I’ve had requests from several of you for an update on our emergency fund progress. I’m happy to report, our emergency fund is now completely funded.
The timing couldn’t be better. I’m facing some financial uncertainty, as I talked about a few weeks ago.
The kids enjoying the sand while waiting for the sun to "sink into the water."
You may have noticed that things have been a little quiet over here. I spent the last week taking a much needed digital break. It helps to get away from the hyper-connectedness of the digital world every once in awhile. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend a digital break.
My family and I took a planned trip to Captiva Island, FL last week. Kirk and I decided to leave our laptops behind and let me tell you — it was fantastic. I didn’t check email. I didn’t check Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Continue Reading
Warning! This post might get a little deep. If you’re not into the whole meaning of life question, you’ll probably want to skip this one. 
Still with me? OK, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Continue Reading
Those of you that have been following this blog for awhile know that near the start of a new month, I like to post an update of any financial goals I’m working towards. Currently, Kirk and I are working on funding an emergency fund totaling six months of our living expenses.
As you can see from the below chart, we’ve made steady progress on this goal over the past seven months.
Commercial deodorants contain questionable ingredients that soak into our underarm lymph nodes each time we apply them — antiperspirants especially. It’s widely known that ingredients like parabens and aluminum have been found in breast tumors.
There is much debate about whether the parabens and/or aluminum found in breast tumors actually contributed to the creation of the tumors. Even though studies haven’t proven that commercial deodorants and antiperspirants cause cancer, there is enough evidence that I have chosen to find an alternative way to stay fresh. Continue Reading
Many of us spend a good chunk of our income on food. We all need to eat, and many of us have children to feed as well. This single spending category can be the easiest to let get out of control.
How many times have you thrown food away because you bought it, but never got around to cooking it before it spoiled?
How many times have you planned meals for the week only to give into the temptation to order in after a long day at work? Continue Reading
Just when I thought life was going according to plan, an un welcomed fork in the road emerged quite unexpectedly. While I can’t yet divulge the details of the sudden end and potential new beginning, I can tell you that life proves to me time and time again how unpredictable she is.
And yet, I still attempt to plan out my path. You should too. Continue Reading
It occurred to me the other day that many of you may be getting irritated with my emergency fund updates. Particularly if you’re new here, you may be wondering where the heck I’m getting an extra $2,000 each month to contribute to this account.
I wish I could say that I just woke up one morning and an extra $2,000 was sitting in my account. And then the next month I woke up on the same day and…what do you know! Another $2,000 was sitting there just asking to be saved.
The reality of how Kirk and I freed up an extra $2,000 each month is much different. Continue Reading
I have mixed emotions about Valentine’s Day. On the one hand, I love doing a little something special for my husband and children on February 14th. On the other hand, I’m repulsed by the over-commercialization and pressure to overspend on a holiday that should have nothing to do with buying expensive jewelry.
My friend Robert from Untitled Minimalism absolutely nailed it in his post The Secret to Experience Gifts, Valentine’s Edition. Continue Reading
Today’s guest post is written by my friend Josh Martin over at www.joshmartinink.com. Any of us that are or have been in debt can relate to the nakedness we feel once we decide to stop trying to keep up appearances and instead decide to let go and do what it takes to become free.
I truly enjoyed this story from him and I think you will too!
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A lot of words come to mind when thinking about debt. Stuck. Mired. Drowning. Buried. The images these words conjure up remind me of a story from my childhood.
As a kid, my youngest sister Meghan would often join my brother Nicholas and me on our adventures to the “Death Cliffs”. Admittedly, a bit of an exaggerated moniker. The Death Cliffs were in fact a section of high muddy banks along the Nine Mile River near our hometown of Port Albert, Ontario. Continue Reading
