I’m big on setting goals that are achievable. I don’t try to tackle too much and sometimes it’s as simple as just doing 1 thing better over the next year. Today, PF Pro contributor, Kali Hawlk takes a look at some money goals that you can set for 2015. This is also Kali’s last post […]
Does Cost of Living Affect Where You Live?
I am fortunate to live in one of the most temperate climates in the world, but that comfort comes at a huge cost. It’s hard to leave your family, friends and loved ones behind though in order to save a few bucks (actually a lot of bucks). Today, PF Pro contributor, Kali Hawlk takes a […]
What We Can All Feel Grateful for This Thanksgiving
I have a lot to be thankful for this year but today, PF Pro contributor, Kali Hawlk shares what we can all feel grateful for! Happy day-before Thanksgiving! In honor of the holiday, I thought it was only appropriate to spend some time thinking about gratitude and expressing appreciation for the good stuff. But instead […]
Why I Choose Self-Employment
Although my self-employment experiment only lasted for about four months last summer, I can relate to a lot of the issues that self-employed people face every day: loneliness, only getting paid when you work and so forth. I like doing a mix of both but in a few years who knows where my feelings will […]
How We’re Travel Hacking Our Way to Peru in April 2015
For me, there is really no greater feeling than traveling for free. I tell people the places we’ve stayed and the flights we’ve taken, all for next to nothing and I’m pretty sure a majority of them think I’m full of it. But I always tell people that you should give every single thing in […]
4 Ways to Prepare for Emergencies (Without Becoming a Hoarder)
We don’t have to worry about snow storms out here in CA but there are definitely things like earthquakes to consider. Today, PF Pro contributor Kali Hawlk takes a look at emergency preparedness. This is probably something that a lot of us put off or don’t like to think about but just like with finances, […]
Why Everyone Needs a Side Hustle
Most people would consider my day job as an aerospace engineer as a very solid, money-making career. But I don’t. It only took a short time for me to realize that no matter how much money you make or how comfortable you get, there are some HUGE benefits to diversifying your income and getting a […]
My Favorite Frugal Fall Activities
PFP: Living in SoCal has its benefits but it would be nice to see the leaves change color once in a while. Today, PF Pro contributor Kali Hawlk takes a look at all the best free activities out there to do during the fall. Personally, I think the best types of activities are the free […]
Take This Simple Action to Access Countless Opportunities with Your Finances and Career
Today, PF Pro contributor Kali Hawlk tells us about one simple action that has helped her achieve immense success in a relatively short amount of time. I don’t know if Kali remembers, but she actually used this tactic to get hired with me too, so I can tell you it definitely does work! Would you […]
Lessons Learned from My First Yard Sale
I’ve always been a bargain hunter but at the same time I’ve never felt that just because something is on sale does that mean it’s a great deal. A lot of times people like to say it was half off but if the original price was a rip-off then you may still be getting ripped […]
Are You Saving Too Much for Retirement?
Over the weekend, I skimmed past a headline that read: You Might Be Saving Too Much for Retirement. Cue screeching tires coming to a halt. Scratching of abruptly stopped records. I did a digital double-take and quickly scrolled back up on the Twitter feed I was reading on my phone. What kind of nonsense is […]
4 Unexpected Ways Self-Employment Changed My Perspective on Money
I spent 99% of my working career as an employee. I’ve worked summers at restaurants and summer camps, I was a bookseller at Barnes & Noble in college and then an administrative assistant, and I worked in operations for a small company after graduation. Only in May of this year did I finally achieve a […]
How to Give In to Lifestyle Inflation the Right Way
My financial philosophy developed out of a desire to make the most of my meager wages. When I started my professional career after gradating college, I made $12 per hour. Thankfully, I didn’t have any debt — or paying all my bills and saving a little money each month would have been impossible. Still, it […]
Financial Education: How I Took Charge of My Own Knowledge
My parents taught me many important lessons on money, and were the primary sources for my financial education. I’m grateful for the principles, values, and habits they instilled in me from an early age. Thanks to my mom and dad, I always understood the importance of saving, working hard to earn more (in order to […]
My Experience with the Rent vs Buy Argument
My spouse and I bucked the Millennial trend when it came to choosing our living arrangements: at the young age of 22 for me and 25 for him, we bought a house. It’s not that we were ready to settle down, desperate to live in the ‘burbs, or ready to start filling up those 4 […]
Is Our Gift Giving Culture Out of Control?
Both my sister-in-law and nephew have birthdays at the end of July. My nephew had his first birthday last summer, and I could not believe the amount of crap presents he was given from friends and family members. I’m not trying to be a big old Scrooge. He’s a cute kid and obviously well-loved by many. […]
9 Unexpected Ways Your Budget Leaks Cash
We all know about the usual ways cash can leak out of our budgets: spending too much at the grocery store thanks to impulse purchases, going out and buying lunch at work instead of brown-bagging it, or saying “I deserve it!”and treating yourself one too many times. These extra purchases can leave us with a […]
8 Great Digital Tools for Personal Finance
With our love of technology and tools to help us constantly do more, it’s no surprise that there are countless personal finance applications out there — and they’re all vying for our attention. It can be difficult to know which to choose, or which will work best for your unique financial situation. And let’s face […]
10 Budget Friendly Date Ideas
Have your date ideas taken a bite out of your budget lately? It’s not always cheap to enjoy a fun night (or day) out with your significant other. But for the sake of any good relationship, it’s important that your finances make room for going out and spending time together. The good news is that […]
How Would You Earn $1,000?
Last week, I opened the floor to the awesome readers here and asked how you all would spend $1,000. There were some great responses and ideas, and I loved getting a wealth of different opinions. This week, I’d like to approach this on the flip side. It’s easy and fun to talk about how we […]