Photo by Erick Palacio via Unsplash.com I've been focused on being in control of my finances month-to-month, but I've put off thinking about a longer-term goal: my (early) retirement. Don't get me wrong, I know exactly how much I want to be investing each month once I get my emergency fund fully built, and I even [...]
Tag: finance
Earning a Raise: Teacher Income Update
Photo by Daniel Fazio via Unsplash.com I'm excited to announce some big salary changes this year! As you guys know, I made about $49,000 last year, plus about $3,000 with my summer job for a total of $52,000 gross income. It was definitely enough to pay off debt and live comfortably, but with some of the [...]
On Credit Cards
Photo by Code Mnml via Unsplash.com So, I've never talked about credit cards on my blog. I didn't even realize this until my friend wrote in for a Q & A, asking "Do you have a credit card, and if so, how do you use it?" I thought it warranted an entire post. In my [...]
A Comprehensive Guide to Free & Cheap Things to Do in Iceland
Photo by Jeremy Bishop via Unsplash.com In my post last week, I wrote about all of the pricey things I did in Iceland-- ice caving, glacier hiking, boat riding, kayaking, and snorkeling. While all of these experiences enhanced my connection with the most beautiful country I've ever visited, there are just as many amazing things you can [...]
The Real Difference Between Frugal and Expensive Travel: What I Spent in Iceland
My & some of the best people I know at the most touristy waterfall in Iceland-- soaking it all in. Last summer, I took a week-and-a-half long road trip with my roommates to celebrate our graduation. Following typical college student habits, we made the trip extremely cheap. It was pretty awesome, driving up to Maine [...]
An Honest Review of the 4 Jobs I Worked During College
Photo by Clark Street Mercantile via Unsplash.com You guys know that a big part of my student loan debt story included my attempts to keep my loans as small as possible by working during college, both in the summer and during the school year. That being said, I've never talked specifically about what jobs I had [...]
Exactly How Much Money I Spent Moving from Maryland to DC
Photo by Brooke Cagle via Unsplash.com I knew moving would be a huge expense, but it was difficult for me to determine exactly how much I'd pay in every part of the process. This is why I wanted to write it all down as I went along to give others a sense of what a similar [...]
Why I Moved to D.C.
Photo by Casey Horner via Unsplash.com When I told people I was moving to Washington D.C., they tended to give me some version of the same reaction: "That's expensive!" And they were right. My rent has increased almost $400/month, and I'm anticipating a lot small cost of living increases (gas, groceries, eating out) that will definitely [...]
Answering Your Burning Questions: Personal Finance Q & A
Photo by Hayden Scott via Unplash.com Q: I need to get my financial life together. Where do I start? I'm going to be short with this and not beat you over the head with it, but you need to make a budget. It's difficult and it takes time, but it is worth it. Set aside [...]
I Found Out I Wasn’t Debt Free…
Image by Paweł Czerwiński via Unsplash.com I visited my parents' home a few weeks back to celebrate my brother's birthday. I came through the front door, towing boxes from my car since I've been moving all my things there slowly. I walked through my routine of taking my boxes down the basement, talking to whoever's home [...]
Teachers Talk Money 