PERSONAL FINANCE, ELEVATED.
I once met another blogger who said to me, “I’m not that frugal. I like spending money. Like you.” Like me. That part sat with me for a bit, because it’s not true. I actually don’t like spending money at all. And I think I’m super frugal. But I’m extremely value-driven and I always want […]
Somehow it’s been drilled into our heads that credit cards are the absolute worst and should be avoided at all costs. And for some, the thought of having more than one credit card is like opening up Pandora’s Box. I realized just how powerful this narrative is last December when my husband and I met […]
What happens when someone who’s “good at money” tracks their spending the old school way? With a pen and paper and not using an automated system like Mint? Inspired by the Man Repeller and Refinery29 money diaries, I thought it’d be fun to see what happens when I track my spending for a weekend. Although I’m conscious about my overall […]
Last week I was telling my coworker all about my New Zealand trip. Then, just for fun, I asked her how much she thought it cost. “I don’t know…$10,000?” she answered. I almost spit out my tea. I like nice things as much as the next person, but I’m also majorly frugal in lots of […]
With my upcoming adventure vacation, going on a shopping spree would have been so easy. The destination, New Zealand, is known for its varied climates and unpredictable weather. Since I’d be spending most of my time outdoors, I obviously needed a rain jacket, a fleece, and hiking boots, right? And since I’ve thrown away my […]
A few months ago, out of curiosity, I decided to look up the cash price of our upcoming honeymoon flights. $6,989?! Multiply that by two because my husband’s also coming on the honeymoon (duh). So, almost $14,000 total. And at the risk of sounding like a jerk, the flights would be even more expensive since […]
Expensive things are happening at Chateau de Luxe. Let me count the ways: on November 2nd, at exactly 9am, my husband snagged us a coveted dinner reservation for $367. In late October, I bought two tickets to a money conference for $378. And if you’ve noticed I’ve been quiet on social media lately, it’s because […]