible, it was to not talk about your strategy. If … Read MoreRead More