A very bright spot for me in the dreary year that has been 2020 is Ticket to Ride. Ticket to Ride (or “the train game”) was created in 2004 and the very simple idea of the game is you draw some route cards and try to build your train across the map. Different length routes…
For those still sticking to their social distancing guns (and as someone from a decimated industry, thank you), here are some ideas to keep New Year’s Eve from being a total bust. Several are paid games or “theatrical” events, so if the pandemic has not been a financial disaster for you, consider supporting the creators…
When I worked on cruise ships, my favorite moment of my handover when I joined a new ship was when the ship phone was handed over to me. Not. Actually, that was the moment I felt all my freedom for the next 2-5-11 months close shut behind a door. You see, the great thing about…
What. A. Year. I was telling a friend recently that whenever I wind up at my parents house between tours, it always feels like time is frozen. This is kind of delightful for two to three weeks, and tolerable for a month or two with visits to friends and other family crammed in there too.…
With such a large percentage of the population now working from home, maintaining optimum wellbeing whilst being stuck indoors is becoming a greater priority. The reality is that some mornings you may log in from the comfort of your bed, staying there to complete your shift, and though this may feel like a luxury compared…
I often try to force myself into good habits – running, eating healthy, learning new languages, etc. And lots of the time, I manage for like a week or so and then it’s just back to normal. It is really hard to create new habits, especially when I get no joy from them. It’s even…
This past week I’ve been working on an ESL Certification so I can work for iTutor. I passed their interview process and am conditionally accepted as long as I get that certificate. A lot of studying for the course has been common sense things or just learning the right name for a teaching theory, but…
I am pretty pleased with past Mel these days. I feel like I keep finding little surprises she left future me that I had totally forgotten about. I am a pretty well trained creature. Current Mel helps out Future Mel in a ton of little non-monetary ways too. She leaves out tomorrow’s clothes the night…
The death of a spouse or partner is one of the hardest things that a person can go through. Losing a loved one is always tough but when you lose the person that you share everything with, it can leave you feeling very lost. It’s easy to spiral and start thinking that there is no…
Sorry. I needed a minute there. I laughed hysterically for like 5 minutes after writing that title. Ok. Deep breath. I am the queen of backup plans. Ever since switching my major to theater, I’ve quietly had strand after strand of backup plans in motion to build a whole web of them to keep from…
I read a great blog post this week that was a breakdown of how this blogger learned to relate to money and how, year by year, he got better and better at what he was doing. But one section in particular stood out to me because I felt like it summed up my major financial…
The current pandemic of Covid-19 has upturned millions of lives. Some people have lost their lives and those that haven’t gotten ill have been affected. Financially, there has never been a moment like this in the history of the US. It is proving to be even worse than the Great Depression. Is it hopeless, then,…
I’ve been thinking a little about the burnout even in this ridiculous coronavirus era where there actually seems to be quite a lot of time. Have you seen that meme about for some people it’s a sprinkle, some it’s a storm, and some are drowning? I am firmly on the sprinkle bus. I have a…
https://unsplash.com/photos/1jbxXN4OkMM Yes, the world may have come to an abrupt standstill, and there is an unprecedented number of people currently out of work across the US and the world. If you are one of the lucky ones, however, and you are still able to work, you may be astonished at the numbers in your bank…
Pixabay – CC0 License Earning money is surprisingly easy. You show up to work, provide a little bit of value, and hey presto! Your boss dumps a load of cash into your account. Keeping your money, however – now that’s an entirely different ball game. When you’re a productive person, you suddenly find that everyone…
Does anyone else find that they are feeling a little extra pressure to ACCOMPLISH. ALL. THE. THINGS during social distancing? I feel like I gung-ho signed up for like 10 different classes, committed myself to practicing an instrument and a language, started doing yoga, and signed up for a virtual walk/run to keep myself moving.…
One of the last things people have on their mind is which lawyer to hire and where to find them. After all, people typically don’t want to be thinking about going to court or needing serious legal assistance for something. If you do, it usually means you’ve gotten yourself into a bit of trouble and…
Picture this. Two persons have the same level of education, experience, and opportunities. Yet, one seems to have a magic touch in creating wealth while the other wallows in poverty for ages. How so? Well, wealth creation is a skill that is lacking in many people. And, despite their best efforts to be in control…
Whether you’re planning to move because your lease is up, are ready to upgrade your car, or your trusted laptop has finally given out on you, making a big purchase can be daunting. In addition to the general stress associated with spending a lot of money, there’s also the limitations of your budget to consider.…
It’s that time again – the American presidential primaries are coming up. And if you work in the arts, there’s a good chance you won’t be anywhere near home come election day. And you might have some strong feelings about who should or shouldn’t be our president. Or you may have some lukewarm feelings. Or…
Hello. My name is Mel and this week I am overwhelmed. There is a lot going on right now. And I totally hid from some of it that I probably could’ve gotten a jump on during the last few weeks of my last tour. That was unwise. I am excellent at hiding from things sometimes…
J. Money over at Budgets Are Sexy wrote this fun list of 12 More #Money Ideas to Try and I really liked the one at the end. One brilliant reader said she keeps an “Accomplishments” list to look back on “whenever [she] feels completely incompetent or like [she’ll] never get anywhere.” Who doesn’t relate to…
We are all encouraged to live in the here and now and make the most of each day. We know that really no one knows just how long they have on this world and it is imperative to enjoy the moments you do have with your friends and family. We know money doesn’t necessarily make…
00 Can we talk for a second about how jealous I am of people who know exactly what they want? The only things I’ve been decisive about are Jesus and stage management. And my decisiveness about stage management has definitely waned over the years – especially as I get more entrenched and don’t need backup…
Many moons ago, at my college orientation, I opened my first bank account with First Union bank. I made this decision after much careful research. J/K. They had a booth at orientation and an ATM on campus. Done and done. Times were simpler at the turn of the millennia. These days there are so many…