Reflections on Anger

Several weeks ago, I started thinking about the anger in my life. I’d written my fill of words on this blog expressing several of the things that really make me angry, but the only thing to return back from the great void of expression was a simple question: now what? At the macro-scale, the things […]

White Savior

Many years ago I signed up to volunteer with a refugee organization in Denver. I guess I had this idea of which ethnicities I preferred to work with, like picking things out of a catalog, or browsing which classes I wanted to take next semester. So I was surprised when instead I was assigned to […]

Failure to Give

It’s been a rough couple months. Budget-wise. I spent the whole month of November on a massive spending bender. I don’t remember the last time I spent all the slack in my paycheck on various crap, but it definitely happened. Some might say that was long overdue, I’d say it was long over-stupid, but at […]

Nostalgia

Several weeks ago, I bought a Lego set. But it wasn’t just any Lego set: it was the best set you could have purchased in the mid-90s. And I bought it brand new. Mint. Sealed in box. I had been tracking it for a few months, waiting for a good deal, and the right deal […]

The Two-Week Closet

It took me years to realize that while I had a closet full of clothes, I only ever selected certain shirts to wear, and by the time laundry was done next, I would have scarcely worn half of my shirts before my favorites were again ready for service. Back in my apartment, I had this […]

Why I Haven’t Bought a House

For all that I’ve written on this blog over the past few years, I really haven’t said much about home ownership. Frankly, it’s a tricky topic. Not the least because it’s one of America’s sacred cows, and to even suggest that buying a house might not always be the best decision is likely to attract […]

The Changing of the Garage

Just a few weeks ago, my second roommate moved out and for the first time in my life, I have a garage space! My car barely fits. It’d be hilarious if it didn’t also piss me off. But nothing can really be done about it. For not having to scrape the frost off my windshields […]

It’s not about the money, it’s about the Mission

It’s the prevailing norm to want more money at your job. But at what cost? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still have my eyes on reaching a six-figure salary. In software, this is very achievable with the right dedication and years of experience. Wouldn’t it feel great to reach that milestone? Wouldn’t […]

Life and Passing

Several weeks ago, I was driving to Dream Group when my mom called. I don’t like answering phone calls or texts when I’m driving, so I snuck a glance just long enough to see who was calling me, then let it go to voicemail. Mom never calls. She occasionally texts out of the blue, but […]

Strategy vs Tactics: Saving Money While Still Enjoying Your Life

I have at times been a junkie for blogs on Financial Independence. But I often grow bored with them, and the people on one particular forum that I enjoy visiting frequently annoy me because so many of them are wholly dedicated to not spending any money. What, is spending money wrong? So you have these […]