It seems cliche, but there’s something about the start of a new year that makes you get off your butt and do things. Especially those heinous financial tasks you’ve been putting off forever. And when I say ‘you’ I really mean me. Even though my husband and I don’t have standard debt, and have a […]
My $6,000 Mistake–and How My Credit Card Saved Me
Here’s a reason why you might want to have an emergency fund. Say you rent a car in LA, decline the insurance, and drop off the car right on time. Per usual. Then the car rental clerk takes you outside to point out a two-inch dent on the passenger-side door. Well, here’s a first: you […]
My Favorite Reader Comments from 2018
One of the best notes I’ve ever received is when someone said they’d always come back to my blog just to read through the comments. So instead of recapping everything I did last year, today I wanted to shift the focus on you guys! Because this blog isn’t anything without the community. Here are my […]
How I Deal When I’m Not 100% Feeling My Job
I’m writing this on a Sunday, which means that like most people, I’ve got the Sunday Scaries. “I can’t wait until Monday,” said no one ever. As it turns out, 85% of the world isn’t thrilled with their jobs. I obnoxiously fall into the other 15%. My boss is one of the best I’ve ever had, […]
Cost Breakdown: An Elevated Two-Week Trip Through Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is one of those destinations where I could probably visit over and over again and never get tired of it. Even if I get ripped off. To me, it has it all: mouth-watering food with unique flavor profiles, authentic traditional culture, world-famous natural wonders, and most importantly, it can accommodate a range of […]
How to Effectively Ask for a Raise (from Someone Who’s Done It Twice)
*I’m back in NYC, but jetlagged like crazy, so my friend the Financial Mechanic is here today to talk about the ever-important topic: how to effectively advocate for a raise! There’s a huge gap in content about making more money, and if you’re nervous about asking for a raise (because yeah, it’s terrifying), then who […]
Hello from Southeast Asia: A Postcard from Vietnam and Laos
If you’re wondering if I’m still alive, I’ve been traveling through Southeast Asia for the past few weeks, and seemed to have lost track of time. What day is it again? After some social media check-ins, I’ve caught up on a couple of events that have gone down back home: New York City had an […]