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Continue reading Coupon Codes for March 1 …
From Frugal Simplicity.
Today Is the Day
Today is the day to tell your wife that you love her.
Today is the day to call your mother and chat with her for an hour.
Today is the day to send your dad a note.
Today is the day to get in touch with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Today is the day to call up a special person and set up a date.
Today is the day to stop by your grandmother’s house with a sack full of groceries and make dinner for her.
Today is the day to visit that old family friend who helped you so much when you were younger.
Not Valentine’s Day. Not Mother’s Day. Not Father’s Day. Not someone’s birthday. Not Christmas.
The value a person has in your life is never really shown on a “special” day marked on a calendar and observed with a greeting card and a slickly-wrapped present. It’s shown with a few minutes (or an hour or two) of your time on a day when they don’t expect it. On a day when they’re merely in your thoughts.
Build those relationships now before the chance is gone.
Build those relationships now and they’ll pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Build those relationships now so that you can have someone to always share every exciting moment and success in your life with.
Build those relationships now when times are good so they’ll still be there when the times are bad.
I’m stopping right now so you can take the few moments you might have spent reading a longer post to instead do something to build a valuable relationship in your life, because it will often be those very relationships that are there for you when the chips are down.
Continue reading Today Is the Day …
From The Simple Dollar.
Today Is the Day
Today is the day to tell your wife that you love her.
Today is the day to call your mother and chat with her for an hour.
Today is the day to send your dad a note.
Today is the day to get in touch with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Today is the day to call up a special person and set up a date.
Today is the day to stop by your grandmother’s house with a sack full of groceries and make dinner for her.
Today is the day to visit that old family friend who helped you so much when you were younger.
Not Valentine’s Day. Not Mother’s Day. Not Father’s Day. Not someone’s birthday. Not Christmas.
The value a person has in your life is never really shown on a “special” day marked on a calendar and observed with a greeting card and a slickly-wrapped present. It’s shown with a few minutes (or an hour or two) of your time on a day when they don’t expect it. On a day when they’re merely in your thoughts.
Build those relationships now before the chance is gone.
Build those relationships now and they’ll pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Build those relationships now so that you can have someone to always share every exciting moment and success in your life with.
Build those relationships now when times are good so they’ll still be there when the times are bad.
I’m stopping right now so you can take the few moments you might have spent reading a longer post to instead do something to build a valuable relationship in your life, because it will often be those very relationships that are there for you when the chips are down.
Continue reading Today Is the Day …
From The Simple Dollar.
Today Is the Day
Today is the day to tell your wife that you love her.
Today is the day to call your mother and chat with her for an hour.
Today is the day to send your dad a note.
Today is the day to get in touch with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Today is the day to call up a special person and set up a date.
Today is the day to stop by your grandmother’s house with a sack full of groceries and make dinner for her.
Today is the day to visit that old family friend who helped you so much when you were younger.
Not Valentine’s Day. Not Mother’s Day. Not Father’s Day. Not someone’s birthday. Not Christmas.
The value a person has in your life is never really shown on a “special” day marked on a calendar and observed with a greeting card and a slickly-wrapped present. It’s shown with a few minutes (or an hour or two) of your time on a day when they don’t expect it. On a day when they’re merely in your thoughts.
Build those relationships now before the chance is gone.
Build those relationships now and they’ll pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Build those relationships now so that you can have someone to always share every exciting moment and success in your life with.
Build those relationships now when times are good so they’ll still be there when the times are bad.
I’m stopping right now so you can take the few moments you might have spent reading a longer post to instead do something to build a valuable relationship in your life, because it will often be those very relationships that are there for you when the chips are down.
Continue reading Today Is the Day …
From The Simple Dollar.
Today Is the Day
Today is the day to tell your wife that you love her.
Today is the day to call your mother and chat with her for an hour.
Today is the day to send your dad a note.
Today is the day to get in touch with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Today is the day to call up a special person and set up a date.
Today is the day to stop by your grandmother’s house with a sack full of groceries and make dinner for her.
Today is the day to visit that old family friend who helped you so much when you were younger.
Not Valentine’s Day. Not Mother’s Day. Not Father’s Day. Not someone’s birthday. Not Christmas.
The value a person has in your life is never really shown on a “special” day marked on a calendar and observed with a greeting card and a slickly-wrapped present. It’s shown with a few minutes (or an hour or two) of your time on a day when they don’t expect it. On a day when they’re merely in your thoughts.
Build those relationships now before the chance is gone.
Build those relationships now and they’ll pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Build those relationships now so that you can have someone to always share every exciting moment and success in your life with.
Build those relationships now when times are good so they’ll still be there when the times are bad.
I’m stopping right now so you can take the few moments you might have spent reading a longer post to instead do something to build a valuable relationship in your life, because it will often be those very relationships that are there for you when the chips are down.
Continue reading Today Is the Day …
From The Simple Dollar.
Today Is the Day
Today is the day to tell your wife that you love her.
Today is the day to call your mother and chat with her for an hour.
Today is the day to send your dad a note.
Today is the day to get in touch with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Today is the day to call up a special person and set up a date.
Today is the day to stop by your grandmother’s house with a sack full of groceries and make dinner for her.
Today is the day to visit that old family friend who helped you so much when you were younger.
Not Valentine’s Day. Not Mother’s Day. Not Father’s Day. Not someone’s birthday. Not Christmas.
The value a person has in your life is never really shown on a “special” day marked on a calendar and observed with a greeting card and a slickly-wrapped present. It’s shown with a few minutes (or an hour or two) of your time on a day when they don’t expect it. On a day when they’re merely in your thoughts.
Build those relationships now before the chance is gone.
Build those relationships now and they’ll pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Build those relationships now so that you can have someone to always share every exciting moment and success in your life with.
Build those relationships now when times are good so they’ll still be there when the times are bad.
I’m stopping right now so you can take the few moments you might have spent reading a longer post to instead do something to build a valuable relationship in your life, because it will often be those very relationships that are there for you when the chips are down.
Continue reading Today Is the Day …
From The Simple Dollar.
Today Is the Day
Today is the day to tell your wife that you love her.
Today is the day to call your mother and chat with her for an hour.
Today is the day to send your dad a note.
Today is the day to get in touch with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Today is the day to call up a special person and set up a date.
Today is the day to stop by your grandmother’s house with a sack full of groceries and make dinner for her.
Today is the day to visit that old family friend who helped you so much when you were younger.
Not Valentine’s Day. Not Mother’s Day. Not Father’s Day. Not someone’s birthday. Not Christmas.
The value a person has in your life is never really shown on a “special” day marked on a calendar and observed with a greeting card and a slickly-wrapped present. It’s shown with a few minutes (or an hour or two) of your time on a day when they don’t expect it. On a day when they’re merely in your thoughts.
Build those relationships now before the chance is gone.
Build those relationships now and they’ll pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Build those relationships now so that you can have someone to always share every exciting moment and success in your life with.
Build those relationships now when times are good so they’ll still be there when the times are bad.
I’m stopping right now so you can take the few moments you might have spent reading a longer post to instead do something to build a valuable relationship in your life, because it will often be those very relationships that are there for you when the chips are down.
Continue reading Today Is the Day …
From The Simple Dollar.
The Simple Dollar Time Machine: February 20, 2010
Many newer readers of The Simple Dollar haven’t been exposed to the hundreds of great articles in the archives of the site, so this is a weekly series that highlights the five best posts from one year ago this week, two years ago this week, and three years ago this week. I call it … the Time Machine.
One Year Ago (February 14 – February 20, 2009)
Using a Gratitude Journal as a Personal Motivator to Save Money and Enjoy Life I’ve been using one of these for quite a while. It really, really helps to step back very regularly and ask yourself what matters in your life.
Struggling with the Guardianship Question Guardianship is an issue that all parents have to struggle with at one time or another. Who do you choose to take care of your children if you suddenly pass on? It’s not an easy question.
Bulk Breakfast Burritos: Convenient, Cheap, Healthy, and Easier Than You Think I love these things! We make batches of them fairly regularly and I thoroughly enjoy them for breakfast in the mornings.
Ten Vital Tactics for Making the “Money Talk” Work The “money talk” is when you sit down with your partner and discuss financial issues for the first time (or for the first time in a long time). It can be painful – but it doesn’t have to be.
About My Wife, Sarah The Simple Dollar wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.
Two Years Ago (February 14 – February 20, 2008)
Training Wheels: Why I’m Spending Less and Less Time Managing my Personal Finances Once you have your finances properly in order, it takes much less time than before to keep them working the way you want.
Defeating Superman Syndrome: How to Progress Beyond the “Need” to Be the Financial Hero This was actually a pretty major step in my own financial journey.
Financial Independence: Defining It and Figuring Out How to Get There What does financial independence mean to you? It has very different meanings for different people.
Little Income, Big Debts: Managing Your Money in Your College Years The financial realities of a college student are much different than they are in other stages in life – and thus different concepts are needed to manage money appropriately.
Nine Techniques for Developing Patience Patience is a key part of surviving the long slog of financial recovery. Here are nine ways to cultivate patience in your own life.
Three Years Ago (January 31 – February 6, 2007)
The Art of the Thank You Note A well-timed handwritten thank you note can make all the difference when it comes to securing a job or cementing a personal relationship.
10 Options To Consider Before Getting A Payday Loan Payday loans are financial poison. Here are ten things to try before even considering one.
A Fascinating Look At Edward Bellamy, Inventor Of The Credit Card I really enjoyed researching and writing this article. It let me dig deep into an area I often don’t get to touch on on The Simple Dollar.
15 Things You Can Do Right Now To Help Your Career Yes, right now. You can make a difference sitting at your desk or standing in your workstation.
Is It Unamerican To Invest In International Funds? Does The Question Even Matter Any More? Here, I address nationalism and investing. I tend to think that globalism is here to stay, myself.
If you’d like to browse through more of the archives, visit the chronology, where all posts are listed in chronological order.
Nine Ways to Get More out of The Simple Dollar
This is kind of a FAQ for new readers and is posted each week along with the Time Machine. Here are nine great ways for new readers to dig deeper into The Simple Dollar.
1. Subscribe by email or RSS. Visiting The Simple Dollar’s website is great, but for many people, it’s more convenient to receive the articles in another form. It’s easy to join 60,000 other subscribers and get The Simple Dollar’s content by email or in your RSS feeder (if you’re unfamiliar with RSS, check out Google Reader.
2. Comment. Each article on The Simple Dollar has lively discussion. Just click on the green square in the upper right of each article on the website and join in!
3. Read my story of financial meltdown and recovery. The Simple Dollar isn’t based on what I’ve read in books or learned in school. I’ve made a lifetime of financial mistakes – The Simple Dollar is a record of what works for me during the process of getting my life on a better track.
4. Download my free 49 page e-book. Everything You Ever Really Needed to Know About Personal Finance On Just One Page is completely free. It summarizes all of the key lessons I’ve learned along the way about personal finance in one tidy package – in fact, all of the main principles can be found right on the cover.
5. Follow me on Twitter – or other social networks. I post tons of interesting articles, quotes, follow-up material, commentary, and other material on Twitter. Follow me! If you’re unfamiliar with Twitter, it’s essentially an open discussion forum for people to share ideas and thoughts with other like-minded folks – you just choose the people you want to listen to and their ideas and thoughts are all delivered to you on a single page.
I also participate on several other social networks. Feel free to check me out on del.icio.us (it’s where I collect links, from which I select the ones that appear in my weekly roundups), wakoopa (what software I use), GoodReads (what books I’m reading), Facebook, and FriendFeed (which aggregates everything). I also have an irregularly-updated personal site, TrentHamm.com.
6. Dig through “31 Days to Fix Your Finances.” 31 Days to Fix Your Finances is an article series that outlines how you can get a grip on your finances over the course of a month.
7. Send me your questions and suggestions. Send me an email and let me know what you’re thinking, what you’d like to see, and any questions you might have. I try to respond to as many emails as possible and I read them all. I may even use your question in a future article!
8. Become a “Friend of The Simple Dollar.” If you find the stuff on The Simple Dollar valuable and are willing to spend five minutes or so a month to help me out with small things, please consider signing up to be a “Friend of The Simple Dollar”.
9. Email a great article you find to a friend. Find an article that you think your friend would love? At the bottom of each article, you’ll find a link that says “Email this” – just click on that, type in your friend’s address, and send it right along to them!
Continue reading The Simple Dollar Time Machine: February 20, 2010 …
From The Simple Dollar.
Hindsight Is 20/20
When I look back at my overspending days, it’s easy for me to see the many, many mistakes I made. My life was littered with them. There are some old journal entries of mine that are absolutely cringe-inducing to read. I still have quite a few items in my closet that are just the result of blind conspicuous consumption. I didn’t save. I didn’t invest. I didn’t plan. I didn’t focus on building the career I truly wanted.
Looking back, I see all of those mistakes and missed opportunities and poor choices. I want to smack my 23 year old self on the head and yell, “Get a clue!”
Yet, I also know that hindsight is 20/20.
Back then, I had a sense of what I wanted – a nice home, a marriage to Sarah, kids, a job that gave me the flexibility to spend lots of time with them – but I didn’t have any idea how to get there. Today, though, I have the knowledge and time to reflect – and I now see all of the mistakes I made.
Here’s the real key, though: those mistakes are done and over with. I don’t have a chance to repeat those days and make better choices.
Instead, I have two things I can do today.
First, I can strive not to repeat those mistakes. I know now that my life is perfectly happy without having all of the latest and greatest stuff. I don’t need to go out to eat constantly or go golfing or buy nice clothes or own a new gadget or go on ridiculously expensive trips (like a week in a hotel room in London with a view of Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall like we had on our honeymoon, for example) to be happy. I know what I value and love and need in my life.
Second, I can share what I’ve learned. For some people who are eager to find a better path, it’s easy for me – that’s what The Simple Dollar is for. When I learn something new about personal finance and the great life sensible money management can build, I can share it here.
There’s also a need to share things with people who aren’t at that same stage in life. How exactly can I reach out to them without being overbearing? For me, it’s usually a matter of just dropping a book in their hands or just asking what they want to do in their lives and then asking them what things they’re doing today helps get them there.
Don’t waste your time beating yourself up over the mistakes of the past. Those choices have already been made – no amount of anger or disappointment at yourself can undo what’s already been done. Instead, focus on the choices you make today and revel in making good choices now.
You can never change the past, but you can certainly learn from it. Better yet, you can take what you’ve learned and apply it to improve the present – and drastically improve the future.
Continue reading Hindsight Is 20/20 …
From The Simple Dollar.
The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Resolution Updates Edition
I thought I’d update you on my progress with my 2010 resolutions.
Resolution #1: Lose 40 pounds I lost three pounds in January, so I’m more or less on pace with this one. My biggest challenge here is the weather, which makes it very difficult to just get outside and take a long walk, something I love to do every day when the weather is nice.
Resolution #2: Pay cash for a replacement for my truck I have an adequate amount of cash ready to go. I’m just merely waiting for the right replacement vehicle to come along. Oh, and I’ve had additional truck troubles in the last month, so I have even more incentive to switch.
Resolution #3: Learn to play the piano After testing out two piano teachers, I’ve been taking weekly hour-long lessons from a teacher for the past three weeks. I’ve also been practicing a lot at home. So far, I can read most simple sheet music if I go slowly and I can play a few simple songs at a reasonable tempo.
Resolution #4: Reduce my entertainment and hobby spending by 50% This is going really well so far, as I spent just a few dollars on entertainment in January. If the rest of the year goes anywhere near this well, this one will be easy to do.
So, to put it simply, #2, #3, and #4 are very much on pace, and #1 arguably is. I’m pretty happy with that.
Here are some personal finance posts to enjoy.
Star Trek and The Time Well Spent Continuum In the last Reader Mailbag, I argued that MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and Star Trek Online could be potentially good ways to reduce your entertainment spending. This article actually makes the opposite argument. (@ debt free adventure)
The Hypocrite Test: Should Rich People Pay More? As with many such fundamental political issues, I think there are valid arguments on both sides of the coin and that some reasonable compromises can be reached. The only problem is that people don’t sit down at the table and rationally discuss such issues today – instead, they resort to arguing, insulting, and “straw man” representations of the opposition. I have little interest in that, whether it’s Keith Olbermann or Glenn Beck – I wish they’d both shut up. Whatever happened to the Lincoln-Douglas debates? Such thoughtful coverage of the issues of the day went away with the advent of fifteen second news blips. (@ awake @ the wheel)
Does Renting Make Sense? J.D. pulls out the P/R ratio to take a look at whether renting is more worthwhile financially than buying. The problem, though, is that it doesn’t really take into account individual financial situations. (@ get rich slowly)
How is disorganization and clutter affecting your job performance? In my own case, I notice a serious downturn in productivity when my office gets disorganized and messy. I’m far better off just stopping for a bit to get things in better order than I am just charging ahead. (@ unclutterer)
Continue reading The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Resolution Updates Edition …
From The Simple Dollar.