Articles on Lifestyle

Simplicity and being cheap

People might look at how I spend money and say I'm cheap or a tightwad. If they do, though, they're missing the point. The fact is, I'm much more interested in simplicity than I

These DIY Magazines Can Help You Be Self-Reliant

Everyone’s looking to become less dependent on the traditional economy. As we wean ourselves from manufactured luxuries and discover ways to create for ourselves, it can be diffic

Not Rich Enough and Not Poor Enough

Most of my highschool classmates came from middle class families that were not extremely rich. During senior year, I noticed a situation where families were not wealthy enough to

The Value of Human Life Just Ain’t What it Used to Be

The government has determined that people are worth less than five years ago.

How Wealthy Are You Beyond Your Bank Account?

On my previous article about working to death I found a pretty long comment by a woman named "Jen" who has a husband that works seven days a week to provide for his family. This l

Not free to be poor

Nobody wants to be poor. It's a dangerous and constrained position to be in. But there are people out there (me, for instance) who are relatively happy to live at a fairly low st

Biggest Money Saving Tip: Move Far Away from the Joneses

I have to admit that while many people in the U.S. talk about “Keeping up with the Joneses”, I spent the first 20 years of my life never knowing what that meant. My rural lifestyl

Go Golf Cart Go: The Battery-Powered Solution?

Spotted moving along on the roads in my city just last week was a golf cart. Is this solution to high gas prices (a bare-bones battery-powered vehicle) wise or even legal? I’ll tel

Book Review: Living On An Acre, A Practical Guide to the Self-Reliant Life

Ever since I left the city and crept my way back into my childhood farm house, I have been slowly adjusting to a simpler lifestyle. Living On An Acre has been a steady and dependa

How Much Should Your Kids Know About Your Finances?

I know of parents who don’t ever discuss money with their kids. “They should be carefree at this age,” they claim. Money isn’t an appropriate topic for family conversation at the

Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

Do your normal financial routines feel blah? Does saving not give you the same rush that it used to? Does investing feel overwhelming, dull, or uninteresting? Then maybe you're man

3 Ways to Travel Free (Or At Least Really Darned Cheap!)

How would you like to get out and "see the world"? Visit the Carthage Ruins or spend a week just hiking across Europe. Paris, Italy or maybe the Bahamas... there's really just no e

7 tips to avoid watching a crappy movie.

How many of you do your research before you rent a movie or go to the cinema? I usually read a bunch of reviews and ask friends. Sometimes I’ll see a movie without reading any revi

The Costa Rica Lesson: Awwwwwww They Got Me

Get Travel Insurance before you go anywhere. Have and not need it. No really trust me.

Need To Lose Some Weight? Put Some Money On It!

Recently I wrote about the incentive my husband gave me to lose some weight . Basically he is willing to forgo half of his entertainment budget if I lose the fat I gained post co

Rural living in a world with expensive fuel

Rising fuel costs are hard on everybody, but one group gets hit especially hard: Rural folks--especially rural folks who work in town. On my previous posts on expensive fuel,

Quality of Life

Despite cultural differences, language barriers, and economical disparities around the world, I discovered that we all seem to be fighting the same demons and striving for the same

Used Skis

Buying used rental equipment is a cost-effective way to get your entire family onto the slopes, though it might not get you into any parties at Sundance.

Cell Phone Relief

Tired of those early termination fees that cell phone companies stick you with? Well, help may be on the way, but it may just be a case of the fox watching the hen-house.

Need a Cheap Cool Dessert? Make Your Own Shaved Ice!

Last week temperatures here in California soared into the 90s and we needed to cool down. After getting some fat free frozen yogurt we were still feeling hot, so my husband took o