So one of the nice things about blogging is that once in a while (or… whenever you want really), you can use your blog as a venting soapbox. Today’s topic is taxes. Actually, you could probably scroll back and there are one to two venting posts every single year. I don’t mind paying taxes. Actually,…
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about my new budget limitations and how I work under the assumption that I have $24.36 a day to get me through, after spending on essentials and hitting some, but not all, of my savings goals. Fortunately, this based on my salary and not any side hustling,…
I took a fairly major adulting step this week. I bought a set of four matching glasses at the Christmas Tree Shop. I figured, I have a nice apartment, and I have friends coming to stay for the weekend… and then I thought about my dishware and laughed because the majority of it is plastic…
Profile I am thirty five years old and I am a Visiting Instructor of Theatre Arts/Production Management at a state university, where I make $26,418.51 for the semester. Saving & Spending Things seem a little less like a runaway train here, but my spending is still far from on point. I’m feeling a little less…
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…
Glad you asked, reader! For me, brokerage accounts were one of the bigger signs I was starting to do ok financially. There are a few goals I feel should be hit before you start to worry too much about brokerage accounts: Debts paid off (or totally managing low interest debt payments). Emergency fund fully stocked.…
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.…
How often do you reevaluate your financial goals? Maybe I should start by asking, have you set some financial goals? Setting financial goals is honestly one of the biggest reasons I’m doing so ok. Name it and claim it, right? (Goal setting wise – not theology wise, prosperity gospels are nonsense.) But for real, the…
You might hear a lot of warnings about how difficult life is if you work in the arts – and it can a struggle at times – but one thing you don’t hear about very often is how very lucrative touring can be. I’m not even talking about being on a super high paying gig.…
Here are some great reads I’ve found from others around the web the last few weeks: Can You Cashflow College? Of course I’m not saying this will work for everyone, but I do love reading success stories from people who made things like this work. It might not work for everyone, but it could work…
I think I’m starting to settle in from the moving transition a little. And the millennial in me is a happy camper because while my spending is still kind of high, this week it was largely on experiences and I realized, I didn’t bat an eye at it. I was reminded of a conversation I…
It’s strange that there are very few women who are interested in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general. I suspect that it is the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies. Women tend to prefer slow and steady growth that doesn’t crash after the bubble bursts. So, how can you make money from Bitcoin without any risk? You may…
The last few weeks have been a pretty good lesson in how much money chaos costs. I am a fairly organized person. I like to have systems. I like everything to have a place. I like to have spares and backups. The funny thing about moving is that it throws all your systems so far…
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…
With my spending varying widely and the knowledge I won’t get a regular, full paycheck till towards the end of February – everything financial has gotten a little wish-washy. And I have been a little unsure of whether I’m doing ok or still living that tour life mentality. So I fell back on an old,…
Profile I am thirty five years old and I started out the month working as the General Stage Manager for a touring circus. I made $2,000 a week and had an approximate $40 per diem (issued in local currency). I finished out the month as a Visiting Instructor of Theatre Arts/Production Management at a state…
I have felt pretty good the last few years about finding my way financially through my weird, pieced together freelance/side hustling/stage manager life. I’ve fairly well rocked it with savings, investing, setting up retirement accounts, and even figuring out Health Savings Accounts. Funny story though, if you leave your weird little pieced together life, so…
Has my credit card ever been getting a workout this week. I always used to think the Danger Zone was those few days before or after you travel when money seems to stop mattering because you have to pick up this little thing and that little thing and why buy more groceries when you can…
Are you ever surprised by the things that catch your eye? I don’t wear much makeup. I’m pretty much a lip gloss and mascara gal – on a good day. On a super fancy day, I might be an eyeliner and eye shadow gal too, but by super fancy, I mean, New Year’s Eve or…
I think the quickest way to lose your financial savvy swagger is to a sign a lease. Signing a lease always makes me feel so trapped. And the expenses! They just keep cropping up – surprise, this was a lie, surprise, you can only use this particular company here, surprise, surprise, surprise $$$$$$$$ This is…
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…
If you’re operating on a tight budget, giving great gifts to your friends can be a serious trial. You want to be giving and generous, but you also want to buy groceries. Plus, if your friends have birthdays around the holiday season, you can pretty much forget it. That gift is going to have to…
The long game. I’m fairly good at the financial long game. When I buy stocks, the plan is just to hold them… forever? They’re pretty much my last line of retirement defense. Even when I invest in my retirement accounts like my IRA and 401(k), those are 100% ear marked for retirement. At 35, that…
Today I’m writing from an East Midlands train on it’s way to Sheffield from London to go visit the city I used to live in and see some friends. I kind of decided on a whim to do this about three weeks ago. All told, between changing my flight, booking train tickets and a hotel…
According to a 2017 Royal Bank of Canada poll, 39 percent of millennials between the ages of 18 and 34 said they plan to put down some of their hard-earned money to purchase a new home within two years. Meantime, another 59 percent of millennials have already purchased their own homes. These millennials have employed — or plan to…