Decisions

Why signing up for an accelerated mortgage payment plan is a bad idea

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  Did you ever notice how when you move and submit one of those change-of-address forms, your new mailbox is automatically inundated with tons of ads for unnecessary crap? Entreaties to sign up for services like the Gravel of the … Read More … Read More

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3 reasons to get a post office box

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  I visited Portland for the summer before I moved there. While I was there, I signed up for a post office (PO) box for getting mail. My thinking was that it would be nice (and possibly advantageous) to jumpstart … Read More … Read More

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What to do about employee expenses

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  I currently have a “day job”, as my own projects, such as my integrative financial coaching service, aren’t self-sustaining (yet). As part of this day job, I’m sometimes asked to travel. It’s always on the company dime, but nevertheless, it’s … Read More … Read More

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Did I take my own mortgage advice?

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  So the papers are signed and the move is complete. I’ll be living out of boxes for what feels like forever, but that doesn’t matter. I’m a homeowner now. I’m also back into debt, as I have a mortgage now. … Read More … Read More

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The best time to travel is coming up soon!

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  It’s getting to be my favorite time of the year in the US for flying! Planes will be empty, fares will be cheap, airports will be a breeze to get to and around in. I’ve already booked a flight, and … Read More … Read More

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One surefire way to pare down your possessions

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  There’s a lot of talk these days about minimalism. Apparently, we’ve all gotten so good at acquiring stuff that there now is a trend toward pairing down. It used to be that whoever had the largest house, the biggest amount … Read More … Read More

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Important versus urgent: Applying the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to your finances

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  I’ve increasingly found it important to determine whether something is important or whether it is just urgent, as I think that we all (myself included) tend to confuse the two. I just recently learned that the matrix of the … Read More … Read More

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You don’t need a data plan

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  I willingly raised my cell phone bill by 17% recently. That sounds punishing and predatory, until I tell you that it went from $30/month to $35/month. While my new plan had a limit of minutes and texts per month, … Read More … Read More

What to do first when you get an unexpected windfall

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  Some situations are outside of our control. An unexpected job loss. An unexpected medical situation. These are all situations when you really need an emergency fund to get you through. But perhaps I’m too focused on the negative. While … Read More … Read More

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My mortgage principle that I broke (sort of)

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  Finances and emotions. They go together like one explosively codependent couple. Don’t be fooled by my focus in the numbers side of the situation; I’m not immune to fear and anxiety either. I’m going through the process of becoming … Read More … Read More

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